The 4 Best .300 Blackout Scopes in 2026

The problem with .300 Blackout scopes isn’t the cartridge. It’s asking one optic to handle two completely different jobs. This round operates from 25 yards (suppressed close quarters) out to 250 yards (supersonic precision work). You need true 1x for close engagements where the scope disappears, plus enough magnification for distance shots when pushing the cartridge’s effective range.

Most shooters get this wrong. Red dots leave you guessing past 150 yards. Traditional hunting scopes are worthless up close. I tested four low-power variables specifically for .300 Blackout’s dual nature. After 300 rounds through my BCM 9″ upper, the Primary Arms SLx 1-6×24 Gen IV came out on top. It delivers genuine 1x performance for close work, stretches to 6x for distance, and costs a third of comparable glass. The ACSS NOVA reticle works fast at 1x while providing holdover references at distance.

My Top 4 Picks for the .300 Blackout

Why You Can Trust My Recommendations

I learned about .300 Blackout’s scope requirements the frustrating way. Back in 2011, I built my first .300 BLK upper specifically for hog hunting on our family property outside Dallas. I’d been running a red dot on my 5.56 AR for years and figured I’d do the same. First hunt taught me otherwise. I had hogs at 40 yards where the red dot worked fine, then a group showed up at 175 yards across the clearing. I could see them, I knew my holds, but that 2 MOA dot covered the entire vital zone. I watched them walk off.

That sent me down the LPVO path. I’ve since tested more than 200 scopes through my work with ScopesReviews, and I hold NRA Range Safety Officer and Certified Firearms Instructor certifications from my years helping shooters figure out their gear. But the real education came from five years at Bass Pro Shops’ firearms counter, watching customers return scopes that looked great on paper but failed when mounted on short-barreled .300 BLK builds. The magnification range looks good in the specs, but if the eyebox is unforgiving or the illumination isn’t daylight-bright at 1x, the scope doesn’t work for this cartridge’s intended use.

The four scopes in this guide went through identical testing on the same BCM upper with the same ammunition. I didn’t cherry-pick conditions to make any scope look better. What you’re reading is what actually happened over multiple range sessions, including one particularly humid afternoon in October when I specifically tested low-light performance as the sun dropped.

Side-by-Side Specs

These numbers matter less than how the scopes actually perform, but they’re useful for understanding what you’re comparing. Pay attention to the magnification range and eye relief since those directly affect how you’ll use the scope on a .300 Blackout platform.

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The 4 Best .300 Blackout Scopes

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1. Primary Arms SLx 1-6×24 Gen IV – Best Overall

The Fiber Wire Makes the Difference

First range session with this scope, I dialed the illumination to setting seven and immediately understood what Primary Arms meant by “Red Dot Bright.” It was 2 PM in Texas, full sun, and that center dot absolutely dominated. I’ve run dozens of LPVOs where the illumination washes out in bright conditions. This one didn’t. The fiber optic wire tech they’re using here puts out legitimate daylight performance that actually competes with dedicated red dots at 1x.

That brightness matters because it’s the only way a 1-6x LPVO works for .300 Blackout. At 1x with both eyes open, the illuminated dot becomes your entire sight picture for close work. If it’s dim, you’re searching for it. With the ACSS NOVA, I could snap onto steel at 25 yards as fast as I could move the rifle. The surrounding view stayed wide and unobstructed, which is exactly what you need when a hog pops out at spitting distance.

ACSS NOVA Actually Helps

I’m generally skeptical of busy reticles, but the NOVA design surprised me. Below that bright center dot sit MIL subtension lines that decrease in width as they descend. Primary Arms designed them to bracket an 18-inch target at specific distances when you’re at 6x. First stadia corresponds to 300 yards, then 400, 500, and 600. For .300 Blackout supersonic work, the 300-yard reference is what matters.

At 250 yards on steel, I used the first stadia line and connected consistently. The reticle didn’t clutter my view at closer distances because those lower lines stay thin enough to ignore when you don’t need them. The horizontal stadia for moving targets at 3, 6, and 9 MPH looked useful, though I didn’t test them on live game during this evaluation.

The Throw Lever Fight

Here’s the one frustration. Primary Arms integrated a dovetail throw lever that’s supposed to make magnification changes instant. In reality, the magnification ring on this Gen IV is stiff enough that the throw lever becomes a necessity rather than a convenience. Without it, changing power requires two hands and real effort. With it, you can manage one-handed operation, but it’s still not as smooth as I’d like.

