Vortex Crossfire II 3-9×40 Review

The Vortex Crossfire II line is quite famous in the scope industry, given its excellent quality rifle scopes offered at an affordable price.

Are you curious to see if a Vortex Crossfire II is a great addition to your gear?

Here is a comprehensive review of the Vortex Optics Crossfire II 3-9×40 in particular. We will examine its strengths, features, and if it is worth the money.

Vortex Crossfire II 3-9×40 Overview and Key Specifications

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Key Features

The Vortex Optics Crossfire II 3-9×40 is known and highly well-regarded for exceeding the set performance standards, from its easy reticle focusing and clear sight picture to the different shooting scenarios it can handle.

However, it is best known for its hunting capabilities, allowing you to see across varying ranges with its reliable second focal plane reticle and 40 mm lenses. This scope from Vortex Optics is also great for tactical shooting, especially with its ergonomic design.

It has a decent magnification range (3-9x) that can help you see across medium distances. You can easily adjust its magnification setting and the adjustment turrets, making it quite convenient to use.

This scope features fully multi-coated lenses and illuminated reticles (for V-Brite versions) for clarity and a better view of your target. This optic is well-respected for its quick and easy reticle focusing and reliability when hunting.

Read more to find out my full review of this scope.

Ratings by the Numbers

Here is a quick breakdown of my views on the Vortex Optics Crossfire II and my ratings on several critical factors out of 5.

Usability: 4/5

The Vortex Optics Crossfire II scope was highly reliable on the field, especially if you choose a dead-hold BDC reticle, as I did. It is excellent for hunting and shooting, being easy to adjust and carry around.

I also appreciated the long eye relief and the ultra-forgiving eye box, which allowed me to fire consistently without worrying about scope eye or scope bite.

However, the crosshairs might appear thick to some people, making it difficult for them to focus on the target.

Optical Performance: 4/5

The Vortex Crossfire II provided a perfect sight picture every time, making it easy to see the target and its surroundings. Having a dead-hold BDC reticle and its hash marks makes it easier to get accurate shots.

However, using it in low-light conditions can be challenging, especially if you don’t have an illuminated reticle or low-light accessories.

That said, its second focal plane reticle makes up for it thanks to its consistency, which can help you manage these situations.

Mechanical Design & Construction: 5/5

The Vortex Crossfire II is exceptionally durable, with its aircraft-grade aluminum construction for strength.

It is also waterproof, fog-proof, and shockproof, making it great for all weather conditions.

It can handle high recoil and features turret systems that are easy to set up.

Value: 5/5

When you compare the Vortex Crossfire II to similar scopes in its class, it offers more features and provides an excellent view of your target.

It gives users ideal value and is versatile enough for different shooting scenarios.

It balances its performance and cost well, ensuring you get your money’s worth. It is also durable enough to last long, especially with its lifetime warranty.

Purpose and Shooting Style

This rifle scope from Vortex Optics is highly versatile for hunters and operators alike.

However, it has been proven to work best for tactical and range shooting, especially with its features.

Its quick and easy reticle adjustment, fast focus eyepiece, and varying ranges were designed to make it easier to accurately shoot your rifle in the field.

Glass Clarity and Reticle

The Vortex Optics Crossfire II features fully multi-coated lenses that provide good brightness, especially with the limited objective diameter.

Its dead-hold BDC reticle and hash marks can help you estimate the bullet drop for easier target acquisition, along with the fast-focus eyepiece.

The Vortex Optics Crossfire II has a second focal plane reticle, which can be tricky in dim environments.

The dead-hold BDC reticle helps you get a better grasp of your target’s distance in these situations.

The glass clarity and reticle quality provide a good image, regardless of your magnification.

Eye Relief & Eye Box

The Vortex Crossfire II comes with a long eye relief of 3.8 inches, making it comfortable to use for extended periods.

Its ultra-forgiving eye box ensures that you can have a good field of view without getting injured from your firearm’s recoil.

Durability and Weather Resistance

You can expect this optic to be one of the most durable models, especially for its price point.

Its construction makes it waterproof, fog-proof, and shockproof. You can rely on this rifle scope in the field, regardless of your environment.

Adjustments (Turrets) for Windage and Elevation

The Vortex Crossfire II has capped reset, finger-adjustable windage, and elevation turrets for easy adjustment.

The turrets can quickly help you reset your zero when sight in your rifle scope. There’s also tactile feedback when you shift them as a handy guide.

Magnification Range and Parallax

The Vortex Optics Crossfire II comes with 3-9x magnification and a fixed parallax of 100 yards. This lack of versatility did not hurt my accuracy; I still saw my targets clearly.

The 4x magnification was perfect for closer targets, especially those under 25 yards.

At 9x magnification, I could easily hit precision shots from several hundred yards away using the Vortex Optics Crossfire II, which impressed me with its quality.

