Best AR 15 Scope Reviews

It was said once and repeated it twice. Before you confirm your purchase, make sure to think about your options and ask questions.

You will know what you need and what you should buy once you have answered these questions.

Because they don’t know what they want, novice shooters are more inclined to purchase the wrong scope.

We have created an in-depth buying guide that will help you understand the process before you make a purchase.

The purpose

First, it is important to recognize that each rifle scope serves a different purpose. One scope might be best suited for long-range shooting while another one may be better suited for close-range shooting.

Some rifle scopes, however, are superior in light transmission and glass quality but not as good when it comes to making adjustments. They are not all created equal.

Each scope has its own standards. If you’re smart enough and lucky enough you can find a scope that fits your needs. Vortex Optics Strike Eagle is one example.

Let’s suppose you need a scope that can be used for close-range shooting. It should have maximum magnification and allow easy turret adjustment. This is why you should choose a rifle scope specifically designed to meet your needs. It’s an undoubtedly surplus if it has other features.

Shooting distances with the AR-15 Rifle

Second, consider different shooting distances. Consider how close you are to the target and how much magnification you need. The shooting distances are determined by how far they can reach.

There is a short range of 150 yards, then there is a medium range between 150 and 400 yards. Finally, there is a long range of 400+ yards.

It might be tempting to wonder which one you should choose.

If you’re a target shooter or practicing target shooting with your ar-15 rifle in addition to hunting small game, then close-range shooting distance might be right for you. This range requires magnification of 1-4x.

For your target accession at close range, check out UTG 3-9X32 1’’ BugBuster Scope

If you want to save your country from wild animals such as coyotes or foxes, you will need a scope that can acquire targets up to 150 yards.

A medium-range rifle scope for ar-15 rifles is what you want. Ar-15 rifles were specifically designed for medium-range shooting.

They are also extremely popular for their ability to shoot at medium distances.

Ar-15 rifle scopes have had a remarkable success rate for shooters. The magnification that you will require is between 5x and 9x.

Finally, you can shoot long distances with more than 9x magnification.

We have already stated that ar-15 rifles were not designed to shoot at 400+ yards and professionals do not recommend it.

If you’re optimistic about long-range targets, make sure to have sufficient magnification. Vortex Optics Viper H.S. is our premium choice. Second Focal Plane Riflescope.

This scope is designed for long-range shooting. You should consider the distance range before you choose the right scope.

Transmission Light

The objective lens in your scope allows light to enter the scope, allowing you to see clearly the target. This label will indicate the diameter of your objective lens in millimeters.

The objective lens is at the end of your scope. It is usually larger than the scope.

It is the heart of the rifle scope and allows for a clearer, brighter, wider field of vision.

50mm objective lenses are most commonly used when shooting at low light levels. They are considered to be one of the best lens diameters for long-range shooting.

The question now is how much light transmission do you need to shoot your particular type of photography?

A 50mm objective lens is too small for close-range combat. A larger lens will be needed to allow light to penetrate your eyes and brighten distant objects.

It is a good idea to stick to the one that is right for the type of operation you are planning.

Larger lenses can also be difficult to maneuver because they add weight to the scope. Because of the tension it distributes, it can cause discomfort such as straining your shoulders or wrists.

A heavy scope will require you to mount it higher than normal because the height must be proportionate to your cheekbones.

To be fair, this will make it difficult to obtain accurate and fair adjustments.

Therefore, it is important to consider all the facts before you determine the optimal lens diameter. This will ensure that you don’t get into more trouble than you are able to solve.

For medium-range shooting, you can use anything between 35mm and 50mm. It would be sufficient and portable at the same time.

Find the right reticle

There are many options for reticles, and you should check to make sure it fits your rifle.

We are talking about a semi-automatic gun such as the ar-15. The rule of thumb for getting a well-fitted Reticle is to stick with the one that has brightness adjustability and illumination in all environments.

It doesn’t matter if it is a sunny morning, or after sunset.

You can adjust the gradual distance reticle by using different tick marks for each distance. You can choose from red, green or black, with different parameters. Let’s now take a look at some of the reticles that we frequently encounter when choosing an ar-15 scope.

Duplex Reticle

The “duplex” is the first of the primacy-type reticles.

When you need to locate a target and adjust the distance to shoot your shot, a duplex reticle is a great tool.

Duplex reticles can be used to target stationary targets at the distance you desire.

Mil-Dot

A mil-dot is another option, which is great for rooting for moving targets. There are many similarities between this reticle and the duplex, but it does not have rings. For instance, you can choose to use the horizontal or vertical marks depending on how far away the target is.

It helps you to aim your gun at the moving target. Next, you can use your estimation skills to determine the speed of the target, adjust your scope, make adjustments if necessary, and finally, shoot with accuracy.

BDC Reticle

BDC is short for Bullet Drop Compensation and is also known as an extension to the duplex reticle. It’s great for long ranges, where you can reach 600 yards. An ar-15 rifle with a BDC-reticle is the best choice if you are a tactical shooter, or a police officer.

First Focal Plane Vs. Second Focal Plane

Simply put, the first focal-plan reticle changes with different magnification levels. The second focal plane, however, remains the same size, regardless of magnification level.

You’ll notice an increase in the magnification of your first focal plane retina.

The reticle shrinks or becomes narrower, while the image shrinks due to decreased magnification. The second focal plane reticle, on the other hand, remains exactly where it was placed, regardless of whether you zoom in or out.

If you are looking for a fast target acquisition while also using the windage, elevation, and windage lines simultaneously, the FFP reticle is the best reticle.

SFP reticles, on the other hand, are great for hunting game animals at high magnification settings.

It will still work fine if the turrets are turned up on an SFP riflescope. No matter how much magnification you use, aim at the center dot on the reticle.

Parallax Effect

A riflescope should be free from parallax errors. A misaligned focal plane can cause a distorted field of vision. This can be fixed if your ar-15 scope rifle has parallax adjustment.

Parallax adjustments are usually made in fixed yardage. It works well if you shoot at the same distance yardage as often. If your scope does not have this feature, you will need to constantly sight your rifle.

Construction

The scope’s overall construction should be checked. Quality materials should be used to make the tube withstand harsh conditions. It is a smart decision to choose a waterproof, fogproof, and shock-resistant scope materials.

Since it has been proven to protect your scope from adverse conditions, we recommend that you use scope tubes made from aircraft-grade aluminum with purified nitrogen.

Eye Relief and Eyebox

A scope should offer generous eye relief, a comfortable eye box and an eye box that allows you to look through the scope clearly. We think you know what eye relief means.

Eye relief is the distance between your eyes and the view that you can see clearly. The more friendly it is, the larger the exit pupil.

Standard eye relief measures 3.5 to 4 inches. This is useful for long-range shooting, and provides the highest magnification.

For long eye relief and close-range photography, the standard measurement is 4.5 inches.

The eye box should be the most flexible to allow you to place your eyes easily and accurately.

Capped Resettable Turrets

You should check to see if the scope that you’re looking to purchase has capped resettable turbines. Resettable turrets will give you a huge return on zero. When dialing below the pre-set zero, it is important to keep the zero after sighting in.