Since its introduction in the 1920s, the .270 Winchester has become one of the world's most popular hunting cartridges. It was originally marketed as ideal for large game in the 300 to 500-yard range. Whatever your intended use is, you will require a suitable scope for your .270 rifle. It can be hard to pick, but as usual, we've got you covered.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Scope for 270
- OUR TOP PICK: Vortex Optics Diamondback Second Focal Plane Riflescopes
- BEST LEUPOLD SCOPE FOR .270: Leupold VX-1 3-9x40mm Compact Waterproof Fogproof Riflescope, Matte Black
- BEST NIKON .270 SCOPE: Nikon Buckmasters II 3-9x40mm BDC 1in Waterproof Matte Riflescope
Comparison of the Best .270 Scopes for the Money
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What is the Range & Accuracy of a .270 Winchester?
Accuracy is determined by many factors, of which cartridge selection is not very prominent. If you have a quality barrel with a twist rate suitable for the weight of bullet you intend to shoot, you will be most of the way toward achieving the best possible accuracy.
The weight of .270 bullets ranges from 90-grain to 180-grain. Even once you have selected a bullet weight suitable for the size of game you intend to hunt, you will have to try a few different manufacturers to find the load that best matches the unique harmonics of your individual barrel. Other factors determining accuracy include the quality of trigger, overall fit of the rifle to the shooter, and of course, the scope.
If thick brush prevents you from needing to shoot past 150 yards, you will do fine with a scope with a magnification range of 1-4x. If you shoot in mixed wooded and open terrain, almost all of your shots will be under 350 yards, making a 3-9x scope practically ideal. If you intend to take shots much past 350 yards across the flat, open plains at game like pronghorn, then the sky is the limit, maybe 6-20x.
Benefits of Investing in a Great .270 Scope
Although the cost of a good quality scope has dropped over the decades, you still get what you pay for in the optics world. Build quality is a vital consideration in purchasing a scope. The recoil of a .270 is relatively moderate, but you still need a scope robust enough to hold zero after hundreds of shots.
Besides, a scope can take a beating out in the bush. Not only must it be able to resist bumps and scrapes, but also moisture. Therefore, it's best to get a scope constructed of a single-piece tube with O-rings that has been gas-purged to prevent fogging.
Magnification is generally one of the main determinants of the cost of a scope. Given your shooting environment, if you don't foresee yourself shooting long-range or mid-range, there is no need to get a high magnification scope.
On the other hand, if the flat open plains prevent you from sneaking closer than 400 yards to your game, you will be thankful for high magnification.
Besides magnification, you want a scope with the best possible optics. This primarily means clarity and brightness. The larger the objective lens, the better the brightness, though beyond about 42mm, this can become a gimmick, especially on cheap, no-name scopes. Good optics usually also mean a well-designed reticle and a generous eye box, meaning the range of distance you can place your eye from the scope while achieving a clear sight picture.
Review of the Best .270 Scopes
Here we have picked some of the best scopes for 270 available in the market and reviewed them in detail along with the pros and cons for you to make the right choice.
Best Overall:
Vortex Optics Diamondback
Pros
Cons
Vortex has come out of nowhere to be a market leader in value for the money sighting options. Vortex has set themselves apart with their industry-leading, unlimited lifetime warranty policy, which takes much of the anxiety out of pulling the trigger, literally, and figuratively.
The Diamondback series comes in a wide variety of magnification ranges, allowing you to select the best one for your shooting environment and target size. These range from a short-range 1.7-5x32 to a 4-12x40, which should be sufficient for most long-range work. A good moderate option is a 3.5-10x50 arrangement, which gives you two reticle options.
You can get a classic V-plex crosshair or a bullet drop compensator (BDC) giving you clear dead-hold points for various ranges. The build specifications are everything you would expect, a single-piece, O-ring sealed aluminum tube, and argon-purged to avoid fogging.
The lenses are multi-coated and no matter which magnification range you select, the optical lens diameter is ample for providing a bright sight picture.
Bottom Line
The greatest benefits of the Diamondback line are the outstanding warranty and the selection of magnification ranges. Vortex has become a major player in a short time. Their sights are a great value for money and their build quality ticks all the boxes.
Best Leupold Scope for .270:
Leupold VX-1 3-9x40mm Riflescope
Pros
Cons
Not many scope makers can boast of the reputation that Leupold enjoys. When you see an optical lens sporting Leupold's distinctive golden ring, you know this is a scope you can rely on. The VX-1 is a classic choice if you're looking for the perfect all-rounder for standard shooting conditions in a mixed environment.
With a moderate 3-9x magnification range, you will not be choosing which eyelash to shoot off a prairie dog at a 1000 yards, but this scope will stand up to almost any conceivable task. The extra-wide 50mm objective lens definitely helps, giving your sight picture a maximum brightness. You will thank your lucky stars for this in those optimal hunting conditions around dusk and dawn.
As you'd expect, Leupold's build quality and turret operation are precise and beyond reproach. Leupold is known to offer longer than average eye relief. This is not as crucial on a .270 as on a Magnum rifle, but it can help. You can be sure that this scope will withstand abuse and maintain zero with the best of them. Leupold's duplex reticle is a classic uncluttered design, aiding in quick target acquisition.
