Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8×24 LPVO Review [Real Lens Views]
If you’re in the market for an LPVO that doesn’t break the bank, chances are the Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8×24 Riflescope has crossed your radar.
At a fraction of the price of the Vortex Razor 1-10x, which will set you back $2500, the Strike Eagle promises a lot of bang for your buck – especially for those venturing into the world of first focal plane optics.
But how does it hold up? Is it all hype, or does it deliver on performance?
We spent some time with it on the range to help you decide. This is our honest, from-the-hip review if you’re just looking for a budget friendly optic or stepping into the LPVO world for the first time.
(Spoiler: it’s been a pretty sweet ride so far, with a few quirks along the way.)
We snapped plenty of shots to give you a clear look through the lens at every magnification. Keep reading to check them out.
Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8×24
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Important thing to note: The Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8×24 is available in both First Focal Plane (FFP) and Second Focal Plane (SFP) versions. For our review, we used the Second Focal Plane model, which means the reticle stays the same size across the zoom range. While the FFP version allows for easier use of holdovers at any magnification, the SFP model is still a solid, cost-effective option for most shooting situations.
SPECS & FEATURES
Specs
- Material: Aluminum
- Magnification: 1-8×24
- Reticle: AR-BDC3
- Weight: 17.6 oz.
- Length: 10″
- Eye Relief: 3.5″
- Field of View: 109′ – 14.4′ (@ 100yds)
- Tube Size: 30mm
- Turret Style: Low Capped
Features
- Capped Turrets
- Throw Lever
- Illuminated Reticle
BUILD QUALITY
First Impressions: Right out of the box, the build quality seems good. Nothing feels cheap or fragile. The body is sturdy anodized aluminum with a nice matte finish.
Vortex even included some extras – a flip-up lens caps and a throw lever (thread-in style). The scope has some heft (around 1.1 pounds by my scale), but on my AR-10 it balances well and doesn’t make the rifle feel unwieldy.
In hand, everything from the turret caps to the magnification ring exudes a “ready for action” vibe.
Durability & Finish: Over a few range sessions, the scope has taken some bumps (once when I knocked my rifle over) and it held up without a scratch or shift in zero.
The finish is durable and hasn’t chipped or scuffed from regular use. I haven’t torture-tested it, but given Vortex’s reputation and the build I see, I’m confident it can handle typical field abuse.
It’s rated waterproof and fogproof; while I didn’t get caught in rain yet, a cold morning range trip showed no internal fogging. Overall, build quality gets a thumbs up. It feels like a scope that can accompany you through courses, hunts, or weekend plinking for years.
MOUNT & CONTROLS
Mounting Up: I mounted the Strike Eagle on my AR-10 upper using a one-piece cantilever mount. The machined aluminum mount is definitely rugged. 4 screws keep the mount securely attached to the rail and the scope clamps keep the tube locked down tight.
Vortex Sport Cantilever 30mm AR Mount w/ 2″ Offset ‒ CM-202
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Getting the eye relief right was straightforward – the scope gives about 3.5 inches of eye relief, which was forgiving enough that I didn’t have to hug the stock awkwardly.
Once I found the sweet spot, I tightened it down and headed to the range. At a starting range of 25 yards, I had it roughly zeroed in after about 8 rounds.
The capped turrets do not require any tools to adjust, they can easily be adjusted by hand. After zeroing about 40 rounds in, everything stayed put; so far, it’s holding zero perfectly through a couple hundred rounds of 6.5 Creedmoor.
I even removed the optic once and re-mounted it, and my zero was still nearly dead-on (always re-check, but it was close).
Controls & Turrets: The magnification ring has just the right stiffness – it’s not loose enough to accidentally bump out of zoom, but with the included throw lever installed, it’s a quick flick to go from 1x to 8x. Big plus for Vortex including it.
The turret caps unscrew to reveal low-profile adjustment dials. They’re clearly marked in 1/2 MOA increments. The clicks are audible and tactile; I had no trouble counting clicks by feel while zeroing.
