Best .300 Blackout Scopes and Optics [2026]

If you shoot .300 Blackout, one of the best accessories you can buy is a purpose-built .300 Blackout scope designed around this wonderful cartridge.

That can be a problem because most optics aren't designed for .300 Blk. We're stuck with red dots or BDC reticles made for 5.56 NATO and elevation holds that don't translate to the heavier, slower bullet.

Fortunately for you, the Pew Pew Tactical team has tested a bunch of optics engineered for .300 Blk from square one. Magnified or unmagnified, budget-friendly or premium, we've got something for you. Our goal is to get you an accurate, effective .300 Blk optic at a price you can afford.

.300 Blackout Optic Comparison Chart

How We Tested the Best .300 Blackout Optics

I've personally tested each and every one of these optics at a range to make my determination of which one gets picked. Some of the factors I consider when choosing an optic are magnification, durability, reticle type, and night vision compatibility.

Some of these optics mentioned withstood rough conditions and underwent stress testing. Each of the five picks has its pros and cons, so I'll walk you through why I picked what I picked.

I’m a Marine Corps infantry veteran, NRA-certified instructor, and concealed carry instructor teaching CCW courses in Florida. I’ve been testing, researching, and writing about guns, gear, and optics for several years for several publications, including Pew Pew Tactical.

How to Choose a .300 Blackout Optic

Magnification & Intended Use

The first step is your quest to find the perfect optic (regardless of of cartridge) is determining how much magnification you need.

Most .300 Blk shooters stick to unmagnified optics -- usually red dots, but sometimes holographic sights. These are great for close-quarters engagements but don't have much ability to reach out and positively identify a target or make longer shots.

Magnified optics include fixed-power prism scopes and low-power variable optics, or LPVOs. Prism scopes are simple, compact, and typically come with a BDC reticle. LPVOs are larger and heavier, but they offer the ability to zoom from 1x to 6x magnification or greater.

Reticle

If you settled on an unmagnified optic in the previous step, you have an almost unlimited supply of re dots to choose from. These work with any cartridge, but you're stuck with a dot or circle-dot reticle.

Since you're shopping specifically for .300 Blk optics, I assume you want a BDC reticle that corresponds to different distances. The EOTech EXPS2-300 has two aiming references, and it's my pick for an unmagnified optic.

Prism scopes typically feature a more advanced BDC reticle with holds out to several hundred yards for supersonic ammunition, or about 200 for subsonic loads. The Trijicon ACOG and Primary ARMS SLx 3X MicroPrism are great examples for two different budgets in this category.

An LPVO can have either a BDC or a standard reticle in MOA or MRAD. The latter require a little more homework on your part than a simple BDC reticle, but they can be very precise and effective once you fully understand the system you've built.

Budget

Of course, budget is always going to be a factor. The good news is that you have great options across the price spectrum.

Primary Arms is one of our go-to places to find affordable optics that work really well. They make some fantastic reticles, too.

If you're working on a high-end .300 Blk build, you're going to love what premium brands like EOTech and Trijicon have to offer. these are some of the best, most trusted duty optics on the market. They've proven their worth in combat all over the globe, and they'll work for you, too.

Best .300 Blackout Optics

1. EOTech XPS2 - Best Holographic Sight

Quick Verdict: Unlike a red dot, the holographic reticle in the EOTech EXPS2-300 provides aiming points at 100 and 300 yards for supers, or 50 and 150 yards for subs. It's also famously tough, with a service record that includes military and police use around the world. Yes, it's expensive and it burns through batteries at a frenzied pace, but this is still the best unmagnified .300 Blk optic you can get if you have a generous budget.

Best Holographic Sight

EOTech XPS2-300

$619at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$619at Amazon

Kygunco (See Price)

Specs

• Magnification: 1x
• Objective Lens: 30 x 23 mm
• Reticle: Two 1-MOA dots, 68-MOA outer ring
• Focal Plane: N/A
• Weight: 9 oz

Why We Love It

The EOTech XPS2 is one of our favorite AR-15 optics, and this particular model is built just for .300 Blk.

The reticle features a 68-MOA circle with two 1-MOA dots in the center. The dots correspond with bullet drop for both subsonic and supersonic projectiles.

With supersonic .300 Blk ammo, zero the first dot at 100 yards, and use the second at 300 yards.

With subs, zero the first dot at 50 yards, and use the second at 150 yards. It’s a neat and easy system to use and doesn’t occupy a bunch of space in the reticle. 

Combine it with a magnifier, and you have a great mid- and close-range optic. The XPS2 is a compact Eotech that requires only an inch of rail space. This particular model is not night vision compatible, but it's a lot more affordable than the top-tier EXPS3. 