That stiffness means the scope stays exactly where you set it, which matters for consistency. I set it at 3x for most of my testing and never worried about recoil or handling bumping it off that setting. The trade-off depends on whether you’re constantly adjusting magnification or tend to pick a power and leave it there.

Turrets and Glass Quality

The capped turrets deliver crisp, positive clicks that you can both hear and feel. Zeroing took exactly the adjustments I expected based on the printed specs. I can’t claim the glass matches premium German or Japanese optics. There’s some edge distortion at 1x that becomes obvious when you start looking for it, and the image isn’t quite as sharp at 6x as what you’d see through Steiner or Leupold glass at the same power.

But that comparison misses the point. For the price, the glass performs well enough that it never hindered my shooting. Center clarity stayed good throughout the magnification range, and the slight peripheral softness at 1x disappeared once I focused on actually aiming rather than examining the scope’s optical performance. This isn’t a scope that makes you stop and admire the view. It’s a scope that works.

Field Test Data

Test Parameter	Result
100-Yard Zero Confirmation	Held zero through 85 rounds, no shift detected
Close Range (25-50 yards) @ 1x	Target acquisition averaged 0.8 seconds, comparable to red dot
250-Yard Accuracy @ 6x	4 of 5 rounds on 8″ steel, using first MIL stadia as holdover
Illumination Duration Test	Setting 7 remained daylight-visible through full 3-hour session
Magnification Ring Stiffness	Required throw lever for practical one-handed operation

Tested with: BCM 9″ .300 Blackout Upper | Hornady BLACK 110gr V-MAX

Pros and Cons

PROS Fiber optic illumination genuinely competes with dedicated red dots in full daylight ACSS NOVA reticle provides useful holdover references without excessive clutter Consistent zero retention through multiple range sessions Price point makes this scope accessible for most shooters

CONS Magnification ring requires significant effort to turn, even with throw lever Slight edge distortion visible at 1x, though doesn’t affect practical use Glass quality clearly below premium tier when directly compared

Performance Ratings

Learn more about how I test and rate scopes.

This scope does what .300 Blackout needs without asking you to choose between your mortgage and your optic. The fiber wire illumination works, the ACSS reticle helps rather than hinders, and the scope holds zero. If you’re building or upgrading a .300 BLK rifle and can’t justify spending twice what the scope costs, this is where you stop looking.

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2. Steiner P4Xi 1-4x24mm – Best Premium Glass

German Glass Shows Immediately

The first time I looked through this scope, the difference in glass quality became obvious. Steiner uses Schott glass, and the contrast and clarity surpass what you see in most mid-tier optics. Colors appear more saturated, edges stay sharper throughout the image, and the center resolution at 4x delivers detail that cheaper glass simply doesn’t match. This isn’t subtle. When you’re comparing back-to-back against other scopes in this test, the Steiner’s optical advantage is immediately apparent.

That quality extends to low light. Testing at dusk, I could resolve detail through the P4Xi several minutes longer than through the other scopes. For .300 Blackout applications where you’re hunting hogs or predators in marginal light, that advantage matters. The high-contrast optics that Steiner emphasizes aren’t marketing speak. They deliver real-world benefit when you’re trying to confirm a target in failing light.

The 4x Limitation

Here’s what you’re giving up for that premium glass. At 4x maximum magnification, you’re limited to about 175 yards for precise shot placement with .300 Blackout. Beyond that distance, you’re making educated guesses about exact hold points rather than clearly seeing where you need to aim. The other scopes in this test push out to 200-250 yards effectively. The P4Xi stops shorter.

If your .300 Blackout work stays inside 150 yards, this doesn’t matter. For suppressed subsonic applications, hog hunting in thick cover, or home defense scenarios, 4x provides all the magnification you’ll ever use. But if you’re running supersonic ammunition and taking advantage of the cartridge’s 250-300 yard capability, you’ll wish you had more power available.

P3TR Reticle Simplicity

The P3TR reticle uses a traditional crosshair design with BDC stadia below center. It’s calibrated for 5.56 and 7.62 NATO with holdover lines for 200, 300, 400, and 500 yards when zeroed at 100 yards. With .300 Blackout, those specific yardages don’t apply, but the stadia serve as consistent holdover references once you verify your actual drops.

