Every year or so, we hear about some new wonder round that’s going to replace the 5.56 AR.
Rarely do these rounds ever work out. However…one finally did.
The .300 Blackout.
We’re going to talk a little more about this round before we get into which scopes and optics we think are a great match for this caliber.
THE QUICK LIST
How We Tested the Best .300 BLK Optics
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.
I’ve personally tested out 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.
Best .300 Blackout Optics
What are my preferred optics? I went from high to low to cover some of the best optics out there for .300 Blackout rifles, pistols, and SBRs.
1. Primary Arms SLx 1-6×24 FFP Rifle Scope – Best Overall .300BLK Optic
Primary Arms has transformed from a small, budget optics company into a total powerhouse.
They make a ton of optics and retail them for an excellent price. In addition to their popular LPVOs and prism scopes, they have become known for their awesome reticles.
Shooters who enjoy smartly made reticles can’t complain about the popularity of the Primary Arms ACSS Raptor reticle. Luckily, they have a version built specifically for .300 Blackout /7.62x39mm.
If you shoot a .300 Blackout rifle, you may be using both supersonic and subsonic rounds. Primary Arms thought about this when they designed the Raptor reticle for the .300 Blackout round.
They installed a bullet drop compensator that allows the shooter to range supersonic shots out to 600 yards and subsonic shots out to 225 yards. Swapping from one type of round to another isn’t a big issue.
Another bonus is this is a first focal plane (FFP) optic, meaning the reticle grows and shrinks as the magnification changes. This allows the reticle to be 100% accurate at every magnification.
At 1X, the reticle is nice and tiny, and when combined with the daylight-bright reticle, it’s almost like a big red dot. That makes it fast and efficient to hit those close-range targets.
As far as LPVOs go, it’s relatively light, short, and of good quality. The glass is crazy clear, even with a maxed-out magnification. Overall, it’s a solid-made scope that won’t break the bank.
What do you think of the Primary Arms SLx? Rate it below!
2. EOTech XPS2 – Best Holographic Sight for .300 Blackout
EOTech is a neat company, and they make cool optics. Luckily they have fixed the wandering zero in extreme weather conditions, so I can recommend them again. They also produce an XPS2 Model that features a .300 Blackout reticle.
This reticle is the 68 MOA circle with two 1 MOA dots in the center. The dots correspond with bullet drop for both subsonic and supersonic projectiles. The first dot is good to 100 yards with supersonic ammo, and the second goes out to 300 yards.
On the subsonic side, the first dot is good to 50 yards, and the second dot is good out to 150 yards. It’s a neat and easy system to use and doesn’t occupy a ton of different 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 I doubt many need that capability.
It’s a rock-solid optic and one of the easiest to use at a multitude of distances. Again, this is better for semi-auto 300 Blackouts and excels for the close quarters use the .300 Blackout is designed for. I’m a big fan of this reticle pattern and find it really easy to use.
This is an especially great optic if you need to change engagement distances rapidly. For example, Eotechs make it easy to swap from 5 yards to 200 yards with hardly a stutter. EOTechs have become popular with hunters, especially in the brushy Southeastern States.
This reticle works well for any of those roles and allows you to keep the versatility of the .300 Blackout round.
3. Trijicon ACOG TA31-C – Best Duty Optic for .300 Blackout
I told you I like fixed 4 power scopes, especially for rounds like the .300 Blackout. Most people looking at the .300 Blackout round are liking in the market to shoot at ranges between 25 and 300 yards, and lightweight 4x optics do that incredibly well.
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.
Without a doubt, the ACOG made me a more effective Marine, and I’ve always held it in high regard. Trijicon jumped on the 300 Blackout train and introduced a 300 Blackout variant of their famed 4X ACOG. This BDC accommodates both supersonic and subsonic aiming points.
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, and subsonic goes out to 200 yards.
The glass is crystal clear, and this is undoubtedly one of the most well-made optics available. But the price reflects that.
This particular model is dual-illuminated and uses either a battery or radiation from the freakin’ sun to power the optic. This is very similar to the model I used.
4. Primary Arms SLx 3X MicroPrism – Best Compact Optic for .300 Blackout
People really sleep on prism optics, but they are simple, easy to use, and typically affordable. Primary Arms pushed the evolution of their prism optics even further with their MicroPrism line.
These optics are the size of compact red dots, weigh around 8 ounces, and offer up to a fixed 3-power option for your carbine. MicroPrisms might just be my new favorite type of optic.
Primary Arms now makes a.300 Blackout-specific model, and it’s glorious.
If you use an SBR or AR pistol, you likely want to keep it short and light. The MicroPrism makes that easy. It’s so compact that it’s a much better choice than an LPVO or red dot and magnifier when running an uber-small platform.
The MicroPrism sticks with an ACSS Raptor reticle, but it’s different from our previous entry. This specific reticle has a BDC designed around the supersonic variety of .300 Blackout ammo.
If you are using subs, it is very likely for a closer shot, so the BDC might not be necessary — especially with a 3X fixed power optic.
The MicroPrism sights come equipped with a daylight bright reticle, and if you can use an occluded shooting technique, it’s quite effective even at across-the-room distances. This technique is a bit tricky, but it’s not too tough to master with a little practice and dry fire.
Primary Arms includes several mounting options for various heights and cantilevers, so it will work on an AR, an AK, or whatever else you might want to drop it on.
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.
5. Meprolight Foresight – Best High-Tech Optic for .300 Blackout
The Meprolight Foresight is an optic for the future. It’s a reflex sight in the red dot category with an absolutely fascinating design.
It’s designed to pair with your phone to unlock all of its features. This includes choosing five out of 20-something reticles and having the ability to zero the optic with your phone or tablet quite easily.
That’s all cool, but what makes it perfect for the .300 Blackout is its ability to save up to ten different zeroing profiles. For .300 Blackout, you can save a zero for both supersonic and subsonic rounds.
The drop between subsonic and supersonic rounds is significant, and having two zeroes allows for maximum accuracy. Switching between these zeroes is easy with the Foresight.
It’s easy to install with its integrated mount and works perfectly on AR-type weapons. Users won’t have to buy batteries, but they do have to plug the optic in and charge it with a USB-C cable.
Having to charge an optic means it isn’t ready for the battlefield and is understandably a dealbreaker for some. However, it is still perfectly suitable for other roles like hunting, plinking, competition, and other non-critical use cases.
It’s a premier-tier optic with a few quirks. Features like a level and compass are nice, and Meprolight seems interested in updating the app and optic to customize the experience and add features.
The Foresight and optics like it will likely be the future of red dots. Technology working to enhance our experience and abilities is nothing new, but this time, it’s digital.
What’s Special About .300 Blackout?
The .300 Blackout was not designed to replace the 5.56; instead, it was designed to augment it. The round uses the same magazines, uppers, lowers, BCGs, and more. All the .300 Blackout needs a new barrel and gas system.
This round was designed to fill in for the shortfalls of the AR-15-namely, short barrel performance, as well as suppressed performance.
The 5.56 reaches its max potential from 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 can also function without issue with both supersonic and subsonic rounds. In an instant, you can swap magazines from a mag full of subsonics for quiet performance to supersonics to reach out and touch a target.
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 round is a very cool round. Shooting one suppressed is an absolute dream. It has light recoil, is a superbly silent round, and is incredibly reliable.
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.
Latest Updates
July 20, 2024: Updated and expanded the supplemental information for each product.
April 10, 2024 – Added more supporting information about each product. Moved Primary Arms SLx 1-6×24 Rifle Scope to the first place under overall pick, added more information about what to look for when choosing a scope.
