Best FN Scar 17 Scopes & Optics (2024 Tested & Updated)

Looking for a scope for your FN SCAR 17 rifle? Not quite sure what optic can hold up to one of the hardest hitting battle rifles currently in use?

Choosing a scope for the SCAR 17 can be a bit intimidating. You’ve just spent $3,000 on a rifle that has a cheery 7.62x51-sized kick to it, and you need glass worthy of that investment, and glass that will stand up to that abuse. 

We’re going to take you through everything you need to know about choosing a scope for this excellent rifle, including a deep dive into some recommendations of what we run on our own .308/7.62x51 rifles. 

Let’s get started.

What is Special About SCAR 17 Optics?

The SCAR 17 is a real powerhouse of a rifle. Firing 7.62X51mm, the SCAR is brute that absolutely tackles any situation you can imagine.

Designed as an assault rifle for SOCOM, this battle rifle is capable of both close-quarter combat and long-range engagements. 

The SCAR-17s is the semi-auto version that us humble civilians can own without a tax stamp. Beyond that change, it’s the same rifle the you see military personnel weilding.

This gun isn’t boasting when it calls itself a “minute of angle gun” either, this thing is insanely accurate. This gun can take a pounding and keep going, but that has led to some complications.

The SCAR picked up a reputation as an optics killer, resulting in the military primarily using ELCANs on their deployed SCAR 17s. Now we’re not going to suggest that your darling child rifle needs $2000 worth of glass on it.

But adding shock absorbers to a normal optic will give them enough protection to survive the harmonic recoil.  

How Do You Choose the Best Scope for your SCAR 17?

So what specific features do you want in a SCAR scope? Depends on what you plan on doing with the rifle. Is it going to be a self-defense weapon? Do you plan on killing 30-50 feral hogs in 3-5 minutes? 

Are you going to use this for medium-long range shooting as a sort of designated marksman rifle? Think about your use conditions and then think about the following things.

Magnification

How much do you need? If you’re going to be shooting at long distances, then you need a long range scope.

If you’re only worried about close range shots, then a low-powered variable optic (LPVO) with a magnification range in the neighborhood of 1-6x or 1-8x might be more appropriate.

That said, with a lower magnification, you’re giving up some of the benefits of the 7.62x51 round you’re shooting, but if you’re only worried about short ranges, then you’re not going to gain anything by slapping some huge scope on top of your picatinny rail.

If you are going with something for long range shooting, we recommend a true mil-dot ffp scope with good glass that gives you bright, clear images of your target.

The venerable .308 can reach out an awfully long way, so having an optic that is designed to really reach out there isn’t a bad call either. 

Reticle Style 

Depending on your needs, you may want a more traditional duplex reticle for something like hog hunting, but in general we recommend a 7.62x51mm NATO  BDC for the SCAR-17 if you can get it.

Beyond that, red dots are popular on all kinds of battle rifles for a reason. 

If you’re going to be using your rifle for close-range defense or something like hog hunting in heavy cover, this could be the way to go, especially if you aren’t looking to do much hunting at longer ranges.

A red dot is also good because it’s easier to shoot with both eyes open, which gives you a much wider field of view.

LPVOs with an illuminated reticle, whether battery powered or lit with tritium or fiber optic inserts, aren’t a bad investment either, particularly if you find one with a BDC that works with your preferred 7.62x51 load. 

Shockproof Construction

.308 recoil is kind of rough. Semi-automatic .308 rifle recoil can be very rough. You want something that can stand up to that recoil without having any issues.

This typically means a nice aluminum-alloy frame and an etched reticle. 

And hey, if you can go with something from somebody like Leupold, Primary Arms or Vortex that has a lifetime warranty...so much the better. 

Alright, with all that in mind, let’s take a look 

6 Best SCAR-17 Scopes : Reviewed

1. Primary Arms SLx 5x36mm Gen III Prism Scope

This Primary Arms SLx 5x36mm Gen III Prism Scope is one of the most versatile scope options, making it great for close medium encounters with the flexibility to go long range shots if needed. 

Adjustable in ⅓ MOA increment this scope is quick to zero and holds it well. The anodized aluminum housing is robust and makes this scope fog resistant, water-resistant, and shock-resistant. 

The ACSS is the star of this show. A dot and horseshoe reticle combined with holdovers for bullet drop, as well as a range finder.

That sounds like a lot to process all at once, but the layout of the ACSS is intuitive. Did I mention it's also an illuminated reticle, either red or green? If you haven’t tried an ACSS scope I highly recommend it.  

You could always get a Trijicon ACOG, but this scope is more versatile at one third the cost. And while the SCAR isn't a cheap rifle, spending a third of the rifles cost on glass just hurts a little too much.

So go pick up one of these from Primary Arms and get an optic that is good from 30 feet to 800 yards. 

Hunting Mark has a detailed article on best prism scope by 'Cameron Porter'.

2. Vortex Razor AMG UH-1 Gen II Holographic Sight

How could I not put one of the best Holographic sights available on this list? This Vortex Optics Razor AMG is solid. 

Made of aircraft-grade aluminum this unit is solid. Coated lenses combined with “unlimited” eye relief makes this scope great for quick target acquisition in all lighting and weather conditions.

Add to that the 11 levels of illumination and 4 levels of night vision this scope is perfect for low light conditions and no light conditions. 

The reticle is a 1 MOA red dot surrounded by Vortex’s ERB-QCB picture, which is a circle split in quarters with a peak at the bottom.

This reticle is crisp and combined with the eye relief this scope is perfect for any short-range engagement situation. It feels great and is a step above your basic red dot. 