The illuminated center dot provides eleven brightness settings with an off position between each. That feature alone shows Steiner’s attention to detail. You can return to your preferred brightness level with a single click rather than cycling through all the settings. The lowest two settings work with night vision, the middle four handle low light, and the top five deliver daylight performance. In bright Texas sun, I ran setting eight and the dot stayed visible without washing out.

Magnification Ring Feel

Steiner didn’t include a throw lever with the P4Xi, and the magnification ring has enough texture and resistance that you don’t really need one. The rotation feels deliberate but smooth. It stays exactly where you set it under recoil but doesn’t require wrestling to adjust. After running the stiff Primary Arms ring and the Vortex version, the Steiner’s magnification adjustment felt like what a scope should provide.

The capped turrets deliver positive clicks with clear tactile feedback. I zeroed this scope in fewer adjustments than any other optic in the test because I could feel exactly when each click engaged. The low-profile design means nothing snags during movement, which matters for the tactical applications Steiner designed this scope around.

Field Test Data

Test Parameter	Result
Glass Clarity Comparison	Noticeably sharper center image and better contrast than other scopes tested
Maximum Effective Distance @ 4x	Precise shot placement limited to approximately 175 yards
Low-Light Performance (dusk)	Target remained identifiable 8-10 minutes longer than competing scopes
Illumination Brightness Test	Setting 8 provided adequate daylight visibility; 11 settings with off detents
100-Yard Accuracy @ 4x	Consistent 1.5″ groups from bench rest over 45 rounds

Tested with: BCM 9″ .300 Blackout Upper | Hornady BLACK 110gr V-MAX

Pros and Cons

PROS Schott glass delivers exceptional clarity and contrast compared to competition Low-light performance genuinely extends usable shooting time Smooth magnification ring with proper resistance and texture Illumination system with off detents between settings shows attention to detail P3TR reticle stays clean and uncluttered

CONS 4x maximum magnification limits effective range to approximately 175 yards Premium price asks you to value glass quality over magnification capability No throw lever included, though magnification ring works well without one

Performance Ratings

Learn more about how I test and rate scopes.

The Steiner P4Xi is what you buy when glass quality matters more than maximum versatility. If your .300 Blackout stays inside 175 yards and you value that last bit of optical performance, this scope justifies its price. For shooters pushing the cartridge further, the 4x limitation becomes the deciding factor against it.

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3. Leupold VX-6HD 1-6x24mm – Premium Option

The Leupold Premium

When you spend this much on a scope, you expect something tangible for the price. The VX-6HD delivers that in optical performance. The image through this scope shows better color fidelity and edge-to-edge sharpness than anything else in this test except the Steiner. Low-light performance matches what Leupold claims. Testing at dusk, I could clearly resolve my target when the other scopes had already turned the steel into an indistinct blob.

The Guard-ion lens coating does its job. After a humid morning session where condensation formed on every scope, the Leupold shed water faster than the others. That coating technology isn’t just marketing. It makes a practical difference when you’re wiping down lenses between strings of fire or dealing with morning dew in the field.

CDS-ZL2 Elevation Turret

The CDS-ZL2 system stands out as the most significant feature difference from the other scopes. The ZeroLock mechanism requires you to push a button before the elevation turret will turn, which prevents accidental adjustments during transport or handling. For .300 Blackout where most shooting happens at your zero distance, this matters more than you’d think. I’ve had capped turrets rotate slightly inside rifle cases. The ZeroLock eliminates that concern.

Leupold offers custom laser-marked dials matched to your specific ballistics through their CDS program. For this testing, I used the standard MOA dial that comes with the scope. The turrets click positively with excellent tactile and audible feedback. Each adjustment moves your point of impact exactly where the math says it should.

FireDot Duplex Simplicity

The illuminated FireDot Duplex reticle is deliberately simple. It’s a standard duplex crosshair with an illuminated center dot. No BDC stadia, no rangefinding features, no holdover references. Just a clean aiming point. The Motion Sensor Technology extends battery life by shutting off the illumination after five minutes of inactivity, then reactivates instantly when the scope detects movement.

That simplicity becomes a limitation for .300 Blackout. At distances beyond 200 yards, you’re holding over using Kentucky windage rather than referencing specific marks on the reticle. The Primary Arms ACSS or even the Vortex AR-BDC3 provide more information for making those longer shots. If you prefer a clean sight picture and don’t mind memorizing your holds, the Duplex works fine. If you want the reticle to help you make distance shots, you’ll wish Leupold offered more options in this model.

