Introduction
Do you want to know the history of .300 AAC Blackout cartridge? Well, this may not be the right place for you. Try out Wikipedia or YouTube for that. Also, I have deliberately not added the details of the firearms that suits well this ammunition. Adding jargon leads to complexity, and complexity is what would defeat the purpose of this article.It is sufficient to know that .300 Blackout is an intermediate cartridge that can be in a variety of ways: hunting, self-defense, and recreational shooting. The most popular rifles/platforms that use it are AR-15 Rifles and M4 carbine. This article will provide you with comprehensive reviews of 4 best 300 blackout scope available in the market. Also, there is a buying guide in the end to arm you will the key parameters that decide the suitability of the scope.
Leupold VX-1—Premium 300 blackout scope
- 3:1 zoom ratio erector system
- Crafted from 6061-T6 aircraft quality aluminum
- Leupold's classic/standard fast focus eyepiece
- Durable bikini-style lens cover
- The Multicoat 4 lens system for extreme clarity
Budget
Leupold doesn’t spare you in the budget. This product, like any other Leupold products, is not for those who are looking for economical scopes. However, you will get excellent quality in return for the money you will invest in it.
Magnification
This scope has an adjustable magnification that ranges from 2 to 7x. It will give you a lot of maneuverability with the rifle as you can shoot at short and long-range targets with maximum accuracy and precision.
Construction
As I have mentioned earlier, aerospace-grade aluminum is the material of choice in premium scopes. It is lightweight and yet rock hard. These two qualities make it highly suitable for AR-15 rifles which, in turn, are light as a feather.
Also, the scope is purged of oxygen and sealed with a proprietary nitrogen sealing process. It is completely water and fog proof scope.
Lens Quality
If there is anything that is extremely remarkable about this scope as compared to its competitors, it is the quality of its lens.
A lens function is to filter light or enhance the contrast when the need be. The multicoated lens in this scope gives an excellent field view no matter what are the lighting conditions outside. It filters the light while transmission so it couldn’t hamper your vision.
Lastly, you will get a lens cover with the scope that will provide for the utmost lens protection in the field or while in storage.
Turrets and reticle
Yes, it is a problematic area of the scope. As reported by many users, this scope doesn’t hold zero for very long for rifles with heavy recoil. The AR-15 rifle with .300 blackout cartridge has minimum recoil so you won’t have to zero your scope again and again.
The turrets allow for windage and elevation adjustments. They are capped to protect it from dust and damage.
Aesthetics:
A few can beat Leupold when it comes to aesthetics. Matt black finish on a sturdy tube, shinning lens and on the top of it a Gold Leupold label right at the center of the scope made users speak highly of the overall design of the scope.
Warranty
This is the most exciting aspect of the scope. A company’s trust in a product is usually indicated by the warranty it is offering for it. Some offer two years, others can extend it to 10 years. But guess what, Leupold is offering a lifetime warranty with this scope. Impressive, isn’t it?
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- Backed by Warranty
- Fast Focus Eyepiece
- Adjustable magnification
- High-Quality Lens
- Some users reported that it doesn’t hold zero for long
Nikon P-Tactical 300BLK—Best Hunting 300 Blackout scope
- The BDC SuperSub reticle offers shooters unique open circle aiming points with additional hash-marks at interium distances based on 115 gr bullet at 2280 fps
- One inch body tube
- Spring loaded instant zero resets turrets
- Elevated windage and elevation turrets
- Generous consistant Eye relief
Budget
Like Leupold, this Nikon scope will cost you an arm and a leg. Why? The premium brands always price their products over the odds to keep their distinctive elite stature. However, this scope is not overpriced for what it is offering in return.
Magnification
You will enjoy the adjustable magnification of 2-7x. Furthermore, the versatile 3x zoom ratio provides the field of view at the low end and the detail at the high end to satisfy most shooting demands.
The 7x maximum range is sufficient for the Ak-15 rifle as beyond that, the bullet drop will be too minimal successfully hit a target.
Construction
This riflescope is strongly built to withstand the test of time. Like Leupold, it is also made-up of aircraft-grade aluminum to keep the weight low and strength maximum. Also, it is purged of oxygen and filled with nitrogen to keep it fog and waterproof.
Lens Quality
It is featuring a fully multicoated lens. I hope you remember that these are the premium quality lens which maximizes the transmission of light. Nikon lens is even better than that of Leopold, you will get a highly refined image in all lightening condition: in glaring sun or dark evening.
Turrets and reticle
The Smooth-turn aluminum ring with rubberized eye guard is there to allow for crisp reticle focus and quick target acquisition. You will be surprised by the convenient reset of turrets to zero after sighting-in for easy reference when making field adjustments. The spring-loaded instant zero turrets are admired by a lot of users.
