Ever since its arrival in 2003, the 6.5 Grendel has been the cool kid on the block. It’s an impressive and accurate bottleneck cartridge designed specifically for the AR-15 (although it is now expanding into other firearms). The powerful low-recoil cartridge is perfect for medium to long-range hunting and is commonplace at precision-shooting competitions.
It’s known to be able to speedily push the range of an AR-15 to over a 1000 yards – mighty impressive if you ask me. It would be a shame to pair a magnificent cartridge like the 6.5 Grendel with a scope that doesn’t measure up to its capabilities. Even the thought of a worthy hunter committing this crime sends shivers down my spine. Thankfully, neither of us need to worry – here’s a detailed list of the 6 best scope for 6.5 Grendel rifle.
Top 6 scopes for 6.5 Grendel
| Name | Specs | USP | Today's Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vortex Crossfire II | 6-18x44 | Best overall | Click Here |
| Athlon Optics Argos | 6-24x50 | Best FFP scope | Click Here |
| Primary Arms | 4-16x44 | Value for money | Click Here |
| Leupold RifleMan | 4-12x40 | Best low-light operation | Click Here |
| Burris FullField | 4.5-14x42 | Most versatile scope | Click Here |
| Burris Fullfield II E1 | 4.5-14x42 | Best scope for long-range | Click Here |
1. Vortex Crossfire II 6-18×44 AO Rifle Scope
Vortex is an American veteran-owned business that supplies some of the best quality optics at competitive prices.
The Vortex Crossfire II is an all-new redesign of its predecessor that brings accuracy and crystal clear images into a beautiful, sleek body, perfect for the 6.5 Grendel.
The 44 mm objective lens is fully multi-coated to minimize dispersion and reflections and boost light transmission. Your pictures will be crystal clear even in low light conditions. The BDC reticle sits in the second focal plane, which means it remains consistent in size across the 6-18x magnification range.
The illuminated red dot lets you shoot beyond daylight but doesn’t dominate your image. The eye relief is pretty good but not necessary for a low-recoil cartridge like the 6.5 Grendel.
It has a fast-focus eyepiece which will allow you to acquire your target with unmatched speed when paired with a 6.5 Grendel. The adjustable objective lens helps you slim down the margin for any parallax errors. The turrets can be reset and capped.
The body is as durable as it is lightweight. The single-piece tube construction lends alignment and strength to the aircraft-grade aluminum body. It’s pretty easy to mount as well. The battery life stands at a hefty 150 hours. Other than that, it is completely weather and shock resistant and comes with a warranty.
However, it might not hold zero for very long and the knobs are a little tight.
Pros
Cons
2. Athlon Optics Argos BTR 6-24x50mm Side Focus Riflescope
If we’re talking rifle scopes, Athlon is bound to come up.
The Argos has an impressive magnification range of 6-24x, making it great for mid to long-range hunting, which the 6.5 Grendel was made for. The 50 mm front lens is fully multi-coated, paving the way for high amounts of light transmission and vivid, high contrast images regardless of the lighting conditions.
The reticle is conveniently illuminated, allowing you to hunt when and where your heart desires. It’s etched in the first focal plane, which means that it changes size as you zoom in and out.
The side parallax adjustment knob is pretty precise. The windage and elevation turrets allow for quick adjustments and can return to zero efficiently.
Like most other scopes from Athlon, the body comprises of the one-piece tube made of aircraft-grade aluminum. It’s also argon-purged. Rest assured you won’t be dealing with any internal fogging that can mess up your view. Externally, the scope is sturdy and waterproof.
The eye relief dives too low at higher magnifications. Owing to the size of the lens, the scope can get heavy.
Pros
Cons
3. Primary Arms 4-16x44mm Riflescope
Primary Arms is another affordable and trustworthy brand. Their reticles are some of the most precise, well-designed reticles in the world.
If you’re a competitive shooter looking for a high-performance scope to go with your 6.5 Grendel, this one’s for you. The illuminated reticle comes with 12 brightness settings, the most I’ve seen on any scope so far.
The sunlight will never dictate the accuracy of your shots. Another good thing about the reticle is that it’s a mil-dot reticle. Unlike traditionally, the crosshairs are dotted towards the center. This makes visual adjustments with the mil-dot a lot easier.
The exposed turrets are beautifully constructed. They are finger-adjustable and zero reset. You can hear a ‘click’ every time you make adjustments – it’s music to my ears. It also comes with a side parallax adjustment knob, like the last one.
The scope feels good in my hands. It’s nitrogen purged and can definitely fight harsh elements. I love the anodized matte finish, it will help me stay concealed in the wild.
The price tag made my wallet smile.
However, I do wish it came with a sunshade.
Pros
Cons
4. Leupold RifleMan 4-12×40 Precision Riflescope
Leupold is one of the most experienced players in the optics game. It is so confident of its products that most of its scopes, including this one, come with a lifetime warranty.
The Leupold Rifleman is one of the best mid-range scopes for your powerful 6.5 Grendel. It comes equipped with Leupold’s proprietary Twilight Max system which combines a variety of factors to let you make accurate shots before sunrise and beyond sunset. The 40 mm front lens also does its job at letting in a considerable amount of light, resulting in a sharp, bright image. The optics are fully coated.
