Vortex Crossfire II Review – 6-24×50 AO Dead-Hold BDC

If scopes were pickup trucks, this one’s the reliable half-ton: not flashy, but it hauls you through long days at the range and dusk sits in the deer woods without complaining.

The Vortex Crossfire II review you’re about to read is all field use and no fluff. We mounted the Crossfire II 6-24×50 AO Dead-Hold BDC on three rifles, put rounds downrange from 100 to 700 yards, and ran dusk-light glass checks to see if it truly belongs among the best budget rifle scopes under 500. Short version: it punches above price, tracks predictably for hunting and casual long-range, and carries Vortex’s VIP warranty like armor.

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Why the Vortex Crossfire II still matters

Under $500 is where most shooters actually shop. You want usable glass, trustworthy turrets, decent coatings, and a reticle that doesn’t turn into a Christmas tree. The Crossfire II 6-24×50 AO hits that brief: long magnification range, a simple Dead-Hold BDC for quick holds, and an adjustable objective for parallax focus on small targets. It won’t out-resolve mid-tier glass at 24x, but at 10–18x—where most of us live—it’s pleasantly clear and very usable.

For factory specs and manuals, see the
official Vortex Optics website.

Current pricing:

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Vortex Crossfire II 6-24×50 AO — Key Specs

Real-World Performance (range & field)

We ran this optic on: (1) a .308 bolt gun with a 20 MOA base; (2) a 6.5 CM hunting rig; and (3) a .223 trainer. Box-drill tracking returned to zero reliably. At 300–500 yards, the Vortex Crossfire II review notes were consistent: bright enough in daylight, edge blur increases past ~20x, and the eye box tightens at max power. Translation—use 10–18x for best clarity, bump higher only for spotting or very small targets.

• Dusk test: Leupold VX-Freedom holds usable minutes longer, but the Crossfire II remains hunt-worthy at legal light.
• BDC holds: The Dead-Hold BDC remains fast and uncluttered. Confirm drops with your load; don’t trust generic hash labels.
• AO focus: Handy for rimfire to varmint distances where parallax errors show up quickly.

MOA vs MIL: why matching matters

Most budget scopes (including this one) are MOA/MOA: MOA turrets, MOA-based reticle. Keep it matched to avoid on-the-fly conversions. If you plan to grow into MIL/MIL, our primer below helps, and you can compare with an FFP budget option like the SIG WHISKEY4.

Deep dive: MOA vs MIL Rifle Scopes (Bark & Brass)

Mounting, setup & zero

• Rings/base: Quality 30 mm rings; torque ring caps ~15–18 in-lb (aluminum) or ~25 in-lb (steel). Base screws ~20–25 in-lb (check maker specs).
• Eye relief & level: Set on max power to minimize tunneling, level reticle to bore; confirm with plumb line.
• Zero: 100-yard zero for hunting; confirm dope every 50 yd beyond your typical shot distance.
• BDC sanity check: True the BDC to your ammo velocity, atmospherics, and sight height; mark your own dope card.

Who should buy the Crossfire II 6-24×50 AO?

If you’re building a budget long-range trainer, a varmint rifle, or a do-everything hunting setup on a sensible budget, this scope fits. If you demand zero-stop turrets, FFP scaling, or pristine edge-to-edge resolution at 24x, you’ll want to step up a tier.

Pros & Cons

✅ Pros Excellent value for 6–24× reach Dead-Hold BDC is fast and uncluttered AO parallax lets you sharpen small targets Tracks predictably for hunting/casual LR Durable build; waterproof, fogproof Backed by Vortex VIP Lifetime warranty

❌ Cons Edge clarity drops and eye box tightens above ~20× Capped turrets; no zero-stop SFP reticle subtensions change with magnification Heavier than some 4-12× hunting options Not a competition-grade turret system

FAQs

Is the Crossfire II good for long range? For the money, yes. Keep it in the 10–18× sweet spot for best clarity and track with your own dope.

Does it come in FFP? This model is SFP. If you need FFP under $500, look at options like SIG’s WHISKEY4.

Hunting at first/last light? It’s capable, but ultra-low light belongs to brighter glass. Use higher-transmission ammo/optic combos and keep magnification moderate at dusk.

Final verdict

This Vortex Crossfire II review ends where most shooters land: if you want real reach, predictable tracking, and a solid warranty without breaking $500, the 6-24×50 AO is easy to recommend. It’s not mid-tier magic, but it absolutely delivers honest value.

✅ Vortex Crossfire II 6-24×50 AO — See Today’s Price

Related reading

• MOA vs MIL Rifle Scopes (When to pick which)
• Vortex Diamondback Tactical 6-24×50 FFP Review
• Vortex Viper PST Gen II 5-25×50 Review