Are you unsure about the right scope for your AR-15 rifle? Don’t worry! By the time you finish reading this article, you’ll have a clear understanding of the best scopes for AR-15.
The AR-15 stands out as a highly considered rifle in the United States, owing to its dependable performance and remarkable adaptability. However, achieving peak performance with an AR-15 depends on the crucial decision of selecting the appropriate riflescope, a task that can be quite troublesome given the abundance of choices in the market.
Many times you will find yourself asking, “What is the best scope for my AR-15?” Well, it all depends on what you’re looking for. The most crucial question would be: What’s your intended use?
Whether you’re an established shooter or just starting, selecting the perfect scope can significantly influence your shooting endeavors. We will consider aspects such as magnification, purpose, reticle style, objective lens size, tube diameter, and durability to assist you in identifying the most suitable scope for your needs.
First of all, let’s have a look at;
Magnification
Rifle scopes come in various designs tailored to enhance your view of a target, allowing you to observe it effectively from different distances. The degree of magnification required depends on the range you are dealing with. When aiming at close-range targets, minimal or no magnification is preferable, while distant targets necessitate a higher level of magnification.
When considering magnification options for scopes, they generally fall into two categories:
fixed magnification and variable magnification.
Fixed magnification scopes offer a constant level of zoom that cannot be adjusted while variable magnification scopes provide the flexibility to change the level of zoom within a predefined range. For example, a 6-12× scope allows you to adjust the magnification anywhere between 6x and 12x as needed.
However, when we’re talking about close encounters, if you’re a law enforcement officer or prefer the classic hunting style, a variable scope might be your choice. With this type of scope, you can adjust the magnification, allowing you to get a clear shot even if the target is really close. And if you happen to miss, you can still use the scope as the target moves away.
Now, considering your intended use of the scope, shooting ranges are classified into 3;
Close-range shooting (0-100yards)
When you’re shooting at close distances e.g. for home defense, close-quarters combat, or emergency situations you don’t need a big scope. A scope with a low level of magnification, like 1x-4x (20-24mm diameter) works great. A good option for shooting up close is a red dot sight.
Medium-range shooting (100-500yards)
A scope with a diameter of around 30-40mm and a magnification of 4x-12x is recommended. This type of scope is suitable for targets between 100-300 yards away. It is the most commonly used.
Long Range shooting (500+ yards)
For long-range shooting, a scope with a diameter of 40-50mm and a magnification of 6x-24x is ideal. A long-range scope can provide extreme magnification up to 40x or more for targets far afield and tend to be fairly heavy and on the expensive side. It is mostly used for bench shooting.
Crucial factors to consider when choosing the best scopes for AR-15
Glass clarity
When seeking precision, it’s essential for the image quality to remain consistent when you increase the magnification on your scope. However, you can’t assess the clarity of the glass until you peer through the scope, but here are specific qualities that lead to better glass clarity;
ED glass- a type of lens that gets rid of color distortions and keeps the colors in an image looking accurate. It enhances the sharpness and contrast of the image, especially when you’re using maximum magnification.
Lens coatings-protect the glass, maintain clarity, and reduce reflections
Multicoated Optics- The scope should provide clear and crisp images to help the shooter identify targets and make accurate shots.
Field of view– The wider field of view the more targets you acquire.
Objective lens– a larger objective lens allows for a wider field of view as well as a brighter image since a bigger lens allows more light to travel through it. Nevertheless, as you increase the size of the objective lens, the size and weight of the scope increase. You want to ensure that you find a balance for what you need.
Reticle(crosshairs)– This is what you use to aim to your scope. A reticle should be easy to see and allow for quick and accurate aiming. Some reticles use a circle, a chevron, a dot, or a series of lines, it all depends on the scope. Different styles of reticles are better suited for different purposes.
Eye relief– this is the distance between the end of your scope and your eye. You’ll want to make sure that you get a scope with enough eye relief so that you’re not hitting yourself in the eye with the recoil from your rifle
Windage and elevation-The scope should be easily adjustable allowing the shooter to compensate for bullet drop and wind drift.
Durability– A rifle scope should be durable enough to hold a zero through recoil and general wear and tear.
Before we dive into the different scopes in the market, I want to briefly take you through the several types of rifle scopes;
Variable Scopes:
These allow you to adjust the magnification level, making them versatile for various distances. They use a larger objective lens for better long-range visibility but are bulkier and heavier.
LPVO (Low-Powered Variable Optic)
LPVOs are designed for close and mid-range shooting. They offer minimal magnification at the lower end (1x or 1.55x) and can go up to 10x. They often feature an illuminated reticle for better visibility at close range and are suitable for tactical applications, hunting, and competitive shooting.
Night Optics
Night optics come in two main types – night vision and thermal.
