Best Scope for 243 Rifle (2021 Updated)

When it comes to the rifle, the .243 Winchester is a popular choice among shooters. As the .243 Winchester has the caliber to let you target long-range hunting, the hunters are crazy for that. But, what about the riflescope? Have you ever done your research before buying the best scope for 243 rifle?

Hardly matters, whether you are an occasional hunter or regular, you know how important it is to have a good rifle scope.

And, you definitely need advice for the specific scopes that complement the .243 Winchester rifle.

After all, a riflescope is a crucial part of the 243 Winchester to provide more accurate shots without missing your targets.

Buying a good quality scope helps you to get a better sight and enjoy quality images. 

That’s why we came up with the Best 243 rifle scopes to help you select the riflescope.

Let’s begin to explore and enjoy the most thrilling hunting experience ever.

Best .243 Rifle Scopes

1. Vortex Optics Diamondback Second Focal Plane- Best Budget scope for 243 Rifle

Vortex is the foremost brand that comes to mind for its high quality and incredible performance.

The Vortex optics diamondback offers you a wide range of configurations that makes it versatile.

The scope is constructed of high-quality material that features a hard-anodized finish and makes it sturdy enough to handle any outdoor condition. 

It is a second focal plane scope, which comes with fully multi-coated lenses to provide sharp and clear images.

The multi-coating of anti-reflective material enhances light transmission. Whether you want to hunt at the dusk or dawn, you can rely on scope bright images. On top of it, due to the O-ring seals, the scope is waterproof and fog proof to prevent the internal components from moisture and dust.

The magnification in the scope is really matters, and the vortex optics offers you a magnification of 4-12x, which is amazing for zooming and hitting your target.

Furthermore, the 40mm objective lens is adjustable and large enough to get clear images for long ranges. 

We really like the feature of capping the turrets, which means there are minimal chances of accidentally adjusting turret. Plus, it also allows you to re-index turret to zero. 

Vortex Diamondback provides two reticle options, i.e., a dead-hold BDC reticle and a V-Plex reticle to target accurately without blurring the sightseeing. Overall, hunters, shooters, and marksmen will love it enjoy the decent medium and long-range view for hunting.

Pros
  • Fast focus eyepiece to easy reticle focus
  • Strong and durable construction
  • Excellent sighting with Dead-hold reticle 
  • Superior magnification quality with adjustable lens
  • Capped turrets to reset zero position
Cons
  • Doesn’t come with installation rings

2. Nikon Black FX1000- Best 243 Rifle scope

Designed for long-range shooters, the Nikon FX1000 is unique in the sense that it’s one of the first-ever scopes under the $1000 mark to offer First Focal Plane (FFP) – a reticle placement design that enables shooters to fire at targets at over 1 mile with excellent precision.

Build quality-wise, the matte paint coated aluminum with high-quality glass feels robust and premium.

The smooth turn ring with a rubberized eye guard provides both comfort & accuracy. There are 10 illumination levels to choose from.

You can toggle between them using the side-mounted controls. The turrets for elevation & windage come with 25 MOA per revolutions (90 MOA max) at ¼ increments.

It’s pretty easy to get the desired turret setting for a shot since the clicks are audible & the detents are just awesome. It also features an all-new return-to-zero stop for rapid return to zero which is a real time-saver while on the field.

Optics wise, it’s quite good.

The images are pretty sharp, even at 16X. That said, there is a bit of chromatic
an aberration at long ranges but it’s so minor, we don’t reckon you’ll notice it much on the field at all.

The nitrogen filled hull & fog-proof design further adds to its awesome clarity.

Out of the box itself, the scope adjustments are spot on, and it didn’t have any trouble while passing a box test.

Finally, it comes with Nikons no fault repair/replacement guarantee.

Pros
  • Offers First Focal Plane under a budget
  • Comfy & accurate Reticle
  • Fog-proofed lenses
  • Clicky controls with ample markings & feedback
Cons
  • No speed bump on the magnification ring (yes, we are nitpicking)

3. Vortex Optics Crossfire II Second Focal Plane Riflescope

Moving further, we have added other best scopes for 243 rifle from vortex only. The vortex crossfire II scope is a single-piece tube built from aircraft-grade aluminum to ensure durability and strength to handle the unexpected outdoor environment. 

It uses anti-reflective and multi-coated lenses to reduce glare and ultimately enhances light transmission for better visibility.

Like the previous vortex model, the vortex purges the tube with nitrogen and seals it with o-rings. The purpose is to keep the moisture away from the scope and prevent the lenses from the fog. 

But, what makes it special is that the scope is available in three different options, i.e., the dead-Hold BDC, V-Brite, and V-Plex reticle options. And, all of these reticles are in the second focal plane.