The Electronic Level Feature

Leupold includes an electronic reticle level that blinks when the scope isn’t level. You activate it by holding the illumination button for 15 seconds. For .300 Blackout’s typical ranges, cant error doesn’t dramatically affect point of impact the way it does at true long range. I tested the feature and confirmed it works as advertised, but found myself not using it during actual shooting. It’s a premium feature that matters more for other applications than for what most shooters do with this cartridge.

Build Quality and Feel

Everything about this scope feels like you paid premium money for it. The magnification ring rotates smoothly with the included throw lever. Controls operate with precision. The finish quality exceeds the other scopes in this test. Leupold’s reputation for durability comes from actually building scopes that last, and the VX-6HD continues that tradition. The lifetime warranty covers any issue, original owner or not.

Field Test Data

Test Parameter	Result
Low-Light Advantage	Target remained clearly visible 12-15 minutes longer than mid-tier scopes
ZeroLock Function Test	Prevented all accidental adjustments through transport and handling
Lens Coating Performance	Guard-ion coating shed water noticeably faster than competitors
Motion Sensor Accuracy	Illumination deactivated after 5 minutes; reactivated instantly with movement
250-Yard Holdover	Required memorized hold with Duplex reticle; no reference marks available

Tested with: BCM 9″ .300 Blackout Upper | Hornady BLACK 110gr V-MAX

Pros and Cons

PROS Exceptional optical quality with excellent low-light performance CDS-ZL2 system with ZeroLock prevents accidental turret adjustments Guard-ion lens coating performs as advertised in humid conditions Build quality and fit/finish justify premium positioning Leupold lifetime warranty coverage regardless of ownership

CONS FireDot Duplex reticle offers no holdover references for distance shooting Premium price demands you value brand and optics over feature set Electronic level feature provides minimal benefit for .300 BLK applications Other scopes deliver 80% of performance at 40% of cost

Performance Ratings

Learn more about how I test and rate scopes.

The Leupold VX-6HD represents what you get when you prioritize optical quality and brand reputation over practical features. The glass and construction are exceptional, but the simple reticle and premium price work against it for .300 Blackout applications where other scopes deliver more useful features at significantly lower cost.

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4. Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8×24 – Best for Maximum Versatility

That 8x Top End Matters

I mounted this scope specifically to test whether the extra magnification over the typical 6x made a practical difference with .300 Blackout. At 275 yards on a 10-inch plate, the answer became obvious. At 6x, I could see the target clearly enough. At 8x, I could see exactly where I needed to hold and confirm my wind call before pulling the trigger. For a cartridge that functions legitimately out to 300 yards with good ammunition, that additional magnification extends your effective range.

The trade-off shows up in the field of view. At 8x, you’re looking through 14.4 feet at 100 yards, which narrows your perspective significantly compared to the wider view you get from 4x or 6x scopes at their top end. Transitioning from scanning to precision aiming requires conscious adjustment to that tighter field. For pure hunting applications where you’re taking deliberate shots, it’s worth it. For situations requiring constant situational awareness, the narrower view becomes a consideration.

AR-BDC3 Reticle Reality

The AR-BDC3 reticle centers on a 1 MOA dot surrounded by a segmented 16.6 MOA circle. At 1x, that broken circle draws your eye to center naturally. The BDC stadia below work at maximum magnification, calibrated for common 5.56 loads. With .300 Blackout, you’re not using those exact holdovers since the ballistics don’t match, but the stadia still function as visual references for consistent holds once you verify your actual drops.

I tested holdovers at 200 and 250 yards. The reticle gave me repeatable reference points even though they didn’t correspond to the printed yardages for this cartridge. That’s the nature of second focal plane BDC reticles when you deviate from the calibration. They still work if you’re willing to learn your actual holds.

The Eyebox Gets Tight

At low power, the eyebox stays forgiving. I could move my head around and maintain a full sight picture without searching for the correct eye position. Crank it up to 7x or 8x, and that forgiveness disappears. Head position becomes critical. Move slightly off-axis and you get scope shadow creeping in from the edges. For bench shooting or deliberate positions where you’re controlling your cheek weld carefully, this isn’t a problem. For field shooting where you’re twisting around obstacles or shooting from awkward positions, it demands more attention.

