Best Scope for .308 Rifles – Top 10 Rated .308 Rifle Scopes In 2023 Reviews

The .308 Winchester cartridge with its smokeless powder and rimless bottleneck has been around for donkey’s years. But it boldly lives on, with many hunters staying strong with their tried, tested, and proven choice of round.

But for every good hunting round and rifle, a scope needs to match accordingly. That’s why we’re decided to find the best scope for .308 rifles currently on the market 2023.

In this review, we’ll guide you through our ten best choices, ensuring that we cover each scope’s key features, strengths, and weaknesses. After that, we have a short buying guide to help you decide on a scope best for your particular needs.

So let’s get to it…

Best Scope for .308 Rifles Reviews

1 Vortex Crossfire II Hog Hunter Riflescope – Best Value for the Money Scope For .308 Rifles

First off, we have the Vortex Crossfire II 3-12x56mm AO Hog Hunter Riflescope with an illuminated V-Brite Reticle. It comes in black, has a 30mm tube, weighs 21.1 ounces, and is ring mountable. Also included in this scope package are two lens covers, a four-inch removable sunshade, and a lens cloth.

Low light hunting…

All hunters know that at the low light hours, the hogs come out to play. And, this Vortex Hog Hunter is built for this type of hunting due to a combination of multi-coated optics and the V-Brite reticle. The optics also have non-reflective coatings, and the oversized 56mm objective lets plenty of light in.

It’s constructed with a single piece of aircraft-grade aluminum tubing, which has been hard coat anodized to give it excellent shockproof properties. Furthermore, it has been O-ring sealed and nitrogen purged for waterproof and fog-proof performance.

Feature-packed…

The reticle uses the second focal plane, which traditionally works well with .308 rounds, and there’s a fast-focus eyepiece. You also get 0.25 MOA click adjustments using capped turrets with a range of 60 MOA to play with. There’s parallax, and a focus range from ten yards to infinity, plus the linear field of view is 9.2-36.7 feet at 100 yards.

2 Leapers UTG 3-12x44mm Rain-Proof Compact Riflescope – Best Illuminated Scope For .308 Rifles

Now we’re checking out the Leapers UTG 3-12x44mm SWAT IE AO Mil-Dot EZ-TAP Rain-Proof Compact Riflescope. It comes in matte black, weighs 23.1 ounces, comes with MaxStrength Picatinny/Weaver rings, and it’s a second focal plane set-up.

Maximum light transmission…

With multi-emerald-coated lenses, the transmission and clarity with this Leapers scope are very impressive. It’s also built upon a Leapers True Strength platform, meaning it’s O-ring sealed and nitrogen-filled, making rain-proof, fog proof, and shockproof.

Advanced illumination…

The scope uses an enhanced illumination reticle that features a multi-color mode. The mode lets you choose 36 colors from the color spectrum for your very own personalized illumination. Plus, you’ll be able to match certain illumination colors to suit different environments.

There is also a traditional RGB mode of red/green illumination with seven brightness settings to choose from. Furthermore, a special circuit and housing design allow for uninterrupted illumination, even under heavy recoil.

Precision adjustments…

You can make use of premium zero lockings and zero resetting target turrets. And, you get side parallax adjustment from ten yards to infinity. And all standard adjustments are 0.25 MOA clicks.

Lastly, included in this scope package is an Allen wrench, cleaning cloth, CR2032 3V high energy lithium battery, flip-up lens caps, a hex screw, the scope rings, a Mil-Dot chart, and the manual.

3 Primary Arms SLx3.5 4-14X44mm FFP Rifle Scope

The Primary Arms SLx3.5 4-14X44mm FFP Rifle Scope comes in black, uses an R-Grid reticle, and weighs 25.2 ounces. It’s a first focal plane scope with red LED illumination, and it’s a 30mm tube construction.

