The 300 Blackout operates inside 200 yards on game and inside 100 yards on suppressed subsonic loads.
That range ceiling is not a limitation to work around — it is the application the cartridge was designed for: hogs over bait, whitetail in heavy timber, suppressed operation where the shorter range trades for reduced noise and flash.
A scope that starts at 3x or 4x is already mismatched for a rifle that does its best work at 50 to 150 yards in close cover.
Vortex builds the right tools for this cartridge: low-power variable optics with true 1x capability, compact profiles that suit the AR-15 platform, and glass quality that performs in the early morning and late evening conditions where deer and hog hunting is most productive.
Top Picks at a Glance
- Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8×24 – Best Overall
- Vortex Viper PST Gen II 1-6×24 – Best Premium LPVO
- Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6×24 – Best Value LPVO
- Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32 – Best for Timber Hunting
- Vortex Diamondback HP 1-4×24 – Best Compact
- Vortex Crossfire II 1-4×24 – Best Budget LPVO
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope | Strike Eagle 1-8×24 | Viper PST Gen II 1-6×24 | Strike Eagle 1-6×24 | Crossfire II 2-7×32 | Diamondback HP 1-4×24 | Crossfire II 1-4×24 |
| Magnification | 1-8x | 1-6x | 1-6x | 2-7x | 1-4x | 1-4x |
| Objective | 24mm | 24mm | 24mm | 32mm | 24mm | 24mm |
| Eye Relief | 3.5 in | 3.4 in | 3.5 in | 3.7 in | 3.5 in | 3.9 in |
| Glass Tier | HP | PST Premium | HP | Standard | HP | Standard |
| Weight (oz) | 17.8 | 22.6 | 17.8 | 11.8 | 13.2 | 11.5 |
| Reticle | AR-BDC3 FFP | EBR-1C FFP | AR-BDC3 FFP | Dead-Hold BDC | AR-BDC2 SFP | V-Plex |
| Focal Plane | First | First | First | Second | Second | Second |
| 300 BLK Fit | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Good | Good |
| Warranty | VIP lifetime | VIP lifetime | VIP lifetime | VIP lifetime | VIP lifetime | VIP lifetime |
| Check Price | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
1. Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8×24 – Best Overall
The Strike Eagle 1-8×24 is the most capable Vortex optic for a 300 Blackout used across multiple hunting applications.
At true 1x the scope delivers both-eyes-open acquisition for a hog that appears at a bait station 40 yards out and is moving.
At 8x and 150 yards the AR-BDC3 first focal plane reticle provides supersonic 300 BLK holdovers that stay accurate at every magnification setting.
HP glass gives a meaningful low-light advantage over the Crossfire II standard tier, which matter for deer hunters who are in a stand before shooting light and stay until it is gone.
The AR-BDC3 is calibrated for common AR-platform cartridges including 300 BLK supersonic loads, with holdover marks that land within an inch of calculated point of impact at 150 and 200 yards when zeroed.
The 24mm objective keeps the scope profile low enough to sit close to the bore without requiring high rings that shift cheek weld off the AR stock’s natural position.
Vortex VIP warranty: unconditional, lifetime, transferable.
Pros
- True 1x for fast both-eyes-open close-range shooting
- AR-BDC3 FFP calibrated for 300 BLK supersonic loads
- HP glass: real low-light advantage over standard tier
- 8x ceiling for shots to 200 yards without overreaching the cartridge
- Illuminated reticle center point for low-light hunting
- Vortex VIP warranty: unconditional, lifetime, transferable
Cons
- 17.8 ounces: moderate weight on a suppressed short-barrel build
- AR-BDC3 calibrated for supersoni: subsonic holdovers require separate calculation
- 24mm objective limits light gathering in very dark conditions
2. Vortex Viper PST Gen II 1-6×24 – Best Premium LPVO
PST glass at dusk in a hardwood bottom produces a brighter image than HP glass with the same 24mm objective: deer outlines sharpen, body angles become readable, shots that would be passed with HP glass become executable.
True 1x at the bottom end delivers the same both-eyes-open capability as the Strike Eagle, paired with better glass quality in the conditions that matter most for deer hunting.
The EBR-1C first focal plane reticle provides mil-based holdovers that stay accurate at every magnification setting.