Another unique thing is its hand-adjustable capped turrets, where even with the capped turrets, you can reset and maintain it at zero with fingertips adjustment. In addition, The Vortex optics crossfire II has shock proofing feature that helps the scope to maintain its zeroing during hard recoil. So, it eliminates the chances of shifting the lens.

Consisting of 3.5” long eye relief and good magnification range is perfect for eye safety along with acquiring your target quickly.

Thanks to the over-sized 56mm objective lens that are specifically designed to use in low-light.

If you are an enthusiastic hunter who loves to prey at dusk or in heavy cover, then Vortex optics is ideal for the Best 243 rifle scopes.

Pros
  • Capped reset turrets
  • Anti-reflective multi-coated lenses
  • Dead-Hold BDC and illuminated reticle 
  • Zero resettable turrets
Cons
  • Light transmission is not good in low light
  • Low quality on high magnification

4. Bushnell 614124 Banner Dusk & Dawn

Bushnell is one of the popular 243 rifle scopes in the market and trending now as the Best scopes for 243 rifle.

Due to its 3.3-inch eye relief quality and HD quality optics, you will not achieve your target with utmost perfection.

It has an objective lens of 40mm to create bright and clear images during hunting.

Zooming range from 4X to 12X offers the suitability for long-range shooters, this is beneficial to allow targeting either at close up and long-range shootings.

Usually, the larger the objective lenses, the more light enters the scope and provides you with clear images. The scope features a multi-X reticle and comes with dusk & dawn brightness (DDB) multi-coated lenses for
clarity and brightness.

Plus, it is equipped with argon purged to protect from fog; hence, it keeps the optics stable in any ambient temperature.  

The Bushnell, high-quality scope allows you to adjust the elevation and windage to adjust the reticle.

It ensures that the bullet goes exactly at the reticle point. It is also waterproof and fog proof, so you don’t need to worry about the harsh conditions around you.

Just pop in your .243 Winchester and the best scope for 243 rifle is ready to deliver reliable imagery.

Pros
  • Dusk & Dawn Brightness multi-coated lenses
  • Fast-focus 12 inches eyepiece
  • Good elevation and windage adjustments
  • Low light rifle scope with variable magnification
Cons
  • Doesn’t come with parallax adjustment

Buying guide for Choosing the best scope for 243 rifle

1. Magnification

The primary thing a hunter needs to consider before buying scope for a .243 rifle is the magnification range. And, it depends upon the requirements of the range you are skilled at.

For instance, for magnification, we have classified it in three different ranges:

Long-range: It covers range from 350 yards or above and desired magnification range of the scope of 9x or more. It is suitable for hunters who want to shoot the smaller target at a larger range. 

Medium range: Medium range covers an area between 150 to 350 yards and scope of range 5x to 9x is ideal for the medium-range huntings.

Low or close range: The last one is usually for the hunters who are specialized in targeting the closer objects and magnification of 1x to 4x is a good choice for them.

2. Build Quality

The durability and reliability of the scopes depending upon their building quality. You should check the tube or body of the scope that varies from the type of scope you want to want.

However, these usually range at 25mm and 30mm.

On top of it, food scopes are purged with nitrogen and argon that prevents fogging. So, your scope must have to be shockproof, waterproof, and fog proof.

3. Lens quality

The hunters like to prey in the low-light conditions of dawn and dusk and here proper light transmission affects a lot.

In low-light conditions, a scope’s lenses should be built of high-quality glass to
provide image clarity. So, the lens quality matters a lot; otherwise, you will miss the target due to blurry or low-quality lens.

The lens coated with multi-coats that allows transmitting the light is the top choice for .243 rifles. Besides, that anti-reflective attribute should be there in the lens to produce a vivid picture of the target.

And, a dusk and dawn brightness (DDB) coating on the lens is preferred by the shooters.

4. Turret Type

Now, the capped turret styles are the most demanding style of turrets for hunting. They are basically covered with caps that prevent accidental adjustments.

However, you can remove the caps if you want to modify your windage and elevation settings.

In addition, many best scopes for 243 rifles come with fingertips adjustment that stops the turret from moving.

Make your Decision

So, you have now got a good idea for the best scopes for .243 Winchester. Each scope review in the article comes with lots of advantages and functionality.

Few negligible cons can be avoided if you are going to invest
in the top brands. 

The nice thing about these scopes is that they are versatile and will never disappoint you in difficult situations.

Overall, the choice of picking the best 243 rifle scopes depends upon the requirements and the range of targets set by the hunters and shooters.

Make your quick decision after reviewing our buying guide and select among
the best scopes for 243 rifle to get into the action.

Also Read: Rifle Scopes

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