What are the best scopes for AR 15? Whether you are using your AR-15 rifle for hunting, in target shooting competitions, or combat, scopes can help you to target better. There are different types of scopes on the market. Their specifications vary in size, optics, magnification, and range among others.

This article will review four options for the best scope for AR 15 rifles and provide a detailed buying guide to help you choose which is the best rifle scope for you.

4 Best Scopes For AR 15

Best Overall: Trijicon Acog 4X32 Scope

Type: Fixed Power
Reticle Type: Red dot
Magnification: 4x
Objective lens diameter: 32mm
Distance: up to 500 yards
Dimensions: 8.5 x 8.5 x 5 inches
Weight: 2.2 pounds

This Trijicon Acog Scope is a red-dot, fixed power rifle scope suitable for medium-range engagement. It is one of the most used magnified optics in combat. In 1986, the U.S military adopted it as the preferred advanced optical gunsight. The intuitive features of the earlier models pioneered innovation in tactical optics.

It has a compact, high-quality design with a rugged exterior forged from 7075-T6 aircraft aluminum alloy, making it indestructible.

You can use it during the day and in low-light environments. It has a battery-free illumination design, and the reticle is illuminated with fiber and tritium gas and employs a mechanism that adjusts the rifle optic brightness according to the lighting conditions. It also allows for bullet compensation up to 800 meters. You can use it with both eyes open.

The magnification power and the fiber and tritium gas illumination mechanism work together to create a red chevron for quick target focusing within 300 yards. The reticle also features a bullet drop compensator that estimates range using stadia lines, and the bullet drop compensator is calibrated based on the bullet caliber, barrel length, grain weight, and maximum range. Therefore, determine if this rifle scope is compatible with your AR 15 rifle before buying it.

The objective glass is clear and delivers high-quality images without distortion or hue. It also ensures excellent light transmission making it suitable even in low light conditions. One of its downsides is that the eye box is unforgiving. Your eye has to be well-aligned to ensure accuracy and precision.

Pros

High quality
Battery-free illuminated reticle
Combat-proven
Super clear lens
Excellent precision within 500 yards

Cons

Prone to parallax
Some people find the design outdated

Best Budget: UTG 3 12X44 30mm Compact Scope

Type: Variable power
Reticle type: Mil-dot
Magnification: 3-12x
Objective lens diameter: 44mm
Distance: 10 yards to infinity
Dimensions: 14 x 3.75 x 2.75 inches
Weight: 1.45 pounds

If you are tight on budget and want a compact, easy-to-use, and reliable AR 15 scope, go for the UTG 3. As low as its price point is, it offers several functional features for precise targeting. The 30-millimeter SWAT 3-12X44 IE tactical scope has a low profile for easy carry and mounting.

The front lens is multi-emerald coated for maximum transmission. The exterior has a shockproof and waterproof construction, and the interior is filled with nitrogen and fully sealed.

One of its most outstanding features is the EZ-TAP Illumination Enhancing (IE) system built in the reticle. The 36-color EZ mil-dot reticle and red/green dual-color mode accommodate all lighting and weather conditions. This feature is particularly helpful for color blind shooters.

It also has a – click illumination memory feature that adjusts the scope’s settings to the last conditions it was used in. IE system design incorporates two control buttons for illumination control. The control buttons are ergonomically designed for a soft feel and easy reach.

The premium lockable and resettable turrets allow precise and consistent windage and elevation adjustment. It is lockable to protect the optic and ensure proper zeroing. The top wheel adjustment turret offers impressive parallax prevention starting at 10 yards and beyond, and the side wheel is easy to operate and provides quick adjustments. You can replace it with a bigger wheel for finer adjustments.

Other notable features include sunshade with flip-open lens and quick-detach Picatinny or Weaver scope ring. Its medium-profile, heavy-duty rings are easy to secure on the tactical rifle using quick-detach twist locks. The scope also has a 3.4”-3” eye relief. It is powered by a CR2032 3V battery.

Pros

Quite affordable
High-quality durable build
Numerous features
Suitable for both long and short-range
High precision
Quick focus targeting
Easy to mount and dismount

Cons

Some come with a faulty eye-focus ring

Best Value: Vortex Optics Razor HD Gen II-E1

Type: Variable Power
Reticle type: First focal plane
Magnification: 1-6x
Objective lens diameter: 24mm
Distance: 10 yards to infinity
Dimensions: 13.1 x 4.3 x 3 inches
Weight: 1.4 pounds

The Vortex Optics Razor HD Gen II-E1 is one of the best low-power variable rifle scopes on the market. At this price range, it offers as many features as high-end products in its category, and it is most suitable for short to medium-range tactical shooting and hunting.

