When you are hunting in the wild, a scope can be the difference-maker. After all, nobody wants to go close to a deer or hog to hunt it, right?
But when you are looking for a scope for specific rifles like the 308 rifles it can be tough. Not only are there hundreds of brands and models to choose from, not all are compatible with this rifle.
So after testing 15+ scopes and spending hours in the wild, I reviewed in detail my top picks for the best scopes for 308 rifles in 2023.
In case you do not want to read too much and jump straight to making a purchase, here’s a summary of my top picks for 308 rifle scopes.
Table of Contents
Best Scope for 308 Rifles
- Trijicon VC16-C-1600010 VCOG
- NightForce SHV
- Athlon Optics Argos BTR Riflescope
- Sightmark Wraith HD Digital Riflescope
- Nikon P-Tactical .223
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Trijicon VC16 | • Multi-coated lens for superior display quality • Comes with 6 brightness settings • Excellent durability | View Price |
 | NightForce SHV | • Provides excellent visuals in any weather • Weighs just 800g • Comes with a 20x magnification | View Price |
 | Athlon Optics Argos | • FFP reticle zooms in and out with the magnifier • Very durable • It is water-resistant | View Price |
 | Sightmark Wraith | • Comes with 3-night modes • Allows you to save 5 weapon profiles • Buttons are comfortably located | View Price |
 | Nikon P-Tactical | • Constructed using aircraft-grade metal • Open turrets make adjustments easy • Nitrogen purge prevents fog or moisture build-up | View Price |
 | Vortex Optics | • Multiple variants to choose from • It is a pocket-friendly 308 rifle scope • You can choose between different reticles | View Price |
#1: Trijicon VC16-C-1600010 VCOG
If budget isn’t a constraint, the Trijicon VC16-C is going to be the crown jewel both you and your rifle needed. Why? Because it makes aiming such a breeze.
One of the reasons for that is the premium glass quality that has been multi-coated and thus has a better light transmission, in turn, giving you a clearer display without any distortion.
In fact, you can even adjust the brightness on your own in seconds with the twistable knob. There are a total of 6 brightness settings to choose from based on the surrounding light.
When it is crunch time you also do not want to be stuck making adjusting or trying to mount the scope, right? Well, this scope ensures just that.
Whether you are looking to adjust windage and elevation or the magnification, everything can be done in seconds thanks to individual dials that are smooth and ergonomically located for easy access.
Even mounting it takes seconds as it ditches the conventional ring mounts and uses an integrated mounting adapter that is compatible with not just 308 rifles but also other rails.
Talking about magnification, I hate it when the reticle becomes a huge blog on the display as I zoom in. Since the Trijicon VC16-C is equipped with an FFP Reticle, it automatically zooms in and out thus maintaining its size and giving you a clearer view, in turn, making target acquisition quick and easy.
Trijicon claims the scope is virtually indestructible and it is sort of correct. With a 7075-T6 aircraft-aluminum-alloy housing, it can take a beating in the wild (bumps or drops, this bad boy won’t break easily).
It also means the scope is weatherproof. You can even leave it submerged in water up to 66 feet for 30 minutes without any harm coming to it.
Further making its usage hassle-free is the long battery life. Yes, this scope gives an amazing runtime of 700hrs on a single charge thus lasting you multiple hunting trips (no charger? No problem).
To top it all off, this is the brand that has been serving the United States Marine Corps, United States Army, United States Special Operations Forces, United States Government, and state and local Law Enforcement and if it is good enough for them, it is definitely a brand you can trust as well.
Though on the downsides, the range costs about $3000. Plus, it only has a 6x zoom, a tad lesser than some of the other scopes. Though on the plus, even at full magnification you get a crystal clear image.
Not to forget, this will last you for years thus justifying its heavier price tag.
Pros
- Multi-coated lens for superior display quality
- Comes with 6 brightness settings
- All knobs are smooth and conveniently placed
- Gives 700 hrs of runtime on a single charge
- Can be submerged 66 feet deep
- Excellent durability
- FFP Reticle for easy aiming
- Easy to mount and detach with the new integrated mounting adapter
- The brand is rusted by US law enforcement and Army
- Maintains excellent clarity even at full zoom
Cons
- Costs around $3000
- Only 6x magnification
#2: NightForce SHV
If you would prefer something slightly cheaper, the NightForce SHV is just what you need. It costs about half the price of the Trijicon and yet is feature-rich.
Your aim is only as good as your vision and NightForce understands it. This is why the scope has been armed with a 56mm multi-coated Objective lens that allows for good light transmission.
Not as great as the Trijicon but for the cost, the display is amazing and should help you easily scope your targets hundreds of yards out.
