Is the Vortex Crossfire II worth the money?
The short answer: Yes. For the price, durability, glass clarity, forgiving eye box, and smooth turret rotations, I highly recommend it for anyone on a budget.
In this Vortex Crossfire II review, I’ll explain why, which reticle you should get, and if this scope is for you.
Let’s get started!
| Features | Vortex Crossfire II |
|---|---|
| Brand | Vortex Optics |
| Color | Matte Black |
| Magnification Range | 4-12x |
| Reticle Type | Dead-Hold BDC, V-Plex, or V-Brite |
| Reticle Illumination | Only with the V-Brite |
| Weight | 17.2 ounces |
| Length | 13.1 inches |
| Objective Lens Diameter | 44 mm |
Here’s my Vortex Crossfire II Review
I’m going to be honest: I wasn’t expecting much with the Vortex Crossfire 2.
After all, it costs less than $200. But since buying it back in 2019, this optic has exceeded my expectations and more.
I’ve used it on a variety of rifles and calibers, like the AR-15 and 30-06, hunting trips, and plinking. It’s been through hell and it still operates as if I bought it yesterday.
Let me show you what I mean…
Glass Clarity & Reticle
The fast-focus eyepiece on my Vortex scope gives me a perfect sight picture, just like my Strike Eagle.
I can see everything clearly no matter which magnification setting I use.
As for the reticle, you’ve got options with the Crossfire II.
The most-common choice is the Dead-Hold BDC.
This one uses hash marks to give me easy control over my accuracy.
I really love this one for long-range situations, because it cuts down on my calculation times.
It also has a coating on the fast-focus eyepiece to improve low-light clarity.
This is the same with the V-Plex reticle, if you choose that one.
V-Plex is my least-favorite of the three options. While it has the lens coating, it lacks the hash marks. This opens up the picture a little more, but I like the quick adjustments with my BDC.
- The 4-12x44 Crossfire II riflescope is one of many configurations in the Crossfire II line. The Dead-Hold BDC reticle is good for hunting/shooting at varying ranges where estimating holdover is a...
- With long eye relief and an ultra-forgiving eye box, you'll be able to quickly get a sight picture and acquire your target. The fast focus eyepiece allows quick and easy reticle focusing.
- Anti-reflective, fully multi-coated lenses provide bright and clear views for the user.
Of course, if you plan to shoot in low-light conditions, you should opt for the V-Brite reticle. One of the biggest criticisms of the Vortex Crossfire II is the lack of illumination.
V-Brite illuminated reticles took care of that problem, with a nice red dot to increase precision. Which reticle you prefer is situational, but I love my BDC and V-Brite scopes.
One quick note is that Vortex made the Crossfire II with a second focal-plane reticle. It won’t change with magnification, which can take up a little room in the scope, but I’ve never had a problem with it.
Eye Relief & Eye Box
The Vortex Crossfire II has an objective lens that’s 44mm.
With a lens that size, most people have about 3.9 inches of eye relief, which is an ultra-forgiving eye box.
I can stay back from the scope and still see a perfect image on the other end.
As for the field of view, I don’t have any issues making out the surroundings.
Zeroing on a target at 100 yards, I can see almost 25 feet across at the lowest magnification.
On the max setting, I can see a little over 8 feet across.
Vortex Optics makes sure that you’ll have no trouble seeing your target clearly.
Durability
The Crossfire II has a number of features that make sure it’ll be with you for a long time.
Anti-reflective on the fully multi-coated lenses keep the scope safe.
After all this time, I don’t have any scratches or issues with my lenses.
That’s thanks in part to the Crossfire’s tube being one piece of aircraft-grade aluminum.
Like my Vortex Viper, the Crossfire II is lightweight and effective.
Being just over 17 ounces, I can take it on long trips and have no problem with the added weight on my rifle.
It’s waterproof and the tube is sealed to be fogproof.
If you’re worried about a battery the only reticle that needs one is the V-Brite for illumination. Even then, the CR2032 battery works for around 150 hours of use before needing to be replaced.
Elevation & Windage Knobs
The elevation and windage knobs on the Crossfire II are covered to keep them safe.
Each one adjusts in ¼ MOA increments, so I have easy reticle focusing at range.
They both max out at 50 MOA, or minute of angle, adjustments.
When combined with the hash marks on my BDC reticle, I can adjust and take a shot in no time.
One thing that I love about my Vortex products, like this and the Strike Eagle, is the zero-reset turrets. When all of these features are combined, I can adjust on the move with ease.
Parallax & Magnification
With a fixed parallax of 100 yards, I haven’t noticed any negative impact on my accuracy.
Because the magnification range for the Crossfire II is 4x-12x, the parallax isn’t an issue.
The 4x magnification setting lets me sight on closer targets, which is perfect for anything inside of 25 yards. I’ve taken my Crossfire II to the range and hunting without a problem.