This is an especially great optic if you need to move between engagement distances rapidly.

It's still fairly expensive for an unmagnified optic, but this is one trusted by professionals in the harshest environments and most dangerous roles. If you want a duty-grade optic for your .300 Blk build, this is a great option.

By the Numbers

2. Trijicon ACOG TA31-C - Best Prism Optic

Quick Verdict: The Trijicon ACOG is another professional-grade optic with extensive military use. This time, magnification is fixed at four-power. The reticle includes clearly labeled elevation holds from 100 to 600 yards for supers and 50 to 200 yards with subs. Mounting it is as easy as turning a pair of thumb screws; no rings or levels required. Downsides include a high price tag and a short eye box, so save your money and put your nose on the charging handle.

Best Prism Optic

Trijicon ACOG TA31-C .300 BLK

$1289at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$1289at Amazon

OpticsPlanet (See Price)

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Specs

• Magnification: 4x
• Objective Lens: 32 mm
• Reticle: .300 BLK BDC
• Brightness Settings: Automatic (fiber optic)
• Battery: None
• Weight: 15 oz

Why We Love It

The Trijicon ACOG will always have a place in my heart. I carried one on two deployments and over two long training workups, and it never let me down. That’s really where my fondness grew for these optics. 

I’ve seen ACOGs take massive amounts of abuse and never miss a beat. I personally exposed mine to water, including saltwater, buddy rushing, climbing walls, ladders, and diving and ducking throughout two long deployments. 

Most people are probably shooting .300 Blk at distances between 25 and 300 yards, and a simple four-power optics do that incredibly well. It also accounts for supersonic and subsonic ammo.

The Supersonic BDC is on the right-hand side of the reticle, and the subsonic is on the left. Supersonic goes out to 600 yards (that's optimistic but doable), and subsonic goes out to 200 yards. Fiber optic reticle colors include red, green, and gold (LED models only come in red or green).

I love having clear holds for supers and subs without re-zeroing or making any adjustments. Just pick your point of aim and fire away.

As usual with Trijicon, the glass is crystal clear and this is undoubtedly one of the most well-made optics available. The price reflects that. 

This particular model is dual-illuminated with tritium and fiber optic, so there's no battery required.

By the Numbers

What do you think of the Trijicon? Rate it below!

3. Primary Arms SLx 3X MicroPrism - Best Value

Quick Verdict: The tiny Primary Arms SLx 3X MicroPrism is one of our favorite AR-15 optics. It's as small as a compact red dot, but offers three-power magnification, BDC holds, and an etched reticle that's more astigmatism-friendly than an LED emitter. This is a great pick for AR-15 pistols and SBRs. It comes with an assortment of riser components that let you mix and match to get optimal placement. Factor in a shockingly affordable price, and this is one of the most budget-friendly .300 Blk optics out there.

Best Value

Primary Arms SLx 3X MicroPrism 300BO/7.62×39 ACSS Raptor Reticle

$349at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$349at Amazon

Primary Arms (See Price)

OpticsPlanet (See Price)

Specs

• Magnification: 3x
• Objective Lens: 23 mm
• Reticle: ACSS Raptor
• Brightness Settings: 10 daylight, 3 night vision
• Battery: CR2032
• Weight: 8 oz

Why We Love It

If you're looking for a more budget-friendly alternative to the ACOG, the Primary Arms SLx 3X MicroPrism is the .300 Blk optic for you.

This optic is the size of a compact red dot, weighs 8 ounces, and offers three-power magnification.

If you use an SBR or AR-15 pistol, you likely want to keep it short and light. The MicroPrism is a much better choice than an LPVO or red dot and magnifier combo when running an uber-small platform.

This version sticks with an ACSS Raptor reticle with a BDC designed for supersonic .300 Blk ammo.

If you are using subs, it is very likely for a closer shot, so the BDC might not be necessary — especially with a three-power optic.

The MicroPrism comes with a daylight-bright reticle and 13 total illumination settings: 10 for daylight and three for use with night vision.

And you can leave it on; the illumination will automatically power down and shake awake when you pick it back up.

Primary Arms includes several mounting options for various heights and positions. It's a really versatile system.

The sight picture is nice and clear with an easy-to-see reticle. Honestly, if you need to go small, this is as small as it gets.

By the Numbers

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4. Primary Arms SLx 1-6x24 Gen IV - Best LPVO

Quick Verdict: I'm disappointed that Primary Arms discontinued the SLx 1-6x24 with a .300 Blk BDC reticle, but the ACSS Nova reticle in this version still works. At the lowest magnification setting it works like a red dot. Crank up the power, and you get an MRAD reticle for longer shots -- just remember to do your ballistic calculations ahead of time. Other highlights include bright illumination, good glass, and an awesome price.

