(Photo courtesy of David Draper)
August 28, 2025
By David Draper
The cost of quality hunting optics has soared in recent years in line with upgrades in features and technology as manufacturers have chased the trend in long-range shooting. Thankfully, there are still budget riflescope options available and all that new tech and improved manufacturing is now trickling down to cost-conscious consumers looking for an inexpensive, do-all riflescope. Just one great example of this trend is the new Vortex Crossfire HD line of optics , which maintains value-driven price points with upgrades in features and performance.
Vortex Crossfire HD riflescopes are an update of the company’s popular line of Crossfire II optics with a host of modern features. The aircraft-grade aluminum tubes are fitted with a new high-definition optical system that enhances the sight picture and increases resolution. Vortex states all exterior lenses are fully multi-coated with anti-reflective treatment to improve overall light transmission for dawn-to-dusk performance. Testing the Crossfire HD 4-12x44 at the range in the last minutes of daylight, I found it surprisingly bright for a riflescope that retails for less than $240. (Depending on model, MSRP for the Crossfire HD line ranges from $230-$370, but actual retail pricing is far less). Resolution and clarity were on par with riflescopes costing two to three times as much.
(Photo courtesy of David Draper) I’ve often preached that simple is best at the moment of truth, and Vortex takes that to heart with this new line of riflescopes. Gone are most of the bells, whistles and dials that add cost, complexity and weight to what most modern riflescopes have morphed into. The Vortex Crossfire HD scopes feature capped windage and elevation dials. Once the scope is zeroed, hunters won’t find themselves fiddling with an elevation dial when that deer steps out within a reasonable range.
For hunters who know the ballistics of their rifle-bullet combination, Vortex does offer Dead-Hold 2A ballistic reticles throughout most of the Crossfire HD line. These are second-focal-plane scopes, so they will need to be zoomed to max magnification for the BDC reticles to be accurate. With known bullet drop and accurate range info, hitting a target at distance can be as simple as putting the appropriate aiming point on the vitals and pulling the trigger.
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Illuminated (Photo courtesy of David Draper) Most models also offer an illuminated reticle option, with six brightness settings that can be toggled through via a graduated dial on the left side of the scope. I found this dial, which sits beside the parallax knob, a bit bulky, but its size does make it easier to engage while wearing gloves. The detents are positive with off settings between each brightness setting. At full brightness, the red dot at the center of the reticle is visible in full, mid-day sunlight.
The budget price of the Vortex Crossfire HD riflescope does require some cost cutting. Most notable is the 1-inch tube, which is becoming a rare feature in modern scopes, most of which are 30mm if not larger. (The Crossfire HD is available with 30mm tubes in the 1-4x24 and 6-18x50 models.)
(Photo courtesy of David Draper) The smaller tube does limit some light transmission and reticle travel, though maximum windage and elevation adjustments range between 70 and 130 MOA depending on the model. All adjustments are ¼ MOA, the industry standard for hunting scopes.
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Mounting dimensions are ample, with plenty of room between the turrets and bells to accommodate nearly any base/ring option on the market. This is worth noting, as most modern scopes have shrunk these measurements with pic-rail bases becoming nearly standard issue at this point. Eye relief is also surprisingly ample, measuring a Vortex-reported 3.8 inches across the line. The exception to that is the 1.5-5.5x32 Scout model, which offers plenty of eye relief to mount the scope in a forward, scout-style position.
Quality Optic, Reasonable Price (Photo courtesy of David Draper) Shopping for a new riflescope can be a budget-busting experience, but it doesn’t have to be. There are still a few manufacturers willing to bring quality optics to market at a fair price. They may not have all the bells and whistles, but I’d bet there are a lot of hunters out there who would rather have a simple scope that performs than sacrifice groceries to get a high-dollar scope that’s more optic than they really need. For that group of hunters, the new, inexpensive Vortex Crossfire HD line of riflescopes is worth considering.
(Photo courtesy of David Draper)
David Draper
Editor-in-Chief
An avid hunter and accomplished writer, David Draper has traveled the globe in search of good stories and good food, yet his roots remain firmly planted in the soil of his family's farm on the High Plains of Nebraska. As a young man, his dreams were fueled by daily trips to the original Cabela's retail store, which stood a short four blocks from his childhood home. The ensuing years spent chasing his passions for adventure and the outdoors have taken him from the shores of Africa's Gambia River to Alaska's Brooks Range. He has hunted birds and big-game on five of the seven continents.
A 20-year industry veteran, Draper has worked in communications, writing and editing roles for the biggest names in the industry. In addition to bylines in scores of publications, he also served as the editor for the hunting journals of Dick and Mary Cabela and contributed to several books on the outdoors. Draper is Editor-in-Chief of Petersen's Hunting magazine, where he also writes the Fare Game column covering all aspects of processing and cooking wild game.
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