Is there anything more American than an American based rifle scope manufacturer naming their rifle scope the Strike Eagle? How about the fact that the Strike Eagle is purpose built for the infamous AR-15.
In this article I will dive into the details of the Vortex Strike Eagle, what makes it a great fit for your AR build, and why it is the best mid-range priced scope on the market today!
In A Hurry, Here is The Review Summary
AR-15’s are the most popular rifle of choice of gun lovers in the United States. With somewhere between 5 and 10 million AR-15’s accounted for in the United States, it makes sense for an optic company to make an AR specific scope.
A couple of reasons the AR-15 is so popular is their customizability, their semi-automatic ability, ease of repair, self defense applications, safe and reliable function, and ease of access. Some AR builds are simple, while others will have you scratching your head wondering if the dude even uses half of the attachments.
The beauty of an AR built is that they can be as diverse as your shooting group. You won't find many AR’s that look alike as the majority of AR owners customize their AR to match their exact needs and personal style.
I found the Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8x24 to be a great all-around scope. The applications of this scope seem to be endless as it performs well for various shooting groups. Great for hunting, target shooting, CQB, tactical and 3-gun shooting the Strike Eagle is a great match for the AR-15.
I enjoyed shooting the reticle and throw lever combo and got some great shots off at my local range with the AR I had it attached to. You can never really go terribly wrong with a Vortex scope in general, but a purpose built Vortex feels like a luxury.
In this review of the Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8x24 I will go over the stand out features of the scope, what all is included in the package when you purchase a Strike Eagle, and no, it is not just the scope. I will also dive into the specifications on the Strike Eagle and how they compare to other scopes in their wheelhouse.
Continue reading for a more in depth look at the Vortex Strike Eagle.
Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8x24 Reviewed:
The Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8x24 is a second focal plane designed rifle scope. Second focal plane (SFP) design means that the spacing for holdover in the Strike Eagle is only accurate at full magnification. I find that SFP design scopes are not best for hunting scenarios.
SFP design does mean, however, that you have a strong reticle represented at all magnification levels. I know that first focal plane (FFP) and second focal plane design are a preference based decision, but when applying them in the field I prefer a FFP scope over a SFP.
For general range shooting, or consistant long-range shooting I would choose a SFP designed scope, and I would utilize a FFP scope for hunting. How many of you reading prefer a SFP over a FFP, or vice versa? Let me know in the comment section at the end of the article!
Eye relief on the Vortex Strike Eagle is 3.5 inches, which I prefer anything over 3 inches so this meets my personal preferences. Eye relief is important for a bright and full field of view while using a scope. The field of view with the Vortex Strike Eagle is 109-14.4 feet at 100 yards.
As the name states, the Strike Eagle has a magnification range of 1-8x and an objective lens diameter of 24mm. At 17.6 ounces and 10 inches long the Strike Eagle is a compact, lightweight scope that will not add much weight to your AR setup.
I enjoyed the BDC reticle design and found that it adds to the overall productivity of the Vortex Strike Eagle. The max windage and elevation adjustments are 140 MOA, and the parallax is fixed at 100 yards. I am not thrilled about the lack of adjustable parallax, but it does not affect my admiration for the Strike Eagle as a whole.
Overall, I believe that the Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8x24mm is an excellent scope choice for anyone who owns an AR-15 and utilizes it for multiple applications. From range day hero to 3-gun shooters the Strike Eagle is built for it all.
Get one for yourself at
Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8x24
The price of Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8x24 varies, so check the latest price at
What’s In The Package:
Majority of rifle scope companies do not include anything in the packaging with their scopes, other than just that, the scope. Vortex Optics have gone against this common industry practice and has multiple additions to the purchase of a Vortex Strike Eagle.
Although Vortex provides you with some extras with your scope purchase, there are also items you will need to purchase to utilize your newly purchased Strike Eagle. Scope rings, or another type of scope mounting system will need to be purchased to enable you to mount the Strike Eagle to your rifle of choice.
If you are mounting on an AR platform, I suggest purchasing scope rings for their performance and reliability. All included pieces to your Strike Eagle purchase are listed below.
- Thread-In Throw Lever
- CR2032 Battery
- Reticle Manual
- Flip Caps
- Lens Cloth
- Product Manual
Key Features:
The Vortex Optics Viper Strike Eagle is an AR builders dream. All of the features presented on the Strike Eagle are specifically designed toward AR usages. Here are some key features that make the Vortex Strike Eagle stand out.
AR-BDC3 Reticle
The AR-BDC3 reticle means more than just a bunch of letters. The AR- Bullet Drop Compensating (BDC) reticle is an MOA (minute of angle) based reticle. The reticle is illuminated, and glass-etched. Glass etching allows for greater durability and repeatability.
