Best Scope for 338 Win Mag

A Comprehensive Guide

The best scope for 338 Win Mag is a difficult question to answer. It really depends on what you need it for. The most important thing when looking at the best scope for your 338 Win Mag is how far away you are going to be shooting from and what kind of terrain there will be around you. I’ll give some examples below that would probably work well as the best scope for your rifle based on these factors.

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Then there are lots and lots of new models and brands of Scopes for the 338 Win Mag that make the choice of the right one even more difficult. In this article we will tell you what makes a good 338 Win Mag Scope, the best options on the market, and the factors that you need to consider when you are shopping for a scope. Let’s get into it.

Table of Contents

If you are in a hurry to purchase the best scope for 338 win mag, and you want to make the best decision, here are our top 3 picks:

Top 3 Best Scope for 338 Win Mag

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Why Do You Even Need a Scope for 338 Win Mag?

The 338 Winchester Magnum rifles are often used for long-range shooting and hunting, but the heavy recoil can make it difficult to hit a target. A scope is an essential accessory that will allow you to shoot with greater accuracy at distance. Here are some of the best scopes that you can use with the 338 Winchester Magnum to secure more kills with lesser rounds.

6 Best Scope for 338 Win Mag (Ranked And Reviewed)

1. Vortex Optics Razor HD Gen II

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Specifications

• Magnification Range:
  6x

• Material:
  Aluminium

• Illuminated Reticle:
  Yes

Vortex Optics Razor HD Gen II Riflescope is one of the most advanced riflescopes in the world. With its superior optical performance, innovative features, and rugged durability, it’s no wonder that professional shooters prefer Vortex Optics. The Razor HD Gen II series is all about precision-for hunting or tactical applications where every shot counts. The L-TEC Turret System has a locking mechanism preventing accidental adjustments. Visual rotation indicator to track turret revolutions. An integrated throw lever makes adjustments fast and easy with just one finger. Both the Razor HD Gen II 3-18x50mm and 4.5-27x56mm riflescopes offer the highest level of performance and features in a riflescope. The 6x zoom range provides versatility for any situation, while the side parallax adjustment makes it easy to get on target.

The illuminated dot center is perfect for daylight use and a precise reticle allows you to make accurate shots at dusk or dawn. Whether you’re shooting from the bench rest or out hunting, Razor HD will take your skills to the next level. Razor HD Gen II riflescopes offer the highest level of precision and performance ever available in a riflescope. The second generation of the signature series from Vortex features an advanced optical system with premium, high-density extra-low dispersion glass for incredible resolution across the entire field of view. Vortex’s proprietary APO (apochromatic) lenses are fully multi-coated with XR plus anti-reflective coating to increase light transmission for optimal brightness, clarity, and contrast. A streamlined design offers a smaller footprint and increased strength at the same time.

Positive

• Ready for all weather conditions
• Holds zero, no worrying for accidental adjustments
• No glare means excellent views always
• Faster focus translates to faster subsequent shots

Negatives

• Color is not fully black rather chocolaty that you might not like

2. Vortex Optics Viper HS-T

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Specifications

• Magnification Range:
  4x

• Material:
  Aluminium

• Illuminated Reticle:
  No

Vortex Optics Viper HS-T riflescope is a high magnification range riflescope that provides the shooter with the ability to reach out and touch their target at distances beyond any other scope in its class. This riflescope is the ideal combination of superior optical performance, rugged construction, and no-nonsense features. The VMR-1 reticle (MOA) is perfect for accurate holds at extended ranges. premium, fully multi-coated, extra-low dispersion lenses deliver excellent resolution and true colors and eliminate glare. This is a high-performance, tactical riflescope with exposed target-style turrets for precise and repeatable finger-adjustable clicks.

The CRS Zero Stop allows for a reliable return to zero and the side focus parallax adjustment provides optimal and easy image focus and parallax removal. The Viper HS-T has been engineered to be the ideal scope for shooters desiring superior quality glass, rugged construction, long eye relief, precision reticle adjustments, and maximum field of view. Vortex Optics Viper HS-T riflescopes are made from a one-piece aluminum tube that is o ring sealed and argon purged. The Vortex Viper HS-T riflescope is waterproof and fog proof, making it ideal for hunting, target shooting, or tactical applications.

Positive

• Get more from your hunting experience
• Shoot less hit more
• Will outlive the rifle itself
• Free from the clutches of weather and lighting conditions

Negatives

• Can be uncomfortable for your cheek at certain magnification settings

3. Monstrum G3

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Specifications

• Magnification Range:
  4x

• Material:
  Aluminium

• Illuminated Reticle:
  Yes

The Monstrum Tactical Rifle Scope is a high-performance scope that can be used for long-distance shooting out to 1000 yards. The first focal plane MOA reticle allows for accurate aiming at different distances. It has a 6-24x magnification and an objective lens diameter of 50mm. This model has an O-ring sealed body, which makes it waterproof and fog proof. You can use the Monstrum Tactical Rifle Scope with any large-caliber rifle like the Winchester Magnum and it can handle the recoil. The Monstrum G3 has an adjustable objective lens.

