The 350 Legend is a relatively new cartridge, introduced in 2019 by Winchester as the fastest single-walled cartridge. For a 350 Legend rifle, you need a scope that will complement the cartridge’s best features. You want a medium-range, lightweight yet ultra-durable scope. After extensive testing and hunting whitetail deer, I have concluded that the following five scopes are the best for the 350 Legend. If you ask me, the Leupold VX-Freedom is the best choice!
(Top 5) Best 350 Legend Scope
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Huntershalt: #1 Pick
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Pros:
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Pros:
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- Durable & Scratch Resistant
- Features Twilight Light Management System
- Very Portable & Lightweight
- Larger Objective Lens - Great Field Of View
- Highly Durable
- Accurate From Long Range
- Most Budget-Friendly Option
- Illuminated Version Available
- Very Durable & Rugged Design
1) Leupold VX-Freedom
- Durable & Scratch Resistant
- Features Twilight Light Management System
- Very Portable & Lightweight
- There are cheaper scope options
When you think of a quality rifle scope brand, Leopold is one of the first names that comes to mind. The Leopold VX-Freedom is the perfect scope for the 350 Legend, here’s why:
Crafted from aircraft-grade aluminum, it can withstand even the heaviest loads of .350 cartridges. The scope is filled with nitrogen to make it fog proof. It is also sealed with O-rings to make it waterproof. Durability is one of the main reasons I rated this scope one of the Best Scopes for an AR-10 that I’ve used.
The magnification range is between 3x to 9x, complimenting the 350 Legend’s versatile shooting – both short and long-range shooting.
The Freedom 3 features Leupold’s advanced optical system technology. Leupold engineers ensured that the VX-Freedom maximizes glare reduction. It also features the twilight light management system, which enhances the visual picture of the sight at low light conditions.
This scope also has Leupold’s CDS dial, allowing you to adjust the dial to the surrounding environment and ballistic scenario you are in. I also found the price to be quite attractive considering what you get!
Pros & Cons
PROS
- Fully multi-coated lenses that have scratch resistance
- Durable design
- Twilight light management system
- Leupold’s CDS Dial
- Ultra lightweight
CONS
- There are cheaper options
Our Experience With THE Leupold VX-Freedom
After I mounted the VX-Freedom on the 350 Legend, I took it to the shooting range to zero, which was remarkably easy to do with Leupold’s CDS system. It provided easy reticle focusing even on higher magnification. The scope handled the recoil of the 350 straight-walled cartridge appropriately, not losing its zero.
I used the scope on my 350 Legend and went deer hunting. Its lightweight design made hiking through the mountains relatively easy and provided pinpoint accuracy on my whitetail deer. The Leupold VX-Freedom is the best scope for 350 legend on offer.
2) Vortex Diamondback Scope
- Larger Objective Lens - Great Field Of View
- Highly Durable
- Accurate From Long Range
- Not The Cheapest
- Too Heavy For Some Shooters
The Vortex Diamondback is an excellent scope for long range shooting and has been the preferred rifle scope choice for many a sport shooter.
The Diamondback is also made from aircraft-grade aluminum and is coated with a low-glare anodized matte black finish. It is also waterproof, fog proof, and shockproof, so you know it can withstand the recoil of the 350 Legend.
As already mentioned, the Diamondback is a long-range scope, it has a magnification range of 4-16. It features ED glasses with an FFP reticle, which provides extra low dispersion – increasing light transmission while reducing reflection to ensure you have the best sight picture possible.
The Diamondback also has a parallax knob and a tactical turret to ensure rapid windage and elevation adjustment. The great adjustability is one of the main reasons why I rated this scope as the Best Elk Hunting Rifle Scope that I’ve tested. It also has a fast-focus eyepiece to help with reticle focusing.
