Sometimes when out on a hunt, you need the ability to shoot at closer ranges and longer distances without changing your rifle or setup. However, not many scopes offer such flexibility. But manufacturers have recognized the need and are now producing scopes to solve this problem. That scope is the 1-8x, and it is perfect for both duties.
As manufacturing technology and lens design has improved these specialized optics, have become much cheaper, lighter, and higher quality than ever before. They are still a specialized item, but in the right hands are a no compromises scope that will serve you well.
But with so many available, the choice of which to buy can be difficult. But don’t worry, we’ve done the hard work for you and reviewed the five best 1-8x scopes currently on the market. So let’s go through them and find the perfect one for you…
Top 5 Best 1-8x Scopes You Should Buy In 2023 Reviews
1 The Primary Arms Silver Series 1-8×24
Price vs. Quality
Moving on, we have the Primary Arms Silver Series, which comes with an excellent lifetime warranty that covers defects, due to material, workmanship, and normal wear and tear. For the price, that sounds like a great deal, so let’s find out is it worth it…
The illumination is daylight bright, making it a decent choice for first-time buyers. And the horseshoe and chevron make it natural to hit your target with fairly good accuracy. While the Aero Precision Ultralight mount system the company has utilized is a good match for the scope.
Unfortunately, this is brutal and unforgiving, and it may require some time to get used to it. The eye relief may also cause “scope bite,” as the eye relief is ½” from the scope. Other problems include the fact that the BDC doesn’t work at 1x to 7x magnifications and is blurry at 8x. The glass itself is crystal, but the overall quality is poor.
The reticle does work as expected, the horseshoe illuminates and works similar to a red dot. However, there are some minor fish eye issues as well as some buyers reporting that there was dust, hair, or flakes on the horseshoe. The turrets have a mussy feel to them.
In closing, as mentioned earlier, it does have a lifetime warranty, so hopefully, some of the issues will be resolved. And on the plus side, it is a lot cheaper than the Vortex, which is our next choice of scopes…
(4.6 / 5)Pros
- Price.
- Lifetime warranty.
- Ideal for the beginner or first-time buyer.
Cons
- Fisheye issues.
- Some buyers have experienced dust, hair, or flakes on the horseshoe.
- Very short eye relief.
2 Vortex Optics Strike Eagle Second Focal Plane Riflescopes
Next up, we have the Vortex Optics Strike Eagle Second Focal PlaneRiffle scope, which features a clean click when adjustments are made. It is built sturdy and durable, but the anodized coating can be a little sensitive to bumps and scratches.
In general, it is a high quality and high-performance scope. The glass is crystal clear. And more or less cheek positioning accuracy is important to centering with this Vortex Riflescope. Having said that, practicing this is a must.
There is a notable fisheye when in an extreme CQC situation. Also, it doesn’t have a red dot or circle, so you will need to rely on the horseshoe. The eye box is tight and gets tighter the more you adjust the magnification higher.
The illumination is not as bright as expected. Also, the reticle can be difficult to use as it has no single aim point.
It does, however, come with a lifetime warranty and the company’s customer service department is spot on when handling any issues.
(4.7 / 5)Pros
- Over-all quality.
- Storage for an extra battery.
- Lifetime warranty.
- CSR staff are top-notch.
Cons
- Anodized finish is not as scratch resistant as it could be.
- Fisheye issues.
- Short battery life.
3 Burris-XTR-ii 1-8x24mm Quad Knob Scope
The Burris-XTR-II 1-8 x 24 scope is an excellent scope choice for AR or carbine type applications, with its low power variable optics, engaging targets of different ranges is easier to do. It can withstand most types of duty situations. The eye relief is excellent, and CQC use has no fisheye problems.
The FFP reticle gets larger with higher magnification and gets smaller with lower magnification. Having said that, the drop calculations remain the same, with the BDC reticle.
The scope has red center dots on both the FFP and SFP. The debate on FFP and SFP is still an ongoing heated debate. It all depends on how you are using your rifle, as well as your personal preferences.
It’s a superb scope with great features and no issues. So, if you’re looking to upgrade and don’t mind the price this just may be the way to go.
Pros
- Choice of FFP or SFP.
- Low power variable.
- Applicable to AR/Cabine types.
Cons
- Only one, price – but, you get what you pay for!
4 Visionking Optics 1-8×24 Long Eye Relief Rifle Scope 1/10 MIL Low Profile Turret Illuminated Dot
The Visionking Optics 1-8×24 Long ER Rifle scope really catches the attention. It is perfect for tactical and high recoil rifles and can provide optimal 1x magnification without fisheye issues. It has hi lumens and features a multi-coated lens.
