The 8 Best Scopes for the 270 Winchester in 2021
The 270 Winchester is a bolt-action rifle that is ideal for flat shooting. Just like its name, the rifle fires .270 caliber rounds, which give a range of around 270-460 meters (300-500 yds). It also gives a mild recoil, which makes it a bit safe to use.
That said, to enhance your mid-range firing accuracy while using this rifle, you need a scope with a magnification range of about 3-6x. If you want one, this article covers 8 of the best scopes for the 270 Winchester rifle to buy online.
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8 Best Scopes for 270 – Review
- 1. Vortex Optics Viper PST Gen II – Best Overall
- 2. BSA Optics Sweet 17 – Best for the Money
- 3. Leupold 170680 – Low Light
- 4. Vortex Optics Diamondback – Durable 270 Winchester Scope
- 5. Nikon 16338 – Versatile 270 Winchester Scope
- 6. Nikon 6721 – Hunt-Ready Kit
- 7. Bushnell 613948 – With Dusk & Dawn Lenses
- 8. Nikon 16339 – With an Adjustable Objective
- How to Buy the Best Scope for 270
- Conclusion
8 Best Scopes for 270 – Review
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1. Vortex Optics Viper PST Gen II (Best Overall) |
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2. BSA Optics Sweet 17 (Best for the Money) |
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3. Leupold 170680 (For Low Light Conditions) |
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4. Vortex Optics Diamondback (Durable Constructions) |
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5. Nikon 16338 (Versatile) |
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6. Nikon 6721 (With Hunt-Ready Kit) |
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7. Bushnell 613948 (Has Dusk & Dawn Lenses) |
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8. Nikon 16339 (Has Adjustable Objective) |
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PRODUCT |
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1. Vortex Optics Viper PST Gen II (Best Overall) |
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2. BSA Optics Sweet 17 (Best for the Money) |
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3. Leupold 170680 (For Low Light Conditions) |
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4. Vortex Optics Diamondback (Durable Construction) |
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5. Nikon 16338 (Versatile) |
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6. Nikon 6721 (With Hunt-Ready Kit) |
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7. Bushnell 613948 (Has Dusk & Dawn Lenses) |
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8. Nikon 16339 (Has Adjustable Objective) |
1. Vortex Optics Viper PST Gen II – Best Overall
Photo: Vortex
- Magnification: 2-10x, 3-15x, 5-25x
- Objective Lens: 32, 44, 50mm
- Eye Relief: 3.2-3.4 in.
- Field of View: 58.3 – 4.8 ft. @ 100 yds
Taking the top spot is Vortex’s Viper Gen II and this is because it has a tactical EBR-2C MOA reticle that is placed on the first focal plane. This ensures it grows in size as you zoom in for a clearer view of the range estimation and windage correction markings.
Furthermore, this reticle is illuminated in red and this gives easy visibility in low light conditions, which enhances your dusk and dawn hunting performance.
Other than that, this Viper PST consists of 3 scope sizes to choose from and part of the selection includes a powerful 5-25x size. This is ideal for short, medium and long-range firing, and allows you to use it on the 270 Winchester, as well as on other more powerful rifles.
You also get extra-low dispersion glass that is fully multicoated for better resolution glare elimination, a shockproof aluminum tube with a durable hard-anodized finish, argon-purged O-ring sealed optics for fog proof and waterproof performance and a fast-focus eyepiece.
The only problem is that the scope is very expensive.
Pros:
Cons:
2. BSA Optics Sweet 17 – Best for the Money
Photo: BSA Optics
- Magnification: 3-12x
- Objective Lens: 40mm
- Eye Relief: 3 in.
- Field of View: 28 – 7 ft. @ 100 yds
BSA Optics’ Sweet 17 is the most affordable scope for the 270 Winchester in this review and is ideal for those on a tight budget. Despite this, it has a wide magnification range of 3-12x, which makes it suitable for short and medium-range shooting.
It also has parallax adjustment from 10 yds to infinity and this ensures you get high accuracy at short range. This is boosted further by 1/4 MOA click adjustment values, which ensure precise movements at the field of view for enhanced accuracy.
More features are a waterproof, fog proof and shockproof tube design, and a camouflaged matte black finish.
