Best Scopes for .300 Blackout: Top 5 Picks Reviewed

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

By Dennis Howard •  13 min read

If you are like me, you have grown to love your AR platform chambered for the 5.56×45 round.  I like mine so much that I don’t just have one.  I have different configurations, from the standard 16-inch barrel to an extra-long 24-inch barrel.  

Best Scopes for .300 blackout

However, there are times when the 5.56×45 round can’t what I want to do with a rifle.  I wanted more bullet weight, more delivered energy, and a caliber that I could easily suppress but still run supersonic ammo if I wished.  Enter the .300 Blackout.

The result is an easy to deploy AR platform chambered for .300 Blackout, configured with a 10” barrel, a suppressor, and, of course, the necessary tax stamps to make it legal. We will talk about loads and bullet weights and range performance in another article.  Today’s topic of interest is scope selection and what I eventually picked as my choice for my rifle.

BLACKOUT SCOPE DETAILS
  • Rugged and Durable Construction meant of the harshest and most extreme conditions.
  • Shock-resistant and waterproof construction .
  • TBullet Drop Compensating reticle matched to the .300 Blackout ballistics for a range of bullet weights .
Check Price on
OpticsPlanet.com
Check Price on
Amazon.com
  • BDC reticle with open dot aiming points make target acquisition quick and precise .
  • Spring-loaded instant zero turrets make on the fly adjustments easy and accurate .
  • Elevated turrets with crisp and clear markings .
Check Price on
Amazon.com
  • Glass etched reticle for crisp and clear lines .
  • Eleven illumination settings  .
  • Rated for IP67 waterproof uses .
Check Price on
OpticsPlanet.com
Check Price on
Amazon.com

Factors I Considered in a Scope for the .300 Blackout

The .300 Blackout can be a challenge when choosing a scope.  The choice is often more about personal preference than performance.  Most modern scope manufacturers produce scopes with excellent performance features and optics.  Understanding what you want from your rifle and scope combination is the key to finding the right scope.

Fitting the scope to the caliber is another factor to consider.  In looking at the .300 Blackout, I found several dominating characteristics and performance factors that influenced my decision.


Scopes I Considered for My .300 Blackout Rifle

In the end, I narrowed my list down to five scopes.  Each of these scopes offered features and performance that were a fit for my needs and expectations.  The five scoped that made my final list are:

Any of these scopes fit well with the .300 Blackout cartridge.  They all perform well and come with a list of impressive features.  However, each of these scopes came with some downsides that influenced my decision.  Here is what I discovered about the five scopes on my list of the best scopes for a .300 blackout rifle.

Ultimate .300 Blackout Rifle Scope – Trijicon ACOG BAC 3×30 Rifle Scope – 300 BLK 115/220 Grain

Trijicon ACOG BAC 3x30 Rifle Scope – 300 BLK 115/220 Grain

Trijicon is, for many people, the standard by which they measure all other AR scopes.  Trijicon didn’t gain this reputation without good reason.  The Trijicon ACOG is a combat-proven piece of equipment and one of the few military-grade optical pieces of equipment a civilian can legally purchase.

Take that reputation and wrap it around a designed scope specifically for the .300 Blackout cartridge, and you have an impressive piece of kit.  There is not much that not to like about the Trijicon ACOG.  Considering the features and performance, I found:

I am fond of fixed magnification for rifles intended for extreme uses.  The telescopic sight mechanisms tend to be a failure point in scopes that may suffer any shocks such as falls or hard bumps.  The Trijicon ACOG also offers illumination without batteries.  

There are many Trijicon ACOG clones on the market, but to get the benefits and features that set the Trijicon ACOG apart, you must purchase a true Trijicon scope.  Users of Trijicon ACOG scopes are almost 100% in praise of these optics.

Pros

Cons

In the end, the only con that most people put on the Trijicon ACOG .300 BLK scope is the one that put this scope out of the running for me.  The price was just too steep for me to justify for a rifle that goes to the field only a couple of times a year.