Weather and shock resistance…

The scope is 100% waterproof, fog-proof, and is shockproof to deal with heavy recoil. Essentially, it can be taken out on a hunt in severe weather conditions and can handle rugged use.

The reticle is made for quick target acquisition at close range by utilizing a horseshoe shape with a chevron center. There’s also a MIL-DOT grid for accurate holdover points. Plus, you get the option of six different illumination settings, which is a useful feature for hunting in low light conditions.

Accurate and precise…

Since this is a first focal plane riflescope, the reticle will stay true at any magnification – making it easy to sight targets downrange. The exposed turrets are incredibly precise, with 0.1 Mil Rad adjustments. Therefore this scope is considered incredibly accurate for hunting or general short to mid-range target shooting.

4 Vortex Diamondback HP 4-16x42mm Riflescope

The Vortex Diamondback HP 4-16x42mm Riflescope uses a V-Plex reticle, has a one-inch diameter tube, it’s 18 ounces in weight and is set in the second focal plane. There’s a four-inch sunshade, lens cloth, and protective lens caps also included in this set-up.

Improve your accuracy…

This scope is dedicated to improving the shooter’s accuracy with its XD extra-low dispersion glass. The glass is made to increase the resolution and color fidelity of your visuals. Plus, the XR fully multi-coated lenses maximize light transmission, allowing you to shoot in ambient light conditions.

You also benefit from side parallax adjustment and capped reset turret adjustments that work with 0.25 MOA clicks.

Less glare…

The scope is built with a lightweight and sturdy single piece of aircraft-grade aluminum. It’s then hard anodized with a matte finish to reduce glare and the risk of exposure.

Furthermore, this Vortex is O-ring sealed, and Argon gas purged to make it both waterproof and fog proof. As well, the scope has strong shockproof qualities so that it can handle rough use out in the field.

Smooth as silk…

Lastly, there’s a Precision-Glide Erector System in place that uses premium components in the zoom lens mechanism. This is to ensure smooth magnification changes under the harshest conditions.

5 Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10x40mm Riflescope – Best Long Range Scope For .308 Rifles

The Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10x40mm Riflescope comes with a Duplex reticle and matte black finish, which reduces glare and, therefore, potential exposure to your target. It’s super lightweight at a mere 12 ounces, and it is a scope capable of accurate short-range right through to long-range shots. This is because of the variable 3.5x-10x magnification.

Resistant to just about everything…

It’s 100% waterproof, fog-proof, and shockproof and uses a DiamondCoat 2 ion-assist lens coating for higher light transmission. This coating also gives a strong level of abrasion resistance.

All adjustments are made with precise 0.25 MOA clicks so you can comfortably stay on target. Plus, Leupold state that they will give you absolute repeatability and dependability over a lifetime of extreme use.

Solid construction…

The scope is made with high-quality 6061-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum, making it super lightweight yet tough and durable. As well, the scope has been tested to a level where it should achieve a lifetime of performance, even under some of the harshest recoil conditions.

You also benefit from Leupold’s Twilight Max Light Management System. It’s designed to ensure you get a more vivid, bright, and clear target image in a wider variety of low and bright light environments. Then there’s glare management, which provides an extra 20 minutes of shooting light.

6 Trijicon 1-6×24 VCOG Riflescope – Best Woodland Hunting Scope for .308 Rifles

Next in our Best Scope for .308 Rifles review, we’re looking at the Trijicon 1-6×24 VCOG Riflescope. This features a Red Horseshoe Dot Crosshair Reticle that’s matched to .308 rounds and 175 grain. It’s also a first focal plane scope, which means the ballistic reticle can be used at any magnification.

Illumination…

With one lithium AA battery, you get 700 continuous hours of runtime at settings 4 or 6. And, there are six adjustable brightness settings for this LED reticle. This means you can target effectively around the clock.

