The .308 caliber is one of the most popular calibers manufactured and used in the United States. It has seen action with the military, the police, and hunters a thousand times over. Its popularity comes from its ballistic characteristics which we have covered a few times in our rifle caliber comparisons. It’s a far-flying, hard-hitting caliber that any gun owner can use for tactical or hunting purposes. But to fully utilize such a caliber, you need the best accessories, especially scopes. Luckily, we have a list of the best scopes for .308 rifles in this article.
 Best Budget Buy | GGD Optics RifleScope (3-9x40 / 4-16x40 / 6-24x50) |
| $65   Shop NowClick to read my review |
 Top Pick | Leupold Mark AR Mod I Riflescope |
| $999   Shop NowClick to read my review |
 | Nikon M 308 Tactical Riflescope |
| $199   Shop NowClick to read my review |
 | FSI SNIPER 6-24X Riflescope |
| $56   Shop NowClick to read my review |
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The .308 came about as the civilian version of the 7.62×51 NATO when it was replaced with the 5.56X45 NATO. The effectiveness and versatility of this round were not overlooked by manufacturers. Thus, the .308 Win was born. The .308 and 7.62X51 calibers are very similar, and because of this, the scopes listed here could also make a fine addition to your tactical firearms as well.
Fixed and Variable Scopes
Below are the following factors you need to consider in choosing the best scopes for your .308 rifles. But first, let’s talk about the two broad categories of scopes: fixed and variable.
Fixed Scope
Fixed scopes have one magnification setting while variable powered scopes can be adjusted across a range of magnification settings.
A fixed scope might be the choice for you if you are planning on using your rifle for hunting applications in dense vegetation, where most of your shots will be taken at 150 yards and less. A 2.5X through 5X fixed scope will do the trick. Fixed scopes are more durable and less expensive and are the reason you would opt for a fixed scope in this scenario rather than a variable with lower magnification ranges.
Variable Scope
The .308 is more than able to reach out several hundred yards and still maintain the knockdown power. A great all-around variable scope is 3-9X, but if you are thinking long-range, sniping scenarios there are high magnification variable scopes available as well.
When purchasing a variable scope, you need to focus on the lowest magnification setting. While being able to tap targets at 500+ yards is great what happens when it steps out at 70 yards? Will your scope have a low enough magnification with a wide enough field of view to pick it up quickly? It’s an important and often overlooked component to picking out a variable scope.
Your choice between fixed or variable power is all going to depend on the type of shots you think you will be taking. As we have mentioned, the .308 is a versatile caliber that is used in a multitude of shooting scenarios.
How To Choose A Scope For A .308 Rifle
- Construction: Any rifle optics that you plan on using for hunting or tactical purposes has to be durable, It must also withstand the normal bumps and bruises that come with the territory. FOr the best scopes for .308 rifles, opt for aircraft-grade aluminum quality rifle scopes. Low profile windage and elevation turrets are also excellent features. Low profile turrets tend not to get snagged in brush or get knocked off as easily. Regarding tactical, a higher profile might be more beneficial as they are much easier to reach out and adjust quickly and when on the move.
- Holding your Zero: While the .308 caliber does not have the most devastating recoil, it still has a nice kick, especially if you are using a high powder, heavy grain load. Because of this, you need a scope that can withstand the shock of recoil while maintaining its zero.
- Eye Relief: We briefly touched on the recoil produced by a .308 caliber, and you are going to want a scope that will give you 3 or more inches of eye relief. This is more than enough distance between your eye and the rim of the ocular lens.
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4 Best Scopes for .308 Rifles
In the following section, we will review 4 of the best scopes for .308 rounds and let you know where and how they perform best. We will also tell you their advantages and disadvantages, so you know what to expect in getting one of them for your rifle.
GGD Optics RifleScope (3-9×40 / 4-16×40 / 6-24×50)
The GGD Optics Riflescope features a rifle accessory made of aircraft-grade aluminum. Additionally, it boasts an O-ring and nitrogen purged finish. It also has a 24x maximum magnification which is excellent for hunting. Aim effortlessly and shoot small to large game accurately at long distances easily with this scope.
The turret adjustments of GGD optics riflescope work flawlessly as they are audible and tactile. The bezels are very clear, you can clearly see small targets at far distances, making it easy to line up your shots.
The height of the scope is ideal, fitting almost any rifle perfectly once installed. Overall, the robust materials of this scope provide shock-, water-, and fog-proof properties, which is pretty awesome for an affordable scope. GGD also offers free shipping for orders in the U.S. which can help you save money.
- Comes at an affordable price
- Has 24x maximum magnification
- Shockproof, waterproof, and fog proof
- Made of high-quality and durable materials
- Comes with free shipping if ordered on the GGD website
- Has a very clear bezel
- Scope might sweat at temperature changes
Leupold Mark AR Mod I Riflescope
This .308 scope is a 3-9X variable powered scope with a 40mm objective lens that is great for tactical firearms as well as bolt-action hunting rifles. At the end of the day, this is going to be the best Leupold scope for 308 firearms as well as one of the best tactical .308 scopes.