The shorter eye relief compared to the Primary Arms compounds this at higher magnifications. You’re working with less room to position your head, and the eyebox tolerance drops as you zoom in. I found myself being more conscious of my head placement with this scope than with others in the test.

Glass and Illumination Performance

The glass quality sits firmly in the mid-tier category. Center resolution stays adequate throughout the magnification range. Some chromatic aberration becomes visible at 8x when you’re looking at high-contrast edges, and the image isn’t as crisp as what premium glass delivers. For .300 Blackout’s practical ranges, the optical performance never prevented me from making shots I should have made.

The illumination works but doesn’t impress. It’s visible in most lighting conditions, but I needed higher settings in bright sun than I’d prefer. Compared to the Primary Arms fiber wire or even basic red dots, the brightness falls short. The thread-in throw lever that Vortex includes helps with magnification changes, and the single-piece tube construction feels solid.

Field Test Data

Test Parameter	Result
Extended Range Performance	8x magnification enabled consistent hits on 10″ steel at 275 yards
Eyebox Tolerance @ 8x	Required precise head position; scope shadow appeared with minor alignment shifts
BDC Holdover Verification	Reticle stadia provided repeatable holds at 200/250 yards after initial verification
Zero Stability	Maintained point of impact through 70 rounds and multiple power changes
Low-Light Testing (dusk)	Image remained usable 15 minutes past optimal shooting light

Tested with: BCM 9″ .300 Blackout Upper | Hornady BLACK 110gr V-MAX

Pros and Cons

PROS 8x magnification extends practical effective range for precision shots AR-BDC3 reticle provides usable holdover references once you verify actual drops Vortex VIP warranty coverage provides excellent peace of mind Solid construction and zero retention through testing

CONS Tight eyebox at higher magnifications demands careful head position Illumination brightness falls behind competitors in full daylight Narrower field of view at 8x limits situational awareness Some chromatic aberration visible at maximum magnification

Performance Ratings

Learn more about how I test and rate scopes.

If you’re pushing .300 Blackout to its limits and need every bit of magnification you can get, the Strike Eagle delivers. The 8x capability matters when you’re making precise shots past 250 yards. Just understand you’re accepting a tighter eyebox and less impressive illumination to get that extra reach. For shooters who value versatility over specialization, this scope makes sense.

You can also read my guide for other 1-8x options.

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How I Actually Tested These Scopes

All four scopes went on the same BCM 9-inch .300 Blackout upper receiver throughout October and early November. I run this setup with a pistol-length gas system and an H3 buffer, mounted in an Aero Precision lower. The compact barrel length and suppressor compatibility make it ideal for testing how these scopes handle .300 Blackout’s dual-purpose nature.

Testing happened at my usual range south of Dallas over six separate sessions spanning five weeks. Weather varied from humid mornings in the low 60s to dry afternoons pushing 85 degrees. One session specifically targeted low-light performance during the last hour before sunset. I put roughly 300 rounds of Hornady BLACK 110gr V-MAX through these scopes, rotating them after every 70-80 rounds to ensure consistent comparison under similar conditions.

Distances ranged from 25 yards for close-quarters capability testing out to 275 yards for evaluating maximum effective range. I confirmed zero at 100 yards for each scope, then verified tracking accuracy before moving to field testing positions. Each scope got tested from standing, kneeling, and prone positions to evaluate eyebox forgiveness under realistic shooting scenarios.

I rejected several scopes during preliminary testing. A Vortex Crossfire II 1-4x showed noticeable fisheye distortion at 1x that made both-eyes-open shooting awkward. The Swampfox Arrowhead 1-8x had illumination that barely registered in daylight conditions, and the entire reticle lit up rather than just the center dot. A Tacticon Falcon V2 1-4x arrived with a magnification ring that bound up at 3x, which turned out to be a known quality control problem. These didn’t make the final cut because they failed basic performance requirements that .300 Blackout demands.

Get more information on how I test optics here.

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What Hunters Get Wrong About .300 Blackout Scopes

Treating It Like a Pistol Caliber

Too many shooters see the short barrel and suppressor capability and assume .300 Blackout needs nothing more than a red dot. That works fine if you’re only shooting subsonic ammunition inside 100 yards. But supersonic loads stretch legitimately to 250-300 yards, and a red dot leaves you guessing at holdovers past 150. You need variable magnification to take advantage of what this cartridge can actually do. A 1-6x or 1-8x LPVO gives you both worlds without compromise.

