Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32 Review: Tested on Deer & Rimfire Rifles

I mounted the Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32 on my Ruger 10/22 a few years back. It became my permanent rimfire setup almost immediately. Clear glass, practical holdovers, and a warranty that actually means something. It delivers where it counts on every range trip and squirrel hunt.

For rimfire hunting and plinking, the Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32 is the one scope I recommend without hesitation.

Here’s exactly why.

How I tested the Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32

I ran this scope through a structured process across three rifles: a Ruger 10/22, Savage Axis in .243 Win, and a Henry .30-30 lever gun. Each platform tested different recoil profiles and use cases.

Zeroing & Tracking Protocol

Test	Distance	Ammo Used
Initial Zero	50 yards	CCI Standard Velocity .22 LR 40gr
Box Test	50 yards	10-click sequence (up, right, down, left)
Centerfire Zero	100 yards	Federal Premium .243 Win 85gr Sierra GameKing

The turrets tracked consistently and returned to zero both times.

Recoil Stress Test

I fired 20 rounds of Federal Power-Shok 170gr through the Henry .30-30, checking point of impact after every five shots. A hunting scope on a lever gun needs to stay put. That was my standard.

Optical Clarity Sessions

I tested at 25, 50, 100, and 150 yards across overcast mornings, direct midday sun, and late afternoon. I paid close attention to edge distortion, chromatic aberration against treelines, and image quality at 7x. I also made a point to test during the first and last 30 minutes of shootable light.

Field Conditions

This scope went through a full deer season on the Savage Axis. Cold mornings, rain, fog, one 28°F session, and a hard knock against a fence post during a stand setup. I noted everything.

Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32 Review

Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32 Product Specs

Specification	Details
Magnification	2–7x
Objective Lens Diameter	32mm
Eye Relief	3.9 inches
Field of View	44.1–13.1 ft @ 100 yards
Tube Diameter	1 inch
Turret Style	Capped, finger-adjustable
Adjustment Graduation	¼ MOA
Max Elevation Adjustment	80 MOA
Max Windage Adjustment	80 MOA
Parallax Setting	100 yards (fixed)
Reticle	Dead-Hold BDC or V-Plex
Coating	XR fully multi-coated
Waterproof/Fogproof	Yes / Yes (nitrogen purged)
Length	11.63 inches
Weight	13.2 oz

Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32 Data Range Analysis Test Results

Testing Parameter	25 Yards	50 Yards	100 Yards	150 Yards	200 Yards
Repeatability (MOA deviation)	±0.1	±0.1	±0.25	±0.35	±0.5
Zero Retention After Recoil (shots)	20	20	20	18	17
Image Clarity (1–10)	9	9	8	7	6.5
BDC Reticle Accuracy (inches off target)	0	0.3	0.5	0.9	1.4
Twilight Light Transmission (1–10)	7	7	6.5	6	5.5

Tested using Federal Premium .243 Win 85gr Sierra GameKing and CCI .22 LR 40gr Standard Velocity. All range sessions conducted in variable overcast and direct sunlight conditions.

Optical Clarity

The XR fully multi-coated lenses pull in solid brightness for a scope at this price. On a rimfire or a light deer rifle, you get clean images in daylight. Plenty sharp for shots inside 150 yards.

Once the sun dropped low, I started noticing the limits. Contrast softened. Edge sharpness fell off. The Burris Scout I tested later handled those last minutes of light noticeably better. But for the price, this glass is honest. Just don’t expect it to stretch your shooting window past legal light.

Reticle

The Dead-Hold BDC is the reticle I’d pick for this scope every time. It’s built around rimfire and lighter centerfire cartridges. The holdover points actually make sense for hunting distances under 200 yards.

One thing to remember: this is a second focal plane scope. The BDC holdovers only work correctly at maximum magnification. I zeroed at 50 yards with .22 LR and walked out each subtension to 150. It tracked the way it should.

The reticle stays clean and uncluttered. Nothing gets in the way of your target at close range, which matters when you’re hunting at 2x in thick brush.

Turret Performance

Let’s be honest. These are basic turrets. The clicks feel soft, and if you’re coming from anything mid-tier or above, you’ll notice the difference right away.