Mounting and Rings

You can easily mount a Vortex Optics Crossfire II scope since its 30mm tube is appropriate for most mounting rings. You can get these from your typical scope stores or producers.

It is also fairly lightweight at only 16 ounces.

It is possible to mount this rifle scope using a Picatinny or Weaver rail system.

That said, using an additional mounting rail will add weight to your rifle. On the other hand, using rings only (especially on a hunting rifle) might mean less weight, but it will also decrease the ease of switching your rifle scope from one rifle to another.

Budget and Price Range

I cannot help but be surprised with the price of this rifle scope, especially with all the features that come with it. At $149 (upon posting), this scope has many features of more expensive scopes.

I have experienced using more expensive scopes with less efficiency than this model.

Partnered with a good warranty, the Vortex Optics Crossfire II is a steal and provides more than your money’s worth.

Warranty and Customer Support

Another great thing about Vortex Optics is their warranty and customer support.

All Vortex products are backed by an unlimited, unconditional, lifetime warranty. This is fully transferable and does not require a receipt or warranty card.

You can also easily contact their customer support through their website or at 1-800-4VORTEX if you encounter any product problems.

Advantages of Vortex Crossfire II 3-9×40

Now that you know more about the Vortex Optics Crossfire II, here is a quick summary of why this rifle scope can be a great addition to your gear.

• Versatile magnification range
• User-friendly features like a fast-focus eyepiece
• High-performance optics with clear and bright images
• Resettable MOA turrets
• Extremely affordable
• Backed by an unlimited and unconditional lifetime warranty

Disadvantages of Vortex Crossfire II 3-9×40

Now that you know more about the advantages of the Crossfire II scope, you may want to weigh its disadvantages to know if this is the right rifle scope for your needs.

• Average objective lens, which limits light-gathering
• Dead-Hold BDC Reticle may appear thick for some users
• Smaller field of view

Alternatives to Consider

There are many similarly priced riflescopes available on the market

If you still feel like the Vortex Crossfire II 3-9×40 may not be your rifle scope of choice, here are a few alternative scopes worth looking into.

Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40 350 Legend

• Magnification Range: 3-9x
• Objective Diameter: 40 mm
• Length: 12.4 in
• Weight: 12.2 oz (345.9 g)
• FFP/SFP: SFP
• Reticle: Duplex, Hunt-Plex, Rimfire MOA, Tri-MOA, UltimateSlam

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Simmons 8-Point 3-9x40

• Magnification Range: 3-9x
• Objective Diameter: 40 mm
• Length: 14.5 in
• Weight: 10 oz (283.5 g)
• FFP/SFP: SFP
• Reticle: Truplex

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Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn 3-9x40

• Magnification Range: 3-9x
• Objective Diameter: 40 mm
• Length: 12 in
• Weight: 13 oz (368.5 g)
• FFP/SFP: SFP
• Reticle: Multi-X

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Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9×40

The Leupold VX-Freedom is an excellent alternative to the Vortex Crossfire II, especially for its lightweight and great focal range. While it is more expensive than the Vortex model, it still fits the budget scope range.

Simmons 8-Point 3-9×40

The Simmons 8-Point 3-9×40 is another excellent alternative, especially for its performance. However, since it’s under $100, it might not be up to par regarding focus and the ease of adjusting its elevation and windage knobs.

Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn 3-9×40

The Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn 3-9×40 is one of the best budget rifle scopes on the market that is up to par with the Vortex Crossfire II. It performs well on the field and is built to last with a compact design.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

You may have more questions regarding the Vortex Crossfire II. I have gathered the most common ones to help you with your research.

Is the Vortex Crossfire 2 Scope Any Good?

The Vortex Crossfire II is one of the best and most popular budget rifle scopes on the market.

It is an excellent high-performance model, especially for use on a range gun or in hunting applications.

Is the Vortex Crossfire 2 Waterproof?

The Vortex Crossfire II is o-ring sealed for waterproof and fogproof performance. It is also made from rugged anodized single-piece aircraft-grade aluminum that has been nitrogen-purged to ensure its durability and longevity.

Is the Vortex Crossfire 2 Better Than the Diamondback?

The Vortex Crossfire II provides target acquisition, while the Diamondback provides a wider field of view.

You can use the Vortex Crossfire II as a target and range scope, while a Diamondback would be best as a tactical or moving hunting scope.

Is the Vortex Crossfire II 3-9×40 For You?

The Vortex Optics Crossfire II is a good scope to work with, regardless of whether you are a beginner or a pro.

However, it is understandable if you are unsure if it really is the best Vortex scope for you.

While some of its factors are a matter of preference for any shooter, this optic can easily adjust to your needs and is worth the money.

You can easily rely on this high-performance scope, especially if you want something affordable yet functional for your rifle loadout.