Back in August, I introduced and discussed Vortex’s new affordable Crossfire riflescope and the new line. Now, after a few months of using the 3-9×40, including spending a few days afield during gun season in Ohio, here are some takewaways. First, a few basics and reminders about the new Crossfire HD line.
The Crossfire HD’s predecessor, the Crossfire II, has been a staple on many hunters’ rifles for a decade. The budget-friendly line from Vortex offered great value and a wide range of options. During my 13 years working behind the counter, I’ve mounted hundreds of them on everything from ARs to bolt guns, .22s, and even a .50 BMG (yes, that really happened).
However, ten years in the optics world is a long time. Technology keeps advancing, so companies must regularly update and refresh their product lines—that’s where the new Crossfire HD comes in.
Crossfire HD SPECS
The specs on the second focal plane 3-9×40 model are exactly what you’d expect from a budget hunting optic. Some features include an HD optical system, anti-glare coatings, and a fast-focus eyepiece. It’s waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof. The rest of the specs are as follows:
- Magnification: 3-9
- Objective Lens Diameter: 40mm
- Reticle: Dead-Hold BDC (Bullet Drop Compensating)
- Focal Plane: Second
- Eye Relief: 3.8” (at 9x)
- Field of View: 37.2’ at 3x, 12.4’ at 9x (100 yards)
- Tube Diameter: 1”
- Turret Adjustment: ¼ MOA (minute of angle)
- Parallax Setting: 100 Yards
- Length: 12.5”
- Weight: 16.2 ounces
Build
As an Ohio hunter, there’s no better test for an optic than how it performs on a 450 Bushmaster. For those unfamiliar, Ohio—like many other Midwestern states—imposes cartridge restrictions for deer hunting. In this case, cartridges must have a straight wall and larger than .355 inches in diameter—hence the popularity of 450 Bushmaster. And for those who have never shot one, let’s just say, it’s a bunch at both ends.
For this season, I used a 450 Bushmaster upper from Bear Creek Arsenal. This is a side-charging model with a 16-inch barrel. I paired it with an Aero Precision lower that I built using extra parts. Overall, it turned out to be a nice package.
This was my first experience with Bear Creek Arsenal, so I had modest expectations (spoiler: it shot great and for around $200, it’s an excellent value). In keeping with my budget-minded approach, I mounted the Crossfire HD on a Warne Vapor MSR mount. Overall, it made for a pretty awesome deer rifle for a reasonable price.
At the Range
Once assembled and the optic was mounted, I headed out to the range. There, I started with a basic sight-in at 50 yards, which only took a couple of shots. The recoil was very manageable—obviously stouter than something like 5.56 or 6.5 Creedmoor—it’s more akin to a 20 gauge slug.
I then moved out to 100 yards, completed the sight-in and tested various loads from Hornady and Steinel. After firing around 50 rounds (my shoulder can only take so much), the Vortex held its zero, and all adjustments stayed consistent. It was really cold—like freezing—when I was sighting in and I had no fogging issues at all.
In the Field
It was equally cold, if not colder, during my days in the field during gun week. While I didn’t have any luck harvesting a deer, I was pleasantly surprised with the Crossfire’s performance.
I was in an elevated blind that week and used the scope rather than binoculars to scan and observe. In this effort, I thought the optic was perfectly capable. Again, distances were no more than a few hundred yards in any direction. This is Ohio, remember. So in that limited setting, the Crossfire HD did the job well.
For under $200, the Vortex Crossfire HD 3-9×40 is a perfectly capable optic when used within its means. Would I take this on a Rocky Mountain elk or a sheep hunt? No. Would I use it in a PRS match? Absolutely not. But that’s what this optic is designed for.
The Crossfire HD 3-9×40 optic is made for rugged use by blue collar hunters who might toss it in the back of a truck or side-by-side or drop it from a tree stand. It will still function reliably. I think Vortex particularly excels in durability with this model. It’s aimed at deer hunters and those who want performance without breaking the bank.
Again, this isn’t a perfect optic, but rather one designed for a specific price range and use case. One downside is that I’m not a fan of BDC reticles, and the Dead-Hold BDC does nothing to change that opinion. I’d prefer a simple duplex reticle or an option with more precise holdover markings, such as ½- and full-MOA graduations.
Zooming Out
After months of use both at the range and in the field, the Vortex Crossfire HD 3-9×40 proved to be exactly what it’s meant to be: a durable, no-nonsense hunting optic that delivers solid performance for the money. It held zero on a hard-recoiling 450 Bushmaster, handled cold weather well, and provided clear glass for realistic Midwestern hunting distances.
While it’s not designed for extreme hunts or competitive shooting (and the BDC reticle may not be everyone’s favorite) it stays in its lane and does its job well. For blue-collar deer hunters seeking reliability, simplicity, and value under $200, the Crossfire HD makes a strong case.