Best 300 Blackout Scope – Top 8 Best Rated Scopes for 300 Blackout Review

There are few calibers that can fill as many practical roles as the .300 AAC Blackout. The 300 BLK cartridge has proven its practicality in hunting, competition, and tactical applications. 

This caliber blew up in popularity in the competition scene, and has gone from a new boutique cartridge to commonplace in a few short years.

One of the great benefits of 300 BLK is its versatility. The cartridge comes in heavy subsonic versions, as well as lighter, faster loads that mimic the capabilities of 7.62×39. The best thing is you can shoot both from the same gun. 

The cartridge also works well with a variety of barrel lengths on the AR platform. Best of all, factory ammo is easy to find on gun shop shelves at reasonable prices.

There are dozens of applications for the 300 BLK. No matter how you choose to use your rifle, a quality scope will enhance the experience. 

Let’s look at the strengths and weaknesses of this cartridge and determine the best 300 Blackout scope for your favorite shooting discipline.

If you’re in a hurry and don’t have time for the details, here are our best rated 300 Blackout Scopes: 

1. Trijicon VCOG 1-6×24 Circle Crosshair 300 – Our Top Pick
2. Monstrum G2 – Best Budget .300 AAC Blackout Scope
3. Vortex Optics Crossfire II – Best Hunting .300 Blackout Scope
4. Trijicon Acog – Best Tactical Scope for .300 BLK
5. Vortex Spitfire – Best Scope for .300 BLK Pistol or SBR
6. EOTECH XPS2 – Best Scope for Subsonic .300 Blackout
7. ATN ThOR 4 – Best Thermal Optic for .300 BLK
8. Aimpoint PRO – Best Red Dot Sight for .300 BLK

Practical Applications for .300 Blackout

One of the first places .300 BLK gained popularity was on the three-gun scene. A .30 caliber projectile fired from an AR-15 gave competitors a huge advantage, especially in the heavy metal categories.

The fact that heavy projectiles could be loaded in this caliber and fired at subsonic speeds made. 300 BLK a favorite for those who shoot suppressed rifles. It also made a superior defense round in AR platforms.

Although .300 Blackout was developed for military use, it hasn’t gained wide use on the battlefield. However, it has proven it can perform the tasks required for that role.

Hunters latched onto this cartridge quickly, and it has proven its effectiveness on medium and large game. As a wild hog caliber, it has become extremely popular from Mini 14 platform rifles, AR pistols, and many modern sporting rifles.

Many veterans and tactical enthusiasts who hunt deer prefer to use a tactical style rifle, and .300 Blackout is a fantastic cartridge for whitetails.

Realistic Capabilities

While the .300 Blackout has excellent capabilities, it is important to know its limitations to determine realistic applications.

Because of the cartridge’s versatility, there is plenty of ballistic data available to help us understand what the bullet will do when it leaves the barrel.

Let’s consider just hypersonic and subsonic rounds in general terms.

With a common hypersonic round with a 130-grain projectile, the bullet starts to drop considerably after 150 yards. We can expect about 20 inches of vertical bullet drop by 200 yards. This performance makes .300 BLK a capable hunting or military round for engagements within 200 yards.

These loads are often said to have capabilities similar to the AK47. While the round does have acceptable energy beyond 200 yards, judicious marksmanship becomes a challenge.

Heavier subsonic rounds are often fired from short barrels with suppressors. 220 grain projectiles offer performance similar to .45 ACP pistol rounds, while offering the control and capacity of a rifle.

Most of us are aware of the ability of a 220 grain pill to terminate game or adversaries, performance drops off quickly after 100 yards. We can also expect close to 40 inches of vertical drop around the 200 yard mark.

Realistically, subsonic rounds should be considered for use at targets within 100 yards, especially from short barrels.

What Type of 300 Blackout Optic Should I Use?

When using supersonic ammunition for hunting or competition, consider using a magnified optic to help with accurate shot placement. 

