Best Rifle Scopes For 6.5 Grendel

Looking for the best scopes for your 6.5 Grendel rifle? Consider options with quick adjustments and high power. The 6.5 Grendel cartridge offers low recoil and superior ballistics compared to the .223/5.56, with less wind drift, slower velocity loss, and improved accuracy at long range.

In this guide, we've compiled a list of scopes with a range of features and price points, suitable for both beginner and advanced shooters.

Best Rifle Scopes For 6.5 Grendel

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Primary Arms SLx 1-8x24 FFP Rifle Scope

• Magnification: 1 - 8 x
• Objective Lens Diameter: 24 mm
• Exit Pupil Diameter (mm): 9 Low – 3 High
• Eye Relief: Low 3.2 in/ High: 3.30 in
• Reticle: ACSS-RAPTOR
• Turret Style: Capped Low-Profile
• Tube Diameter: 30 mm
• Weight: 17.9 oz

Primary Arms has offered several lines of extremely capable scopes for AR-15 platform rifles. One of their best low power variable optics (LPVO) comes from SLx series and feature 1-8x24 configuration.

Eight X Zoom Ratio - The PA 1-8x24 scope boasts an eight-time zoom ratio in small and lightweight package constructed with rugged, 6063 aluminum alloy. The 30mm main tube is waterproof and shockproof, whereas the housing is nitrogen purged to provide excellent anti-fog features.

Fully Multi-Coated Glasses - Primary Arms SLx 1-8x24 optics has fully multi-coated glasses for anti-glare and anti-scratch properties.

ACSS Reticle - The main selling point of this sturdy, low power variable optic (LPVO) is the Advanced Combined Sighting System (ACSS) reticle with updated ballistics capability.

FFP Illuminated Reticle - The red illuminated ACSS reticle is placed at FFP and represents a typical combination of a horseshoe with a chevron tip. It offers bullet drop compensating points of aim, range estimation, and wind holdovers in one system without a cluttered look.

Optimized for 6.5 Grendel - While this caliber-specific ACSS reticle is tuned for 5.56 NATO and few popular hunting loads, it will also work for 6.5 Grendel.

Though purpose-built for tactical shooting, SLx 1-8x24 scope is optimized for fast close and accurate medium-range shooting as you may need in hunting or competition scenarios.

• Magnification: 1 - 6 x
• Objective Lens Diameter: 24 mm
• Exit Pupil Diameter (mm): 24 Low – 4 High
• Eye Relief: 4.0 inches
• Reticle: JM-1 BDC
• Turret Style: Capped Low-Profile
• Tube Diameter: 30mm
• Weight: 25.2 oz

Another LPVO in this guide is of a 1-6x magnification range and comes from entirely the other side of the price spectrum. It's the Vortex Optics Razor HD Gen II 1-6×24 wide-angle model.

Compared to the Vortex Viper or Razor Gen.1, the Vortex Razor HD Gen. 2 series delivers the highest level of clarity, color accuracy, and light transmission that can easily compete with $2,000+ optics.

Many 3-gun shooters claim that Razor HD Gen II 1-6×24 with a true 1x magnification and JM-1 BDC reticle with daylight bright illuminated center dot is faster than a red dot sight.

JM-1 BDC reticle - JM-1 BDC reticle is simple, intuitive, and fast, allowing shooters to take rapid and accurate shooting distances from point-blank to 600 yards.

Generous FOV - With a huge field of view (115.2 - 20.5 feet @ 100 yards), the Vortex Razor HD Gen. 2 1-6×24 is perfect for the AR-15 and other AR platform pattern rifles.

APO System & XR Coating - Like all models from this Vortex flagship family of scopes, The Razor HD Gen. 2 a new APO (Apochromatic objective lens system) system and fully multi-coated lenses with the special XR coating.

Armortek Coating - Along with the ArmorTek coating on the outer lenses for protection against scratches, oil, and dirt, the scope body is argon gas filled to prevent internal fogging at cold weather.

Ultra-Low Profile - Though built like a tank on a 30mm aluminum main tube, the Razor HD Gen II features ultra-low profile due to the low capped windage and elevation turrets.

Vortex Razor series offers the most advanced riflescopes. The second generation of the Razor HD riflescopes is the top-tier optical system solution for most tactical scenarios, 3-gun and other competition as specific hunting applications (driven hunts).