I think the 4-12x magnification range is very comfortable. The wide duplex reticle lets you focus on your target effectively. The fast-focus eyepiece adds to this. The eye box is more than generous and allows a complete view of the target even at the highest magnification setting.
The scope can be mounted on a variety of rings. Apart from being versatile, it is lightweight and compact. The aircraft-grade aluminum body uses Leupold’s signature nitrogen sealing process to look out moisture. It’s water, fog, and shock-resistant. Ready for the rough jungle alongside your 6.5 Grendel.
The turrets are good. However, there is no parallax knob.
Pros
Cons
5. Burris 4.5-14×42 FullField Ballistic Plex Reticle Riflescope
Burris is a trusted supplier or various optics. This is another brand that has featured in a lot of our reviews.
The Burris Fullfield II is an upgrade that aims to take your hunting game up a notch. It’s lighter, more compact, and sturdier than the prequel.
The glass comes with Hi-lume multi-coating to reduce glare and give you a fantastic image. The 42mm front lens also works in your favor, giving you a bright, clear picture. The 6.5 Grendel is a cartridge that doesn’t stop and with this scope, it doesn’t have to.
The Fullfield II comes armed with Burris’ proprietary Ballistic Plex Reticle, a straightforward yet elegant reticle that can only enhance the performance of any cartridge it is paired with. It remains accurate up to considerable distances and compensates for bullet drop that can take place during long-range shooting.
The eye relief is comfortable enough to handle a 6.5 Grendel. The objective lens is adjustable to fix any parallax errors. The strong body is constructed of a 1 piece aluminum tube and is easy to mount. The special quad seals can keep scope going through the worst of weather conditions. The European style eyepiece doesn’t require to be locked and is a nice little bonus.
However, the lenses are slightly prone to scratches and it might not hold zero effectively.
Pros
Cons
6. Burris 4.5-14x42mm Fullfield II E1 Long Range Riflescope
The last contender on the list also comes from the Burris FullField family.
As the name suggests, the FullField II E1 Long Range rifle scope was crafted for long-range shooting. It comes ready with everything you need to take down a target from a difficult distance. The 42mm Hi-lume multi-coated fights glare to give you the brilliant picture you deserve across lighting conditions.
The long-range MOA Ballistic Plex Reticle sits in the second focal plane. The crosshairs are thin enough to make precise shots but thick enough to be easily visible. The turrets can be crisply adjusted with the fingers as well as reset to zero. It has a side parallax adjustment knob to eliminate errors and make target shooting a breeze.
Just like the last one, the construction is impeccable and the scope has a nice finish to it. Waterproof, shockproof, and fog-resistant while remaining compact. The magnification range compliments the 6.5 Grendel.
However, it’s the most expensive scope on this list. I also wish it came with a sunshade.
Pros
Cons
Things to look for when you’re purchasing the best scope for 6.5 Grendel
Magnification
Since the AR-15 can be used for a variety of hunting needs, your choice of magnification would depend on your intentions. Target shooting with a 6.5 Grendel would call for a variable magnification range that goes from the single digits to the double. Hunting can be done with a fixed medium magnification.
The 6.5 Grendel has the potential to shoot up to 1000 yards, but that might not be your primary purpose. We’ve reviewed scopes suited to a variety of ranges. Choose accordingly.
Lens
The clarity of your image is paramount no matter what cartridge you’re using. Take a look at the lens size. The bigger the lens, the brighter your image, but the heavier your scope. Prioritize according to your place and time of hunting.
The lens coating also plays a very important role in determining the quality of your image. The anti-reflective film can improve performance astronomically. Every scope on our list is coated well.
Reticle
No single reticle is better than the next. Every reticle serves its purpose. Red-dot reticles let you aim quickly while closing. Mil-dot reticles facilitate easy visual adjustments. Duplex reticles allow you to effectively center your aim when further away from the target. A BDC reticle will compensate for bullet drop across long distances. Practical experience should tell you which reticle is best for you.
Durability
I cannot stress this enough. You might have a scope with excellent optics, sharp turrets, and the perfect BDC reticle, but all these features will be rendered useless if your scope fogs up and starts to fall apart after two trips. What good is a 50 mm lens if it’s scratched? Make sure your scope feels sturdy. Read about the material, tube construction, purging, and seals. You’re going to want to take your majestic AR-15 out on multiple trips and you need a scope that performs well till the very last one.
Conclusion
After I had tried the 6. 5 Grendel for the first time, I could hardly wait to take it out again. I didn’t have the patience to do proper research and splurged on the first scope that looked half decent and was compatible with the Grendel. Needless to say, it didn’t work out and I had to shell out for another one. Hopefully, this article has made it all easier and you don’t have to repeat my mistake.
The best scope for 6.5 Grendel depends on what you intend to use the cartridge for. Every scope I’ve spoken about here is remarkable and undoubtedly worthy of ammunition as accurate as of the 6.5 Grendel. Since the low-recoil cartridge is a good choice for beginners as well, I’ve mentioned some inexpensive entry-level scopes. I hope you found the perfect scope to go with the 6.5 and suit your hunting needs and budget. Go get ’em!