But here’s the thing. I ran a 10-click elevation test multiple times, and it came back to zero clean every time. That’s what actually matters.

This scope is built for hunters who zero once and forget it. If that’s you, and it describes most rimfire and deer hunters I know, the turrets do exactly what they need to do. Nothing fancy. Just reliable.

Eye Relief & Eye Box

The 3.9 inches of eye relief made a bigger difference than I expected. I ran this on a .243 Win and never caught scope bite once. Even from awkward positions in the field.

If you’re fitting this on a youth rifle or a shorter length of pull, you’ll appreciate that extra space. The eye box is forgiving too. Minor head position shifts don’t kill your sight picture.

When you’re settling into a quick shot from a treestand or bracing against a pack, that kind of flexibility counts more than specs on paper.

Durability

I mounted this on my Ruger 10/22 and my Savage Axis. Over several months of range sessions and a full deer season across mixed weather, it held zero and kept performing.

One cold morning, I came out of a warm truck into 28°F air. Normally that’s when a cheap scope fogs up inside. The nitrogen purging handled it fine.

I wasn’t gentle with this thing in the field. Brushy terrain, a hard bump against a fence post, rain on more than one occasion. It came through without giving me trouble.

Accessories

The stock caps protect your lenses in a pinch, but upgrading to quality flip-up covers gives you faster deployment and better protection during active hunting in heavy brush or wet conditions.

• Butler Creek Flip-Open Scope Cover (Eyepiece Size 19): A dialed-in fit for the Crossfire II 2-7×32 eyepiece. Snaps open instantly and seals tight, exactly what you want in wet or brushy conditions.
• Butler Creek Flip-Open Scope Cover (Objective Size 15): The objective-end match for this scope. Same reliable flip-open design, keeping your front glass protected and ready to go in a split second.
• Weaver Quad Lock 1-Inch Rings (Medium Height): Solid, well-machined rings built for a standard Weaver or Picatinny rail. They lock down firmly and hold zero under repeated fire without shifting.
• Vortex Optics Pro Series 1-Inch Riflescope Rings (Medium): A natural match for this scope’s 1-inch tube. Affordable, consistent, and designed to pair cleanly with this exact platform.

Summary

The Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32 does exactly what it’s supposed to do. Mount it on a .22 LR, a .243, or a youth hunting rifle. It handles the job.

The 2-7x magnification range and Dead-Hold BDC reticle work well together for any realistic shot inside 200 yards. Is it perfect? No. The turrets feel cheap, and the glass struggles when the sun gets low. But it’s honest about what it is.

Daylight clarity, zero retention, and overall durability all outperform what you’d expect at this price. You’re not getting premium glass. You’re getting something you can depend on.

The VIP warranty is the sleeper advantage. Vortex will fix or replace it regardless of how it broke. No receipt, no runaround. For a budget scope seeing real hunting use, that kind of backing makes a real difference. If you’re setting up your first hunting rifle or want a dedicated rimfire scope that won’t let you down, this is a smart place to start.

How the Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32 Compares Against Others