It is also important to note that the Vortex Diamondback is much more expensive than the Leupold. So consider your budget when making your decision.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Larger objective lens diameter, allowing more light to enter the scope
- Durable
- Long range capabilities
CONS
- Expensive
- Heavy
Our Experience With Vortex Diamondback
The Diamondback is an overall great scope, it was easy to sight in on the shooting range. One thing worth mentioning, I was at the shooting range at a time during the day when the sun is at the perfect angle to start reflecting and influencing your shooting capabilities.
However, I experienced no trouble with the Diamondback, I was able to continue shooting with a crystal clear view on both a high magnification and a low magnification. The only problem I had with the Diamondback was its weight, weighing 10 ounces more than the Leupold. After two to three hours of hiking with the Diamondback mounted on my straight-wall rifle, I could start to feel the added weight.
Nonetheless, the Diamondback is the best option if you want a sport shooting scope for your 350 Legend.
3) Vortex Crossfire II
- Most Budget-Friendly Option
- Illuminated Version Available
- Very Durable & Rugged Design
- More Suited For Beginners
The Vortex Crossfire II is our budget-friendly Vortex for this list, and I prefer it over the Diamondback for hunting.
It is constructed with the same level of craftsmanship as the Diamondback, also made from high-grade aluminum. It is also shockproof, waterproof, and fog proof.
The Crossfire II has the same magnification range as the Leupold (3-9x), making it an excellent medium-range scope. It has fully coated lenses, providing scratch resistance and aiding in reflection reduction.
The Crossfire II focal plane is brilliant, the combination of a fast-focus eyepiece, a BDC reticle, and a wide viewing angle allows for faster target acquisition and longer eye relief – increasing overall shooter performance. This is another reason why I rated the Crossfire as one of the Best Low-Light Rifle Scopes that I’ve used.
An illuminated version is also available, featuring LED red illumination lasting up to 150 hours. In my opinion, the Crossfire II is your best option if you are on a tight budget.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Excellent focal plane
- Budget-friendly
- Illuminated version available
- Durable
CONS
- Beginner Scope
Our Experience With Vortex Crossfire II
The Crossfire II performed exceptionally well on the shooting range, although I found that the Diamondback has better low-light performance, thanks to its ED glasses. It was also easy to sight in and was unaffected by the recoil.
The Crossfire II is an excellent budget-friendly scope, and I prefer it over the Diamondback for the 350 Legend as it suits the medium-range cartridge better. This scope is definitely my budget-friendly choice.
4) Sig-Sauer Whiskey3
- Highly Adjustable [10 Brightness Settings]
- Great Value For Money
- Crystal Clear Optic Quality
- Other Scope Are More Durable
The Whiskey3 is another great option for the 350 Legend. It has 3x optical zoom with multiple reticle options, including Sig Sauer’s illuminated Hellfire Quadplex red reticle.
The magnification of the SIG-Saurer Whiskey 3 is also 3-9x, again making it a perfect fit for your medium-range 350 Legend. The Whiskey3 has low dispersion (LD) glass that ensures high optical clarity. It features a European-style eyepiece, allowing for efficient reticle adjustment.
The Whiskey3 is also a durable scope, having an IPX-7 waterproof rating, and is also fog proof. This is why I also rated the Whiskey3 as one of the Best 450 Bushmaster Rifle Scopes that I’ve tested.
Note that the Whiskey3 costs about the same as the Crossfire II. So consider which works best for your specific use case.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- An illuminated version is available, with ten brightness settings
- Budget-friendly
- Excellent optical clarity
CONS
- Not as durable as some of the other scopes listed
Our Experience With Sig-Sauer Whiskey3
I found the Whiskey3 very similar to the Crossfire II, both provide excellent optical clarity, have illuminated versions, and are budget-friendly, medium-range scopes.
However, when I tested the Whiskey3 I found it more challenging to sight in compared to the Crossfire II. It performed exceptionally well when I used it to hunt whitetail, although its durability does not score as high as some of the other scopes on this list.