And once they have been scoped out, it is all about making necessary adjustments, and to ensure you do not end up wasting precious moments doing that, the turrets are capless and easily reachable.
But doesn’t that mean the turrets can change by themselves as you move around? In most cases yes, but not with the NightForce SHV as you can lock them down.
Oh, and it is armed with 70+ MOA of elevation levels, side parallax, and ZeroSet technology (used only in 5-20 x 56 and 4-14 x 50 F1 rifle scopes). This means you can get back to zero in a matter of seconds irrespective of the elevations made.
Durability is another strong suit of the NightForce SHV. With strong metallic construction, this too can take a beating in the wild. It is even waterproof though you cannot submerge it as deep as the Trijicon. You don’t have to worry about fog build up either.
But carrying it is still super easy. NightForce has managed to keep its weight down to just 800g.
And if you still have any doubts, note that in 2018, NightForce signed a contract to supply scopes to Navy Seals (that’s all the guarantee you need). See the report here.
The major downside of this scope for me was that it comes with an SFP reticle. This means the reticle becomes larger as you use the 20x magnification. I do not like that but that’s more of a preference.
Pros
- Provides excellent visuals in any weather
- Capless turrets allow for quick adjustments
- They can be locked to prevent unwanted changes
- There 70+ MOA of elevation levels and side parallax
- ZeroSet Tech allows you to get back to zero in seconds
- Weighs just 800g
- It is waterproof and fog-proof
- Trusted by US Navy Seals
- Comes with a 20x magnification
Cons
- Comes with an SFP Reticle
#3: Athlon Optics Argos BTR Riflescope (Best Scope for 308 Rifles on a Budget)
On a tight budget? What if you could get a scope for your 308-rifle in less than $500? But it isn’t just its low price that gets this scope its place in the top 3, there’s more to it than meets the eye.
One thing I love about this scope is that even with its cheaper price range, it comes with an FFP reticle. This means a more accurate holdover position and a clearer view for better aiming.
Talking about the reticle, it is illuminated which means you get a clear view of the reticle for aiming even when it is cloudy or dusky. The reticle is also resistant to recoils as it has been etched on the glass thus offering excellent stability.
Another reason the scope fares so well when it comes to recoil resistance is its one-tube build. This tube is constructed using 6061T6 aircraft-grade aluminum ensuring the scope lasts you for years even with regular use which is pretty surprising for a cheaper scope.
The heat-treated tube also plays a vital role in keeping out moisture and makes it waterproof. That means it works well in rain and can even submerge into the water but don’t leave it there more than a minute.
To prevent your vision from being covered by fog and moisture it has a special Argon Purging that purges out the moisture with the help of inertia gas that has larger molecules.
To make aiming easier, it does not just feature 20x magnification but also 5MIL elevation adjustment, 18 MIL windage adjustment, and 18 MIL parallax adjustment. All turrets are placed within easy reach for quick adjustments, are uncapped, and can be locked.
I would rate the display 4-stars simply. Even with the claimed multi-coated lens, the display starts to blur after you zoom in more than 15x.
Pros
- Costs less than $500
- FFP reticle zooms in and out with the magnifier
- Illuminated reticle helps aim better during dim lighting
- One tube build makes it recoil-resistant
- Argon purging keeps out moisture and fog
- Very durable
- It is water-resistant
- Comes with a 20x zoom
- Uncapped turrets make adjustments easy
- You get 5MIL elevation, 18 MIL windage, and parallax adjustment
Cons
- Display quality decreases with zoom
#4: Sightmark Wraith HD Digital Riflescope
If you want a night vision riflescope for your 308-rifle, the Sightmark Wraith checks all the boxes. It isn’t too expensive and yet comes with features that make aiming easier.
So you can scope and aim at your targets within seconds even in the dark it has 3-night modes i.e. black, white, and the classic green. And you can switch between the day and night modes with a simple press of a button.
Also, with the scope, you will never be lost in the dark. It comes with a powerful IR flashlight that doesn’t just have a good range but is also powerful enough to blind enemies giving you ample time to take a shot. If not needed, the flashlight is easily removable.
Thanks to the Weaver rail on Wraith HD, you can also use other accessories on the gun than just the flashlight.
Zooming in and out is easy peasy as you get 8x digital zoom which can be controlled via the arrow buttons. The 2x optical system allows for 16x magnification though at 16 the display isn’t that great.
If you are choosy about the type of reticle and its color, there’s good news for you. The Wraith HD comes with 10 different reticle designs and 9 colors ranging from white, green, to blue.
You also get an eye cap which helps cut down dispersion so it doesn’t become a hindrance at night and during the days, it can easily be removed and kept in the bag.
It doesn’t just make shooting at your target easy but it will also record each shot on a memory card in Full-HD so you can share them with your friends and family. And there are USB ports as well so you can easily have all the data sent to your mobile or laptop.