Bottom Line
The top benefit of the VX-1 is its versatility. It can handle any normal hunting or target work that you ask of it. Likely enough, this Leupold will out-last any rifle you mount it on.
Best Nikon .270 Scope:
Nikon Buckmasters II 3-9x40mm
Pros
Cons
Nikon is a titan in the optics field, not only for rifle scopes, but in most other popular and industrial optics applications as well. The Buckmaster II has been engineered for mid-range whitetail hunting, but it does, nevertheless, provide a huge degree of versatility.
With its classic 3-9x magnification range, the Buckmaster II can handle targets at both long and short ranges with relative ease. For most of us, this scope offers a fantastic compromise, allowing us to shoot a myriad of targets in varied environments effectively.
The Buckmaster II is a no-nonsense scope without pointless gimmicks. Nikon keeps it real with top quality, industry-leading lenses and multi-coatings. The eye relief is more than ample, keeping the scope comfortably far from your face. The bullet drop compensation reticle provides aiming marks for different ranges, meaning you can confidently hold on target no matter how far away your game is.
Bottom Line
The top features of the Buckmaster II are Nikon's reputation in the optics field, their warranty, and the versatile reticle. Hunters appreciate the sharp click action on the turrets. This is a great no-frills-or-gimmicks hunting scope trusted by legions of shooters. It is absolutely a market leader at this price range.
Best Scope for .270 Remington:
Bushnell 756245B Trophy Xtreme X30 6-24x50
Pros
Cons
The Trophy Xtreme has been designed specifically for hunters, although of course it works great on the range too. This scope really shines when you want to use your Remington rifle for extra-long-range hunting on the open plains. A 6-24x magnification range is what you might call 'Xtreme'.
The objective lens is extra-wide at 50mm, providing unbeatable light absorption. All lenses are multi-coated with Bushnell's proprietary HD formula, providing over 90% light transmission. Build quality ticks all the boxes with a single-piece, nitrogen-purged aluminum tube rated to be completely waterproof, fog proof, and shockproof. The scope is covered by an unbeatable, "no questions asked" lifetime warranty.
Windage and elevation turrets adjust at one-quarter MOA per click, and shooters will appreciate the turret’s positive action. There is also a side knob for parallax correction. The DOA reticle falls under the Christmas tree category. This gives you multiple markings for range, like a bullet drop compensator, but also extra markings alongside them for wind drift.
Overall, the finish and build quality are a bit above its competitors in the same price range. The scope ships with a sunshade.
Bottom Line
If you live in the prairies and take most of your shots at more than 350 yards or so with a Remington rifle, you can't beat this scope. The top features are the magnification range and the bullet-proof warranty.
Best Scope for .270 WSM:
Vortex Optics Viper HS
Pros
Cons
The .270 WSM cartridge is a 21st-century upgrade of the .270, transformed into a high-powered Magnum round. It performs better in every way, especially on large game, but does produce more recoil.
The Vortex Viper HS line of rifle scopes features a range of models with a 4x zoom range. For a short-range brush gun, there is a 2.5-10x44 model, for mixed terrain you have the 4-16x with either a 44mm or 50mm objective lens, and for long-range shooting you have a 6-24x50.
The Viper HS comes with all the build quality features you would expect, namely, single-piece, gas-purged tube construction with O-ring seals and capped windage and elevation turrets.
The scope includes a side-mounted parallax adjustment knob. The lenses are made of low-dispersion glass and are fully multi-coated.
Overall the Viper HS is designed to be waterproof, fog proof, and shockproof, the latter of which being especially vital on a Magnum rifle. Of course, the scope is covered by Vortex's unlimited lifetime warranty. Reticle options include Vortex's uncluttered V-plex crosshair or a bullet drop compensator.
Bottom Line
Vortex has a loyal fanbase thanks to their warranty and value for money. Although Vortex's quality control does slip up from time to time, most users are completely satisfied. The choice of magnification ranges is the top feature of this product line.
Best Scope for Remington 700 .270:
Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Multi-X Reticle Riflescope
Pros
Cons
The Remington 700 is an American classic deployed by various militaries around the world as a sniper rifle. If you want to take 1000-yard shots with the confidence of a Navy SEAL, the Remington 700 is the rifle for you.
Bushnell is a well-respected American scope manufacturer. This scope offers stiff competition to the Nikon above. Designed specifically for large game, it is designed with a classic, all-purpose magnification range at 3-9x with a wide 40m objective lens for excellent brightness.
The reticle is an un-cluttered Bushnell Multi-X, which gives you a clear and quickly-acquired sight picture. The lens and construction quality are everything that you would expect. The one-piece tube is nitrogen-filled and the lenses are fully multi-coated.
Bottom Line
The perfect scope depends on your desired purpose and usual shooting conditions. If you are shooting a Remington 700, it means you value long-range accuracy and reliability. This Bushnell definitely provides these, but it also offers versatility with an emphasis on the most common hunting conditions. Due to the short eye relief, you wouldn't mount this on a Magnum rifle, but it is fantastic on a .270.
Conclusion
The .270 is a classic, flat-shooting hunting cartridge. Its versatility means that choosing the right scope means considering what your expected conditions and targets will be. Whatever use you put it to, we’re confident that you will find the right .270 scope for you in our list.