On the downside, the unit is equipped with a duplex reticle that lacks BDC range estimating marks and it has a short eye relief of only 3 in.
Pros:
Cons:
3. Leupold 170680 – Low Light
Photo: Leupold
- Magnification: 3.5-10x
- Objective Lens: 40mm
- Eye Relief: 3.6-4.4 in.
- Field of View: 29.8 – 11 ft. @ 100 yds
If you want a scope that can be used in low light conditions, Leupold’s 170680 is one of the best options to consider.
This is because it has a Twilight Max Light Management system, which keeps your field of view bright and vivid at dusk/dawn. By doing so, it gives you an extra 20 minutes of shooting light.
Additionally, the unit has DiamondCoat 2-ion assist lens coating, which helps to improve light transmission while also giving the glass abrasion resistance properties.
The scope is also unique due to its long eye relief of up to 4.4 in., which makes it very safe to use.
You also get a rugged aircraft-grade aluminum tube that is punisher-tested for recoil resistance, a 100% waterproof and fog proof design, and precise 1/4 MOA click adjustments with a maximum adjustment of 52 MOA on both elevation and windage.
However, the product is quite expensive and is fitted with a duplex reticle that does not have BDC marks for range estimation.
Pros:
Cons:
4. Vortex Optics Diamondback – Durable 270 Winchester Scope
Photo: Vortex
- Magnification: 1.75-5x, 3-9x, 3.5-10x, 4-12x
- Objective Lens: 32, 40, 50mm
- Eye Relief: 3.1-3.5 in.
- Field of View: 68.3 – 11.3 ft. @ 100 yds
Just like the Viper Gen II , this Diamondback has a solid 1-piece tube design that is built using aircraft-grade aluminum for maximum sturdiness. The entire structure is coated with a hard-anodized finish, which ensures maximum durability and gives a camouflaged matte black color.
Apart from that, the scope is fitted with a dead-hold BDC reticle, which has various aiming points for holdover estimation and windage correction. This helps to enhance accuracy at different yardages.
Other features include fully multi-coated lenses, zero-reset turrets with precise 1/4 MOA click adjustments and a quick-focus eyepiece. On the downside, the BDC reticle is not illuminated for easy low light viewing.
More Detailed: Vortex Optics Diamondback Review
Pros:
Cons:
5. Nikon 16338 – Versatile 270 Winchester Scope
Photo: Nikon
- Magnification: 3-9x
- Objective Lens: 40mm
- Eye Relief: 3.6 in.
- Field of View: 33.8 – 11.3 ft. @ 100 yds
Nikon’s 16338 is equipped with Spot-On Ballistic Match technology, which optimizes its BDC reticle to easily determine the exact aiming points for different ammunition at different yardages. This allows you to accurately fire different rounds on your 270 Winchester.
The scope has a rugged, shockproof aluminum tube that delivers recoil-resistant performance while its lenses inside are nitrogen-purged for fog proof use. These optics are also tightly sealed via O-rings to ensure long-lasting waterproof performance.
Other features include fully multi-coated lenses and precise 1/4 MOA audible click adjustments. However, no mounting accessories are included in the set for easy installation.
Pros:
Cons:
6. Nikon 6721 – Hunt-Ready Kit
Photo: Nikon
- Magnification: 3-9x
- Objective Lens: 40mm
- Eye Relief: 3.6 in.
- Field of View: 33.8 – 11.3 ft. @ 100 yds
Nikon’s 6721 is unique because it comes as a hunt-ready kit that includes the scope itself, A-series medium size mounting rings for quick installation and a protective scope coat for storing the scope when not in use.
Aside from that, the unit features Spot-On Ballistic Match technology for versatile use. This technology makes it easy to spot the exact holdover points on the scope’s reticle for different rifles and rounds at different yardages.
You also get fully multicoated optics with anti-reflective compounds for eliminating glares from your field of view, parallax adjustment from 100 yds, spring-loaded zero-reset turrets, a quick-focus eyepiece and nitrogen-filled, O-ring sealed optics for fog proof and waterproof use.
The only problem is that the scope is fitted with a Nikoplex reticle, which does not have BDC marks for range estimation.
