Best Scope for Sig 716 – [Top 8 Choices]

The Sig 716 is a beast of a rifle. It’s chambered in 7.62 NATO and works great with .308 Winchester as well. The original 716 is no longer on Sig’s website, and instead they have the newer 716i TREAD, which looks to have improved upon the already fantastic 716. It’s a full pound lighter and comes stock with an extended Picatinny rail that goes further up the barrel.

The Sig 716 fits into a similar niche as scout rifles and modern sporting rifles (Sig refers to it as a ‘patrol’ rifle), but with some pros and cons compared to those. First, a scout rifle will be a couple pounds lighter, but also requires special scout scopes. The Sig 716i TREAD model comes with a rail long enough to be compatible with both scout scopes and standard riflescopes.

The rail on the original 716 is shorter, but it can be modified to get the same results. While not a carbine, the 716 is intended to be portable and be paired with a high quality scope for a devastating combo. Before we get into our recommendations for the best scope for the Sig 716, let’s talk a little bit about your options.

Buying Guide

Different Types of Scopes for the Sig 716

The great thing about the Sig 716 is how versatile it is. It can be used for private defense, in military and law enforcement situations, as well as for hunting, target shooting, and as a truck gun for ranchers, forest rangers, and farmers. This means that when you’re looking for a scope for your 716, the world is your oyster, so to speak. In other words, you have a lot of choices.

Low Power Variable Optics (LPVOs)

If you want to use your Sig 716 similar to a scout scope, then an LPVO can be the right choice. We don’t have any “pure” LPVOs on our list, but if you want something that goes all the way down to one power you can look at options from Vortex, Primary Arms, or Bushnell in the 1-4x or 1-6x range. We do have several scopes that go down to around 2x included in our recommendations.

Fixed Magnification and Prism Scopes

These can be particularly good for military and law enforcement applications, but can also apply in defense and hunting scenarios. Typically these fixed magnification scopes will be between 2-5x. Their real strength is in keeping target acquisition lightning fast while providing enough magnification to shoot at distance as well as close up.

Image quality on prism scopes also tends to be a step up from traditional lens scopes based on how the prisms catch and focus the light, but for the most part it’s the fixed, relatively low magnification that should be the driving factor if you buy one of these.

Medium Range Scopes

Your good, old-fashioned 3-9x scopes actually work great on the 716. They get a wide enough field of view that you can use it for close range shooting and punch in far enough that you can take advantage of some of the long range capabilities of the 716. You can get a top-of-the-line 3-9x for noticeably less money than a 2.5-10x or similar, so it can be tempting to stick with the 3-9x.

Most hunting can be done within the 3-9x range, as can most law enforcement and military applications, so they are definitely worth consideration. 

Long Range Scopes

The 716 can also take full advantage of the roughly 800 yards of effective range for the 7.62 NATO, so it might make sense to get a scope that can take full advantage as well. Sharp shooters have been known to make shots up to 1000 yards using 7.62 NATO, so if that’s your vision for your 716, then you’ll need a scope that can take you out that far. 

Considerations For Choosing The Best Scopes for Sig 716

Other than magnification, you need to make sure the scope you buy is rated for the recoil of the .308 Winchester ammo and won’t fall apart as you put a lot of rounds through your Sig. All of the scopes we recommend on this list will stand up to the recoil just fine, and honestly most scopes will unless you are looking at the cheapest options.

If you’re willing to spend real money on your scope, there are few scopes you’ll find that can’t handle the recoil.

The next consideration would be shooting conditions. Do you need a scope with stellar low-light performance? If you’re using it for home defense, that can be very important, and the same is true of some hunting, military, or law enforcement scenarios. If you’re shooting in bright daylight, something as simple as a longer sunshade can make a huge difference in the usability of the scope.

Everything else really depends on what features are important to you and what ones are not. Do you want reticle illumination? Do you need adjustable parallax or an FFP reticle instead of an SFP reticle? A lot of this comes with experience, and if the Sig 716 is your first major investment into a rifle, then you may not know the answer to these questions. Here’s a quick summary.

An FFP reticle is particularly useful on long range scopes, so if you’re going short range you don’t even need to worry about it. For long range, it can still be done with an SFP reticle most of the time, but an FFP will make your set-up more versatile. Adjustable parallax is also more important at long ranges, but can matter in close quarters shooting as well.

Adjusting parallax takes time, so if you’re going to be shooting very quickly, then you may want fixed parallax.

Alrighty, with that let’s hop into our recommendations.

8 Best Scopes For Sig 716 

1. Trijicon ACOG 3.5x35mm

Specifically I’m recommending the ACOG TA11C (not to be confused with the TA11J), which is the model that comes with a reticle calibrated for the .308/7.62 NATO loads. If you’re looking at fixed magnification prism scopes, the ACOG is definitely the leader of the pack. You pay a high price for it, but the power and function it offers makes it worth it.

The image is crystal clear, and the illumination is done with Trijicon’s combination of Tritium and fiber optics. The fiber optics keep the reticle visible during the daytime, and the Tritium keeps it bright enough in low light. Neither of these methods require battery power, so you won’t be depending on a battery in potentially life-or-death situations.

Like anyone with eyes, I think the ACOGs are great. They’re not on any of my rifles for the simple reason that I shoot like a redneck and the eye relief on the ACOGs is too short for me. They are designed for the NTCH (nose-to-charging-handle) style of shooting and so only have 2.4 inches of eye relief.

2. Nikon P-Tactical .308 4-12x40 Matte BDC 800

Nikon no longer makes riflescopes but there are plenty of the Nikon P-Tactical .308 scopes still on the market and they can be a great fit. The BDC (bullet drop compensation)reticle is calibrated for .308 and you get a comfortable mid-range magnification that leans toward the longer end. Depending on how large of a target you’re aiming at, 12x can get you out pretty far.