Athlon Optics Neos 4-12 x 40

• Magnification: 4.5 - 14 x
• Objective Lens Diameter: 42 mm
• Exit Pupil Diameter (mm): 9 Low – 3 High
• Eye Relief: Low 3.1 in/ High: 3.8 in
• Reticle: Ballistic Plex
• Turret Style: Capped Low-Profile
• Tube Diameter: 1-inch
• Weight: 18.0 oz

An exceptionally versatile scope featuring hundreds of positive comments belongs to the Burris Fullfield II line with designation 4.5-14x42mm. Designed for medium to long-range hunting, the Burris Optics 4.5-14x42 Fullfield II riflescope combines a versatile 3 times zoom range and objective bell of modest size that would not add additional weight to your Grendel setup.

Hilume Coating - This wide magnification range is accompanied by the ˝HiLume˝ fully multi-coated glasses that provide good light transmission and bright and clear images at a level that’s great for the cost.

Ballistic Plex Reticle - The heart of the Burris Fullfield II 4.5-14x42 200183 is a Ballistic Plex reticle for bullet drop compensation located on the rear (second) focal plane.

Featuring a duplex crosshair ranging design, this non-illuminated reticle is made for quick shooting at reasonable hunting distances.

Versatile Magnification - With its minimalist design and ease-of-use, the Burris Fullfield II 4.5-14x42 is excellent middle ground scope for both beginners and experienced shooters, who want to stretch 6.5 Grendel capacity to mid-range and long-range shooting.

Parallax Adjustable Objective - Burris Fullfield II riflescope sports an adjustable objective parallax correction collar and low-profile capped turrets with 1/4 MOA corrections per click.

Durable Construction - One-inch scope tube is made of one piece 6061 T-6 aluminum alloy, O-ring sealed and nitrogen-filled for water and fog-proof performance in the field use and inclement weather.

• Magnification: 5 - 25 x
• Objective Lens Diameter: 52 mm
• Exit Pupil Diameter (mm): 9.6 Low – 2.1 High
• Eye Relief: 3.74 inches
• Reticle: 4A-I Duplex
• Turret Style: Inset and covered Turrets
• Tube Diameter: 40 mm
• Weight: 38.4 oz

Currently, one of the best offerings for the 6.5 Grendel at the market is the revolutionary Swarovski dS 5-25x52 P “smart” rifle scope. While the new digitalSmart Swarovski scope resembles a conventional form factor, it incorporates a laser rangefinder (33 to 1,500 yards), inclinometer, air pressure measurement unit and temperature sensor.

Built-In Laser Rangefinder - Combining a built-in rangefinder with a ballistic calculator, the "smart" dS scope measures the exact distance and shooting angle to the target and calculates ballistic data. As a result, this innovative riflescope automatically shows in real-time the correct point of aim and displays ballistic data in the lens.

Illuminated 4A-I Reticle - All important information is visible in a heads-up-display-like sight picture, very clearly and without distracting or distorting the view. The Swarovski Optik 5-25x52 dS P L sports modified, illuminated 4A-I duplex reticle located at second-focal-plane (SFP).

Inset and Covered Turrets - This point and shoot riflescope's simplicity is further enhanced by the lack of the "conventional" elevation or windage knobs, as these inset and covered turrets are used primarily for zeroing scope to the rifle.

Clever Little Compartment - In a place of elevation turret, you will actually find a little concealed compartment to house the CR 123 battery and a little tool for scope zeroing.
Parallax Turret - The scope body's left side is reserved for the standard Swarovski parallax adjustment turret that can be adjusted from 55 yards to infinity.

Swarotop Internal Lens Coatings - Combining a typical Swarovski glass quality with the full complement of optical coatings and a large 52mm objective lens, this scope provides excellent light transmission for use it in all weather and light conditions.

40mm Main tube- Unlike standard 30mm and 34mm scope rings, the huge dS Swarovski main tube of 40mm requests a unique Swarovski 40 mm scope rings or SR rail.