Pros:
Cons:
7. Bushnell 613948 – With Dusk & Dawn Lenses
Photo: Bushnell
- Magnification: 3-9x
- Objective Lens: 40mm
- Eye Relief: 3.3 in.
- Field of View: 40 – 14 ft. @ 100 yds
With its dusk and dawn brightness lenses, Bushnell’s 613948 is optimized for low light performance because it delivers clarity and brightness to the field of view.
This performance is further enhanced by a multicoated objective lens, which eliminates glares from obstructing your line of sight. The result is high contrast images that make it easy to spot targets.
Other than that, you get a solid 1-piece aluminum tube that is shockproof, nitrogen-filled optics that are tightly sealed using O-rings for fog proof and waterproof performance, a fast-focus eyepiece, and precise 1/4 MOA windage and elevation click adjustments.
However, the included Multi-X reticle lacks BDC marks for holdover estimation.
Pros:
Cons:
8. Nikon 16339 – With an Adjustable Objective
Photo: Nikon
- Magnification: 4-12x
- Objective Lens: 40mm
- Eye Relief: 3.7 in.
- Field of View: 23.6 – 7.9 ft. @ 100 yds
Rounding up the list is Nikon’s 16339 and it is characterized by an adjustable objective lens, which allows for parallax elimination from 100 yds. This helps to enhance accuracy.
Additionally, it has a relatively powerful magnification of up to 12x and a range estimating BDC reticle. These two features help to further enhance the scope’s accuracy at short and medium range.
The BDC reticle contains unique see-through ballistic circles, which give it an uncluttered design. This ensures you get a normal and clear sight picture at short range.
Other than that, the scope is equipped with Spot-On Ballistic Match technology that enables you to determine the exact aiming points on the reticle for different rounds at different yardages. This makes it very versatile to use.
You also get spring-loaded, zero-reset turrets that can be returned to zero after firing for easy referencing, parallax adjustment from 100 yds, fully multicoated lenses and precise 1/4 MOA click adjustments.
The only problem is that mounting accessories are not included for easy installation.
Pros:
Cons:
How to Buy the Best Scope for 270
Photo: flickr.com
1. Magnification
With a range of about 300-500 yds, the ideal magnification power required for the 270 Winchester is 3-6x. All the 8 pieces above fit this description but the Viper Gen II stands out due to its wide range of 5-25x.
It also has the highest magnification power, making it ideal for testing the long-range capabilities of this rifle and can also be used on other more powerful guns.
Additionally, it has a tactical EBR-2C MOA reticle that has multiple markings for holdover estimation and windage correction, which are ideal for long-range shooting.
This reticle is placed on the first focal plane, which allows it to grow in size as you zoom in, and is illuminated, which gives it an edge over the rest when it comes to low light visibility.
2. Lens Quality
The quality of the objective lens is usually determined by its coating. Anti-reflective multicoating is commonly used to prevent glares and this is highly recommended.
Some scopes feature optimized lenses for low light use such as the dusk and dawn multicoated optics in Bushnell’s 613948 .
On the other hand, Leupold’s 170680 has a Twilight Max Light Management system that extends your dusk hunting time by up to 20 minutes.
It also has an abrasion-resistant DiamondCoat 2-ion assist lens coating that enhances light transmission to create a brighter field of view. Such lens quality is the best to consider.
3. Construction
For long-lasting use, a scope for this rifle should have a durable build quality. This means looking for features such as a solid 1-piece tube made of aircraft-grade aluminum like in Vortex’s Diamondback .
This unit also has a hard-anodized finish, which enhances its durability by rustproofing the aluminum metal surface.
4. Eye Relief
As a general rule of thumb, the longer the eye relief, the better . This is because the distance from the scope’s ocular lens keeps your eyebrow safe from being hit as a result of recoil.
That said, Leupold’s 170680 reigns supreme on this because it has an eye relief of up to 4.4 in., which is very generous.
Conclusion
Though expensive, Vortex’s Viper Gen II stands out as the overall best scope for the 270 Winchester due to its powerful magnification of up to 25x and illuminated tactical reticle.
Leupold’s 170680 does not fall far behind because it has a Twilight Max Light Management system, which enhances night-time visibility. This gives you up to 20 extra minutes of hunting time after darkness sets in.
If you are on a tight budget though, check out the affordable BSA Optics Sweet 17 .