A rifle in .300 Blackout doesn’t pair well with scopes that feature exposed turrets or extreme magnifications. Using a variable or fixed optic with magnification in the 1-6x range works well. 

Consider using scopes that provide peripheral awareness to take advantage of the benefits the AR 15 and Mini 14 provide.

Subsonic rounds pair best with low or no magnification optics. These rounds are more suited to defensive use and have limited practical use beyond 100 yards. Red dots, holographic sights, and low power fixed optics allow shooters  to quickly acquire and transition between targets.

When shopping for scopes for your .300 Blackout, you will find many options with caliber specific reticles. This is a great benefit compared to other boutique calibers. However, the .300 BLK has gained enough popularity that scope manufacturers have seen a market for this feature.

Generally, these reticles will work best with supersonic rounds from a 16-inch barrel unless otherwise specified.

If you are looking at scopes with graduated reticles, be sure they are calibrated for .300 BLK. The ballistics are different from the more common 5.56 and .308 cartridges.

Best 300 Blackout Scope on the Market Review

Use the following list to help choose the right optic for your 300 Blackout.

One of the great things about this caliber is its versatility. However, its versatility can make finding the right accessories challenging, especially for shooters unfamiliar with optic capabilities.

 1   Trijicon VCOG 1-6×24 Circle Crosshair 300 – Our Top Pick

If you are looking for the best of the best in .300 BLK scopes, this is it. Trijicon has a reputation for producing top-notch tactical optics, and this one definitely fits the bill.

The VCOG (Variable Combat Optical Gunsight) was engineered in response to the US military’s request for a variable optic comparable to the company’s venerable, battle-proven fixed power ACOG.

Trijicon’s optics have a proven combat track record, and the VCOG is one of their best. It features a first focal plane (FFP) ballistic reticle. The reticle perfectly matches the ballistic performance of standard .300 BLK loads.

This rugged optic scope is made with an aluminum body, has beautiful image quality, and has 1-6x magnification which provides a suitable sight picture for practical .300 BLK shooting. 

The optic offers up to 700 hours of continuous run time before it needs a battery change.
This scope works well with AR platform builds, including SBRs and AR pistols.

 2   Monstrum G2 – Best Budget .300 AAC Blackout Scope

For a budget friendly option, Monstrum Tactical has a scope that serves both hunter and competitor well. This is a first focal plane scope with a fine reticle that helps with precision shooting. 

The 1x-4x magnification allows you to transition quickly between near and far targets, and the illuminated reticle is perfect for shooting in low light conditions.

The Monstrum G2 offers extra value by including a set of medium height rings that attach to any Picatinny rail. It also comes with handy flip-up lens covers.

This scope features exposed turrets, which is a little optimistic with a maximum magnification of 4x. Most shooters can easily use the reticle’s MOA gradations instead of making turret adjustments. 

As with most Monstrum products, the G2 is packed with features often reserved for more expensive products.

 3   Vortex Optics Crossfire II – Best Hunting .300 Blackout Scope

.300 BLK can be a great option for controlling local pig and coyote populations, especially when paired with the Vortex Crossfire II. Whether you are using a Remington 700, a Ruger American, a Mini 14, or an AR-15 in .300 BLK, this scope is the perfect compliment. 

The Crossfire II has excellent optical quality and an illuminated V-Plex reticle for easy low light shooting.

With a forgiving eye box and plenty of eye relief, the Crossfire II also makes a fine tactical optic. Both features allow you to quickly get on target for rapid, accurate shooting, even on moving targets. 

The scope also features capped, finger adjustable reset turrets with universal MOA clicks.

 4   Trijicon Acog – Best Tactical Scope for .300 BLK

The Trijicon ACOG is commonly used by American military forces. This is one of the most rugged scopes available.

The ACOG (Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight) has a one-piece body with a fixed 3x magnification. The reticle offers battery-free illumination and automatic brightening. All lenses are treated to resist scratching and provide a crystal clear sight picture. 