• Magnification: 6.5 - 20 x
• Objective Lens Diameter: 52 mm
• Exit Pupil Diameter (mm): 6.1 Low – 2.6 High
• Eye Relief: 3.43 - 4.21 inches
• Reticle: BDX-R1 Digital Ballistic Reticle
• Turret Style: Capped low-profile turrets
• Tube Diameter: 30 mm
• Weight: 25.9 oz

Incorporating technological innovations like Ballistic Data Xchange system and Bluetooth to illuminate the exact holdover dot, the Sig Sauer BDX family of riflescopes also belongs to the new generation of firearm optics.

Compatible With SIG KILO Rangefinder - In fact, the Sig Sauer SIERRA3BDX riflescope series is designed to be coupled with a BDX capable KILO rangefinder.

BDX System - The SIERRA3 BDX 6.5-20x52mm riflescope receives information from rangefinder via Bluetooth and Ballistic Data Xchange (BDX) system processes data and displays them as holdover dot on the BDX-R1 digital ballistic reticle.

BDX-R1 Reticle - Besides an exceptional illuminated BDX-R1 reticle set up in the second focal plane, the Sig Sauer SIERRA3BDX is packed with features such as the KinETHIC kinetic energy transfer indicator, LevelPlex digital anti-cant and MOTAC - motion-activated illumination.

SpectraCoat Lenses - SIERRA3BDX scope boasts a highly efficient SpectraCoat lens coating for optimal light transmission and reduced surface reflections.

Ballistic Holdover Dot - Since the Sig Sauer BDX 6.5-20x scope can provide an illuminated auto-holdover dot on targets up to 800 yards, it might be a perfect choice to prolong the impact of 6.5 Grendel.

If you didn't find what you're looking for please check out more long range scopes under $1000
.

Common FAQ

Recommended Reticles for 6.5 Grendel

The recommended reticles for 6.5 Grendel would depend on its intended use first.

The 6.5 Grendel is designed explicitly for use by the AR-15 rifle. It has an effective range of 200 yards as an intermediate, mid-range cartridge, but hunters can still go after deer-sized animals between 300-400 yards using the precision rifle for hog hunting or deer hunting.

On the other side, the 6.5 Grendel has superior ability to keep its projectile at supersonic speeds over 1,000 yards, affecting some gun enthusiasts are going for the long-range 1,000-yard recreational shot.

Considering all that above, and if you're going for short to mid-range hunting with the Grendel, you should find the fine duplex reticle, which will allow you even to make some slight flight corrections.

But if you're doing long-range, you will need the BDC or Mil-dot reticle that will enable you to correct for bullet drop and help for accurate aiming and firing at a distant target.

20 MOA base required for extreme long-range shooting with 6.5 Grendel?

The 20 MOA base is required for extreme long-range shooting, particularly if you are going to shoot 1,000-yard targets with 6.5 Grendel.

In longer words, the typical long-range scopes have 17 MRADs (58MOA) of internal elevation adjustment for both upward and downward correction.

Since you need 1.4 Mil to get zeroed at 100 yards, all you have is 7 Mil available in the scope and a typical 20MOA base will give you another 6Mil.
Using an average scope with the canted mount, you will get 14.5Mils in total that should be enough for 1,000 yards distance.

Reasons to use LPVO on a short barrel 6.5 Grendel rifle.

While the AR15 chambered in 6.5 Grendel can approach some really impressive distances, the cartridge is primarily designed for tactical rifles for close-quarters combat and short-range use.

Modern battlefields approved the reflex sights and red dot sights are irreplaceable for that type of engagements. For more information, get to “red dot sight guide” for tactical 6.5 Grendel SBR setup.

As the more effective chambering, the short barrel rifles in 6.5 Grendel get more and more popularity over the SBR chambered in 5.56. Assuming that, you may find an increased offer of low power variable optics (LPVO) appropriate for short barrel 6.5 Grendel rifles.

Today trendy LPVO riflescopes are often used in military and tactical tasks and for hunting because of their wide magnification range (1-4x, 1-6x, 1-8x and even bigger).

On 1 power for CQB, these optics are almost as fast as a red dot sight and with quick zooming to 4, 6, or 8x magnification, you have enough zoom power to be accurate at several hundred yards.

It means that with a 6.5 Grendel AR15 and mounted LPVO optics, you can cover the entire AR's effective range.

Hunting wild boar in Europe is particularly popular with driven hunt type of hunting where LPVO are ideal optics for quick, flash shooting at short ranges.

Also check out the best scopes for 6.5 Creedmoor on our site