This parallax-free optic is crystal clear and an absolute blast to use. This is one of the best optics  It also has a quick release making it easy to switch between multiple rifles if you only plan on using one at a time.

(if you’re using more than one rifle at a time please link videos of it in the comments)

3. Nikon M-Tactical .308 4-16X42SF Riflescope

This Nikon M-Tactical .308 is our top pick for distance shooting. If you want to let that 7.62X51 really show its power and range then this scope is the choice. 

With a 42mm multi-coated objective lens and a 30mm tube, this scope is big! But the SCAR 17 is a big gun, so this 4X-12X zoom optic looks just right on it.

The matte black aluminum body is shockproof, waterproof, and fog proof so it can handle whatever abuse you feel like throwing at it. 

This is a crosshair reticle and BDC reticle combination. The BDC is not your usual hash marks either. They’re a descending line of solid and hollow circles with hashes in-between.

These are great for adjusting distance and the width of the circles/hashes allow for quick light windage adjustments. 

Now, there is no red illumination source built into this rifle. Kinda a bummer if you plan on shooting in low light situations and hoping to find low light settings. On the upside, this is a battery-free optic! 

This scope is a must-try, and it’s on Amazon! So check out the Nikon M-308, so it’s easy to add it to your cart along with some bags of beef jerky, and make a day of long-range shooting.

4. Vortex Viper PST 1-6x24 Riflescope 

This Vortex Viper PST 1-6x second focal plane scope is for the shooter who wants some zoom but isn’t trying for 1000 yard shots. With 1X to 46 zoom, it isn’t excessively powerful.

But the better way to think of this scope is as a 1X that can zoom. In this use case, you have a solid 1X with a good reticle that has the flexibility to go for range, if needed. 

At 11.2 ounces this isn’t overly heavy for an LPVO but it’s built tough. This argon-filled aluminum scope is shockproof

The reticle is a TM/CQ MOA, which means it is a crosshair with ample BDC and windage markers as well as a red dot circle and a red tracking ring. 

There’s a lot of information here, meaning you can take the 6X zoom out to some crazy distances quickly.

The reticle looks really clean due to the high-quality glass and just feels really nice.  

The XD lens coating (Extra-low dispersion) combined with the high-quality glass makes for great light transmission, letting the scope excel in all lighting conditions.

The reticle is even illuminated to help in low light and makes the scope feel more like a holo at 1X zoom. 

The scope is a swiss army knife. It can do anything you need with just a little bit of adjustment. Definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for more of a mid-range optic. 

5. EOTech EXPS 3 Holographic Red Dot Sight

When you think about a SCAR you probably picture this optic on top of it, so it was only natural that it would show up on this list.

The EOTech EXPS 3 Holographic Red Dot Sight is one of the latest iterations of the OG holosight, so we had to include it here.

The unlimited eye relief makes acquiring the target a cinch, and it’s adjustable in ½ MOA increments. 

The reticle is a red dot surrounded by a circle for aiming at moving targets. There are multiple options for the reticle, ranging from one dot in the dead center to 4 dots to allow for BDC. 

Either way, the reticle is bright and feels good when aiming down sights. 

This scope is built tough, and there's a reason it's a top pick of USSOCOM. This optic has a unique finish and it honestly feels like a rock. A very tough, aluminum-housed rock.

To go with that it is submersible to 10 meters, this optic won’t die if you drop it in a puddle. It runs off of a battery that has a 1000 hour run time, so you won’t have to worry about the health of your battery for a long time.

Overall this is a fantastic optic that you should consider for the SCAR. 

If you looking for an Eotech alternative that doesn't cost you so much, then must check out our guide on best Eotech replicas.

6. Trijicon RMR Type 2 LED Reflex Sight

The SCAR 17 is a very light rifle, and if you want it to stay light then try the RMR Type 2 micro reflex from Trijicon.

This scope only weighs 1.2 ounces, and with all of its mounting hardware, it weighs less than five ounces!

This optic does have adjustments for sighting in, a small knob for windage, and another for elevation.

Both are adjustable in 1 MOA clicks so be aware that this is for close-range engagements and target shooting. 

The reticle is a simple 3.25 MOA red dot. What makes it special is that it is red and also a dot. I know there’s usually more to this section but this is the simplest possible reticle.

There’s a reason I said that this is the scope for the minimalist. 

That being said, Trijicon claims that the red dot has enough battery to run for 4 years straight and it also is a lightweight scope. 

One of the main things I like about this scope is its modularity. You can put this on any rifle in your collection, or mount it to your Glock.

This scope is also great because it's built extra tough to ride on the slide of a handgun. That durability translates to performance on top of the 7.62X51 Scar. 

It also makes a great option for a 45-degree mount if you want a close range optic to go with a longer range scope in case you need to make a quick shot on that downed hog (or the one that just decided to charge out of the brush at you).

Choosing the best red dot for a 45 degree mount depends on factors like durability, reticle style, and price range. It also makes a great option.

Parting Shots

Having a SCAR 17 without an optic just doesn’t make sense. If you have a SCAR that just feels naked with iron sights, then find something on this list that meshes well with your shooting style.

We did the legwork for you, now just click one and put it on your rifle. Let’s be honest, great as the SCAR is, the irons are...not as good as they could be.

Which do you prefer on the SCAR, a red dot/holo, or a magnified optic? Is there anything you think is missing from this list?

Let us know in the comments below! And if you plan on sending some lead downrange then check out our article on the Best Shooting Glasses.

They’re an important part of firearms handling that often gets overlooked instead of looked through.