The Best Scope for 308 Rifles

The 308 rifle cartridge is outstanding for hunting as well as distance shooting at the gun range. The rifle can do a great many incredible things but you’ll need a good scope for your .308 if you plan to be accurate.

best scope for 308

In this guide to the best scopes for 308, we’re going to show you our top picks and explain why they’re the best.

Our experts researched and reviewed what we think are the best scopes for .308 rifles below:

Triple Illuminated Rapid Range Reticle Scope for 308

If your 308 is of the tactical variety, and you don’t want to shell out the extra money on an ACOG, this high performance optical scope fits the fill.

The fully illuminated reticle comes in two colors and it will easily mount to your rail system. For a quick sight picture when things go bump in the night, the fiber optic rifle sight on top makes shot placement at short range a snap.

Meanwhile, the 4x optics make it easy to punch paper targets at 100 yards, or steel plates at 500. The big aperture and short zoom mean that hunting at dusk or dawn won’t limit you. On the downside, if you want more magnification, then this option isn’t for you. If you want the best budget scope for your tactical 308, this is it.

Simmons 8-Point Truplex Reticle Riflescope

When you are looking to scope your hunting rifle on a budget, you rarely need to look farther than Simmons. The fully-coated optics aren’t the best in the world, but work well enough to deliver a bright picture under most conditions, and the big 50mm objective lens collects plenty of light to keep the images looking bright, even at higher magnifications.

The scope is fog proof and waterproof, so no worries about hunting in the rain, and all of the controls are simple enough for a child to operate. The scope is built extra rugged for high power calibers, and it’s more than robust enough to hold zero all hunting season. For this price, it’s an absolute steal.

Nikon Buckmasters II 3-9×40 BDC

When you want a scope for your hunting rifle, and the best combination of price and features, Nikon delivers. They paired with Buckmasters to design this rifle scope specifically for glassing any hunting rifle for the serious enthusiast, while keeping things on a budget.

The tube is o-ring sealed and nitrogen purged, meaning no moisture ever. The lenses are fog-proof, and the scope is waterproof. It’s also built to take a little abuse, created extra sturdy for even the harshest conditions. The glass isn’t layered with the best coating Nikon has to offer, but at 92 percent light transmission, it’s plenty bright enough for dusk or dawn hunting, even at 6-7x magnification.

During the day, you will have no problem pushing it to full power. If all this wasn’t good enough, take another look at the price, and the fact that it comes with a limited lifetime warranty from Nikon.

Leupold VX-1 3-9×40 Waterproof Riflescope for 308

Finger adjustable dials and lead-free glass are just two of the top-notch features you will get from Leupold. When you want a top quality scope with absolutely fantastic optics for a wonderfully clear sight picture from edge to edge, you go with one of the best in the business.

The windage and elevation are finger adjustable, but hold zero very well when capped. The eyepiece is lockable, so you can focus securely without the need to readjust after a shot, and of course the tube is fully weatherproof, filled with nitrogen, and no fog on the glass, ever.

Designed, manufactured, and assembled right here in the USA, and wonderful customer service. Leupold is a fine company, and their glass is made to last a lifetime on top of your rifle. At this price, the scope is a bargain and it’s one of the best Leupold scopes for 308 that we could find.