Best LPVO

Primary Arms SLx 1-6×24 Gen IV

$348at Primary Arms

Prices accurate at time of writing

$348at Primary Arms

Amazon (See Price)

MidwayUSA (See Price)

Specs

• Magnification: 1-6x
• Objective Lens: 24 mm
• Reticle: ACSS Nova
• Brightness Settings: 11 daylight
• Battery: CR2032
• Weight: 18 oz

Why We Love It

Primary Arms sadly discontinued the SLx 1-6x24 with the ACSS Raptor .300 Blk reticle, but the Primary Arms SLx 1-6x24 ACSS Nova is still a great option for .300 Blk shooters.

Yes, I wish we still got .300 Blk elevation holds, but hear me out.

This version of the SLx 1-6x24 retains everything else we know and love about the discontinued model. It's built well, has great glass for the money, and the illuminated reticle gets super bright.

At 1x magnification, the illuminated center aiming point works like a red dot. In fact, it's smaller size allows you to be more precise than you might be with the old ACSS Raptor reticle.

At 6x magnification, you can get a better view of the target and take advantage of elevation holds in 1-MIL increments. These don't correlate to clean 100-yard jumps, but they do let you use a ballistic calculator to determine specific distances based on your barrel length and ammunition. This can be useful if you don't want an optic dedicated to either supersonic or subsonic loads.

In between those two magnification settings, you can get more visual information while using the center aiming point. Remember that this is a second-focal-plane optic, so those MRAD marks are only accurate at maximum magnification.

See how this LPVO stacks up against the competition in our guide to the Best AR-15 Optics, and dig into all the details in our Primary Arms SLx 1-6x24 Review!

By the Numbers

Who Should Buy a .300 Blackout Optic?

If your .300 Blk firearm is built exclusively for close-quarters work (say, 50 yards and in), you can absolutely get by with a basic red dot. No need to get fancy.

Longer shots are where a specific .300 Blk stop or optic will really shine. You'll get access to elevation holds placed to match the bullet's drop at certain yardages. These will be different from the common 5.56 NATO's drop, and I'll explain why.

The .300 Blackout cartridge was never intended to replace 5.56 NATO; it was meant to compliment it. This round was designed to fill in for the shortfalls of the AR-15--namely, short barrel performance, as well as suppressed performance. 

The round uses the same magazines, uppers, lowers, BCGs, and more. All that's different is the barrel and gas system. 

A 5.56 NATO round reaches maximum ballistic potential with a 20-inch barrel. As you shorten that barrel, you lose range and terminal ballistics. The .300 Blackout reaches its max potential from a 9-inch barrel. 

It also works wonders in a suppressed platform. By slowing 5.56 NATO to a subsonic muzzle velocity in the pursuit of maximum volume suppression, you effectively achieve .22 LR terminal performance. A subsonic .30-caliber round from .300 Blk delivers more energy at the same speed.

The .300 Blackout round is, more or less, a short-to-moderate range round. The round is most commonly found in AR platforms, but it’s found in also in single-shot guns and bolt-action rifles. 

Final Thoughts

The .300 Blackout is a very cool round. It has light recoil, is a superbly silent round, and is incredibly reliable. Shooting one suppressed is an absolute dream.

But to get the most out of .300 Blackout, you need a unique optic suited to the cartridge. Luckily, the round’s massive popularity has led to an impressive aftermarket, including optics by companies we all know and love. 

Do you guys shoot .300 Blackout? How far out do you stretch your gun? What optic do you use? Let us know in the comments below! While you're at it, check out the Best .300 Blackout ammo and Best .300 Blackout Uppers.

Meet the Experts

This article comes to you from Pew Pew Tactical contributor Travis Pike. His recommendations are based on years of testing and evaluating firearms and accessories, including many .300 Blk scopes and optics, for some of the industry's top publications. Prior to working as a writer, Travis served as a Marine Corps machine gunner with two combat deployments to Afghanistan. He is also a certified NRA Basic Pistol and Florida Concealed Carry instructor.

Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings runs our experienced team of reviewers and edited this review. She is an NRA-certified Basic Pistol Instructor as well as a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association. Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. With 2,000+ articles to her name, she uses her professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards for Pew Pew Tactical.

Latest Updates

• October 2026: Removed the Meprolight Foresight. Updated formatting and supporting content.
• July 2024: Updated and expanded the supplemental information for each product.
• April 2024 - Added more supporting information about each product. Moved Primary Arms SLx 1-6x24 Rifle Scope to the first place under overall pick, added more information about what to look for when choosing a scope.