Night vision amplifies existing ambient light enabling you to see in low-light conditions. It provides images in hues of green and white depending on the lighting conditions.
Thermal optics, on the other hand, detect heat signatures. Hotter objects appear brighter and colder objects appear darker.
These scopes capture infrared light, which cannot be detected by the human eye, so it’ll work in daylight and absolute darkness.
Prism Optics
Prism optics are versatile and rugged with simple controls. They have fixed magnification, so you can’t adjust. However, they often feature an illuminated reticle and are low-profile. These scopes are a jack-of-all-trades but don’t offer variable magnification.
In this guide, we want to introduce you to various types of scopes and talk about how they’re good for specific shooting tasks.
We’ll also discuss their strengths and limitations. The idea is to help you find a scope that fits your needs, whether for long-range shooting, close-range, or hunting.
Once you know the type of scope you need, you can then compare different models within that category to find the best one for you.
Let’s get into it!
10 Best Scopes for AR-15
Vortex Optics Razor HD Gen III 1-10x First Focal Plane Riflescopes (Best Scope for AR-15)
The Vortex Razor HD Gen 3 1-10x rifle scope stands out as the best scopes for AR-15. Its magnification range is well-suited for shooting at various distances, making it adaptable for both close and moderate-range shooting.
At the lowest setting of 1x, it functions almost like a red dot sight, allowing for rapid target engagement at close range. While there’s still a need to consider eye relief, it’s nearly as fast as a traditional red dot sight for hitting targets.
As you increase the magnification, it goes all the way up to 10x, which is excellent for reaching out to targets at longer distances. The maximum magnification of 10x comfortably covers the typical 500-yard intermediate rifle range and can even be pushed further with the right skills and caliber.
Vortex provides MOA and MRAD reticle options, making it compatible with various calibers and rifle actions. The scope uses a “Christmas tree” reticle, which, while not as straightforward as a basic crosshair, is incredibly useful once you get the hang of it.
This scope impresses with its solid build, crystal clear glass, and vivid image quality, making shooting with it feel like watching an HD TV for the first time. Targets appear bright and distinct, and colors are easily distinguishable.
Pros
- Great reticle
- Crystal clear glass
- Versatile magnification range
- Durable
Cons
- It’s quite costly
Vortex Optics Spitfire 3x Prism Scope (Best Prism Scope)
The Spitfire 3x Prism Scope is designed for quick and precise shooting in close to medium-range situations. Its unique prism-based design keeps it compact without sacrificing optical quality.
The scope has fully multi-coated lenses with anti-reflective coatings, which means you can see clearly even in low-light conditions. The lenses are bright and clear with a wide field of view.
Plus, it has a red/green illuminated reticle with five brightness levels to match different lighting situations. The reticle is etched directly onto the prism, so you always have a clear point of aim, even if the illumination isn’t on.
Adjusting the focus is easy with the fast-focus eyepiece.
The Spitfire is built tough, so it can handle recoil and impacts without a problem. It’s also fogproof and waterproof, thanks to nitrogen purging and o-ring seals. In summary, this is why is it really a better option;
Pros
- Fast focus eyepiece
- Amazing reticle
- Short-to-medium range magnification
Cons
- Eye relief can be tight
- Here is a suggestion to correct it; remove the flip-ups and move the scope a bit further back on your rail.
Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25x56mm M5C3 FFP Side Focus Riflescope (Best Long Range)
The Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25x56mm riflescope is an excellent choice for long-range shooting.
It comes with a versatile reticle in the front focal plane, meaning the reticle’s size adjusts as you zoom in or out, allowing you to estimate range accurately at any magnification setting. Its fast-focus eyepiece quickly brings the reticle into focus for fast target acquisition.
This scope is built tough, being 100% waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof, ensuring durability even in challenging conditions. This scope is incredibly durable and lighter than other scopes
Additionally, the Twilight Max HD Light Management system enhances your shooting experience, providing up to 30 extra minutes of shooting light, exceptional glare reduction, and crystal-clear lens clarity from edge to edge.
The lenses are scratch-resistant for extra protection.
Its glass offers a crisp, clear image from edge to edge.
The Leupold Mark 5HD’s elevation and M5C3 windage turrets are exceptional. You can make three full revolutions of adjustments, and the 1/10 MIL clicks are both easy to feel and hear, with sharp and distinct clicks.
Pros
- Crystal clear glass
- Superior low-light visibility
- It’s lightweight
- Waterproof, shockproof, fog-proof
Cons
- Costly
Athlon Optics Argos BTR GEN2 6-24X50 First Focal Plane Riflescope
The ATHLON ARGOS BTR 6-24×50 rifle scope is an exceptional choice for those seeking precision without breaking the bank. It stands out in its price range with remarkable brightness, clarity, and quality.