At 22.6 ounces the PST Gen II is the heaviest scope in this group, which is a real consideration on a suppressed 300 Blackout that already carries 12 to 20 ounces of suppressor weight at the muzzle.
Vortex VIP warranty: unconditional, lifetime, transferable.
Pros
- PST glass: best low-light LPVO performance in the Vortex lineup
- True 1x for fast close-range shot acquisition in timber
- EBR-1C FFP reticle: mil holdovers accurate at all magnifications
- Illuminated center dot for dark timber hunting
- 1-6x covers the full 300 BLK hunting envelope
- Vortex VIP warranty: unconditional, lifetime, transferable
Cons
- 22.6 ounces: heaviest scope in this group
- EBR-1C mil reticle more complex than most 300 BLK hunting situations require
- Price is a significant step above the Strike Eagle options
3. Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6×24 – Best Value LPVO
The Strike Eagle 1-6×24 is the value LPVO for a 300 Blackout hunter who wants HP glass and a FFP BDC without the PST Gen II price.
HP glass, true 1x, and the AR-BDC3 FFP reticle are shared with the 1-8×24 version, with the difference being the 6x ceiling instead of 8x.
For a cartridge whose practical hunting ceiling is 200 yards, the difference between 6x and 8x is a field limitation.
At 17.8 ounces the weight matches the Strike Eagle 1-8×24.
The AR-BDC3 provides 300 BLK supersonic holdovers calibrated to the cartridge’s trajectory and stays accurate at every magnification setting from 1x to 6x.
The illuminated center dot is usable for shots at 1x in pre-dawn conditions over a bait station.
Vortex VIP warranty: unconditional, lifetime, transferable.
Pros
- HP glass: real low-light improvement over Crossfire II
- True 1x for both-eyes-open close-range hunting
- AR-BDC3 FFP accurate at every magnification setting
- Illuminated center dot for pre-dawn and low-light use
- 17.8 ounces matches the 1-8×24 at a lower price
- Vortex VIP warranty: unconditional, lifetime, transferable
Cons
- 6x ceiling vs. 8x on the Strike Eagle 1-8×24 at similar price
- 24mm objective limits light gathering in very dark conditions
- AR-BDC3 calibrated for supersonic: subsonic trajectory requires separate holds
4. Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32 – Best for Timber Hunting
At 2x the field of view is wide enough for a deer at 40 yards in heavy cover, which is the shot the 300 Blackout in a treestand or blind is built around.
At 7x the scope provides enough magnification for a confident 150-yard shot on a broadside whitetail without the bulk and weight of a full LPVO.
Standard glass performs in good to moderate light for morning deer hunting when ambient sky light reaches the canopy.
At 11.8 ounces it is the lightest scope in this group and adds minimal weight to a rifle already carrying a suppressor.
The 3.7-inch eye relief is the most generous in this group for a suppressed rifle shot from variable positions.
Vortex VIP warranty: unconditional, lifetime, transferable.
Pros
- 11.8 ounces: lightest scope in this group
- 2x bottom end: wide field of view for close-range timber shots
- 3.7-inch eye relief: most generous for variable shooting positions
- Dead-Hold BDC provides working holdovers inside 150 yards
- No AR-height ring requirement: fits standard scope rings
- Vortex VIP warranty: unconditional, lifetime, transferable
Cons
- Standard glass limits performance in true low light
- 7x ceiling limits shots past 150 yards
- Not a true 1x: bottom end is 2x, slower than LPVO options for fast acquisition
5. Vortex Diamondback HP 1-4×24 – Best Compact
HP glass at 1-4x delivers a real low-light advantage over the Crossfire II standard tier in the same compact package.
At 13.2 ounces it is the lightest LPVO option in this group, adding minimal weight to a suppressed short-barrel build.
The AR-BDC2 second focal plane reticle provides holdover marks that are accurate at the calibrated magnification setting, which requires the hunter to remember to confirm power before using the BDC marks.
At 4x ceiling the scope covers the 300 Blackout’s suppressed hunting application inside 150 yards without overreaching the cartridge.
Vortex VIP warranty: unconditional, lifetime, transferable.
