Is the Vortex Strike Eagle worth the money? I wasn’t sure.
So I bought the scope and hand-tested all the features: clarity, reticle, durability, tracking, turrets, and every other advanced scope feature.
By the end of this Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8×24 review, you’ll know if this scope is for you.
Let’s get started.
Here’s My Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8×24 Review
One of the most popular scopes on the market is the Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8×24.
In fact:
After spending the last two months torture- and hand-testing the riflescope, I’d say it’s one of the best short-to-medium range riflescopes for the money.
Here’s why…
Glass Clarity & Reticle
The glass is crystal clear, providing a crisp, bright view.
All lenses are fully protected by attached flip-up covers, keeping the glass clean and free of natural wear-and-tear.
Moving beyond the glas, we’re met with a BDC reticle — which is ideal for .223/5.56 mm and .308/7.62 mm rounds.
It’s set in the second focal plane. This means, the reticle’s size never changes when magnification is adjusted.
It even comes with an 11-setting illumination feature, making it MUCH easier to see in low light conditions.
However, there are two minor setbacks:
First, the brighter the reticle gets, the harder it is to see in typical daylight settings, as it turns from a dark red to a bright red-orange.
You can easily fix this by simply shutting off the light; the contrast of the reticle in black works well for sunny days.
Second, it doesn’t have an “auto turn-off” feature, which could drain the battery if accidentally left on. I’d know because I do it almost every time 🙂
I’d recommend having an extra lithium metal battery in your range bag just in case.
Eye Box & Eye Relief
It comes with a generous 3.5” of eye relief.
That’s plenty of space to comfortable use this at 1X with both eye opens. It performs optimally close-range.
In fact, I’d say I’m able to get on target as fast my Burris AR-536 prism sight.
However, the eye box could get a bit tight at higher magnification settings.
Durability
The Strike Eagle scope is also known for its durability which lends to its accuracy and precision.
The aircraft-grade aluminum exterior braces the scope against tough weather and physical damage.
And — thanks to O-ring sealing and nitrogen purging — it’s completely waterproof and fog-proof.
It’ll work in any condition.
Elevation & Windage Knobs
You’ve got three turrets within easy reach:
- Windage
- Elevation
- Reticle Illumination
The windage and elevation turrets are measured at ½ MOA per click and can be adjusted up to 100 MOA. Both are protected by easy-to-remove caps.
The elevation cap also stores a spare lithium battery for the illuminated reticle.
The MOA adjustments for windage and elevation give a satisfying and strong click.
The cap covers are easy to twist off and back on. The scope holds zero very well and the return to zero is excellent.
Magnification & Parallax
The 1 – 8X magnification is sweet for short-to-medium range shooting.
The best part?
The view remains clear throughout all powers.
Although there is slight distortion and blurriness at the highest magnification, it’s still good. Parallax wasn’t an issue either.
Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8×24 Review: Is it Worth it?
If you’re looking for one of the best short-to-medium range scope, get the Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8×24.
Here’s why. It’s got:
- Holds Zero
- Clear Glass
- BDC Reticle
- Audible Turrets
- Lifetime Warranty
- Wide range of Magnification
In short:
It’s a solid scope for target shooting, competition, hog hunting, home defense, and basically anything else you can think of.
The best part?
It comes equipped with Vortex’s VIP Lifetime Warranty. Meaning, if ANYTHING happens to the scope, they’ll repair it for free. Feel free to give it a spin:
- The Strike Eagle 1-8x24 is defined by versatility and power. A true one power provides quick target acquisition in close quarter scenarios or adjust to eight power when you need to engage targets at a...
- The illuminated, glass-etched BDC2 reticle features 11 illumination settings to accomodate for changing light conditions. An extra battery can be stored in the windage cap and easily released.
- High quality, fully multi-coated lenses deliver a clear, crisp sight picture and optimal low light performance. Ample eye relief puts in an optimal shooting position and the fast focus dial on the...
If you don’t like the Strike Eagle for whatever reason, you can always return it back to Amazon thanks to their 30-day Money Back Guarantee.
And that’s all there is to it! If you have any questions or concerns about this Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8×24 review or would like to share your thoughts, let me know in the comments down below.
Also:
If you’re getting started into long range shooting and are looking for a solid, budget-friendly scope, check out my Athlon Argos BTR 6-24×50 scope review.
This evening I spent nearly two hours reading your articles primarily focused on AR15 optics. Congratulations…..very well done. I learned a lot. I’ve built my AR15 virtually from the ground up including an 18in BCM barrel for longer ranges. I’ll likely have $1400 in the rifle. Using your 50% rule that means I should be spending about $700. All your reviews that I read were for scopes less than that. I’m also considering both an optical and red dot, either mounted together or quick disconnect. Would appreciate any comments.
Well done and best regards
How many yards do you consider midrange using Steven’s 308
Just came back from a weekend trip doing some hog eradication using this scope. There’s alot of things I like, and one thing I don’t. The throw lever Is a massive bonus. When it’s straight up in the middle you know it’s on 3x, and knowing this is a big bonus when the action is fast or dark speeds up reaction time and reduces lost shots at varying ranges. Glass is clear during the day, and it has a reasonable weight, amongst other features.
Where I found it lacking was at night where it would be used 60% of the time. Images were quite dark and it was not performing.
Just bought one and not happy. You can not have a sharp focused target picture and reticle at the same time. It’s one or the other at 8 power and 100 metres or more. Have tried Vortexes adjustment procedure with and without my prescription glasses and my daughter has the same problem. The reticle illumination in daylight is poor.
I have the newer Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8×24 “Gen 2” LPVO. The biggest change is the newer AR-BDC3 reticle.
I’m curious if you have re-reviewed the optic since the “Gen 2” release? I also see there is an additional version that is first focal plane (FFP), but I’m actually more interested in a review update for the SFP Gen 2 version.
*Strike eagle 1-8×24 OPMOD limited edition w/ Burris P.E.P.R. mount.
I have loved all my vortex purchases over the past several years, but this one has made its way to the spare parts bin quickly. Very disappointing- the clarity and light lack BIG TIME and anything past 4x, the 1/2 moa adjustments, parallax is terrible…
With it missing a lot of these “high points”, add it being second focal plane- using this effectively for target ranging or sizing is shamefully slow and inaccurate. I hote to be so negative about such an awesome company that has produced for us over and over and over‐ some awesome tools, badass gizmos and killer gadgets….but do yourselves a favor and invest your $600 on a different model.
I think the Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8×24 is a great scope for the money. It’s got a lot of features for the price, and it’s very easy to use. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a