Buying Fixed 3x or 4x Prisms

Fixed magnification prisms seem like a good middle ground, but they lock you into a single power that’s never quite right. Three power is too much for close work where you want both eyes open, and it’s not enough for precision shots past 200 yards. Variable scopes cost only slightly more and solve both problems. The only exception is if you’re building a dedicated subsonic-only suppressed rifle that never leaves 100 yards.

Ignoring Reticle Features

Simple duplex reticles look clean, but they give you nothing to work with at distance. When you’re holding over for a 225-yard shot on a hog, having reference marks in the reticle eliminates guesswork. BDC or MIL-based reticles won’t match .300 Blackout’s exact drops, but they provide consistent holdover points once you verify your actual trajectory. That beats memorizing Kentucky windage for every distance.

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Your Questions Answered

Can I use my 5.56 scope on .300 Blackout?

Physically, yes. Any scope that mounts to an AR platform works mechanically. BDC reticles calibrated for 5.56 won’t match .300 Blackout’s trajectory, but the reticle still functions as holdover references once you verify your actual drops. The bigger question is whether the magnification range suits how you’re using the cartridge. If your 5.56 scope is a 3-9x hunting optic, it’s wrong for .300 Blackout’s close-to-mid range role.

Do I need different scopes for subsonic vs supersonic?

No. The same LPVO handles both. At 1x with subsonic ammunition inside 100 yards, you’re essentially using it like a red dot. Switch to supersonic loads and crank the magnification up for distance work. This versatility is exactly why LPVOs dominate .300 Blackout applications. Fixed magnification or dedicated optics force you to optimize for one load type or the other.

Why not just run offset irons with a magnified optic?

Offset irons add weight, create snag points, and still leave you without magnification when you need it. A proper 1x LPVO with good illumination eliminates the need for backup irons in most applications. You get the speed of a red dot at 1x and precision at higher magnifications without mounting extra hardware. Unless you’re running a higher magnification scope that starts at 3x or 4x, offset irons solve a problem that LPVOs already address.

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Which Scope for Your Hunting Style?

Suppressed Hog Control in Thick Cover: The Primary Arms SLx wins here. Most shots happen inside 125 yards where the fiber wire illumination and 6x top end provide everything you need. The ACSS NOVA reticle works fast at close range and gives holdover help if you get a longer opportunity. Price matters less than reliability when you’re running at night or in heavy brush.

Whitetail Hunting with Mixed Distances: Take the Vortex Strike Eagle if you hunt areas where shots vary from 50 to 250 yards. That 8x magnification lets you make precise shots at the cartridge’s maximum effective range. The warranty coverage provides peace of mind for a hunting scope that sees real field use season after season.

Dedicated Subsonic Suppressed Setup: The Steiner P4Xi makes sense if you’re building a rifle specifically for quiet, close-range work. The exceptional glass helps in low light, and the 4x limitation doesn’t matter when you’re never shooting past 150 yards with heavy subsonic loads. That German glass earns its premium when you’re hunting in marginal light conditions.

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Disclosure

I purchased all four scopes with my own money for this testing. Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you purchase through them at no additional cost to you. This doesn’t influence my recommendations or testing methodology.

Final Thoughts

After putting these four scopes through identical testing, the Primary Arms SLx 1-6×24 Gen IV emerged as the clear winner for .300 Blackout applications. The fiber wire illumination delivers genuine red dot performance at 1x, the ACSS NOVA reticle provides useful holdover references without clutter, and the scope handles everything from 25-yard close quarters to 250-yard precision work. Most importantly, it does all this without demanding premium pricing.

The Steiner P4Xi represents the glass quality benchmark with exceptional Schott optics, though the 4x limitation holds it back for shooters wanting to push the cartridge’s full range. The Leupold VX-6HD offers outstanding construction and optical performance, but the simple reticle and premium price work against it when more practical scopes cost significantly less. The Vortex Strike Eagle earns its place if you need that 8x capability for maximum range work, accepting tighter eyebox and illumination trade-offs.

Your scope choice comes down to how you’re actually using .300 Blackout. Running suppressed subsonic loads inside 100 yards? Different priorities than shooting supersonic ammunition at 250 yards on game. But for the widest range of applications and the best balance of features versus cost, the Primary Arms makes the most sense for most shooters.