Pros
- HP glass: low-light advantage in a compact 1-4x package
- 13.2 ounces: lightest LPVO in this group
- True 1x for both-eyes-open close-range shooting
- AR-BDC2 provides working holdovers at calibrated magnification
- Compact 24mm profile stays low on the AR platform
- Vortex VIP warranty: unconditional, lifetime, transferable
Cons
- 4x ceiling limits shots past 150 yards on a .308-capable cartridge
- AR-BDC2 is SFP: holdovers accurate only at the calibrated magnification setting
- Less common than Strike Eagle options in retailer stock
6. Vortex Crossfire II 1-4×24 – Best Budget LPVO
The Crossfire II 1-4×24 is the entry-level LPVO for a 300 Blackout hunter who needs the 1x bottom end at the lowest price in the Vortex lineup.
Standard glass performs in good light for the 300 Blackout’s hunting distances inside 150 yards.
At 11.5 ounces it ties the Crossfire II 2-7×32 as the lightest option in this group.
The V-Plex reticle is simple and uncluttered: no BDC marks to manage, fast target acquisition at 1x for close-range shots.
At 3.9 inches of eye relief it is the most generous LPVO option in this group, which benefits hunters who shoot from varied positions.
The 4x ceiling is honest about the 300 Blackout’s practical hunting range.
Vortex VIP warranty: unconditional, lifetime, transferable.
Pros
- Lowest price LPVO in the Vortex lineup
- 11.5 ounces: lightest LPVO in this group
- True 1x for both-eyes-open close-range acquisition
- 3.9-inch eye relief: most generous LPVO option in this group
- V-Plex reticle: fast and uncluttered for timber hunting
- Vortex VIP warranty: unconditional, lifetime, transferable
Cons
- Standard glass shows limits at dawn and dusk compared to HP tier
- No BDC: holdover at distance requires shooter knowledge
- 4x ceiling limits shots past 150 yards
Scope to Terrain Match: 300 Blackout
| Scope | Dense Timber | Food Plot 150 yd | Hog Over Bait | Suppressed Night Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strike Eagle 1-8×24 | Excellent | Good | Best fit | Excellent |
| Viper PST Gen II 1-6×24 | Excellent | Good | Best fit | Best fit |
| Strike Eagle 1-6×24 | Excellent | Good | Best fit | Excellent |
| Crossfire II 2-7×32 | Good | Good | Adequate | Adequate |
| Diamondback HP 1-4×24 | Good | Adequate | Good | Good |
| Crossfire II 1-4×24 | Good | Adequate | Good | Adequate |
Field Notes: Vortex Scope Selection for the 300 Blackout
True 1x is the most important specification for this cartridge
The 300 Blackout at 50 yards in heavy cover demands the same fast acquisition as a shotgun in a flushing bird scenario.
A scope with a true 1x bottom end allows both-eyes-open shooting where the reticle appears life-size and the hunter tracks movement.
A scope advertised as 1x that produces a magnified image at its lowest setting is slower for this application and should be rejected.
Subsonic holdovers are not covered by the AR-BDC3
The AR-BDC3 reticle is calibrated for supersonic 300 BLK loads at 2,200 fps.
Subsonic loads at 1,050 fps drop 30 inches at 200 yards compared to 8 inches for supersonic.
Know which load is chambered before taking a holdover shot, and confirm subsonic drop at your expected hunting distances during a range session before the season.
Suppressor weight affects how the scope choice feels in the field
A 300 Blackout with a full-size suppressor adds 14 to 24 ounces at the muzzle.
A heavy scope at the rear counterbalances that weight, which is either helpful or not depending on your shooting style and carry preference.
The Crossfire II options at 11 to 12 ounces make a suppressed rifle very muzzle-heavy. The PST Gen II at 22.6 ounces offsets the suppressor weight.
Final Thoughts
The Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8×24 is the right scope for most 300 Blackout hunters: true 1x for close-range hog and deer work, HP glass for dawn and dusk performance, and an AR-BDC3 FFP reticle calibrated to the cartridge in a package that costs less than the PST Gen II.
Hunters who hunt the dawn and dusk windows hard and want the best low-light glass in the Vortex LPVO lineup should look at the Vortex Viper PST Gen II 1-6×24: the PST glass advantage over HP is real and visible in the conditions where deer and hog hunting peaks.
For a suppressed timber rifle where weight is the primary concern, the Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32 at 11.8 ounces keeps the rifle manageable while covering the 300 Blackout’s hunting range with a simple, fast-handling optic.
The 300 Blackout earns its reputation in close cover at short range. Put a Vortex scope on it that is built for that job.