Best Scopes for 308 Rifle - 2020 Reviews for Long Range and Medium Range
One of the most abundant accessories for rifles is rifle scopes. They're relatively easy to find in either brick and mortar stores, or online.
However, .308 rifles sometimes require scopes that may not always be available to you for immediate purchase, depending on where you live. Below are 12 scopes that will fit on such rifles, chosen for their quality of construction and reliability.
You couldn't go wrong with any product from the list. Once that's done, head over to the Buyer's Guide for additional info pertaining to the scopes that are shown. The top two choices are indicated at the conclusion.
308 Scope Buyers Guide
Here are some tips that will help you find the right .308 scope for your rifle.
How to Pick the Best Product
The most important thing for you to remember when looking for a .308 scope is to ensure that it's compatible with your rifle. You can mount them on lots of different guns.
The second thing is to factor in the area where you intend to use it the most. Will your shooting occur in an open range or a deeply wooded area?
What time of day will it be? Additionally, try to find one that has some level of protection for the lens. Eye relief is also detrimental to how well you'll be able to adapt to the scope.
Choose a scope that has a reticle that you're not going to be annoyed with seeing, and that will be easily viewed by you. And finally, consider the range in which the product is advertised.
Of course, this may also depend on the rifle in use, but you may be able to stretch the maximum range of your weapon when mounting a scope that magnifies farther than 4x.
Durability
Scopes are usually made from dense materials that are difficult to break. Some of them will scratch much easier than others. There's no to know which won't scratch until you try it out for yourself, but you can minimize the chances of getting one that would.
Pay attention to what others have said about scope in question. Scopes that weigh a bit more might be less susceptible to receiving damage. Look at the placement of the turrets as well.
Depending on how you shoot and your level of experience, they may get in your way if too large.
Using a .308 Scope for Hunting
If you're a hunter and plan on using a .308 scope for such events, you'll want to stick to those that offer good visibility in images. Also looking for a product that has varied levels of illumination.
For example, some scopes will allow you to adjust the brightness with a built-in battery. Others may have features that change the color of the visuals that you see.
Your scope should help you see better in situations and times where you may not see very well, such as during the early morning.
What Is the Best Long Range Scope for 308?
In our opinion the best scope for 308 long range and medium range are:
1. Nikon P-TACTICAL Riflescope .308 4-12X40 16523
The Nikon M-308 is a 4-16X42mm scope with a lot of good specs on paper. With it, what you see in the view can be magnified multiple times, engaged, and remain on zero. It also holds up well in high-temperature environments that are humid.
No fog or water for effect the optics in any way. Eye relief is distanced at about four inches, although not as useful when you're zoomed in to a target.
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2. Vortex Optics Viper HS Second Focal Plane Riflescopes - Best Scope for Long Range (People's Choice)
The Vortex Optics Viper HS is a riflescope that's recommended for people that require a solid reticle, or crosshairs.
There's nothing difficult about it at all. When you ready for a target, you will always spot it regardless of your level of magnification. However, some crosshairs have a tendency of getting in the way.
This one isn't too large either, offering more visual that models that block out too much from your field of view. Lenses are strong and entirely waterproof.
Although some adjustments would be better if they were loose, there's nothing frustrating about operating this scope on a .308.
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3. Primary Arms FFP Rifle Scope - Best Scope for Optical Brightness
The Primary Arms FFP Rifle Scope has all the bells and whistles that one needs to make accurate shots. There's a battery inside (CR2032) tasked with controlling your brightness levels, something that could be extremely useful when shooting during twilight hours.
Shocks also won't faze the scope, whereby firing at a rapid pace will never cause harm to the lense or outer portions of the scope. And spotting won't be necessary until you reach approximately 150 yards. It is a bit on the heavy side, so you'll definitely notice it if moving away from a scope that's lighter than the FFP.
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Best compact scope for 308
4. UTG SWAT Compact Scope - Best Scope for Quick Mounting
The UTG Swat Compact Scope is built for intermediate and seasoned weapons owners. The best attribute is how fast it can be placed on rails. There's little to it, and the assembly is straightforward. When readying for a shot, the scope will remain at zero.
Firing more shots likely won't change it either. You can quickly locate all knobs without looking at them, yet they never get in your way. Basically, there's nothing awkward about handling the scope. The bell is a little big (the front), but nothing that a proper scope ring couldn't fix.
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What's a Good Scope for 1000 Yards?
5. Bushnell Engage High Magnification Rifle Scope - Best Scope for Hilly Terrain
Bushnell is known for making some of the best scopes around, whether they be for rifles or other sporting purposes. The Engage High Magnification Scope continues this trend by offering durability to the user that's easy to see when putting it to use.
There are elevation indicators next to the crosshairs, which simplifies things when zeroing in on a target from a distance that's higher or lower than your firing location. Images viewed in the scope stay bright, even in areas that are nearly pitch black.
You might drift out of zero when after taking a few shots, so don't be surprised if this happens.