One thing to note: these turrets aren’t the fancy locking or exposed target turrets – they’re meant to be set-and-forget for the most part, which suits the LPVO’s intended use. After zeroing, I just screwed the caps back on and don’t expect to touch them much unless I change my zero.
More from CAT Outdoors: Best AR-15s, Best 1911 Pistols, Best AR-15 Red Dots
Illumination Dial: The Strike Eagle features an illuminated reticle with a rotary dial on the left side. It has multiple brightness settings (mine has 11 settings marked, with the highest for daylight use…in theory). The dial is snug and clicks firmly into each setting.
There are no “off” stops between brightness levels, so you have to rotate all the way to the 0/off position to turn it off. And there’s no auto-off timer – if you forget to turn it off, the battery will keep draining. (Ask me how I know…)
This isn’t a deal-breaker, but it’s something to get used to. On the bright side, the battery (a common CR2032) is easy to replace and the compartment is in the illumination knob – simple to access. The lack of auto-off just means developing the habit of checking that dial before you stash your rifle.
The illumination knob’s placement is convenient and it’s stiff enough that it won’t accidentally turn on in your bag. I’d call the controls overall well thought-out with that one caveat about no auto-shutoff.
Minor gripe aside, everything does what it’s supposed to do without hassle.
RETICLE & OPTICS CLARITY
Reticle Design: The Strike Eagle 1-8x uses Vortex’s AR-BDC reticle (in First Focal Plane). In plain English, it’s got a simple crosshair with a floating center dot, surrounded by a big circle (the famed “donut of death”) and small hash marks for bullet drop compensation.
At 1x, that big outer circle acts like a helpful ring to quickly center your target – it’s like having a red dot with a halo for up-close shots. The center dot and crosshair are fine enough for more precise aiming when you dial up the magnification.
There are BDC (Bullet Drop Compensator) hash marks below the crosshair intended for holds at various distances (out to 500-600 yards with common .308 loads). I haven’t personally stretched the Strike Eagle past 200 yards yet, so I can’t vouch for the exact BDC accuracy at long range. But for 100 yards and in, the reticle has been intuitive.
The subtensions (the little marks) are handy if you know your drop or if you’re using the scope for something like a 50/200 yard battle zero. Just remember: if you are using a first focal plane scope, those BDC holdovers are accurate at all magnifications.
Etched & Illuminated: The reticle is glass-etched, meaning even with illumination off (or a dead battery…) you have a standard black reticle visible at all times. The illumination illuminates the center dot and partial surrounding elements in red.
Is it daylight bright? In my experience, not really – on a bright sunny day, even the max setting just gives a faint glow.
But the reticle’s black etching has decent contrast on its own against most targets, so I rarely feel handicapped. Where the illumination shines (pun intended) is in low light or when shooting from a dark area into a shadowy target. In those cases, a medium brightness setting makes the reticle pop nicely. Indoors or at dusk, I actually dial it down to avoid a blooming effect.
The illumination is a nice feature, but if you’re expecting a red-dot-like brightness in midday sun, you’ll be a bit disappointed. That’s a common reality for many budget LPVOs, and the Strike Eagle is no exception.
Clarity and Glass Quality: Here’s where the Strike Eagle really surprised me: the glass clarity is quite good for a ~$400 scope.
Looking through it at 1x, the image is clear and bright. Colors appear true and I didn’t notice any annoying tint. There is a slight distortion or “fisheye” effect at the extreme edges when at 1x – basically the outer rim of your sight picture can look a tad blurry or warped.
However, this effect is minimal when you’re actually aiming and both eyes are open; I hardly notice it in practice. (It shows up more obviously if you’re taking a photo through the scope – my camera makes the edge blur look worse than my eye perceives it.)
As you crank up the magnification, the field of view narrows (understandably), but the center of the image stays crisp. At 8x, the clarity is still good, though I’d say it’s just short of razor-sharp.
