Vortex Crossfire II

Vortex is one of the leading manufacturers of rifle scopes on the market today. The Vortex Crossfire scope is one of the most popular models for bolt action rifles.

It’s no surprise I landed on the Vortex Crossfire II 6-24×50 for my Ruger American Hunter rifle.

The Vortex Crossfire comes in 3-9×40, 4-12×44, and 1-4×24 models as well. Time to see what makes the Vortex Crossfire II such a solid rifle scope.

Vortex Crossfire II

• Second Focal Plane
• 6-24x Magnification
• 23 ounces (without mounts/rings)
• 30 mm tube size

$299

Price Check

Price Check: Brownells | EuroOptic | PSA | Primary Arms

Vortex Crossfire II 6-24×50 Features

When you’re shopping for a rifle scope you want to maximize the number of features and the quality of your optic for the money you spend.

This is how Vortex was able to sweep the scope market in the early 2010s.

Magnification

The magnification varies depending on the model you decide to go with. My particular model is the 6-24×50.

The 6-24 is probably overkill for my needs and I haven’t made it much past the 10x setting on this rifle but I have tested it and the clarity is surprising.

Eye Relief

The eye relief on this optic is good for what you’d expect from a 6-24 rifle scope at this price point.

The eye relief sits at 4 inches before you notice any scope shadow. Your mileage may vary depending on which magnification setting you have the scope on.

Field of View

The field of view on the Crossfire II is 17.3-4.4 ft/100 yds. The field of view on Vortex optics has always impressed me right out of the box.

I have to say that the Crossfire II is no expectation and I continue to enjoy the vortex optics right out of the box.

Adjustment, Turrets, and MOA

The adjustment turrets are quite standard and easy to adjust. The scope turrets are protected by aluminum caps that can be easily removed by hand.

The turrets allow the shooter to quickly re-index the turret with no tools required. This allows you to zero after sighting in the rifle scope. You can also get custom turret caps made.

Size and Weight

The size and weight of this scope are comparable with some others in the Vortex lineup.

The overall length of the Crossfire II is 14.5″ which is reasonable and on par with nearly any other scope out there for a bolt rifle.

The optic is a decent weight of 23 ounces which is half the weight of something like the Vortex Razor.

Materials and Finish

What material the scope is made with is often put on the back-burner for some people but it’s extremely important when it comes to durability and how well your finish will hold up.

The Vortex optics are mostly made from solid aluminum blocks and hold up really well.

As for the finish, the Crossfire features a hard anodized finish and the texture is somewhat rough but feels extremely durable.

Water, Fog, and Lens

The Crossfire 2 is nitrogen-purged and o-ring sealed for waterproof/fog-proof performance.

So far I have zero issues with fog with this scope. I haven’t gotten it wet but I can tell you the o-rings are in place and the seal is fantastic.

What’s in the box?

What the scope comes with is also extremely important and while it does not come with any mounting rings or mounts it does have a few goodies included:

• Vortex Crossfire II Scope
• Set of protective flip caps
• User manual
• Lens cloth
• 4-inch sunshade

Vortex Crossfire II

• Second Focal Plane
• 6-24x Magnification
• 23 ounces (without mounts/rings)
• 30 mm tube size

$299

Price Check

Price Check: Brownells | EuroOptic | PSA | Primary Arms

Mounting the Vortex Crossfire II

As I mentioned above the vortex doesn’t come with a mount or scope rings. However, those are probably the easiest firearms part in the world to find. I think even Walmart still carries scope rings.

You can take a look at Amazon’s selection of scope rings or if you’re looking for a scope mount, I like to spend my money with 2A supporting companies like Primary Arms, Brownells, and Palmetto State Armory.

Vortex Crossfire II Reticle

The reticle of a scope is top 3 on the list of importance and for most will be 1st or 2nd most important.

Because if you can’t see the reticle, it’s dark, and you don’t like the type of reticle that are all deal breakers.

Reticle Design

The Vortex Crossfire II uses the Dead-Hold BDC (MOA) reticle. This extremely simple reticle is effective and easy to use to determine your holdover.

The hashmark design makes on-the-fly holdover and windage adjustments easy and quick.

This makes it a perfect sport or hunting scope where the distance of targets varies greatly.

How to sight in Vortex Crossfire II

Sighting in the Crossfire II is extremely easy. First, you want to make sure you have a solid mount and that your scope is secure and doesn’t move easily.

Once you are sure your scope is secure and mounted to your rifle you can hit the range.

I start sighting in my bolt action rifles at the 50-yard line and will move back from there. The 50-yard line zero will typically hold to 200 yards or so without the point of impact shift, depending on the caliber of your rifle.

You’ll want to sight in your rifle at the lower power and with your adjustable objective on the 50-yardage marker.

You’ll want to table or “bench rest” your rifle for maximum stability. Once you have it braced on a stable setting at the 50-yard line you’ll want to take 3-shot groupings and make your adjustments accordingly.

Vortex Crossfire II Use

Using the Crossfire is extremely simple the magnification is done with the rear magnification dial. It’s pretty easy to find, they are small numbers.

For scopes with adjustable objectives, it’s located on the front of the scope with yardage markings such as 25, 50, 100, 200, and infinity.

My take on the Crossfire II

The Vortex Crossfire 2 has been one of my favorite scopes under $500 to date. The extremely reasonable price, the bomb-proof transferable lifetime warranty, and the overall solid quality make this a bargain.

While it doesn’t have some of the higher-end optics “cool” features this scope performs well and does a fantastic job.

Without a doubt grab this optic if you’re looking for a fantastic scope with a solid magnification range.

The bottom line; for $299.00, it’s hard to beat.

Vortex Crossfire II

• Second Focal Plane
• 6-24x Magnification
• 23 ounces (without mounts/rings)
• 30 mm tube size

$299

Price Check

Price Check: Brownells | EuroOptic | PSA | Primary Arms

Vortex Crossfire FAQ

If the Vortex Crossfire doesn’t check your boxes check out the Vortex Strike Eagle.