But a good scope is just one part of the equation; the reticle inside the scope can also make a big difference. A bullet drop compensator, or BDC, is a reticle that allows the shooter to reach out and touch targets with ease. A BDC is calibrated for a particular round and allows the shooter to use a series of hash marks to make hitting large range targets easy. Simply place the appropriate hash mark for the range on the target and pull the trigger. A BDC is supposed to make shooting easier, quicker, and more accurate.
Below are our recommendations for the 4 best .308 BDC scopes on the market. Take a gander, why don’t you?
ACOG .308
Trijicon struck gold when they designed the ACOG rifle scope. The Acog has since been adopted by both the U.S. Marines and the U.S. Army and proven itself to be incredibly effective. In fact, Marines in Fallujah were investigated because of how many headshots they achieved with their Acog-equipped rifles! The Acog is produced for both the 5.56 and 7.62/308 calibers. This model has a 3.5 power magnification and uses a combination of fiber optics and tritium to illuminate the internal reticle. This means you have battery-free illumination.
The Acog’s .308 ballistic reticle (see full specs) gives the shooter an excellent system for both close and long range. The bullet drop compensator has the ability to reach out to 1,200 yards with confidence and precision. Of course, as a shooter, you have to be able to master the fundamentals of shooting long range. The illuminated chevron combined with the Bindon Aiming concept allows the optic to be used effortlessly at close range.
The Trijicon Acog line of optics are well made optics. They are designed to get beaten up, tossed around, and used in actual combat. The Acog is water and shockproof to an extreme level. It’s also an excellent choice if you’re .308 platform is a semi-automatic rifle like the AR 10 or the SCAR 17. If you’re willing to shell out the dough, this is the best .308 BDC scope period.
Nikon P-308
The Nikon P-308 is a variable magnified optic in Nikon’s new P series line. The P series is dedicated to particular calibers and includes the .223, .300 Blackout, and the .308 round. Nikon has a history of producing quality optics that work and function quite well. They are also priced quite fairly and are on the affordable side of rifle scopes. The Nikon P-308 is an excellent scope for shooters with a bolt action rifle, especially for hunters. This 4 to 12 power scope offers enough magnification to stretch the legs of the .308 caliber round.
The Nikon P-308 offers shooters a bullet drop compensator that reaches out to 800 yards. It will work with most .308 caliber rounds, but for the best accuracy it is best to use a 168 grain round at 2680 feet per second. Deviations from this loading are fine, but the closer it is, the more accurate the compensator will be. If you deviate from this loading, definitely check out Nikon’s ballistic match technology online.
The Nikon provides a very clear picture through its scope, it helps that they use quality glass in their construction. They also fully multi-coated their optics and use a nice wide 42mm objective lens. This is an excellent all around optic for bolt action rifles looking for an accurate, precise, and affordable BDC optic.
Vortex Viper with Dead Hold BDC
Vortex’s rifle scopes are becoming more and more popular. They present a tough, well-made rifle scope that is designed to be a premium optic at a good price. Not the cheapest optics, but they do present the user with a high quality scope priced below competing competitor options. The Vortex Viper 6.5 – 20 with a 56mm objective lens is probably the best option for long range shooting with the .308 caliber round.
Vortex makes a very clear optic and uses high definition glass to give a beautiful site picture. The scope lenses are also fully multi coated to reduce glare and improve light transmission. The scope’s design really stresses strength and durability. It’s a single-piece, aircraft-grade aluminum tube that is sealed with O rings to keep debris and water out of the scope. The lenses are coated with ArmorTek to protect the glass from scratches and other abrasions.
The Dead Hold BDC system (see full specs) is actually made to be quite versatile with other calibers, including the .308. The .308 falls under the Class A of the Dead Hold bullet drop compensator. This gives you five yards of worth of reticle, and 55 inches of drop. The Vortex is a very well made scope and is a premium companion to any rifle, easily among the best .308 BDC scopes around.
Primary Arms Compact
Primary Arms is one of those companies that allows shooters to purchase quality gear at great prices. They are extremely well made and are sold at great values. The Primary Arms compact scopes are fixed power scopes with the ACSS reticle. This particular model is a 5 power scope that offers plenty of magnification for most users. In fact, this is a much more affordable option for the semi-auto .308 lead thrower.
The Primary Arms Compact rifle scope is equipped the ACSS reticle that works for both the 5.56 and .308 caliber rounds, meaning this reticle will allow you to easily transition easily from rifle to rifle. Beside the holdovers for elevation or bullet drop, you also have hash marks for windage compensation.
The Primary Arms compact scope is one of the most affordable tactical options but can easily transition to a hunting rifle. The reticle is fully illuminated and easy to see in all light conditions. The Horseshoe reticle makes this bad boy quite easy to use at close range and the BDC aids in long range shooting. This is likely the best .308 BDC scope for the money.
Sighting In
Bullet drop compensators can be quite controversial. Some people love them and others treat them with disdain. In my experience (and I’ve had 2 tours of duty as a marine), a bullet drop compensator is an excellent tool to have. Just recognize its weaknesses and be prepared to buy the proper ammo and barrel length for the BDC. Once you have the right combination this is the fastest method to engage targets beyond 200 yards.
