The best scope for a .308
Quick answer: for hunting, the Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40 (around $400) is the best scope for a .308: light, low-light glass with a recoil-tested build. On a budget, the Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x40 (around $130) gives most of that for a third of the price. For target work and dialing to distance, the Vortex Diamondback Tactical 6-24x50 FFP brings true first-focal-plane tracking under $400. All three are covered in our best rifle scopes guide.
The .308 Winchester is the do-everything cartridge: enough to take deer, hogs and elk at hunting range, and accurate enough to ring steel to 1,000 yards, all with moderate recoil that is easy on both shooter and scope. That versatility is exactly why the scope depends on the job, not the recoil. Below are three picks that cover the two things a .308 owner actually does: hunt, and shoot for precision.
Our picks for a .308
Best for hunting: Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40
around $400 4.7/5, 93 reviews on OpticsPlanet
For a .308 hunting rifle this is the one to beat. The 3-9x range is the classic deer-and-hog setup, and the Twilight Light Management coatings genuinely stretch legal shooting light at dawn and dusk when game moves. Its long 4.2 to 3.7 inch eye relief and forgiving eye box make it fast from field positions, and it survives the same factory recoil-torture protocol as Leupold's high-end tactical scopes, so the .308's recoil never touches its zero. At 12.2 oz it is the lightest in its class, which matters on a rifle you carry all day, and CDS versions include one free custom elevation dial matched to your load. An American Rifleman Editors' Pick.
Best value: Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x40
around $130 4.7/5, 234 reviews on OpticsPlanet
The honest budget answer for a .308. It gives bright, usable glass at hunting powers, a forgiving eye box for fast target acquisition, and a single-piece tube that holds zero under recoil from cartridges like the .308 and .30-06. The Dead-Hold BDC reticle gives simple holdover references without cluttering the view, and the unconditional Vortex VIP lifetime warranty means it outlasts the rifle. It carries 4.7/5 from 231 verified reviews on OpticsPlanet, the most-reviewed pick here, which tells you how many hunters trust it on exactly this kind of rifle.
Best for precision: Vortex Diamondback Tactical 6-24x50 FFP
around $280 4.8/5, 248 reviews on OpticsPlanet
When the .308's job is target work and dialing to distance, this is the value benchmark. The glass-etched EBR-2C reticle sits in the first focal plane, so its holdover marks stay true at any magnification, and independent box-drill testing shows reliable return to zero, with owners ringing steel out to 1,000 yards. A rare 10-yard side parallax and 6-24x range suit both precision-rifle practice and daytime varmint work. One note on the figure above: it is the OPMOD edition, a retailer-exclusive version of the same scope, so the standard black listing carries a different price. Check which one you are comparing against. Its honest limits: no zero stop (you count turret revolutions on big dials) and no illumination, so it is a poor low-light hunting scope. As a dedicated precision optic for a .308 under $300, though, little else matches it.
Prices verified August 18, 2026; confirm the current price on the OpticsPlanet product page before buying.
Bolt gun or AR-10? The question this page used to skip
A .308 comes in two quite different rifles and, until now, this page picked scopes as if it did not. For a bolt-action hunting or target rifle, the three picks above are exactly the right shortlist and nothing below changes that. For a semi-automatic AR-10 or AR-308 the shortlist is worth widening, because that rifle is usually asked to do a different job: closer, faster, often with both eyes open, and frequently with a longer receiver and a rail that puts the optic further forward.
Two practical consequences. First, mounting: the precision pick's eye relief is 3.9 in, which is fine on a bolt gun but worth measuring against your own AR-10 rail and stock length before you order rings. Second, and more usefully, a low-power variable is often the better answer on a semi-auto .308 than any of the scopes here, and our best LPVO guide is the right place to start: its top pick is one owners specifically report holding zero on AR-10s. If your .308 is a bolt gun, ignore all of this and go back to the three picks above.
How to choose a .308 scope by use
The .308 is versatile enough that "best" depends entirely on what you do with the rifle:
- Hunting inside 400 yards. A 3-9x with low-light glass and light weight wins. The VX-Freedom is the premium choice; the Crossfire II is the budget one that still holds zero on a .308.
- Target and precision to 1,000 yards. Step up to a first-focal-plane scope with real elevation travel and honest tracking. The Diamondback Tactical 6-24x50 is the value benchmark; for a step up in glass and travel see our long-range picks.
- Recoil is not the deciding factor. Unlike a magnum, the .308's moderate recoil means any quality scope survives it, so choose on glass, magnification and tracking rather than on eye-relief survival.
- Match the reticle to the job. A simple BDC or duplex for hunting; a first-focal-plane holdover reticle like the EBR-2C if you dial and hold at distance.
New to the basics? See how to sight in a rifle scope and first vs second focal plane. Comparing a hunting scope to a precision one? Start with Diamondback Tactical vs Strike Eagle.
FAQ
What magnification is best for a .308?
It depends on the job. For deer and hog hunting inside about 400 yards, a 3-9x like the VX-Freedom or Crossfire II is fast, light and all the power you need. For target shooting and dialing the cartridge toward 800 to 1,000 yards, step up to a 6-24x first-focal-plane scope such as the Diamondback Tactical. The .308 is versatile enough to justify either, so match the scope to how you actually shoot.
Is the .308 Winchester good for long range?
Yes, out to about 800 to 1,000 yards it is a proven target and big-game round, though it drops and drifts more than a 6.5 Creedmoor past that. To use its reach you want a scope with real elevation travel and honest tracking: the first-focal-plane Diamondback Tactical 6-24x50 holds its EBR-2C reticle true at any power and rings steel to 1,000 yards in owners hands. For hunting distances, a simpler 3-9x is the better tool.
Will .308 recoil damage a scope?
A quality scope, no. The .308 recoils moderately, harder than a 6.5 Creedmoor but nowhere near a magnum, so scope bite is not the concern it is on a .300 Win Mag. The real risk is a cheap scope losing zero, which is why all three picks are chosen for proven zero retention: the Crossfire II holds up under .308 and .30-06 recoil, and the other two are recoil-tested builds.
What is the best all-around scope for a .308?
For most .308 rifles the Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40 is the best single answer: light, low-light glass, long forgiving eye relief and a recoil-tested build, ideal for a hunting rifle that occasionally shoots targets. If budget is the priority, the Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x40 delivers most of that performance for about a third of the price. Step up to the Diamondback Tactical only if precision and dialing are your main use.
More: best scope for deer hunting · best scope for a 6.5 Creedmoor · best scope for a .300 Win Mag · best long range rifle scopes.