The 4x is a bit high for close range shooting but it’s fine for as close as 40 yards, which means you get a lot of coverage with this scope. The MOA windage and elevation turrets are resettable to zero, which is great for making quick field adjustments for a specific shot then getting your rifle back to where it’s supposed to go without having to remember how many clicks you used.

The windage and elevation turrets are .25 MOA clicks and exposed, and the scope is tough with the image quality that Nikon is known for. If you’re not comfortable buying used, or you’re willing to spend more money to get more tactical features, here’s an option you can consider...

3. Vortex Optics Viper PST Gen II 2-10x32 FFP

If you want a scope that fits in a wide variety of situations, the Viper PST is a good choice. Just about every bell and whistle you can think of is on this scope. FFP reticle, parallax adjustment, resettable turrets, reticle illumination, and the great image quality that Vortex is known for. The lenses are fully multi-coated using Vortex’s proprietary XR coatings.

The scope is tough, too, built out of aircraft-grade aluminum and o-ring sealed with an anodized finish. Opening up all the way to 2x makes it work well for CQB and zooming out to 10x gets you some power to make long range shots. If you want your 716 setup to be your swiss-army-knife or catch-all, then this is a great scope to put on it. It works well as a hunting scope.

Vortex also backs the Viper PST with their VIP warranty, which is good enough to be right up there with the warranty from Leupold. That said, if you only need your scope to do one thing and do it well, you may be able to get more bang for your buck with a different option.

4. Primary Arms SLX Compact 5x36 Gen II Prism Scope

Primary Arms recently came out with their Gen III models of their SLx prism scopes, and the 5x is a strong option if you want to shoot out between 50 and 150 yards. The image will be crystal clear, the reticle is calibrated for .223 and .308, and it’s a lightweight and rugged optic that gives you fast target acquisition.

The ACSS reticle does provide aiming points for as far as 800 yards out, but with only 5x magnification it will be difficult to even see most targets, let alone get a good shot placement. If you can see the target then the ACSS reticle will help you hit it. The turrets are not finger adjustable and will require tools, but this makes sense based on what this optic is for.

You get an illuminated reticle which works great, but it is not compatible with night vision. This is a great option that’s much more affordable than the Trijicon ACOG and serves a similar purpose. The durability won’t be as high, but it should still be tough enough for most situations.

5. Trijicon TR22 AccuPoint 2.5-10x56

Here’s another option if you like the 2-10x (ish) range. You get the same battery-free illumination as the ACOG and the same magnification range as the Vortex. There are a few differences, though. Rather than the FFP BDC reticle, Trijicon opted to have a second focal plane mil-dot reticle. 

The design of the mil-dot actually works really well on the second focal plane, and it is not difficult to get a sense of where you need to put the shot after you’ve practiced with it for awhile. The objective lens on this thing is huge, which is great for light transmission, and you don’t really notice the brightness drop as you increase the magnification all the way to 10x.

That said, you need to make sure you get the correct rings to mount this scope so that it stays clear of the top of your rifle. 

6. Sig Sauer Whiskey 3 3-9x40 SFP

When we’re talking about a Sig rifle it only makes sense that one of Sig Sauer’s scopes might make it on the list. The Whiskey 3 is a scope that really outperforms in its price range. It’s by far one of the most affordable scopes on this list, and it stays in the safe and basic 3-9x range. As we talked about above, 3-9x is so popular because it’s versatile and powerful.

You can a lot out of your 716 with this scope on it. It’s not illuminated and the parallax is fixed at 100 yards, but if those things aren’t important to you then you can save a lot of money by going with the Whiskey 3. The image quality is really impressive considering the price point, and it’s waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof.

If you’re not sure what you need and don’t want to over-invest into the wrong scope then the Whiskey 3 is a solid choice to get started.

7. Bushnell Elite Tactical 3-12x44

The Elite Tactical 3-12x44 is in the same boat as Nikon scopes in that it is no longer made, but Bushnell has other models in the Elite Tactical line, and the 3-12x specifically is still available if you want to find it.

I wish all of Bushnell’s scopes were up to the standards of the Elite Tactical. They have a unique blend of coatings on their glass that protects it from dust and scratches, and the turrets are resettable to zero. The 3-12x magnification is good for most shooting situations and highly flexible.

The Elite Tactical scopes aren’t cheap, but if you want to get one at a great price then now is the time because the 3-12x scopes are more affordable than they used to be. 

8. Nightforce ATACR F1 5-25x56

The ATACR is the opposite of “affordable”, but if you’re looking for a premium scope to put on your Sig 716, the ATACR would be my number one choice, at least if you’re looking for long range. Not only does it go out to 25x, but it has an FFP ballistic reticle with adjustable parallax. If you want to do long range precision shooting with your 716 and really push it to its limits, here you go.

It’s great for more than just LRP, though, the reticle illumination, the ZeroStop turrets, and the throw lever on the magnification are all features that take the ATACR into the stratosphere (which is good because that’s where its price is). It’s not going to be great at close range, but if you expect to be shooting mid-range to long range, then this is a fantastic option.

Final Thoughts

The Sig 716 is a modern sporting rifle, which means it’s got tactical scenarios in mind, but it can also be customized to work great for a variety of purposes. Whatever you bought it for, there’s a scope that can help you maximize its capabilities. If none of these seem like the right options, you can check options from Leupold for long range shooting or a red dot sight for close range.

Do any of these scopes look like they’ll do what you need? What’s missing? Any scopes that should be on this list? Let me know in the comments.