It’s a flexible scope design that’s built for close-quarter tactical shooting and long-distance marksmanship. The glass quality is exceptional with excellent light transmission and clarity – with zero distortion. Furthermore, The bullet drop compensation and ranging aspects of the reticle allow you to accurately estimate range and apply the correct holds.

Take it swimming…

It’s made with a forged 7075-T6 aircraft-aluminum-alloy housing, making it super strong, durable, but lightweight. Plus, there’s an integrated dial fin that allows easy rotation through the magnification range. Also, the constant eye relief means no head or stock position adjustments are required. And, impressively, it’s fully waterproof to 66 feet in depth.

7 Burris 200261 2-7x32mm Riflescope – Best All Round Scope for .308 Rifles

Here we have this Burris 200261 2-7x32mm Riflescope with Ballistic Plex Reticle. It weighs 13 ounces and uses the second focal plane. It’s also a non-illuminated design but uses Hi-Lume multi-coated lenses.

Steel on steel adjustments…

You get steel on steel windage and elevation adjustments that are repeatable and use 0.25 MOA audible clicks, and it uses a double internal spring.

The Posi-Lock system used is a coil-spring assisted, retractable steel post that firmly locks you in with strong accuracy. And, it is said Posi-Lock scopes remain perfectly zeroed year after year, even during transportation.

The scope is filled and purged a minimum of 24 times with high quality, laboratory-grade dry nitrogen. Each nitrogen cycle absorbs both airborne and residual surface moisture that is then evacuated from the scope to make it waterproof and fog proof. It also helps with the scope’s ability to deal with recoil.

Speaking of recoil…

The scope has been subjected to heavy recoil tests with an impact machine. The machine is used to measure and duplicate the recoil pulse acceleration and duration – and this Burris scope delivers very impressive results.

8 Bushnell Engage 2-10x44mm Rifle Scope

The Bushnell Engage is a matte black 30mm tube rifle scope with a Deploy MOA reticle. It weighs just 19.3 ounces and uses the second focal plane. It also has a wide magnification range, so it’s ideal for hunters that enjoy it in various environments such as thick woodland or open prairies.

There are exposed turrets which help with your target acquisition speed. As well, you benefit from Exclusive EXO Barrier Protection. This is a protective lens coating that bonds to the glass at a molecular level to repel water, dirt, oil, and debris. It also protects the lenses from getting scratched.

Superior visuals…

The fully multi-coated lenses offer some of the brightest and clearest visuals for a scope of this level. And will reveal all the details, you would want to see while hunting. Additionally, the windage and elevation adjustments are precise 0.25 MOA clicks.

Lastly, the Deploy MOA reticle is very much compatible with .308 caliber, plus it offers windage and elevation hash marks to aid your targeting in various environments.

9 Primary Arms 5×36 Gen III SLX 5 Compact Prism Scope

Next, we’re checking out the Primary Arms 5×36 Gen III SLX 5 Compact Prism Scope that comes with a Picatinny mount, CR2032 3V Lithium Coin Battery, and a three-year limited warranty.

Choose your brightness…

It uses an ACSS-AURORA-5X-5.56-METERS horseshoe and chevron reticle, which has red and green Illumination. There are also five brightness settings for each color. You also benefit from bullet drop compensation and range estimation, to keep you on target at varying magnification settings. Furthermore, you can take advantage of the very quick, both eyes targeting method, out to 800 yards.

The windage and elevation turrets are tool adjustable, and they use 0.25 MOA audible click adjustments. The eye relief is a reasonable 2.50 inches – 3.00 inches, and the scope weighs in at a tidy 18.4 ounces.

Add any accessory you need…

The Picatinny mount is a next-generation ruggedized design that provides flexible mounting options with exceptional clamping power. It also includes an AR-height riser.

The housing has a very durable hard-coat anodized black finish, and it’s also waterproof, fog resistant, and shockproof. Also, the scope is compatible with standard carry handle mounts.

