Choosing The Best 308 Scope on The Market


The .308 Winchester round has grown into one of the most popular calibers in the world. The 308 is one of the most versatile bullets on the market. It performs well in just about any task you can think of.

From the Tactical AR10 to your grandfathers hunting rifle everybody seems to love these heavy bullets. You can even pair this fine bullet with a competition long range rifle. Regardless of your intentions you will need to pair your rifle with a high magnification 308 scope.

What Is The Best 308 Rifle Scope?

1. Leupold VX-2 3-9x40mm Scope

Check Price: Amazon

Without spending a small fortune you aren’t going to beat the Leupold VX-2 Scope. If you are looking for a high quality rifle scope look no farther than Leupold.

Leupold makes some of the best optics in the firearm industry. They’ve long dominated the consumer grade scope market and offer competitive pricing. You aren’t going to outperform this scope without spending a lot more.

The Leupold VX-1 scope pairs perfectly with the 308. This 3-9×40 magnification scope is perfect for most shooters. You can easily adjust the scope in the field to account for all conditions. It’s perfect for your hunting rifle and can even stretch out a few hundred yards.

The tactile finger adjustable dials allow quick and easy adjustments in the field. What you are really paying for with a Leupold scope is the optical clarity. Nobody beats Leupold’s clarity at this price point.

With their lead free glass and multicoated lens you will have a perfect sight picture in even the worst conditions. From dawn til dusk you will have a clear sight picture with minimal glare.

You can also expect to receive one of the most durable scopes on the market. You would have to try to do any real damage to this optic. With a completely waterproof, fogproof and shockproof body you can take your rifle through even the thickest brush.

The oxygen purged and nitrogen filled tube will give you decades of waterproof performance. If you do manage to somehow break your scope Leupold has one of the best warranties in the business. They offer a guaranteed lifetime replacement warranty on all of their products.


2.  Nikon Prostaff 4-12x40mm Scope

Check Price: Amazon

Another great option to consider is the Nikon ProStaff 4-12x40mm Riflescope. Almost everybody has heard of Nikon and there’s a good reason for that.

Nikon makes some of the best optics in the world. Known more for their cameras Nikon has long been a dominant force in the firearm industry. With their massive reach they can buy glass cheaper than most of their competitors. If you are looking for a common magnification scope you should definitely consider a Nikon.

The Nikon Prostaff is one of Nikon’s best rifle scopes. The Prostaff lineup of scopes is Nikon’s Medium grade of scope. If all you’re looking for is a very nice hunting scope check out the Nikon Buckmaster. The Buckmaster is Nikon’s entry level offering and comes in a variety of magnifications.

The Nikon Prostaff on the other hand is a level above the Buckmaster. It lets in more light than the majority of the competition. If you plan on doing a lot of early morning hunting the Prostaff is the scope to beat.

With it’s multicoated lens this optic lets in 98 percent of light while significantly reducing glare. It also uses Nikons Patented BDC Reticle which should significantly improve your shooting in the field.

The range estimating circles allow you to easily adjust your shot at just about any range. It also includes a completely Nitrogen filled and O-ring sealed tube for complete waterproofing. Nikon also includes a limited lifetime warranty, which I have had to use in the past.

3. Vortex Optics Crossfire II 3-9x40mm Scope

Check Price: Amazon

Vortex Optics Crossfire II is another great scope for your rifle. Vortex Optics are known for making budget priced scopes with a lot of features. They are quickly taking over the optic market with their massive lineup of products. Even with a huge product lineup they somehow manage to reduce costs without significantly reducing quality. The Crossfire II has many features that are found on scopes twice as expensive.

Vortex’ Crossfire lineup is a great place to start for any rifle. No matter your preferences the crossfire series has a scope perfect for you. My favorite Vortex scope is the Crossfire II 3-9x40mm Rifle Scope. This is the perfect scope for any hunting rifle or medium range target gun. It has the durability of a much more expensive scope. With a completely nitrogen purged tube the Crossfire is completely waterproof and fogproof. Vortex also offers an incredible lifetime no questions asked warranty. Though not quite as clear as the above Leupold this Vortex optic is very clear. You might notice a slight degree of blur on the outer magnification ranges, but it is perfectly acceptable. With fully multicoated lenses you will be able to see in most brightness settings. You might notice a slight glare under direct sunlight.


4. UTG 3-12x44mm Compact Scope

Check Price: Amazon

The UTG 3-12×44 Compact scope is a great budget choice for your 308 rifle. You might not recognize the UTG brand, but they’ve actually been around since the 90’s in the European market. Recently they’ve shifted production into the United States and are quickly taking over here. They focus primarily on the under represented optic market, and they make a very nice product at a low price.

For a budget scope UTG was really able to deliver.  It’s the perfect choice for any hunting rifle or moderately priced rifle. The compact lightweight design makes this perfect for lugging through the woods.

Though it’s not entirely waterproof it is sealed and nitrogen filled so you will have a good degree of protection. Shockproof, rainproof and fogproof you won’t have to worry about taking this scope into the field.

It even has a multicoated lens and sunshade to make it easier to see in all lighting conditions. The best part about this UTG scope are all the fun extra features that it includes.

With a range estimating tool and parallax free sight picture you’ll be able to easily get on target. You can even change the reticle between black, green and red. This feature significantly improves your night time shooting capabilities. If you’re looking for a scope with a lot of features you can’t go wrong with this offering from UTG.


Final Verdict

If you’re looking for the absolute best you can’t beat the Leupold VX-2 3-9×40 Scope. At the price you aren’t going to beat the clarity of a Leupold. Another great option is the Nikon ProStaff. Nikon’s mid range offering is a whole lot of scope for the money. If you’re looking for a budget choice try the Vortex Crossfire II or the UTG Compact Scope. Any of the above scopes would be a perfect fit for your 308 rifle.

Recent Content