The glass offers clear and bright visuals, although it may lose a bit of crispness at higher magnifications (18x-24x). Nevertheless, considering its affordability, the glass quality surpasses expectations.
This scope boasts a first focal plane, etched and illuminated reticle. A first focal plane design lets you utilize reticles that adjust in size with your target as you zoom in or out.
The illuminated reticle enhances visibility in low-light conditions, such as dusk and dawn. Lastly, the etched glass ensures usability even if the battery runs out.
Its fully multicoated lens minimizes reflections, delivering a brighter image. With XPL lens coating for protection against dirt and harsh weather, O-ring sealing, and nitrogen purging, this scope remains waterproof, shockproof, and fogproof.
Its 6x-24x magnification makes it versatile for various shooting activities, be it hunting, target shooting, or long-range precision shots.
Pros
- Inexpensive with remarkable quality and clarity
- Wide range of magnification
- Durable
Cons
- Tendency to lose a bit of crispness at higher magnifications
Vortex Optics Viper PST Gen II 1-6×24 Second Focal Plane Riflescope
This one is a top choice if you want a scope with great clarity and a reticle that stays visible even in daylight. It’s super flexible and perfect for shooting at shorter to medium distances.
The glass quality is fantastic, the turret adjustments are easy to hear and accurate, and it has 10 brightness settings so that you can use it in various lighting conditions.
The turrets are tall and uncapped. This makes the range calculation and shooting adjustments faster and smoother. They also make an audible clicking sound when adjusted.
With a magnification range of 1-6x, it’s perfect for shooting at those closer to medium ranges. Plus, it gives you a wide view, making it easy to spot and aim at your targets quickly.
You can adjust the reticle’s illumination to match the lighting around you, and the reticle stays the same size no matter how much you zoom in.
This scope has a hard, anodized finish, making it durable. It also has a low-glare matte finish, which is great for camouflaging your firearm’s position.
Pros
- Ultra-hard and scratch-resistant coating for lens protection and shielding from scratches, oil, and dirt.
- Generous eye relief- you clearly see objects up close and can zoom right in on far targets.
- Waterproof and fog-proof performance
- Fast Focus Eyepiece for quick and easy reticle focusing
Cons
- The magnification ring is a bit stiff. Get a throw lever to fix this.
Vortex Optics Strike Eagle 1-6×24 Second Focal Plane Riflescope
This Riflescope is a highly versatile optic suitable for various shooting scenarios. It offers a true 1x magnification at the lowest setting, making it perfect for rapid target engagement, whether it’s point-blank or at extended ranges.
The scope includes convenient features like a thread-in throw lever on the magnification ring and visible magnification indicators.
Additionally, it boasts an illuminated BDC3 reticle that aids in quick target acquisition and allows for holdovers which makes it effective out to 650 yards for known-distance targets. It has impressive glass quality, the reticle’s fast target acquisition is insane, the magnification is balanced, and it’s super durable.
Optical performance is a strong suit of this scope, delivering clear and crisp images with minimal distortion thanks to its high-quality and multi-coated optics.
The rugged and durable construction of the scope ensures it can withstand rough weather conditions and the recoil of the AR-15.
Pros
- Illuminated BDC3 Reticle that offers fast target acquisition
- Fully Multi-Coated optics
- Shockproof, waterproof, and fogproof
- Super durable
Cons
- Its glass clarity does not match XD Glass found in more expensive Vortex models like Viper PST
Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x50mm Riflescope (Best Leupold Scope)
This is a high-quality hunting scope with relentless performance on the field.
The glass is bright and clear. Its Twilight Light Management System ensures you get perfect clarity at dusk and dawn.
It has a duplex second focal plane reticle thus the reticle size remains the same even if you dial the magnification down or up.
Leupold VX-Freedom has an eye relief of 4.2-3.7 inches and with its large eye box, you won’t have to be perfectly lined up to get a good field of view.
It is highly durable due to its aircraft-grade aluminum and O-ring-sealed construction. The Leupold VX-Freedom is fully shockproof, fog-proof, and waterproof, giving you nothing but amazing performance on the field under any conditions.
This riflescope has a newly redesigned ergonomic power selector which makes it easier to manipulate it in wet rain, and cold snow regardless of having gloves on.
The elevation and windage turrets are pretty durable. The clicks are not as audible as other scopes. Some shooters may miss that satisfying sound though most are satisfied with its overall performance and do not mind the silent adjustments.
Pros
- Crystal Clear glass
- Fairly priced
- Waterproof, fog-proof, and shockproof build
Cons
- Clicks may not be as audible as other Leupold scopes
Vortex Optics Crossfire II 2-7×32 Scout, Second Focal Plane, 1-inch Tube Riflescope – V-Plex Reticle
The Vortex Optics Crossfire II 2-7×32 Scout riflescope is designed for scout rifles.