  • Rugged and Durable Construction meant of the harshest and most extreme conditions.
  • Shock-resistant and waterproof construction .
  • TBullet Drop Compensating reticle matched to the .300 Blackout ballistics for a range of bullet weights .
Check Price on
OpticsPlanet.com
Check Price on
Amazon.com

Best Variable Magnification .300 Blackout Scope – Nikon P-Tactical 2-7×32 BDC Supersub

Nikon P-Tactical 2-7x32 BDC Supersub

If you plan to shoot your .300 Blackout rifle out past 200 yards, a variable magnification scope is a good option.  When I started looking for a scope for my.300 Blackout rifle, the Nikon line of scopes was one of my first thoughts.  

I have a standard configuration AR equipped with a Nikon bullet drop compensating scope for the 5.56×45 cartridge.  This scope is an over-achiever for the price and has been one of my favorites.  The Nikon P-Tactical BDC scope for .300 Blackout was on my list quickly.  

The Nikon scope is another piece of equipment that rarely gets a bad review from users about the features, optics, or performance.  The unique design of the Nikon Supersub reticle is another plus working for this Nikon optic, but it isn’t the only feature.

The Nikon P-Tactical for the .300 Blackout is an impressive piece of optical equipment for the price.  If you consider hunting where your target ranges are beyond the 200-yard mark, you won’t go wrong with the Nikon P-Tactical 2-7X32 BDC Supersub scope on your rifle.  The pros and cons tell the tale about this Nikon optic.

Pros

Cons

Unfortunately, about the time I was considering which scope to mount on my .300 Blackout, Nikon made the official announcement that they were no longer going to produce rifle optics.  This announcement came as a huge surprise to almost everyone.  

I may very well have chosen the Nikon P-Tactical scope for my .300 blackout rifle but for two issues.  I prefer a fixed magnification scope and I was not anticipating shooting at ranges more than 20 yards.  The second was the Nikon announcement.  I simply didn’t want to purchase another scope that would be a manufacturing orphan

A side note.  There are still many retailers who have stocks of the Nikon scopes.  The price and the features of these scopes make them a good choice for many situations.  Doing a little careful shopping could score you a nice scope at a very reasonable price.

  • BDC reticle with open dot aiming points make target acquisition quick and precise .
  • Spring-loaded instant zero turrets make on the fly adjustments easy and accurate .
  • Elevated turrets with crisp and clear markings .
Check Price on
Amazon.com

Best Prism Scope for the .300 Blackout Rifle – Primary Arms Compact Prism Scope

Primary Arms Compact Prism Scope

I was unfamiliar with the Primary Arms brand until I started shopping for a scope for my .300 Blackout rifle.   I kept running across reviews and other articles that touted the Primary Arms brand as an up and coming builder of quality optics.  I decided to give them a look.

That look and my subsequent investigations and trials got the Primary Arms Compact Prism scope a place on my shortlist of rifle scopes for my .300 Blackout rifle.  The Primary Arms Prism scope performs admirably and offers a rich set of features.  

Users of Primary Arms optics offer up rave reviews about these scopes.  Most of the negative comments deal more with shipping or packaging problems than with the actual performance of the scopes.  Customer service issues are sometimes mentioned as well

Pros

Cons

The major issue I had with mounting this scope on my .300 Blackout rifle was the reticle.  The Primary Arms prism scope is a CQB style scope intended for close-in shooting.  The ranges intended for this shooting style generally means under 75 yards and in cramped extreme short-range situations.   I didn’t want a CQB combat style reticle. The CQB reticle dropped the Primary Arms Prism scope out of the running.  