Lastly, this scope can be easily used across different rifles as you do not have to worry about changing profiles all the time since it allows you to save 5 weapon profiles.
On the downside, its durability isn’t as good as some of the other scopes mentioned above and is neither water-proof but for the price, it is still a great buy as long as you take a little care of it.
Pros
- Comes with 3-night modes
- It has an IR flashlight attachment
- Weaver rail enables the use of other accessories
- You get 10 reticle designs and 9 colors
- Records videos in Full-HD
- Allows you to save 5 weapon profiles
- Eye cap helps lower dispersion at night
- Buttons are comfortably located
- It has 8x digital zoom and 16x total magnification
Cons
- Low durability
- Not waterproof
#5: Nikon P-Tactical .223
With a near-perfect rating on Amazon, any roundup of the best scope for 308 rifles is incomplete without the Nikon P-Tactical.
Truthfully, this is a no-frill scope but the reason I and many others love it because it is for a cheap rifle, it gets the job done much better than most in this price range. And here’s why.
It is one of the few under $250 scopes to come with a multi-coated lens. This means it gives you the best display at this price range as it can disperse light way better.
It is rock-solid and goes toe to toe with any of the top picks for durability. That is because this scope is made using the same aircraft-grade aluminum tube as them. This also means that the recoil is minimal.
The build, in tandem with the nitrogen purge also makes the scope weatherproof. That means fog or moisture doesn’t appear on the display giving you a clear view at all times.
The BDC reticle gives you multiple options to choose from including hash or dots. Plus, it compensates for bullet drop from distances as far as 800 yards making it easy to take the shots even though the magnification is just 3x.
Making adjustments to the windage and elevation is also simple even if you have zero experience with scopes thanks to the spring-loaded open turrets that can also be instantly zeroed when needed.
Nikon is also a very popular brand and in case you have any trouble with your scope, they have an excellent customer service team ready to help you anytime, unlike brands like Athlon or Vortex. You can get in touch with them via email or phone.
Being a cheaper scope, it is obvious the Nikon has some cons. For starters, it has the lowest magnification on the list at 3x, and at full magnification, you notice some fuzziness.
Pros
- Costs less than $300
- Constructed using aircraft-grade metal
- You can choose between hash or dot reticles
- Reticle compensates for bullet drop for easy aiming
- It has a decent range of up to 800 yards
- Open turrets make adjustments easy
- Nikon has an excellent customer team
- Nitrogen purge prevents fog or moisture build-up
Cons
- Only 3x magnification
- Some blurriness at full magnification
#6: Vortex Optics Crossfire II
Last but not least on the list the Vortex Optics Crossfire II and depending on the magnification you opt for, its price can vary from around $190 to $220. The magnification can vary from 4 x 12x to 4 x 18x
The price can also vary depending on whether you go with the Dead-Hold BDC MOA Reticle, V-Plex or, V-Brite Illuminated MOA Reticle with Dead-Hold BDC being the cheapest.
Though the cheapest and bad for dim lights, it sure does have its benefits. This reticle comes with a custom-made hashmark design that allows you to get precise holdover and windage corrections.
But if you are looking to hunt in dim lighting the V-Brite Illuminated MOA Reticle is best suited for it since the red dot is illuminated with the help of batteries
The lens provides a decent view with magnification while the adjustable objective helps keep out parallax. You won’t have to worry about fog or moisture either as it is equipped with a nitrogen purge and tightly sealed o-rings.
Furthermore, it has a bigger eye relief and a better eye box that helps you quickly sight any target while the fast focus eyepiece allows you to focus the reticle almost immediately.
What I don’t like about this gun is the SFP reticle but that’s my preference alone and not that it doesn’t work well.
Durability is mediocre. While the occasional hunt won’t do much harm, if you are like hunting every weekend, this isn’t the scope for you.
Pros
- Multiple variants to choose from
- It is a pocket-friendly 308 rifle scope
- You can choose between different reticles
- Dead-Hold BDC gives precise holdover and windage corrections
- The illuminated reticle is great for hunting in low light
- Bigger eye relief makes aiming easy and comfortable
Cons
- Average optical quality
- SFP Reticle
- Average durability
Conclusion
308 rifles are one of the most popular kinds of hunting rifles but unless and until you want to go right in front of a deer or hog and shoot, you need a scope.
But not just any scope, one that perfectly fits the 308-rifle and also makes aiming easy because and with this guide we aim to not just save you all that time it would take to research and compare but also get you the best possible deal.
In case you have doubts about the listed 308-rifle scopes, do hit us up. You write an email to us or even drop your questions below in the comments and our experts will get back to you ASAP.
Till then, happy hunting.