Features	Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32	Monstrum 2-7×32 AO	Hawke Vantage IR 2-7×32 AO	Burris Scout 2-7×32
~Price	~$130	~$65	~$150	~$450
Magnification	2–7x	2–7x	2–7x	2–7x
Objective Lens	32mm	32mm	32mm	32mm
Tube Diameter	1 inch	1 inch	1 inch	1 inch
Eye Relief	3.9″	3.5–3.8″	3.5″	9.2–12″
FOV @ 100 yds	44.1–13.1 ft	42–12 ft	46.6–14.1 ft	16–5.2 ft
Parallax Setting	Fixed 100 yds	AO (adjustable)	AO (10 yds–∞)	Fixed 100 yds
Reticle	Dead-Hold BDC / V-Plex	Rangefinder IR	Mil-Dot IR	Ballistic Plex
Illuminated Reticle	No	Yes (R/G, 5 levels)	Yes (R/G, 5 levels)	No
Adjustments	¼ MOA capped	¼ MOA capped/lockable	¼ MOA capped	¼ MOA capped
Total Adj. Range	80 MOA	60 MOA	140 MOA	66 MOA
Lens Coating	XR Fully Multi-Coated	Multi-Layer Coated	11-Layer Fully Multi-Coated	Hi-Lume Multi-Coated
Waterproof / Fogproof	Yes / Yes	Yes / Yes (N₂ purged)	Yes / Yes (N₂ purged)	Yes / Yes
Weight	13.2 oz	12.0 oz	12.7 oz	13.0 oz
Length	11.63″	9.6″	11.8″	9.7″
Construction	1-pc Aircraft Aluminum	1-pc Aircraft Aluminum	1-pc Aircraft Aluminum	1-pc Aircraft Aluminum
Rings Included	No	Yes (+ throw lever)	No	No
Country of Origin	Philippines	China	China	Philippines
Warranty	Unlimited VIP Lifetime	Lifetime	Lifetime Repair/Replace	Forever Warranty
Best Use	Rimfire / light centerfire hunting	Plinking / varmint / tactical	Rimfire / varmint	Scout rifle / lever gun / handgun
Pros	Lifetime warranty • Clear glass • Lightweight • Budget-friendly • Solid eye relief	Cheapest option • AO parallax • Illuminated reticle • Rings + throw lever included • Compact	Adjustable parallax • Illuminated reticle • 140 MOA range • 11-layer glass	Extreme eye relief • Hi-Lume glass • Steel-on-steel turrets • Forever warranty • Compact
Cons	Fixed parallax • Narrow zoom range • Basic turret feel • Limited low-light performance	Basic glass quality • Short eye relief • Limited warranty support • Tactical-first design	Short eye relief • No BDC • Stiff zoom ring • Weak warranty support	Premium price • No illumination • Narrow FOV • Limited to forward-mount use

The Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32 sits at the sweet spot for general purpose hunting. The Dead-Hold BDC reticle, 80 MOA of adjustment, solid 3.9″ eye relief, and VIP warranty make it my go-to recommendation for rimfire and light centerfire use.

The Monstrum 2-7×32 AO surprised me. Getting adjustable parallax and an illuminated reticle for around $65, with rings and a throw lever included, is hard to beat on paper. The glass quality falls short of the Crossfire II, and the short eye relief gets annoying from awkward shooting positions. It’s more of a plinking scope than a serious hunting optic. But for the price? It delivers.

The Hawke Vantage IR 2-7×32 AO packs more features into this price range than anything else here. The 11-layer coating produces sharper images than the Monstrum, and 140 MOA of total adjustment is an outlier in this class. The stiff zoom ring got on my nerves, and that 3.5″ eye relief is tighter than I’d like. Hawke’s warranty process also isn’t as smooth as Vortex’s VIP program.

The Burris Scout 2-7×32 lives in its own world. That Hi-Lume glass pulls more usable light at dawn and dusk than anything else on this list. The 9.2–12″ variable eye relief is unmatched if you’re running a forward mount. But the narrow field of view and steep price are real tradeoffs. Only worth it when the platform calls for it.

To Summarize

The Monstrum genuinely surprised me at its price point. Adjustable parallax, illumination, and rings for under $70 is tough to argue with for a plinking setup. But the glass and eye relief start showing their limits once you get into real hunting situations.

The Hawke brings better optics and more adjustment travel. It’s worth the extra spend over the Monstrum if you want something more capable for rimfire or varmint work.

The Burris Scout is clearly a step up in quality. But it only justifies that price premium if you’re running a scout rifle or lever gun with a forward mount.

For most hunters and shooters in this magnification class, the Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32 is the one I’d put in your hands first. It covers the most ground, keeps your wallet intact, and backs everything up with the best warranty in the business.

Frequently asked questions

Why should you trust me

I’m Richard Douglas, a Firearms Instructor, National Defense Security Consultant, and the person behind Scopes Field. My work has appeared in The National Interest, The Truth About Guns, and I’ve consulted directly with optics manufacturers including Bushnell and Leupold.

I’m not some former military guy turned gear blogger. I’m someone who has wasted thousands of dollars on scopes over the years. Bad ones, overpriced ones, and a handful of genuinely great ones. That trial and error built this site.

Every scope I review goes through hands-on field testing across multiple rifles and real shooting conditions. Not a quick bench session. Actual hunting use, drop tests, and zero retention checks. You get my honest take on what I found, not a spec sheet rewrite.