The AR-BDC3 is specifically tuned to the ballistic performance of the common 5.56 ammunition used in the AR-15 platform. Hints the AR piece of the reticle name. The center dot is 1 MOA and it provides an exact point of aim while being surrounded by a 16.625 MOA broken circle.
The MOA broken circle forces your eye into the center faster for rapid target acquisition, while the BDC allows you to keep on target all the way to 650 yards. Essentially the reticle design in the Vortex Strike Eagle is meant for quick engagements and precision shots out to 650 yards. A real all-arounder type of reticle much like the application of the AR itself.
I found the reticle on the Strike Eagle to not only be bright enough, as it is an illuminated reticle, but it was visible in all lighting scenarios. No matter the time of day or position of the sun, the reticle was bright and readable throughout the magnification range.
Durability
The Vortex Strike Eagle is a durable option for your AR build. Built with ArmorTek Ultra-hard, scratch-resistant coating, the lenses of the Strike Eagle scope are protected from oil and dirt entering the lens.
The Strike Eagle is built to be shockproof through rugged construction that withstands recoil and impact; for those who abuse their equipment. The Strike Eagle is also waterproof built with IPX7 waterproofing standards as a blueprint.
Gas purging allows the Strike Eagle to be completely fog-proof, allowing you to shoot with confidence in all weather conditions. Matte anodized finish prevents corrosion and helps conceal your shooting position.
The Vortex Strike Eagle is built from a solid block of aircraft-grade aluminum for strength and rigidity. Utilizing a single-piece tube allows for extra strength and waterproof ability. The durability of the Strike Eagle contributes directly to its ability to hold a zero. All of these durable aspects are in addition to Vortex Optics legendary VIP warranty.
Throw Lever
The Vortex Strike Eagle is an AR purpose driven scope. Which leads to the question, what is an AR’s purpose? AR-15’s are multi purpose driven rifles that can be used for a variety of applications. This doesn't really answer the question completely, but what it does outline is that the AR-15 needs to be ready for anything you could throw at it.
The included thread-in throw lever is a testament to Vortex’s dedication to make the Strike Eagle a multi purpose scope. Throw levers allow rapid magnification level changes to your optic. This is an incredible tool when in the field or range course that has targets at varying distances.
The adjustments to the magnification on the Vortex Strike Eagle are extremely smooth, and allow you to shoot at close range, then quickly transition to long-range in however much time you are humanly able to throw the lever. Throw levers are additional attachments that I always recommend to tactical shooters or 3-gun competitors.
It is nice to see Vortex step up and make an AR specific scope. Vortex makes high-quality scopes and optics and the Strike Eagle is another great example of their design dominance in the scope world.
Pros/Cons:
Pros:
- Throw lever included
- Advanced reticle
- Vortex VIP warranty
Cons:
- Fixed parallax
Purchase one today for a great price at
Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8x24
The price of Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8x24 varies, so check the latest price at
Alternative Scope:
Primary Arms SLx8 1-8x24 FFP Riflescope
The Primary Arms SLx8 1-8x24 first focal plane riflescope is a great alternative to the Vortex Strike Eagle. Both scopes have 1-8x magnification with 24mm objective lenses, and both scopes are in the mid-range price point.
The Primary Arms SLx8 comes equipped with a unique reticle style as well that Primary Arms has named the ACSS Raptor reticle. ACSS stands for Advanced Combined Sighting System, which differs from the Vortex Optics Strike Eagles’ AR specific reticle design.
Primary Arms SLx8 1-8x24 FFP Riflescope
The price of Primary Arms SLx8 1-8x24 FFP Riflescope varies, so check the latest price at
Final Thoughts:
The Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8x24mm is an AR purpose built rifle scope. With a great BDC reticle and holdover calculations accurate at full magnification, this is a great scope for both range shooting and tactical applications. Much like the AR-15 platform the Vortex Strike Eagle is built for close quarters, and home defense versatility as well.
The AR-BDC3 glass etched reticle provides a high quality sight picture and operates well in low light conditions. A well illuminated reticle, outfitted with a thread-in throw lever speaks to the Strike Eagle’s versatility. With the Vortex VIP warranty included, this scope outperforms other scopes in its price range.
If you are an AR-15 owner, which I am sure the majority of our readers are, the Vortex Strike Eagle is a great choice of scope to have mounted to your kit. This article has outlined the benefits of the Vortex Strike Eagle along with its many features and specifications. If you are in the market for a new scope to fit your AR-15 keep the Vortex Strike Eagle at the forefront of your mind.
What optic do you have mounted to your AR-15? Let us know in the comment section below! If you own a Vortex Strike Eagle, let us know what you think of it as an AR based scope. For more information on other great AR-15 scopes check out, “BEST AR-15 SCOPES & OPTICS – TACTICAL AND HUNTING SCOPES.”
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