This enables you to sharpen your focus on the target image, eliminating any parallax or range estimation errors. A dial-controlled reticle illumination lets you aim accurately day and night. The optical system of the G3 features fully multi-coated lenses for maximum light transmission and minimal glare, making it easy to spot your target even in low light conditions. Monstrum G3, just like any premium tactical scope, comes with integrated sunshade and Picatinny rings. Just buy it and you are good to go.

Positive

• Precision optics with incredible clarity
• See the target up close even if you are a mile away
• All accessories included in the package
• Take great shots even in dusk and dawn lighting conditions

Negatives

• Included rings can be a bit too high for some shooters

4. Vortex Optics Diamondback

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Specifications

• Magnification Range:
  3x

• Material:
  Aluminium

• Illuminated Reticle:
  No

The Diamondback is one of the most popular rifle scopes on the market, and for good reason. It features a zero-reset turret system that allows you to dial your elevation and windage without having to re-zero your scope every time. The Dead-Hold BDC reticle makes it easy to hold dead on target even when shooting at long distances, so you can make accurate shots from far away. With fully multi-coated lenses that are crystal clear and bright, they deliver an amazing image no matter what weather conditions or lighting situation you are up against.

This scope features a fast-focus eyepiece that allows for quick and easy reticle focusing. They have metal-on-metal precision turrets that offer the ability to zero reset after sight-in. This scope from Vortex features a one-piece tube design that is shockproof and durable, plus they are fog proof and waterproof. Argon purging allows them to be completely sealed from moisture, while O-ring seals ensure they stay fog proof.

Positive

• Holds the zero after windage and elevation adjustments
• No internal fogging means clear optical performance always
• Focus fast to get shots at high speed
• No glare no matter how bright the sun is

Negatives

• Uncomfortable against the cheek for some people

5. Burris Optics Fullfield E1 Riflescope

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Specifications

• Magnification Range:
  4x

• Material:
  Aluminium

• Illuminated Reticle:
  No

The Burris Fullfield-E1 Riflescope is the perfect scope for long-range shooting. The E1 brings together all of the best features of a high-quality rifle scope into one package. With a simple yet sophisticated reticle, you can see your shot with ease and accuracy. The E1 also has a 32mm tube diameter to provide superior light transmission and brightness. It’s easy to use with its zero stop feature that allows you to return to your original setting after each shot. This scope comes with an ergonomic, easy to reach side focus for parallax adjustment from 50 yards to infinity. In short, this scope delivers all the features of top-end scopes at a better price and is good for beginners or those who want to mount a scope permanently on their 338 Winchester Magnum.

Positive

• Incredible performance even on far away targets
• Wide tube gives superior light transmission
• Focus and adjust parallax easily
• Zeroing the scope after a shot is fast

Negatives

• Getting used to elevation and windage adjustments takes some time

6. Bushnell Trophy Rifle Scope

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Specifications

• Magnification Range:
  3x

• Material:
  Aluminium

• Illuminated Reticle:
  No

The Bushnell Trophy Rifle Scope is the Premier 3-9x40mm riflescope. It comes with fully multi-coated optics and a rain guard HD for superior clarity in any weather. The one-inch one-piece tube is constructed of aircraft-grade aluminum and features an integrated saddle for mounting onto your rifle. This scope has 100% waterproof, fog proof, shockproof construction that allows you to get the most out of it no matter what you’re hunting or shooting at. This scope also has a 91% light transmission.

Positive

• Comes with the mounting bracket
• Doesn’t get foggy or dusty inside
• Lasts a good long time
• Extended focus range for near and far shots

Negatives

• Has some focusing issues at 7x magnification

What To Consider While Buying The Best Scope for 338 Win Mag?

All those numbers and stats about the scopes carry little meaning if you do not know how to select the right scope for your 338 Winchester Magnum. This portion of the article is dedicated to telling you how to select the right scope for your rifle.

Qualities of a Great 338 Win Mag Scope

Good scope for a 338 Winchester Magnum (338WM) should have a magnification range that is versatile enough to be used from very short distances out to distances of several hundred yards. But the most important features of this kind of scope are its durability and resistance to the magnum’s recoil because these rifles can produce violent recoil when shooting heavy bullets at high velocity.