  • Glass etched reticle for crisp and clear lines .
  • Eleven illumination settings  .
  • Rated for IP67 waterproof uses .
Check Price on
OpticsPlanet.com
Check Price on
Amazon.com

Ultimate Red Dot .300 Blackout Optic – Aimpoint PRO

Aimpoint PRO

The Aimpoint PRO optic is iconic among AR shooters.  Aimpoint optics are renowned for their quality of construction, durability, and clear optics.  The Aimpoint PRO is no exception.  If you consider a red dot sight for your .300 Blackout rifle, put the Aimpoint PRO on your list.

One major advantage to the Aimpoint PRO is the technology that allows this optic to perform above and beyond in the battery life arena.  A single battery will usually last up to 3 years under normal use.  There is no need to turn the illumination on and off.  Mount the sight, zero and forget.  

Feature-wise, the Aimpoint PRO is second to none.

Finding anything to criticize about the Aimpoint PRO red dot sight is difficult.  Users of the sight are consistent in their admiration and praise of the Aimpoint PRO optic.

Pros

Cons

Overall, I like the Aimpoint PRO sight.  The long battery life, always-on features, and size make this an attractive option for a .300 Blackout rifle.   However, budget-wise, it pushes the limits on what is reasonable.  This one point alone kept the Aimpoint PRO from being my choice for my .300 Blackout rifle.

  • Always on illumination lasting up to 3 years.
  • 2 MOA red dot.
  • Compatible with all 3x magnifiers.
Check Price on
Opticsplanet.com

Overall Best .300 Blackout Rifle Scope – Vortex Optics Strikefire II

Vortex Optics Strikefire II

I confess I own several Vortex Optics rifle scopes and pistol optics.  I like Vortex and anytime I start shopping for a new optic for a firearm, there is almost always a Vortex Optics scope in the mix.  It should come as no surprise that a Vortex optic shows up on this list as well.

Vortex has built a reputation for building very high-quality scopes with excellent performance characteristics as what many people consider a budget price.  Since the budget is always a concern in my world, this makes Vortex one of my go-to suppliers for optics.

The Vortex Optics Strikefire II is not a caliber specific BDS rifle scope like most others on this list.  The StrikeFire is a red-dot optic that offers a rich set of features in a simple platform.  

Users of Vortex Optics equipment have very few negative things to say.  If there is a problem with a Vortex Optics scope, the no questions asked lifetime warranty puts Vortex Optics ahead of the game.  Combined with the build quality, Vortex Optics tend to get high ratings among consumers.

Pros

Cons

Many shooters find the 4 MOA red dot to be large for their taste.  I have never had a problem with the 4 MOA red dot.  Since most of my shooting with my .300 Blackout is at 100 yards or less, the size of the dot doesn’t make much difference. For the price, the Strikefire II is a choice anyone should consider for a .300 Blackout rifle.

  • A large objective lens of a wider field of view than many other red dot scopes .
  • 4 MOA dot is easy to see and quick to bring on target   .
  • User-selectable red or green dot aiming point .
Check Price on
OpticsPlanet.com
Check Price on
Amazon.com

Final Decision

I would have been pleased with mounting any of these optics on my .300 Blackout rifle.  I do not doubt that any of the scopes on my list would perform and satisfy most of my requirements.  At the end of the process, I settled on the Vortex Optics Strikefire II.  

The combination of price, features, and performance were the core decision points for me.  Your needs and expectations are certainly not exactly like mine.  Consider your situation and make your decision accordingly.  I hope that my discussion of each of these optics’ pros and cons helps you make a better decision.  Good luck and good shooting.

Dennis Howard

A life long hunter, fisherman, and outdoorsman, after surviving a devastating tornado in his home town, he saw the effects on people's lives as they struggled to cope. He built his first bugout bag a few weeks later and has been a dedicated prepper/survivalist since that time. After a career as a fireman, Dennis opened a retail store (FFL approved) catering to the military, law enforcement, and like-minded individuals. The store built their own AR platforms. Furthermore, Dennis was also an NRA instructor in both long gun and handgun as well as a certified range safety officer. Read his full interview here.