The reticle of this scope is a truly remarkable feature. You will not find this in any other 300 blackout scope. The BDC 600 reticle offers shooters unique open circle aiming points and hash marks from 100 to 600 yards. Although you will not be using it for 600 yards away target, it will be quite useful for deers 200 yards away.
Aesthetics
I would not say that it is the most appealing scope in the market. However, the overall design is quite bulky, while the matte black finish gives it a sophisticated look.
Warranty
Nikon is not offering any warranty with this scope which is quite surprising given the reputation of the company. This is by far the only drawback of the scope.
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- Water-resistant, fog-proof and shock-proof
- Sophisticated reticle
- Sturdy construction
- No warranty
Vortex Optics Strike Eagle—Best quality 300 Blackout scope
- The Strike Eagle 1-6x24 is defined by speed and versatility. Adjust to six power when you need to engage targets at a distance
- High quality, fully multi-coated lenses deliver a clear, crisp sight picture and optimal low light performance
- The illuminated, glass-etched BDC reticle features 11 illumination settings to accomodate for changing light conditions. An extra battery can be stored in the windage cap and easily released
- The fast focus dial on the eyepiece ensures that your reticle is always sharp
- Waterproof, shockproof, and fogproof ensures reliability in all weather conditions
Budget
Vortex is quite a popular brand in the optics market, and scopes are one of their flagship products. Owing to their premium nature, the cost of all its products is way too high for consumers. It is nearly double the price of the Nikon and Leopold scopes I mentioned earlier.
Magnification
You can use this scope to hit bull’s eye at the 150-yard range or shoot the game dead within 300 yards range. Impressive, isn’t it? It comes with an adjustable magnification that can be set to 6x power at max. You can use it for both recreational shooting and hunting endeavors.
Construction
You would know by experience that single-piece construction is the most reliable built-up for a scope. Also, if you want long term dependability, you should always prefer an aircraft-grade aluminum scope over other, as it ensures strength and rigidity
Well, this scope fits both these requirements. Also, as a bonus, it has a highly durable, hard-coat anodized finish that provides a low-glare matte surface and helps camouflage the shooter’s position.
If you are still unsure of its durability, it is O-ring sealed to prevent moisture, dust, and debris from penetrating the binocular. You will get reliable performance in all environments.
Lens Quality
It is featuring a fully multicoated lens. You would be surprised to know that it is featuring Extra-low dispersion (XD) glass. With this, the lens will be able to provide high-quality resolution and color fidelity, in crisp, sharp images.
Turrets and reticle
All the turrets, there are three, are capped to protect them from debris and damage. They allow for the quick re-indexing after you sight in the target and need no tool to tweak.
The reticle design is pretty simple. It facilitates quick target acquisition and allows for bullet drop. One premium feature is the illumination of the reticle that can be set to 11 different settings depending upon the condition of external light.
Aesthetics
This scope is compact and sophisticated. If someone were to pick a scope only on how it looks, he/she would pick this one. It is simply too elegant to be ignored.
Warranty
Yes, you should be happy reading that this scope comes with a warranty and lifetime customer support from the manufacturer. You should expect it as after all you are going to spend a stupendous amount of money on it.
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- Reliable in all weather conditions
- The scope holds zero quite well
- Capped turrets
- Light-weight
- The focusing ring is a little hard to turn.
- Expensive
UTG Compact Scope—Best budget 300 blackout scope
- 30-millimeter SWAT 3-12X44 IE tactical range estimating scope with mil-dot, full 36-color EZ Tap reticle
- 30-Millimeter tube built on True Strength Platform: sealed and nitrogen filled, shockproof, fog-proof, and rain-proof
- Best in class multi emerald coated lenses; integrated angled front sunshade complete with flip-open lens caps
- Special circuit and housing design for uninterrupted illumination even under heavy recoil
- Premium zero locking and zero resetting target turrets with most consistent and precise adjustment; lifetime warratny
Budget
Honestly, this is by far the most affordable riflescope that you can get for your 300 blackout cartridge platforms: AR 15 rifles and M4 carbine. UTG is an unpopular name in the industry. Its main focus is to provide economical alternatives for optics.
Magnification
Yes, you should be surprised by the magnification. 12x magnification power is a bit too high for the 300 cartridges as the ammunition loses its practicality at faraway target: it has little to no penetration in a distant target.
Construction
The company touts it to be a durable scope but I seriously doubt it. As it is made using aircraft-grade aluminum, you would hardly be going to get three years with this scope. Given the rugged usage of rifles, it is highly susceptible to damage.
The scope might not look sturdy in construction, but UTG has done a great job in sealing the scope. It is nitrogen filled and air-tight sealed to make it shockproof, fog-proof, and rain-proof
Lens Quality
It is featuring a Multi emerald coated lenses with easily removable caps to protect them from dust. The multi-coated lens does fine, but they are far inferior to fully coated lenses featured in all products discussed above. You will definitely get a highly refined image in the end, but it suffers in contrast and saturation.
