Scope recommendation for 308

IMO. When it comes to rifle scope's you get what you pay for. However I know nothing about UTG scopes. I would try to find one to look through and compare against other scopes. Price sure sounds good . Maybe too good. Can't say. Sorry I have no other advise. Good luck!

After years of disappointments ,I have finally realized that what others say is true.Good scopes are woth the money and sometimes I spend as much on a scope as a rifle.Mostly Leupolds. I do bargain shop for price on them,Bu I always buy the best I can afford

for that money a nikon prostaff is the minimum i would trusted

Decent scopes start at about $200 MSRP. Sometimes you can run across deals for closer to $150. Anything in the $100 range is wasted money. The more magnification you get, bigger glass, and 30mm tubes run the prices up even more. A scope with 12X magnification, a 44 mm lens and a 30mm tube should should be $400 for a decent one.

You'll get the most scope for the dollar with a 3-9X40 scope on a 1" tube. Lots of good choices right at $200.

My default recommendation for the cheapest scope that I'd use.

https://swfa.com/burris-3-9x40-fullfield-ii-rifle-scope-102322.html

Or this

https://swfa.com/leupold-3-9x40-vx-freedom-riflescope-178477.html

No personal experience, but I hear good things about this

https://swfa.com/sig-sauer-3-9x40-whiskey3-riflescope-25.html

I've had good luck with the Burris FF2 and the Bushnell Trophy line as far as economical scope choices go. Both will run from $125-200 depending on options. I really like the 1.5X6 Bush Trophy "Euro" with a heavy "German" reticle I got for the wife's rifle. It's on a 30mm tube and is exceptionally bright, holds zero, and tracks reliably. Going on 3 years with no issues, but haven't really abused it either. I don't think they make this model anymore though, tried to find another one and came up empty on optics planet. I've put 2 different Burris FF2s through hell and back and they've taken it with a smile. Nice point on them is the European style magnification adjustment. You turn the whole back of the scope rather than a skinny little ring, real handy with winter gloves on.
12x is unnecessary unless you are doing extreme range work and/or varmints. IMHO, 9x is too much for deer. I rarely dial mine above 4x, usually to look at a non-deer critter if I do. Unfortunately, the market has chosen high magnification over practical hunting magnification...everybody's a #%$^ sniper...so as above, you will find the most bang for your buck in a 3x9. If you find a Burris FF2, Leupold Vari-x1 or Nikon in 2x7, jump on it.

UTG is junk. Look at Vortex. You get what you pay for.

What jmr40 said. Read it carefully.

Yes, UTG is junk, but so is Vortex Crossfire II. But step up to Diamonback or higher, you'll be good.

For a hunting scope on deer, you really won't ever want more than 9x magnification and, honestly at 250 yards or less, probably a maximum of 6x magnification. more magnification just adds wobble. So the common 3-9x40 scope is a great place to start. 2-7, also good. In a good optic in those configurations, a 1" tube is best.

There are some good suggestions above. I would add Athlon to the mix. Cameraland and Europtics have had some very good deals and B&H often have good deals. The Argos 2-10x40 would be a good choice at under $250.

Burris ff2 3-9x40
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Burris-Ful...692309?hash=item23ac3f6995:g:urEAAOSw~IVancA7

athlon Argos 2-10x40
https://cameralandny.com/mobile/spe...uids][0]=2bd00940-9be4-0135-033f-00163ecd2826

personally I think the Argos has better glass and coatings, but the turrets stick way out. Don't get the 3-15, its too much magnification without some form of focus.

leupolds vx-freedom are good for the 200ish, but I wouldn't buy a vx-1 or rifleman over the athlon or Burris.

Nikon's pro staff is on par, but I don't think the buckmaster 2 is.

I'm not a fan of the lower end Vortex, but the Diamond backs I've used seemed pretty solid.

I like the leupold 2x7,s and the 2.5x8,s for my woods deer rifles, I have made 300+ shots from a good rest with them in a pinch.

I have a Nikon Monarch 3 2-8x32 on my Mossberg MVP 308.

I’ll echo jmr40 and DannyLandrum. There is one exception for me though.

Minox ZV3 Rifle Scope - 3-9x40mm
https://www.natchezss.com/minox-zv3-rifle-scope-3-9x40mm-plex-matte.html

These scopes have been discontinued. It’s the only scope I’d take over a Fullfield II for $200.00 and you can get one right now for half that. I’ve read many good things about them and my SIL has one that I’ve been impressed with.

My default cheap scope is the SWFA fixed power scopes: 42 mm, 30 mm tube, reliable tracking, tons of reviews, very decent glass and in a wide range of powers from 6x to 20x. 299.00. MOA or Mil quad reticles.

Russellc

Hey CDB1, on those Minox scopes, are the dials finger-adjustable, or do they require coin / screwdriver?

Vortex Viper 2-10X32 is about as "economical" as I would go.

DannyLandrum said:

Hey CDB1, on those Minox scopes, are the dials finger-adjustable, or do they require coin / screwdriver?

Click to expand...

Finger adjustable.

My dad has spent around 40 years hunting deer and elk in the mountain west, where shots out to 300 yards are pretty much the norm. Most of his rifles have a 3x9 on them, and none of them are ever taken off 6x.

For a field rifle, I just don't see why you'd ever have to go past that.

I have these on all my hunting guns,7mm-08,slug gun and black powder,I found standardizing makes a no transition the way to go.It has the firedot 4 reticle which is a german 3 with a red dot at center of cross hairs that can be turned on or off and is motion activated during hunting if you choose.This reticle is no longer available stock from Leupold ,you can still get it from their custom shop but I found these from this seller.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004K9VMXG/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1_1_1?smid=A2BAKI6JCZ86UV&psc=1

I have the Firedot 4 on my VX-R 2-7x33. I really like it.

cdb1 said:

I have the Firedot 4 on my VX-R 2-7x33

Click to expand...

For years I used a VX-R 4-14 with a Firedot on my deer rifle. Ultra clear and the Firedot is really nice at first and last light

My current deer rifle scope is a VX-6 2-12 with Firedot

Good glass is the only way to put a bullet on target consistently. For my money, every centerfire rifle I own wears Leupold.

UTG makes toy scopes for air soft toy guns. Not sure what UTG stands for, but I believe the "T" is for "Turd"

I have a Vortex Crossfire II that rode on my M1A for a while. I actually have 2. Send me a PM.

Vortex Crossfire or move up to a Diamondback. Have the Diamonback on my 06, has been consistently accurate and has NEVER lost zero. You won't be sorry

The new diamondback ffp is very nice. I also have a cheaper older sfp diamondback that I have been satisfied with.