10 NightForce SHV 5-20x56mm Riflescope

The last scope that we’re looking at suitable for .308 rifles, is the NightForce SHV 5-20x56mm Riflescope. It has an oversized 56mm objective and uses the second focal plane. This is an excellent long-range scope due to the higher magnification. Plus, the lenses provide excellent clarity, crispness, and color contrast throughout the entire magnification range.

A ZeroSet rifle scope…

The scope uses NightForce’s ZeroSet technology, which allows a rapid return to your chosen zero, even after numerous elevation adjustments. You also get 80 MOA of elevation adjustment and side parallax adjustment too. In addition, the adjustment click values are 0.25 MOA.

There is optional illumination, which will add just over one ounce of additional weight to the standard 29.1-ounce weight of this scope. The overall length, when mounted, is 6.5 inches, and the tube diameter is 30mm.

Superb with larger calibers…

Lastly, the scope is made rugged enough to handle big calibers, and so .308 rounds should work very smoothly with this set-up.

Best Scope for .308 Rifles Buying Guide

Now we’ve looked at all of our ten best scopes for .308 rifles, we’d like to run through a quick buying guide to distinguish some stand out options. Starting with the…

Best Scope for .308 Rifles for Woodland Hunting

An oversized objective and tonnes of magnification are not needed for this type of hunting. Instead, a good priority is to have a wide field of view so you can easily keep fast-moving targets within your sights.

Therefore, we recommend the…

Trijicon 1-6×24 VCOG Riflescope

…because of its quick response and close-range tactical capabilities. You get exceptional glass quality, with excellent light transmission and zero distortion. Plus, it is flexible enough to acquire mid-range targets too.

Best Long-Range Scope For .308 Rifles

The…

NightForce SHV 5-20x56mm Riflescope

…with its huge 56mm objective and higher magnification is a strong contender for the best long-range scope on our list. It also uses the excellent ZeroSet technology, offered by Nightforce to ensure that you can rapidly return to zero at a moment’s notice.

Another great choice is the…

Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10x40mm Riflescope

…which uses a Duplex reticle design. The variable 3.5x-10x magnification makes it great for targeting at magnification settings across the spectrum.

Best Long-Range Scope For .308 Rifles for The Money

If you’re searching for a great deal on a scope to fit on your .308 rifle, there are plenty on our list to choose from. However, if we have to choose one stand out option that offers great value for the money and affordability, it has to be the…

Vortex Crossfire II 3-12x56mm AO Hog Hunter Riflescope w/ V-Brite Reticle

It offers excellent low light hunting capabilities with its V-Brite reticle. Plus, it’s rugged enough to take out in the field due to it being waterproof, fog proof, and shockproof.

Best Illuminated Scope Option

Again, there are many scopes on this list that have excellent illumination capabilities and settings built-in. Although, one stand out design that we really like is the…

Leapers UTG 3-12x44mm SWAT IE AO Mil-Dot EZ-TAP Rain-Proof Compact Riflescope

This is due to its advanced illumination options. The 36 color options you can switch between, allow you to find the perfect illumination to see your targets more clearly in low light or completely dark conditions.

So, what is the Best Scope For .308 Rifles?

Thank you for checking out our best .308 rifle scopes review. We tried to throw in a nice mixed bag of options to suit different needs. Ultimately, we think the main purpose of this type of scope will be for hunting. So we made sure to add extra emphasis on this area.

Out of all the scopes we’ve looked at, if we have to choose one favorite, it would have to be the…

Burris 200261 2-7x32mm Riflescope

This is because of its Ballistic Plex Reticle and Hi-Lume multi-coated lenses. And amazingly, it only weighs a mere 13 ounces, which will give you better maneuverability. Plus, its Posi-Lock system keeps the scope strongly zeroed.

Thanks again, and we hope you are now better informed about what options are currently available to you. And, good luck on your next hunting outing, with your brand new scope fully mounted, zeroed and ready to go!