You need to go for a scope that can endure the enormous jerk of the rifle no matter how many shots are fired through it. A good scope will have an adjustable objective (AO) that can be used for parallax adjustment, which is important for extreme long-range shooting. It should also have a positive and repeatable target focus wheel with clear markings and easy-to-use adjustments.

What is the Correct Magnification for a 338 Win Mag Scope?

The question of what magnification a 338 win mag scope should have is one that many hunters and gun enthusiasts are asking themselves. There are a variety of factors to consider like the distance you shoot at, how much bullet drop there is in your area, and what type of animal you’re shooting at.  So before making any decisions about purchasing new scopes for your rifle it’s best to consider these factors. The decision of the magnification range you need also depends on the type of activity you want to do: target shooting or hunting. For example, if you’re using your scope for a 300-yard distance range and only need it to Magnification Range in one time (4x), then that’s perfect.

However, some hunters prefer lower magnification settings so they can shoot more quickly when their targets are closer. If you are going to aim for 500-yards or lower than that, then magnification of not more than 10x is already enough and can deliver satisfying performance; be that as it may, if you plan to aim for over 500 yards in distance, then it is advised to opt for a magnification setting that is larger than 10x. Please be guided that more than 10x magnification would be great to keep an eye on your rifle.

Important Features to Consider 

Scopes come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and technical features to best suit each shooter’s needs. When looking for a scope there are several factors you should consider before making your final purchase. This article will primarily focus on the 338 win mag cartridge, however many of these tips can be applied to any firearm caliber that one would use with the scope.

Price

When purchasing a scope one should consider their price range. There is usually very little reason to spend more than $1000 on a rifle scope, and most of the features that are included in scopes over this price are mostly frivolous, and not much benefit to the shooter. When you start spending upwards of $1500 you are usually just paying for the name of the scope – not necessarily better features.

Material

Scope material is directly related to weight, strength, and durability. There are three major materials used in scopes today; aluminum, steel alloy, and magnesium alloy. Aluminum is by far the most common material as it is the lightest weight and strongest (it does not corrode). The downsides to aluminum are that it is easily marred and does not hold up in extreme weather conditions. Steel alloy is a much stronger material than aluminum, however, it is also heavier and less durable. In addition, the steel alloy scopes tend to be more expensive (they are not usually marketed as being such, because the aluminum scopes cost more to make).

Magnesium alloy is by far the most durable material of which a scope can be made, and it has very little weight. The downside with magnesium alloys is that they are extremely expensive, and also very fragile they cannot handle heavy recoil without being damaged (such as in a .338 win mag). The fact that scope is made from one material or another is often not advertised, so you will need to do research and ask questions to find out what your scope is actually made with.

Lens Coating

Many people think that the more expensive scopes have a better glass – this assumption comes from the coatings applied to many lenses. If you have a scope with coatings, they are most likely going to be Titanium Dioxide (TiO2). This is probably the best coating on lenses available – it is scratch-resistant, anti-reflective, offers protection from UV exposure, and makes up for poor light transmission through the lens.

Waterproofing

Many scopes now advertise themselves as being waterproof. If you are using your scope regularly this is probably a good feature to have, however it should be noted that even the best scopes will need to be sent in for repairs once every few years. Most warranties for scopes do not cover damage caused by water leakage – so making sure your scope is 100% waterproof may not be the best idea.  The reason for this is that even though your scope may have watertight seals at every opening, it will not protect the internal lenses from damage if they happen to become detached or loose within the scope (as can easily happen with recoil).

Capped Turrets

Many high-end scopes offer capped turrets – these are little caps that cover the turrets on the scope so you don’t accidentally change your elevation or windage. Capped turrets can be a good feature to have, but they should not be confused with lockable turrets.  If your scope has lockable turrets, it allows you to adjust the settings for long-range shooting and then lock them in place, so they do not change. To sum it all up, the good scope for 338 Win Mag should have:

(1) Large eye relief.

(2) Lightweight but sturdy construction.

(3) Have high-density lenses that cause no light dispersion.

(4) A reticle that is sharp and crisp.

(5) A good field of view at all magnification levels.

(6) Easy windage and vertical angle adjustment.

Obviously, if you go for the top features, you’ll have to spare the top dollar for the scope too. You need to ask yourself which features are the most crucial for you and select a scope that delivers the correct balance of features and price.

FAQs

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Conclusion

The market for the best scopes for 338 Win Mag can be confusing with all of the options, sizes, and styles. It would help to conduct research first so that you don’t end up choosing a scope model or brand that isn’t right for your rifle. You should consider reading product reviews as those will aid you further in narrowing down what’s available out there. If you are an outdoors person and want to know more about outdoor gear and accessories for all types of activities, keep coming back to Ballachy.com for amazing content and gear suggestions that can save your time.