Fine details at longer ranges (small bullet holes in paper at 100 yards, for example) are a little difficult to make out at 8x due to the limits of the resolution. The image gets slightly darker at full zoom as well – not unexpected, since it’s still a 24mm objective lens.
In comparison to high-end glass, the Strike Eagle won’t win a brightness or edge-to-edge clarity contest. But for my eyes, it delivered a clear enough picture to confidently engage targets.
I didn’t experience any hazing or internal reflections even when shooting toward a low sun.
Eye Relief and Eye Box: The eye relief (~3.5”) remains consistent across the zoom range, which is nice. The “eye box” (the range your eye can move and still get a full sight picture) is forgiving at 1x – I can shoot heads-up with both eyes open and not worry about perfect cheek weld. As I zoom in, the eye box naturally tightens up.
By 8x, you do need a good cheek weld and proper alignment, or you’ll start seeing black edges (scope shadow). This is normal behavior; I found the Strike Eagle’s eye box at high power to be fair – not outrageously tight, but you’ll know when you stray off-center. Overall, given its price point, I’m impressed with the optical quality.
It’s a case of “good enough for most uses” – you get the hits on target and a clear view of what you need, so I can’t ask for much more at this cost.
MAGNIFICATION WALKTHROUGH (1x to 8x)
One of the coolest parts of an LPVO is the ability to zoom from no magnification all the way up to 8x. I took a series of photos through the scope at each magnification level to see how the view changes. Below, I’ll walk you through what I saw from 1x up to 8x, with some commentary on each step.
(Note: any blur or distortion you see in the photos is a bit exaggerated compared to the real view – capturing through a lens is tricky!)
As you can see at low magnifications you get a wide, bright field of view perfect for quick target acquisition at 1x to 3x. The image stays clear and easy to shoot with both eyes open.
But as you crank up to 6x and 8x, the field of view narrows, and the eye box tightens up. While the 6x and 8x offer great detail for longer shots, the image isn’t as sharp at the edges and brightness takes a hit. In short, 1-3x is all about speed, while 6-8x delivers precision at the cost of a slightly tighter sight picture.
CRITIQUES & CONSIDERATIONS
What I Liked:
- Versatility & Value: You get a true 1x for close quarters and up to 8x for stretching distance—all in one optic that typically comes in around the $400 mark or less. For an optics newbie like me, it’s a ton of bang for the buck.
- Solid Build: The scope feels rugged. It’s held zero despite some mild abuse, and it comes with nice extras (throw lever, caps). Vortex’s legendary lifetime warranty also gives peace of mind (though I haven’t needed it).
- User-Friendly Features: Capped turrets that you can adjust with common tools, an included throw lever for quick magnification changes, and an intuitive reticle – all these made the learning curve easier for me. The eye relief is generous and consistent, which saved me from any “scope bite” and allows flexible mounting.
- Low-Light Performance: The illuminated reticle on low settings works great at dawn/dusk or indoors. The glass brightness is sufficient for early morning range sessions – I wasn’t struggling to see when light was dim.
What Could Be Better:
- Edge Distortion at 1x: As noted, there’s a minor fishbowl effect at 1x around the edges. In use, it’s barely noticeable, but if you’re very sensitive to distortion or plan to use it like a pure red dot often, just be aware it exists (common in many LPVOs in this class).
- Clarity at 8x: While 8x is awesome to have, the image at max power isn’t as crisp as lower magnifications. Don’t expect Razor HD or Nightforce clarity here – at long range you might not be reading fine print, though you can hit man-size targets just fine. It’s a trade-off for the price point.
- Illumination Limitations: The reticle’s illumination is not daytime bright. In full sun, the red glow doesn’t stand out, effectively making it a black reticle (which is okay, just something to note). Also, the lack of an auto-off or intermediate off positions means you must manually turn the knob to off to save battery. If you’re forgetful (like me), keep spare batteries handy or set a reminder to check it.
- Eyebox at High Zoom: As magnification increases, the eyebox tightens up. By 7-8x, you need a pretty steady position behind the scope. This is normal, but if you anticipate a lot of improvised or awkward shooting positions at high mag, a higher-end scope might give a bit more leeway. For most standard shooting stances, it’s perfectly manageable, just not foolproof.