It has a slim and compact design compatible with most AR 15 rifles. It offers massive magnification capabilities (1-6X) and provides excellent optical clarity. The magnification range allows for unmagnified focusing at close range.

It utilizes the first focal plane magnification mechanism with a wind and elevation hold grid feature when spotting at maximum power. The reticle has a highly visible red dot sight for quick target acquisition and close engagements. As you zoom in for higher magnifications, the distance and windage markings become more visible. They are calibrated in either Minutes of Angle (MOA) or Milliradians (Mils).

The interior optimizes friction reduction and heat-treated, hardened-steel pads float on the turret screws and erector tube preventing deformation or galling for enhanced durability. The erector tube is precision-machined. It is a premium brass alloy for durability, strength, and anti-galling properties.

The erector springs are made of chromium-vanadium to withstand compression. They also have a mirror finish for precision in elevation and windage adjustments. The exterior is made of aircraft-grade aluminum to ensure it is light yet durable, and the hard-anodized finish enhances durability and helps with camouflaging.

Its most unique feature is the range estimation ruler with stadia. It enables you to quickly range and engage targets at unknown distances between 300-600 yards. The reticle has 11 settings with a user-friendly operation mechanism. There is an “off” feature that lets you switch to your preferred setting fast.

The scope is fitted with adjustment turrets with caps that prevent adjustments. The optical glass is clear and ensures an unobstructed light transmission. Unlike most mid-range price variable power optics, this one has no distortions, even at high magnifications. However, there is minor edge distortion at lower magnifications.

Pros

High-quality build
Numerous functionality and convenience features
Clear and precise focusing
Adjustable brightness

Cons

Minor distortions at low magnifications
Not suitable for beginners

Best Premium: Vortex Optics Razor HD Gen III

Type: Variable Power
Reticle type: First focal plane
Magnification: 1-10x
Objective lens diameter: 24mm
Distance: 0-1000 yards
Dimensions: 10.1 x 2.5 x 2 inches
Weight: 1.4 pounds

If you are willing to spend quite a bit for a high-end, premium-quality scope for your AR 15, go for the Vortex Optics Razor HD Gen III. It has a low profile, sleek, and elegant design and is compact, slim, and minimalist. Although it is a close look-alike of the Vortex Optics Razor HD Gen II-E1, it is more sophisticated. It offers a wider focusing range, starting at 0 up to 1000 yards, and is suitable for hunting and tactical shooting.

The exterior is aircraft-grade aluminum for maximum protection. It has a low-glare anodized finish for durability and camouflaging and is argon gas purged to prevent forging. The unit is also IPX7 waterproof.

The HD optical system offers exception resolution, excellent light transmission and color fidelity, and cuts chromatic aberrations. It employs the ALO automated laser optical alignment process to deliver the highest quality images. The objective lens is index-matched to correct color across the spectrum.

It is made of HD to extra-low dispersion glass to ensure color fidelity. The lenses are multi-coated for enhanced light transmission. All air-to-glass surfaces within the tube have a proprietary anti-reflective coating for enhanced light transmission.

The optical system employs the first focal plane mechanism. Its design also incorporates a true daylight bright illumination feature with 11 intensity levels.

Pros

Premium quality build
Unparalleled image quality
Compact design
Elegant and sleek
Long range

Cons

Does not come with a ring scope mount
Comes in an open box

Buying Guide For The Best Scopes For AR 15

Below are the key factors to consider when choosing the best scopes for AR 15.

Types of AR-15 Scopes

AR-15 Scopes fall into 4 main categories:

Red Dot Optics

They have a simple optics mechanism that produces a reticle to the target. The reticle is mostly red, but some have a green one. Red dots do not magnify. Therefore, they are most suitable for use at close or moderate ranges. Since they use power-saving LEDs, they generally have longer battery life.

They are easy to use and narrow down on the target fast hence suitable for beginners. They are also easy to mount and dismount and allow you to keep both eyes open. The main downside is that they are prone to astigmatism.