5) Burris Fullfield II Scope
- Budget-Friendly Pricing
- Ultra-durable
- Very Lightweight Design
- More Suited For Beginners
- Limited Adjustability
The Burris Fullfield II is a simple, easy-to-use rifle scope for your 350 straight wall cartridge rifle. If you are looking for something that doesn’t contain a lot of bells and whistles, this scope is the one for you.
The Fullfield II is durable and tough, it is also constructed from high-end aluminum with an anodized matte black finish. The inside is filled with nitrogen to make it fog proof and shockproof. This is another reason why I rated the Fullfield as one of the Best CMP Service Rifle Scopes that I’ve tested in the past.
However, we need to isolate its waterproof feature, Burris eliminated any potential leak paths by making the magnification ring and eyepiece into one piece. To allow its waterproof capability to set a new industry standard.
The magnification range is 3-9x and magnification changes are done by turning the entire eyepiece. It features the Ballistic Plex reticle system, which features a lower vertical crosshair to allow compensation for bullet drop.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Ultra-durable
- Ballistic Plex
- Lightweight
CONS
- None
Our Experience With
The Fullfield II is definitely the underdog on this list, and I was seriously impressed with it. Its lightweight, durable design made hiking easy, and it had easy reticle focusing, allowing me to take a quick shot on my whitetail.
Overall a great scope, it is my second favorite budget-friendly optic on this list.
Buyers Guide
What Makes A Great Objective Lens
A great objective lens finds the perfect balance between a big enough size to allow optimal light to enter the sight for optimal optic clarity yet not too big to cause your rifle to be ponderous.
A larger objective lens provides a wider viewing angle, which is crucial for fast target acquisition. A great objective lens size to go for is a 40 and 50 mm size.
Quality Construction
Whether you are hunting, sport shooting, or simply shooting for recreation purposes, you want a scope brand that ensures quality craftsmanship. This will ensure that your scope is durable and reliable. After all, you don’t want a scope failing on you while hunting a once in a lifetime trophy sized stag.
What to look for in terms of quality construction:
- A body made out of high-grade aluminum or magnesium alloy (durable yet lightweight)
- Sealed and purged with nitrogen – Allowing a waterproof tube diameter that is also fog and shockproof.
Adjustability
Two knobs to consider are the elevation and windage turrets. The elevation turret adjusts the scope’s vertical aim, and the windage turret adjusts the scope’s horizontal aim.
These turrets are essential in ensuring that your scope is zeroed and stays zeroed, ultimately determining your accuracy. Things to look for:
- Durable, well-protected turrets in turret housing
- When adjusting, it should make loud clicks
- It should be compatible with the recoil of a 350 Legend
Another adjustment to consider is for parallax, which determines whether the target and reticle align on the same plane. Failure to do so will result in a missed shot. Adjusting the parallax knob for your eye is crucial to ensure a clear field of view and precise shooting at different ranges.
SFP vs FFP
Rifle scopes feature either a reticle on the first focal plane (FFP) or the second focal plane (SFP). With an FFP scope, the reticle is located closer to the objective lens, hence further away from the eye. An SFP scope is just the opposite and is closer to the eye.
The SFP reticle system is the primary choice for hunters as it allows for both close and long-range shooting. The reticle remains static while you adjust the magnification from low to high magnification and vice versa.
The FFP reticle is better for long-range shooters because the resolution of the reticle gets lower as the magnification is lowered. Thus, it is primarily used on 10x magnification scopes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best distance to sight in a 350 Legend rifle?
Is a 350 Legend powerful?
What scope does the military use on AR 15?
Which scopes are made in the USA?
Who makes a 350 Legend gun?
Final Thoughts
All these sights are excellent options for your 350 Legend, specifically designed for medium-range shooting. However, the Leupold is the best overall option considering its features. The Vortex Crossfire II is the budget-friendly option, but I would hold off on that purchase and save a little more so I can afford the Leupold VX-Freedom instead.
- Durable & Scratch Resistant
- Features Twilight Light Management System
- Very Portable & Lightweight
- There are cheaper scope options
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