Turrets and reticle
Are you a big fan of raised turrets? They are easily maneuverable and can be turned even wearing gloves. The target turrets, featured in this scope, allowing for crisp, consistent and precise windage and elevation adjustments. Furthermore, their locking and re-setting features protect and complement one of the most critical parts in the optic for proper zeroing.
The reticle is surely the most remarkable feature of this scope. It features Illumination Enhancing(IE) Technology to provide traditional red/green dual-color and 36-color multi-mode operation. The multiple options in illumination make it a unique scope as it works perfectly for colorblind people.
Aesthetics
If you are in it for design, this scope is the least attractive choice. It is bulky and is going to look ugly on your rifle. I would never go for this scope and for any product in my life that is aesthetically unappealing.
Warranty
If you are on an extremely strict budget, or for some reason you don’t want to spend money on your first scope, this is an ideal scope for you. Why? Nevertheless the inferior built-up is backed by a life-time warranty.
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- Affordable
- High magnification
- Lifetime warranty
- Cheap quality
What to look for in a 300 Blackout scope?
You shall make a checklist of these parameters before looking for the scope. I have tried to keep them precise and to-the-point.
Budget
The budget is a foremost determiner in any purchasing decision and it depends upon the ultimate need of the product to be bought.
Though I would refrain you from buying cheap rated scopes, you can certainly have your way if you are short on budget.
In my humble opinion, we almost always have to pay a good price for the quality. Therefore, you should, if it needs to be, fork out extra dollars while buying the scope. Just make sure, it won’t break the bank.
Durability
The riflescope must be durable. Two key factors contribute to the durability of scope: the quality of its construction material and its resistance to water, shock, and fogging.
Aluminum being light-weight and sturdy makes an excellent choice for manufacturing scopes. Try looking for the Aircraft Grade Aluminum scope. It is the best you can get.
As oxygen causes fogging inside the scope, it should be purged with nitrogen to remove all oxygen particles. Plus, it should be properly sealed, as tested by many experiments, to make it completely water and dustproof.
Lastly, the scope should have a one-piece construction, for the scope such designed is reported to last longer than those assembled using multiple parts.
Weight
As most platforms that support .300 Blackout are essentially light-weight, tactical weapons, the scope must not add to the weight of the firearm.
One major factor that decides the weight of the scope is the weight of the lens, and especially the objective lens which is responsible for light transmission. To maximize light transmission, most companies tend to use a large objective lens thus adding to the overall weight of the scope.
We need our 300 blackout scope to transmit maximum light, but not compromising on the weight. It should always be lower to keep the tactical advantage of the rifle intact.
Lens Quality
If there could be one thing that can decide the quality of the lens in an optics, it is the layers of coating on it. A multi-coated lens is a preferable choice. Whereas, a fully multicoated lens is the best you can get.
Also, the objective lens shall be able to transmit the maximum amount of light. It doesn’t necessarily mean that it shall be greater in size.
Lastly, the lens shall be resistant to scratches.
Magnification
The performance of the caliber depends entirely on the position of the target.
The .300 blackout cartridge will give maximum performance while dealing with the targets or game well under the range of 150 yards.
It will perform considerably well while dealing with a small game within 150 yards to 300 yards range. Anything beyond 300 yards will be difficult to penetrate into, so it would be quite impractical to buy a high power scope.
I have added the best magnification power for different ranges below.
Short-range (up to 150 yards): 1 to 4x
Medium range (between 150 and 300 yards): 5-9x
Long-range (beyond 300 yards): 9x-12x
Reticle
Reticle comes in all shapes and sizes. You should be looking for the two most important features in a reticle. First, it should cater for fast target acquisition, and second, it must be illuminated to help users pinning down targets in low light conditions.
For mid and long-range usage, the scope should have Bullet Drop Compensation Reticle for precision and accuracy.
My choice will be Duplex Reticle. It is clutter-free and allows for quick target acquisition—everything we need in a .300 Blackout scope.
Warranty
The reputable companies these days offer a money-back limited warranty or a lifetime warranty with their products. Those that deal in optics are no different.
Therefore, you should always prefer a scope that comes with a warranty. It shows the trust and confidence of the company in the product.
Conclusion
The .300 ACC Blackout cartridge is mid-range ammunition that is primarily used for target shooting. However, you can certainly use it for hunting purposes or scaring away wild animals. For both of them, you will need a scope that is compatible with the bullet range and doesn’t cost you a fortune.
Although I have added a detailed buying guide above and have repeated my points over and over again to make it stick, I would still like you to remind a few things one last time.
The magnification of scope should be the first thing that you look for. It must be less than 12x as it will keep the budget of the scope in the affordable range. Any more than this range will be an overkill given the range of ammunition. Next, you should look for durability and warranty. There is no compromise on these two. And finally, you should examine the lens quality and reticle. A fully multicoated lens and uncluttered reticle should be your preference for a 300 blackout scope.