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What Size Scope Is Best for Deer Hunting?
6. Leupold VX Freedom – Best for Deer Hunting
The Leupold VX Freedom is the best choice for anyone that plans on hunting, specifically deer hunting. This is related to how strong the scope is in build quality. No matter where you are outdoors, the scope will not succumb to damages from the dirt and water.
Even if it were to fall on most rocks, the exterior won't chip or scratch in the area of impact.
When it comes to what you can see in low-light settings, the optics are phenomenal. Visuals will appear brighter to a degree of 5-10 minutes ahead of your actual time. And if that weren't enough, eye relief is good at every level of magnification.
The reticle is a bit thin, which could pose an issue for people with little experience with any similar scope. But overall, the VX Freedom is a solid product that's recommended for all hunters.
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What Is a Good Scope for an Ar 10 308?
7. Nikon M Tactical – Best Nikon Scope for .308
The Nikon M Tactical is a scope that's great for any rifle with a .308 bullet diameter. It zeros in fast, particularly from the tactical style of the reticle. It has clarity when magnified, and very easy to adjust.
If you like to fire and target at a rapid pace, this will help you keep at it immensely. You won't see much when the scope in use under low visibility settings in the dark, so you may want to limit it to daytime use only.
Regardless, give the M Tactical a try if you want something that can get you fixed on targets fast and doesn't lose zero when actively in the process of shooting.
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8. EOTech Vudu – Best Designated Marksman Scope
The EO Tech Vudu is great for shooters that are experienced. That means you'll get the best in terms of eye relief no matter if you're zoomed in or not. Reticle visibility is spot-on and conspicuous; not too small but not too thick either.
Everything you see on the lens is clearly visible at all times. It also doesn't take long to get it mounted. The instruction manual included with the scope is easy to follow and can help make the process go away faster.
It's scratch-proof as well, although it might damage if impacted with a hard surface too hard. But this is something that could occur with virtually any scope; don't take it as grounds for avoiding the EO Tech and all of its good attributes.
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9. UTG SWAT Compact Scope - Best Anti-Glare Scope
The UTG Swat Compact is an all-black scope that's good for people that intend to use it during the day. It has good coverage on the front end that provides relief from glare when you're shooting in direct sunlight.
Combine this with the clear optical lens and you get a product that keeps your visuals crisp no matter what. It also includes a lens cap that protects the lens inside from getting dirty or scratched, although this would be hard to do even without it.
There are multiple colors for you to change the optics, but flipping through them is a bit tedious. If you want to find a specific one, you can only do so by sorting through them all. In any case, the UTG Swat Compact has more advantages than setbacks so consider it if you're keen on hunting on shooting at an outdoor range during the day.
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Best Scope for 308 Sniper
10. Nightforce Optics SHV - Best Scope for Solo Hunting
The Nightforce Optics SHV is a good choice is you want something that will significantly cut down the amount of time you spend spotting. If you're hunting solo, this could be a lifesaver and speed up things, making it easier for you to engage your target before it's too late. Adjusting all dials is also easy, no matter if you're looking through the scope or not.
You could have some issues if you're coming from a scope that lower in length than this one. It measures about 16 inches, so try and get some preliminary practice with it before any hunting commences. Still, there's nothing much to criticize about the SHV, and you'll really enjoy how it consistently stays at zero when used.
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What Scope Do I Need for 300 Yards?
11. Primary Arms SLx8 – Best 3-Gun Scope for .308
The Primary Arms SLx8 is the perfect 3-gun scope for .308s. If you're planning on participating in a 3-gun competition, this scope will give you great illumination quality on even weapon that it's attached to.
It will hit targets that are medium to long-range, and the turret never gets in the way when you're ready to fire. The turrets might get a bit mushy when you're trying to clear up your image, which could affect how fast it takes you to find the target.
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12. Aimpoint PRO – Best Red Dot for .308
Last on the list is the Aimpoint Pro, which is suggested for anyone that wants a red dot sight. Staying on your target is very easy to do, no amount of weather will interrupt or take you off your aim.
The tension knob that's located on the side is a bit large and could hit something anything that's nearby. It can get a little awkward if you've never used a sight with one as big as this.
However, you should eventually get accustomed to it. Use this red scope if you need to finger your targets quickly and require something that operable during the day or night.
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Conclusion
Do you have an idea of which .308 scope is best for your needs? If so, you should stick to the one that you've chosen already. But if not, know that all 12 will make an overall good buy.
There are some which might have attributes that are better suited for particular people, events, or even competitions. Having mentioned this, the top two choices are the Nikon M-308 and Viper HS scopes shown in numbers 1 and 2.
They have outstanding built, good range, and equally great optics quality. Again, there's no wrong pick that you could make from them all; it's guaranteed that you'll be satisfied with the scope that ends up at your doorstep!
For other rifle and scope types check:
1. Best Long Range Rifle Scopes
2. Best Ruger 10/22 Rifle Scopes
3. Rifle Scopes