- Weight vs. Red Dot: This isn’t a knock on the Strike Eagle alone, but LPVOs add weight compared to a simple red dot or holo sight. With the mount, you’re adding around 1.5 pounds to your rifle. For me, the capability trade-off is worth it, but if you’re going for an ultralight build, keep that in mind. The Strike Eagle is about average weight for its class, but you will feel the difference if you’re coming from an Aimpoint Micro or similar.
Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8×24
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Why Trust CAT Outdoors?
At the helm of this review was CAT Outdoors Creative Director, Bradley Lanphear. Brad has been shooting guns since he was a young boy but really began to dive into firearms after joining the CAT Outdoors team. Brad is a professional cinematographer by trade, having worked on dozens of documentary, commercial and movie sets. Brad personally tested this scope in the field providing key insights into our review.
This article was also edited by Justin Trump, head honcho of CAT Outdoors. He is a Glock-certified armorer with years of hands-on experience tuning, testing, and tearing down various firearms. He holds two patents for AR-15 cleaning tools, and has written extensively on firearms and gear trusted by law enforcement, military, and civilian shooters alike. He helped Bradley evaluate the reliability, shootability, and performance of this scope.
This article was also reviewed and contributed to by Jeff Burns, a best-selling author and subject matter expert with over 20 years of experience in close protection and covert operations across both government and private sectors. Jeff is Board Certified in Dignitary & Executive Protection (CDEP) by the American Board for Certification in Homeland Security and holds a Certified Master Anti-Terrorism Specialist (CMAS) designation from the Anti-Terrorism Accreditation Board.
He’s trained in Advanced Urban Warfare, Special Operations, and Hostage Rescue for Hostile Environments, and is qualified to U.S. Department of State WPS2 standards. In addition to his operational experience, Jeff holds multiple firearms instructor and armorer certifications. His review helps ensure this guide reflects not just technical know-how, but real-world insight from high-risk environments.
FINAL THOUGHTS on the Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8×24
Coming from a limited optics background, the Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8×24 has been a fantastic introduction to the LPVO world. It took my AR-10 from a close-range-only setup to a more versatile system capable of engaging targets from 5 yards out to a few hundred yards with ease.
The user experience has been overwhelmingly positive – it’s easy to use, forgiving for newcomers, and packed with features that make shooting more fun (who doesn’t like zooming in on distant targets and hearing that steel ping?).
Is it the perfect scope? No, but for the money, it’s hard to beat. The few shortcomings like the edge blur at 1x and the not-quite-daylight-bright reticle are things I quickly adapted to or only noticed when I went looking for problems.
In practical use, the Strike Eagle has delivered. I learned how to zero it without a hitch, and it’s stayed zeroed. I’ve run the illumination on and I’ve run it off, and I’ve come to appreciate that big bold reticle in many scenarios.
Will I continue using it? Absolutely. For my current needs – which are mainly recreational shooting, drills, and maybe a carbine class in the future – the Strike Eagle 1-8x hits the sweet spot. It gives me confidence that if I pop it up to 8x, I can take a longer shot accurately, and if I drop to 1x, I can handle things up close quickly. I don’t feel any urgent need to upgrade to a pricier optic at this stage, because this one hasn’t held me back.
Down the line, as I gain more experience (and if my budget grows), I might get tempted by higher-end glass or a fancy first focal plane LPVO. But that would be a want, not a need – the Strike Eagle is doing everything I ask of it.
In summary, the Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8×24 has proven itself as a reliable, newbie-friendly, and capable LPVO that earned its spot on my rifle. It’s staying there for the foreseeable future, and I’m excited to keep using it to sharpen my skills. If you’re LPVO-curious or just want one optic to rule them all (at least from 0 to 300+ yards), the Strike Eagle is a strong contender that’s likely to stick around in my arsenal.
For even more riflescope reviews, check out the Best AR-15 LPVOs.