It comes with a versatile V-Plex reticle set in the second focal plane that’s great for hunting. This means you can increase or decrease magnification without changing the reticle’s size, therefore not obstructing your target’s view.
It offers a generous 9.45 inches of eye relief and an ultra-forgiving eye box, making it quick and easy to aim and target. You need to have a long eye relief with a scout rifle so that you acquire accuracy and quick reloading capability.
The fast-focus eyepiece allows you to adjust the reticle easily.
The scope has anti-reflective, fully multi-coated lenses that provide clear and bright views.
You can make finger-adjustable turret changes with MOA clicks, and they can be reset to zero after sighting in.
This riflescope is built tough with a single-piece aircraft-grade aluminum tube, ensuring durability and shockproof performance. It’s also waterproof and fogproof due to O-ring sealing and nitrogen purging, making it reliable in various weather conditions.
Pros
- Quality glass
- Long eye-relief distance
- Waterproof, fog-proof, and shockproof build
Cons
- Sometimes light transmission might be poor under low-light conditions
Primary Arms SLX 1-6x24mm SFP Illuminated ACSS Gen III Riflescope (Best Budget)
The Primary Arms SLX 1-6x24mm Riflescope is a versatile scope with a magnification range from 1x to 6x. It is a great addition to any shooter’s weapon. It’s well-suited for hunting, range shooting, and anything else.
It uses the ACSS Predator Hunting reticle, which combines features like bullet drop compensation (BDC), wind holds, moving target leads, and range estimation in an easy-to-use system.
This reticle makes it easy to aim accurately, especially for coyotes, pigs, and similar-sized animals, thanks to its auto-ranging based on a 10-inch circle.
The scope also has red illumination with adjustable brightness settings, all powered by a common CR2032 battery.
The glass clarity is good, with no tints or hues, and fully multi-coated lenses for maximized light transmission. The glass clarity on this scope could easily compete with more expensive scopes.
The field of view is tighter than most other LPVOs.
The eye relief on this scope is at 3.3-3.5 inches.
It’s built tough with IP67 waterproofing and fog resistance, with a durable 6063 aluminum body with a matte black anodized finish.
Pros
- ACSS Predator reticle
- Fully multi-coated lenses
- Good glass quality despite its low price.
- Great budget optic
Cons
- Eye relief might not be as forgiving as other scopes
Burris Scout Scope, Compact and Slim Optic with Medium Magnification-best eye relief
The Burris Scout Scope is our last choice in our list of best scopes for AR-15. It is specifically crafted for scout rifles, prioritizing extended eye relief. Being a scout scope, it’s meant to be mounted forward of the receiver, this is what we call a forward mounting design.
It ensures a significant distance between your eye and the eyepiece and allows you to keep both eyes open while aiming, making it easier to spot targets quickly and stay aware of your surroundings.
The Burris Scout Scope can be a great choice for hunters because it has a special reticle called Ballistic Plex, which helps you aim accurately when shooting at different distances. It can zoom in and out, making it easier to hit targets that are far away.
The scope provides a generous 9.2 to 12 in. of eye relief.
With a variable magnification range and a 32mm objective lens, this scope allows you to adjust the magnification anywhere from 2x-7x. It delivers exceptional clarity for short to medium-range distances.
The 32mm objective lens helps in capturing ample light, essential in a Scout Scope.
This scope is compact and lightweight so it won’t make your gun hard to carry. It’s tough too, resistant to fog, water, and shocks.
With multi-coated lenses, you’ll also get a clear view through the scope.
Pros
- Awesome magnification range
- Extended eye relief
- Forward mounting design
Cons
- It weighs 13 ounces. This could make the rifle feel a bit heavier with the optic forward mounted.
Summary
In conclusion, selecting the best scopes for AR-15 rifle involves considering several critical factors, primarily dictated by your intended use.
Choosing the right rifle scope can be tricky because there are so many options with different levels of magnification, sizes, reticle types, eye reliefs, and turret designs. If you try to find one scope that does everything, you might run into problems. For example, a scope that’s great for shooting targets far away might not work well in close-quarters combat or low-light conditions.
The choice of magnification, for instance, should align with the shooting range you anticipate, whether it’s close-range, medium-range, or long-range.
A clear understanding of your needs will help you determine whether you should opt for fixed magnification or variable magnification scopes, each offering its own advantages for different scenarios.
Additionally, factors like glass clarity, lens coatings, reticle style, eye relief, windage, elevation adjustments, and durability should not be overlooked when making your decision. These elements collectively contribute to the effectiveness and precision of your shooting experience.
Finally, keep in mind that there are various types of rifle scopes, from versatile variable scopes to specialized night optics and prism optics, each catering to specific requirements.
By carefully assessing your shooting objectives and considering these factors, you can confidently choose the ideal scope that enhances your AR-15’s performance and ensures accurate shots in any situation.