It is also an extremely durable scope, constructed from aircraft-grade aluminum. Additionally, this scope will stand up to the recoil of a .308 cartridge for thousands of rounds. It is also built to perform in poor weather conditions as well as on warm and sunny days.
You won’t have any trouble getting a clear sight on your target even under rough conditions, often encountered when hunting, since it’s O-ring sealed in key places and filled with argon and krypton gas making it fog- and waterproof.
In addition, the lenses of this scope use Leupold’s lens coating system for one of the best images optics can provide. Even when in low-light settings, you will have no issue picking up your target. It also offers a very generous eye relief for comfortable mounting and shooting and has a great field of view, even at higher magnification settings.
Once this scope is sighted in you should have no problem generating less than 1″ groupings at 100 yards. This scope is extremely easy to zero in, and once you have it in place, it will hold for a decent amount of rounds. While in the field, you can easily adjust both, the windage and elevation turrets with simple finger clicks. Once adjusted these settings are difficult to knock off inadvertently.
Furthermore, this scope is parallax-free up to 150 yards and can be easily adjusted past this point for more accurate shooting.
Overall, the Leupold Mark AR Mod 1 is an all-around fantastic .308 rifle scope for not only a .308 chambered firearm but any firearm where the shooter is serious about durability and accuracy shot after shot.
- Highly durable and accurate
- Hold Zero
- Weather resistant
- Easy to use and adjust
- Clear reticle an low-light level performance
- Generous eye relief
- Expensive
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Nikon M .308 Tactical Riflescope
The Nikon M 308 has a 4-16X variable magnification for mid to long-range shooting purposes. In addition, Nikon built this scope from aircraft-grade aluminum.
It comes with a bright and fully coated optical lens system that produces a clear image throughout its magnification range. You will not have an issue with fog or water impeding image quality as Nikon built this scope for extreme scenarios. The lenses really shine in low-light settings and have high light transmission which is a great feature for hunting purposes.
The Nikoplex reticle is highly visible regardless of the lighting and remains clear throughout the magnification range of the scope. You should never have trouble lining up your target in the crosshairs. This scope will stand up to higher calibers than the .308, so you should have no issue with the zero being knocked off just from simply firing your rifle. Once you set the zero, you really have to try to knock it off. It is also an extremely accurate cartridge, and you will have no problem getting tight groupings up to 300+ yards.
The quick focus eyepiece brings the image and reticle into clear focus when you go between low to high magnification settings. While the eye relief is fine at lower magnification settings, you might run into issues when switching to higher magnification as the eye relief greatly diminishes.
Additionally, the high-profile turrets have a solid and audible click that is useful out in the field for quick adjustments. This 308 rifle scope is going to perform to your standards in any tactical or hunting situation you might find yourself in. While not great for close-range distances, this riflescope really shines in mid to long-range shooting.
- Has a very rugged design
- Holds zero well
- Quick focus eyepiece
- Has audible and easy-to-use handle turrets
- Not great for close range use
FSI SNIPER 6-24X Riflescope
If you’re looking for a 308 sniper scope that can reach out and pop targets at 500+ yards this one’s an excellent option.
Like any scope designed for long-range shooting, the FSI SNIPER features a clear mil-dot reticle in the second focal plane, so its size remains consistent. It also features an illuminated reticle available in red, green, or blue color settings.
The windage and elevation adjustments are extremely easy to handle. You do have to lock down these adjustments, or they will get knocked off from firing the rifle. When locked, this scope should be able to withstand even more powerful cartridges than the .308.
The lenses work well on this scope, and you get nice, clean images through the ocular lenses. Once you get past the 20X magnification, the image can become a little blurry, even when using the eye focus adjustment, but up until then, the image is crystal clear. This scope also comes with an extended sunshade for the optical bell which helps cut down on glare.
The eye relief on this scope is also generous throughout the magnification range and gives you a comfortable shooting position for high distance shots. The field of view is also wide, of course, the width goes down as magnification goes up, but is a common theme for any rifle optics.
- Illuminated MIL-dot reticle
- Comes at a very affordable price
- Offers enerous eye relief
- Reduces glare and reflection well
- Blurry picture at high end of magnification
Our Favorite .308 Rifle Scope
Before we close out this article about the best scopes for your .308 rifles, we want to pick our top choice from the four options listed above. It goes to the Leupold Mark AR Mod I. This is more than just a good scope for a .308; it’s a brilliant one. At this price point, you’re just not going to get much better than a Leupold. Highly accurate once zeroed and it’s easy to handle while in the field and will perform in any weather conditions.
However, if you’re new to shooting, we don’t recommend buying an expensive scope right away. Our best budget pick, the GGD Optics RifleScope (3-9×40 / 4-16×40 / 6-24×50) is probably the best option for those who want to try out scopes. It has an affordable price tag that offers the features of a high-quality brand. Overall, it’s an excellent buy.
We hope that this article about the best scopes for .308 rifles helped you narrow your choices and eventually lead to you being an even better marksman in the field.
