7 Best Scopes for 308 in 2021

The 308 rifles can be rightfully described as a jack of all trades, and this has been so since their introduction in the early 1950s. But, buying a good 308 rifle is never the end of the story as you also need to have the best scope for 308 to get the most out of this amazing gun.

With a good scope mounted on your 308, you can be confident of getting better shot accuracy from long ranges, and it will also boost your confidence as a shooter which is crucial when hunting or target shooting.

There are many things that you need to keep in mind to ensure you get a good scope for your 308, and you also need to choose from dozens if not more models.

To make the process simpler for you, below we explain some of these important things to consider and also review 7 high performing 308 scopes.

7 Best Scopes for 308 – Review

• Magnification: 4-12x
• Field of View: 23.6 to 7.9 feet at 100 yards
• Reticle Type: BDC
• Objective Diameter: 40mm
• Length: 14 inches

Nikon’s Buckmaster II proves that you will not need to spend a fortune to get a good quality scope for your rifle as it one of the best budget scopes for 308 rifles. And it is the kind of scope that will not disappoint whether you are hunting or target shooting.

The scope will produce a super high-resolution image regardless of the condition, and it is made with fully multicoated optics that will deliver up to 95% light transmission.

Also, it comes with a one-piece main tube that is not only designed to be sturdy and solid enough but also to ensure the scope will not add significant weight to your gun.

Zeroing in the scope is a quick and easy process and many shooters will love the fact that it maintains the settings. And with the nitrogen filling and O-ring sealing, it is also a completely water, fog, and shockproof scope.

The relatively thicker reticles may not appeal to some shooters, but for most, they should still be good enough as they are very handy when aiming at different magnification settings and distances.

3. Trijicon TA11H-308G – An Incredibly High-Performing Fixed Magnification Scope

• Magnification: 3.5x
• Field of View: 28.9 feet at 100 yards
• Reticle Type: BDC
• Objective Diameter: 35mm
• Length: 8 inches

Trijicon makes their ACOG scope for the shooters and hunters that prefer a fixed magnification scope. This high-performing scope also allows them to shoot with both eyes open which is an amazing feature as it makes it easy to keep track of the target.

This feature also makes this one of the best scopes for 308 for tactical use where it is important to keep both eyes open when shooting to be aware of your surroundings.

Also, this is a dual illuminated scope which makes it quite versatile, and the illumination is battery-free to ensure you never have to worry about replacing batteries.

The housing is made for the outdoors and it can take anything you throw at it thanks to the rugged and highly durable aircraft-grade aluminum alloy construction.

Sighting in this scope is a fairly easy and quick process, and it has been designed to maintain the settings well even when you have to carry the rifle for long distances. And the manufacturer will back the scope with a limited lifetime warranty.

While this is one of the most expensive 308 scopes on our list and it is also bulkier, its performance and features outweigh these minor shortcomings by far, and so you will not regret buying it.

• Magnification: 6-18x
• Field of View: 15.2 to 5.3 feet at 100 yards
• Reticle Type: BDC
• Objective Diameter: 44mm
• Length: 13.5 inches

If you were to use two words to describe Vortex Optics' Crossfire II, versatile and reliable would be the best ones as it offers more than enough of both.

Its immense versatility means that it will be ideal for most hunting and shooting conditions while its dead-hold BDC reticle is one of the key things that make it such a reliable scope.

This 308 rifle scope also features a single piece aircraft grade aluminum main tube that makes it solid, sturdy and highly durable so that it can withstand the harsh outdoor environment.

With its adjustable objective, this scope will also ensure you always get a parallax free performance while its fully multicoated and anti-reflective lenses deliver a bright and clear sight picture.

The capped reset turrets which are finger adjustable and with MOA clicks can also be reset to zero after sighting for more convenience and to make windage and elevation adjustment a breeze.

Clarity seems to suffer a bit when at the high magnification settings and the red dot should be a little bright. But the blurriness is mostly around the edges of the field of view, and in most instances, you will still get a clear enough sight picture.

• Magnification: 4-16x
• Field of View: 25.2 to 6.3 feet at 100 yards
• Reticle Type: BDC
• Objective Diameter: 42mm
• Length: 13.5 inches

Like with most of their other scopes, Nikon makes their model M-308 to deliver a lifetime of trouble-free performance, and they back it with a lifetime warranty to give you some assurance.

And whether you are looking for the best scope for 308 hunting rifles or something to use on your target shooting gun, this amazing scope will work well for you.

It has a quick focus eyepiece that will make target acquisition quick and easy, and the fully multicoated lenses deliver maximum light transmission for a bright and clear sight picture under most light conditions.

Turrets on this scope are designed to ensure simple field adjustment and they are spring loaded and zero resettable which makes them even more convenient.

To add to its good features, this scope has also been optimized for use with Nikon's Spot On Ballistic Match technology and with a solid one-piece main tube.