Holographic

Holographic sights provide a non-magnifying sight of a target in the form of a reticle image. The image is superimposed on the field of view at a distance.

These scopes are bulkier than those with a red dot sight. Holographic sights are not affected by astigmatism, but they are prone to parallax error. They use a laser diode, which uses up significant power, which means a holographic sight will shorten the battery life.

Fixed Power

These types of scopes have a fixed magnifying power. They are easy to use as there are no magnification settings or parallax adjustment. They are also brighter than their variable counterparts due to the small number of lenses.

They do not require any battery to work as they have an etched reticle. Since their lens geometry is aligned for a single level magnification, they provide a better field-of-view, and the reticle image is precise.

On the downside, they lack flexibility when it comes to magnification range. If a scope’s magnification is too high, it cannot be used for close-range targeting and vice versa.

Variable Power

These types have a similar design as fixed power rifle optics, but they have an adjustable magnification power. They enable you to use only one scope for a range of distances.

There are two main types of variable power riflescopes: the first focal plane and the second focal plane.

With the first focal plane AR 15 optics, the magnifying power increases as you zoom in, revealing finer details of the image. A second focal plane has a fixed reticle that does not change in size even with changes in magnification. It helps to maintain the visual similarity of the object across various levels of magnification.

The downside is that you have to do a mental calculation to convert the measurements according to the magnification level. They are also more expensive, heavier, and larger.

Type of Reticle

Different scopes have different types of reticles. The right type depends on where you will be using the scope.

There are three main types – mid-dot, bullet drop compensation, and duplex.

Duplex is the most common type and the easiest to use as it offers quick target acquisition. It is easily identifiable bylines on the edges and near the intersection point. Scopes designed for long-distance use also have markers to enable you to estimate the distance.

Mid-dot reticles are also suitable for long-distance targeting, especially when hunting. They are cross etched. On the other hand, bullet drop compensation reticles have a sophisticated feature that allows you to factor in the effects of gravity on the bullet when firing. They aim higher and you would need to compensate for the height when shooting.

Also, it is worth mentioning that some reticles are illuminated, while others are black. The illuminated ones allow for easy and precise target acquisition in low-light settings. Conversely, competitive target shooters prefer black reticles.

Power

Power refers to the magnification level of scope. The higher the magnification level the longer the focusing distance but the narrower the field of view. On the other hand, lower magnifications offer a wider field of view but are only suitable for shorter distances.

The suitable magnification power depends on the shooting distances as follows:

1-4X: Close range (less than 150 yards). Suitable for hunting small game and target shooting.
5-9X: Medium range (150-400 yards). Hunting and homeland protection against coyotes and foxes.
9X and up Long-range (400+ yards). Hunting over long distances.

The Objective Lens Diameter

The objective lens is the front lens that faces the target. The diameter determines how much light the scope lets in. The wider the lens, the more light it lets in. Such a lens would be suitable for use in low lighting conditions.

Additional Features

Look out for the following additional features in a AR 15 scope:

Adjustment turrets: This feature usually allows you to move the reticle to zero in on the target. They are two knobs, one at the side and the other on top of the AR scope. The one on the side adjusts the windage while on top adjusts the elevation.
Eye Relief: Refers to the space between your eye and the viewing lens when focusing on a target. It prevents your eyes from straining when looking through the AR scope. It can be less than an inch up to a foot.

Best Scopes For AR 15 Price Range

There are several AR 15 scopes at different price ranges. Budget options cost less than $500, the mid-range price is $500-$1000, and high-end units sell at more than $1000. While there are several decent-quality options at a low range, there are many low-quality products. Avoid scopes with a high magnifying level at this price range.

A lot of red dots and holographic sell at the midrange price. You can also get a few precision optics at this price. Beware of inferior products with low light transmission, poor recoil resistance, warping, or wandering zero.

While most scopes in the high-end price range have a premium quality, always check customer reviews to ascertain their durability and efficiency. They should also come with a warranty and a satisfaction guarantee.

Best Scopes For AR 15: Conclusion

The first step to deciding which AR 15 scope is right for you is determining its intended purpose and distance range. Then, assess the specifications and features of the various scopes to determine which one is a good fit. Key factors to consider include whether the tactical rifle scope has fixed or variable power, the magnifying level, and the type of reticle among others. Also, check reviews to establish whether the scope is accurate, durable, and delivers clear images without distortion.