This is a rugged and strong built scope and is shockproof. The turrets have an audible click, making it easy to count clicks outdoors. In addition, the long eye relief is exactly that. It also comes with an illuminated dot reticle.
For some, it can be regarded as bulky or heavy. However, it’s affordability and functionality, make it budget-friendly and a great choice for a first scope or for the more casual user.
(4 / 5)Pros
- Excellent eye relief.
- Multi-coated lens.
- Budget-friendly.
Cons
- May be heavy or bulky for some customers.
5 The Trijicon AccuPower 1-8/28 Scope
We’ll start the review with the Trijicon AccuPower 1-8×28, which has been used for various applications from CQC to three gun competitions. It produces a crystal clear image; however it can be blob-like as the reticles get thicker, especially when at maximum magnification.
When using this Trijicon scope in CQC, it is best to utilize the circle rather than the crosshairs during the engagement of targets. Also, when utilizing the Trijicon 1-8×28 scope in this way, seeking, engaging, and disengaging is quick and easy.
It is simple to mount and dismount, which makes it a pleasure to use. And the eye relief is great!
Due to the thick reticle, it can be hard to zero for distance. And the scope is a little heavy in weight. Having said this, it may be possible to shave off a bit of the weight by choosing a lighter mount.
Overall, the Trijicon is a good quality scope, but it can be cumbersome and is probably too heavy for CQC and three gun competition shooters.
(4.6 / 5)Pros
- Crystal clear glass.
- Great eye relief.
- Easy to mount and dismount.
Cons
- The weight.
- Reticle thickness at max magnification.
- Price.
Best 1-8x Scopes Buyers Guide
Buying optics comes down to what you’re doing and the conditions of use. You can choose from a beginner type scope to a high-end scope. However, it also depends on how much you want to spend. Do you need high illumination or, a scope that is lightweight? Or maybe one that is rugged and can be used with high recoil rifles as well as AR/Carbine types of rifles?
We are sure one of the five that we have reviewed will fit your needs. But before we reveal which in our opinion is the best 1-8x scope, we’ll go through some background information that should help in finding the best 1-8X scope for your needs.
Magnification
For the first time buyer, 1-8 means 1 to 8 times magnification. And 28 is the diameter of the objective lens in millimeters. Keep in mind the larger diameter of the lens, the more field of vision you will have, but it will also add to the bulk and weight of the scope.
Durability
Waterproofing is needed if you intend to use it for hunting, as rain and high humidity will affect your visibility. Fog-proofing is pretty much self-explanatory, and you need a scope that has been purged with nitrogen or argon to prevent it from fogging.
Lens are usually coated with magnesium fluoride, to reduce the loss of light and glare. It also improves the amount of light transmission, producing a bright and clear image.
FFP or SFP?
We will now talk about reticles, starting with FFP is the First Focal Plane, and therefore, SFP is Second Focal Plane.
First Focal Plane is the first lens that you see, while with SFP it would be the second lens. The difference between them is that with FFP, the reticle appears to change size as the magnification changes. However, the reticle maintains the same perspective as the target. While with SFP the reticle appears to stay the same size, regardless of the magnification.
FFP is popular with long-range shooting and is gaining popularity with hunters. However, FFP reticles appear thin at low magnification, making it hard to see the settings. It also gets larger with higher magnification and can block out much of the target. Therefore it’s always best to check the reticles at all magnification settings.
SFP is more familiar with hunters and has been common in hunting for many years. In SFP the spacing holdover is only correct at one magnification. This is because of the spacing increments changes, and you would need a mathematical formula to figure out the spacing for each power setting, as well as making your adjustments.
But, this is complicated and not advisable at all for hunting. However, if all you do is long-range shooting at maximum magnification, this will work well.
Illumination
It is best advised to purchase a scope with an illuminated reticle. This will make the reticles more visible when they are thin at low magnification, as well as obviously in lower light conditions.
Safety
On a safety point, having a good scope improves, not just the sight of the target, but it also helps you see what’s behind and around your target.
So What Are The Best 1-8x Scopes?
After taking everything into consideration, our recommendation for the Best of the best 1-8x scopes in this review would be the…
This is due to its true 1x magnification, its ruggedness, and affordability.
And our runner up is the…
Although pricey, it is very versatile for the tactical as well as outdoors shooter. And the option of FFP and SFP makes it a bonus.