This version of the ACOG features a BDC reticle calibrated specifically for the 300 AAC Blackout using standard 16-inch barrel velocities. One of the best parts of this reticle is the chevron aiming point, which helps with ranging targets, as well as providing a solid aiming point.  

No other optic on this list has the proven pedigree that this scope has in both military and law enforcement applications. This is a favorite scope of mine based on my experiences with it in Afghanistan. I promise you will not be disappointed with this scope.

This scope can help you to be successful hunting or in competition, but you will find the best utility from this scope on a tactical rifle or AR pistol.

 5   Vortex Spitfire – Best Scope for .300 BLK Pistol or SBR

At first glance, the Vortex Spitfire will look like another mid-level red dot sight, but this is actually a prism scope. Prism scopes are fantastic advances in optic technology. They provide all the benefits of a red dot sight but allow for more detailed and useful reticles.

The Spitfire is lightweight, rugged, and has excellent battery life.  It offers a reticle with a large circle for rapid target acquisition, and a center red dot for longer range precision. 

As with most Vortex products, the lenses on this scope are crystal clear and have coatings that help to reduce fogging and scratches.

The scope comes with a riser that allows AR shooters to co-witness their iron sights. The riser may be removed to mount on other rifles if desired. 

Extra features include flip up lens covers and turret caps with a built-in adjustment tool for easy zeroing on the range.

 6   EOTECH XPS2 – Best Scope for Subsonic .300 Blackout

The EOTECH XPS2 is a familiar optic for tactical rifle shooters. However, there is something special about this specific model that should make .300 BLK shooters stand up and take notice. 

Anybody who has shot EOTECH will be familiar with their “doughnut of death” reticle. This tried-and-true reticle features a 65 MOA ring with a 2 MOA dot in the middle. The design provides the best of both worlds when transitioning from CQB to mid-ranged targets.

This model has a similar reticle, but with two dots inside the circle. The circles are calibrated for both supersonic and subsonic .300 BLK loads. 

In addition to this excellent reticle, this holographic sight has tons of other benefits. It has a minimalistic design that allows for maximum awareness when looking down the rifle.

While remaining minimal, the body is extremely durable. The holographic design also allows the optic to function even when the glass is damaged.

 7   ATN ThOR 4 – Best Thermal Optic for .300 BLK

The ThOR 4 with its 1.5x-5x magnification range is suited perfectly to the strengths of the .300 BLK when hunting at night.

This scope is loaded with high-tech features, including auto recording, automatic adjustment for bullet drop and windage, simple and intuitive operation, and a battery life of over 18 hours.

This thermal scope allows hunters to shoot both day and night. It also takes all the guesswork out of point of aim.

Due to the benefits that .300 BLK has as a hog cartridge, this is one of the best scopes for hog hunting. 

While this is by far the most expensive optic on this list, it has major advantages for the serious hog hunter.

 8   Aimpoint PRO – Best Red Dot Sight for .300 BLK

While there are plenty of optics on this list that incorporate cutting-edge technology, many of us prefer a no-nonsense approach to our optics.

The Aimpoint PRO gives shooters a simple dot to use as an aiming point. Other than adjustable brightness, there is nothing else on this optic you’ll need to fiddle with.  

Aimpoint has been considered the gold standard in red dot sights for decades. Not only are these optics literally bombproof, they also offer exceptional battery life and have the crispest red dot on the market.

The Aimpoint PRO comes pre-installed into a mount that offers a lower 1/3rd co-witness with any AR-15 iron sights.

It would be a challenge to talk about tactical rifle sights or red dot sights and not mention the Aimpoint PRO. This optic has exploded onto the civilian market after its success of the military-issued M68.

Final Thoughts

The .300 AAC Blackout has proven its value in both utility and performance through a broad range of applications. While this round can’t quite do everything, it does a lot of things and does them quite well.

If you are considering .300 BLK, or already have a firearm chambered in it, you are in good company. However, as with any cartridge, it only performs as desired if the bullet finds its target.

Use this guide to help find the best 300 Blackout scope to suit your applications.