At the high magnification settings, the eye relief seems to dip slightly, but the good news is that this is still a super comfortable scope to use even at the highest magnification setting.

• Magnification: 4.5-18x
• Field of View: 22 to 7.3 feet at 100 yards
• Reticle Type: BDC
• Objective Diameter: 40mm
• Length: 12.4 inches

Bushnell’s MSR is one of the best scopes for 308 bolt action rifles for those that intend to use their gun mostly for hunting purposes.

There are many things that make this such a great scope but the drop zone .308 BDC reticle with duplex crosshairs is one of the key ones as it makes aiming easy and is specifically calibrated for 308 caliber rounds.

Also, this scope uses anti-reflective and fully multicoated optics that will help to ensure maximum light transmission for bright and clear images.

Durability is also assured thanks to the durable aluminum alloy housing with a scratch and corrosion-resistant matte black finish. And it is also nitrogen filled and sealed with an O-ring for 100% water, fog, and shockproof integrity.

The eye relief does not seem very forgiving, and this is more so at the high magnification settings. But, as you shoot with the scope more and more, you should get used to it and get more comfortable when shooting regardless of the settings.

How to Buy the Best Scopes for 308

To get the best scope for 308 you need to consider the important things below when shopping.

1. Distance

308 caliber rifles are typically made for long distance shooting, but this does not mean that all users will use them for long range shooting. And so when buying a scope for your rifle, you need to consider the specific distances you will be shooting at.

It does not make sense to go for a pricey 20x magnification scope or even something like the 4.5-18x Bushnell AR945184B if you will only be shooting from 200 yards or less. This higher magnification scope will be ideal for longer range shooting.

But, it is always better to end up with a scope that can shoot accurately from longer distances than you need rather than ending with one that is underpowered.

2. Magnification

Magnification determines the size of the image that you will get on your scope, and so it is a crucial element when it comes to targeting and shooting accurately.

While you can get scopes with either fixed or variable magnification, the latter is often the best options as it will be more ideal for a variety of shooting conditions and situations. However, variable scopes are more complicated to use and pricier.

The ideal magnification range for you depends on your shooting range and condition. But, it is important to keep in mind that the higher the magnification the narrower the field of view and vice versa.

Besides checking the actual magnification numbers that the scope offers (for example, 4-12x, 4-16x, 6-18x) you also need to make sure that it is quick and comfortable to adjust.

3. Clarity

A clear scope is essential for any shooter because if you cannot see your target clearly, aiming and shooting accurately will be a far-fetched idea. And this is more so under the low light conditions at dawn and dusk.

Although it is true that the clarity of the image seen through the scope is subjective since each eye is different, there are certain things that you need to watch out for to ensure a scope’s clarity.

Key among them is the quality of the glass used to make the lens. Also, this glass needs to have a good coating and a fully multicoated one is the best option. But a scope with superior lens quality like Trijicon VCOG will always deliver exceptional clarity.

The size of the objective lens also affects image clarity, and the larger it is the better as it means that it will allow more light in which translates to great image quality even under low light conditions.

4. Solid Construction

The best scope for 308 long range shooting also needs to have a solid construction to ensure that it can withstand the pressure and abuse that comes with hunting and tactical use.

For the construction, the first thing to consider is the material used to make the main tube as it determines how sturdy and solid the scope will be when mounted on your rifle.

Although there are different materials used by different scope manufacturers, aircraft grade aluminum like what is used on the Trijicon TA11H-308G is the standard material for top quality scopes.

Also, a one-piece main tube design offers a more solid construction. And it will also be a wiser idea to go for a scope with low profile turrets as they are hard to get snagged in a brush or get knocked off.

5. Price

Depending on the features and capability, scopes for 308 rifles can cost as little as under $50 or as much as over $1,000. Hence, you need to decide what you need in the scope and how much you are willing to spend on it.

Typically, the more feature-rich models from high-end and highly reputable brands are the priciest but this does not always mean that they will serve you well. The right idea is always to find a good rifle scope that meets your specific needs and is within a reasonable price range.

Also, if you only shoot once every few months, it does not make sense to invest in an expensive scope that you will rarely use.

Your skill level also determines the right scope to buy because beginners will not need all those fancy features that you get on the expensive scopes for 308. If you are just starting out you are better off sticking with the cost-effective models.

Conclusion

If you have a 308 rifle, there is no doubt that you also need to invest in a good scope to get the best from it. Finding one should now be super easy as our reviews above provide more than enough recommendations.

While each model on our list will be perfect for a 308 riffle, the high-end Trijicon VCOG is our best overall and it will deliver a wider field of view and work perfectly fro tactical and other uses.

But, if you are looking for reliability and versatility without spending to much money, the Vortex Optics CF2-31033 will be perfect.