The great thing about a variable scope, though, is the option of going farther. I can easily hit targets at 100 yards or beyond, which reminds me of my Vortex Diamondback.
The longest shot I’ve taken with precision was closer to 1,000 yards, so you can count on the Vortex Crossfire II for all kinds of situations.
Mounting & Rings
Speaking of versatility, the Crossfire II can mount on most firearms.
As long as you can use a single set of mounting rings, like the Vortex Cantilever mount, you can use it.
It’s a sturdy scope, so it won’t shift around from the recoil on a .22 or a .50 caliber rifle.
It’s great for rimfire rifles, but it’s also designed to work on centerfires.
I will say that I use the lowest setting on my mounting rings.
It usually gives me the best sight picture, which is especially important for the longer shots.
- Use this cantilever mount for mounting 1-inch telescopic sights
- The 2-inch offset of this cantilever mount positions the scope in a forward location, allowing the correct eye relief and head placement
- The cantilever ring mount positions the center of the riflescope tube at a height of 1.59 inches (40.39 mm) from the base. Weighs 6.7 ounces
Price
With all of the features, aircraft-grade aluminum, and the performance of my Crossfire II, I’m still impressed with the price.
I got my BDC reticle for less than $200.
- The 4-12x44 Crossfire II riflescope is one of many configurations in the Crossfire II line. The Dead-Hold BDC reticle is good for hunting/shooting at varying ranges where estimating holdover is a...
- With long eye relief and an ultra-forgiving eye box, you'll be able to quickly get a sight picture and acquire your target. The fast focus eyepiece allows quick and easy reticle focusing.
- Anti-reflective, fully multi-coated lenses provide bright and clear views for the user.
The V-Brite was a little more, at $250, but I expected to pay more for the illuminated reticle.
- The 2-7x32 Crossfire II riflescope is one of many configurations in the Crossfire II line. The Dead-Hold BDC reticle is good for hunting/shooting at varying ranges where estimating holdover is a...
- With long eye relief and an ultra-forgiving eye box, you'll be able to quickly get a sight picture and acquire your target. The fast focus eyepiece allows quick and easy reticle focusing
- Anti-reflective, fully multi-coated lenses provide bright and clear views for the user; Max Elevation Adjustment: 60 MOA
Either way, the Vortex Optics Crossfire II is one of the best scopes you can get for less than $500. I’ve used much more expensive optics with less efficiency or comparable features. That price doesn’t even take into account the warranty that Vortex offers.
They’ve got one of the best lifetime warranties out there.
You don’t need a proof of purchase and the warranty is transferable to get a full refund or replacement.
Is the Vortex Crossfire II for you?
No matter what situation you’ll be shooting in, I’d recommend the Vortex Optics Crossfire II. With that list of impressive features, effective performance, and a reasonable price, what’s not to love?
- The 4-12x44 Crossfire II riflescope is one of many configurations in the Crossfire II line. The Dead-Hold BDC reticle is good for hunting/shooting at varying ranges where estimating holdover is a...
- With long eye relief and an ultra-forgiving eye box, you'll be able to quickly get a sight picture and acquire your target. The fast focus eyepiece allows quick and easy reticle focusing.
- Anti-reflective, fully multi-coated lenses provide bright and clear views for the user.
If you prefer hash marks, I’d go with the Dead-Hold BDC reticle. If you plan to shoot at dusk or at night, I’d suggest choosing the V-Brite reticle.
Either way, you get a variable scope with a clear image on the second focal plane. Like I said before, I’ve had mine for a long time. If you want an alternative, you might also consider the Vortex Strike Eagle.
Now It’s Your Turn
I hope you enjoyed my Vortex Crossfire II review.
Now I want to turn it over to you:
What do you think about the Vortex Crossfire II? Or perhaps you already bought it and would like to share your thoughts.
Either way, let me know by leaving a quick comment down below.
FAQ:
The Crossfire II offers three choices of reticle, depending on your situation. The Dead-Hold BDC seems to be the standard, with hash marks for accuracy.
The V-Plex reticle has the same anti-reflective coating as the BDC, but removes the hash marks to open up the sight picture. The V-Brite illuminated reticle is perfect for low-light conditions.
Both the elevation and windage knob adjust at ¼ MOA with a maximum of 50 MOA.
While some models of the Crossfire II don’t, the 4-12x corrects parallax at 100 yards.
The lower 4x magnification is ideal for 25 yards, but not much after. On the 12x setting, you could hit a target upwards of 1,000 yards, though it depends on how well you can shoot, the rifle and caliber you’re using, and weather conditions.
I’m wondering which would be best for my color blind hunter?
i bought a vortex crossfire ii at bass pro shops Dieppe NB and i am about to install it on a new Mossberg 6.5 CAL rifle. How hard is it to site The scope.