Which optics for ar 15

I made an audio version of this article with the podcast over here. If you want to hear my thoughts on this topic via podcast, you can listen to it with the player below.

As a reminder from my other articles on picking AR accessories, I have two fundamental rules for buying any firearms-related gear:. Too many people buy something because the internet told them to, and then try shoehorning it into a role it was never designed for.

In , Zak Smith wrote an article for Shotgun News detailing his thoughts on fighting optics. Each type is best suited for different engagement ranges and weapon employment method. I liked his general breakdown. However, a lot has changed in the world rifle optics since We need to adjust how we approach things. According to this slide, the Army considers my Class 1 and 2 optics to be the first generation of combat optics. Class 3 and 4 fall into the second generation group, and Class 5 aligns with 3rd generation.

Imagine an optic using digital displays along with a computer that fires the rifle for you when the sights are properly aligned. This is the most popular type of AR optic on the market. Characteristics of Class I optics include zero magnification, parallax-resistance, though not necessarily parallax-free, and a priority placed on a speedy sight picture. Instead, you keep both eyes open and focus on the target. The optic projects a dot onto the same visual plane. This class of rifle optic rose to prominence during the early s.

These optics are fantastic for use against moving targets or any situation where the speedy acquisition of a sight picture is the top priority. The best way to employee an RDS is utilizing the point blank zero. Figure out your velocity and trajectory , then pick an appropriate zero to meet your needs. Use holdovers as necessary for anything outside of that point blank zero range. This class of AR optics excels from bad breath distance out to ish meters.

They are lightweight, compact, and some can be left on for years before the battery needs to be changed. Some models do not have batteries at all, and will use fiber optics and tritium for illumination. If you regularly shoot from unconventional positions where a proper cheek weld is difficult or unlikely, then these optics are king of the hill. If the dot ever fails, you can still seamlessly use your backup sights.

While Class I optics are a great choice for a general-purpose defensive weapon , they do have limitations. Shooters with uncorrected astigmatism may see imprecise blobs or clusters rather than nice crisp red dots. This affects me for all of my illuminated optics, not just red dot sights. I find that battery-powered illumination is slightly worse than fiber optic. Furthermore, Class I optics are not designed for easy zero adjustments in the field.

Most people, in most realistic defensive situations, are well-served by a Class I type optic. They excel from 0 to yards, provided your eyesight is up for the task.

This is the range envelope the 5. While the replacement rifle never came to fruition, the optics did. Class II AR optics flourished over the years as militaries recognized the value of ruggedized magnified optics for field use.

They are typically compact, relatively lightweight, rugged enough to put up with the abuse of infantry life, and offer huge marksmanship benefits over iron sights. The reticles in these optics usually have some form of range-finding stadia and a calibrated bullet drop compensator BDC. These are field-expedient methods of estimating where hits will land and not intended for true precision shooting. The BDC reticles are not terribly precise, usually matching to a specific bullet moving at a specific velocity under specific environmental conditions.

If not using a reticle with a calibrated BDC, this type of optic still works well with a point blank zero or with a Swiss Sniping 4th Generation technique. I would venture to say that Class II optics embody the skillset of a traditional rifleman.

They are fantastic for fighting in the open in distances between 50 and yards. Class II optics truly reward proper execution of marksmanship skills. They excel in combat environments infantry units typically found themselves in.

These are not CQB optics. The use of a Class II type optic assumes that the shooter has time to see a target, move to appropriate cover, identify the target as a threat, and then apply marksmanship fundamentals to eliminate that threat. More often than not, it seemed like those of us with magnified optics were calling out targets for the guys equipped with the Red Dot Sights.

The belief is that a bright enough reticle still draws the eye. So if you use a magnified optic with both eyes open and use the non-sighting eye for scanning, the brain superimposes the bright reticle over your field of view, working like a red dot sight. When you stick magnification in front of one eye and not the other, the effect gets worse.

Like all magnified optics, Class II AR optics are limited by the physics of bending light through lenses. That means that the shooter must have a consistent cheek weld to account for eye relief, parallax, and the exit pupil of the optic. Incorrect alignment results in poor sight pictures and missed shots. Magnified optics are slower to move from target to target than Class I types since the eye has to readjust and refocus as targets come into view.

They are meant to be zeroed and left alone. But at least Class II optics usually provide you with more reference points for those holdovers. Yes they do. The key benefit of Class II optics is their light weight and durability. However, a compact ACOG like this is perfect for the job. When it comes to AR optics, Class II types are best suited for practical marksmanship and general dismounted shooting, where a balance must be struck between speed and accuracy at a variety of distances.

This class of AR optics is fairly new, but dominating the market. They usually have some way to switch between 1x , i. When they first hit the scene, the standard was x, as with my Trijicon TR Most of these optics adjust magnification by rotating a lever or knob. This allows you to choose a magnification setting anywhere along the range.

Another method uses a rotating prism and cam system that switches only between 1x and the other end, with no options in between. Even though the image appears to not be magnified, the light is still passing through lenses and bending along the way.

You still have to deal with the limitations that come with bending light, particularly eye relief, exit pupil, and parallax. Set at 1x, they are nearly as fast and user-friendly as Class I optics. Set at higher magnifications, they retain much of the same capability as Class II optics or offer even more. Lasers Flashlights Batteries. Winbest Accessories. LOG IN. Filter by price. Advanced Filter. By Barska In stock. Load More About us Contact us My account Orders Blog.

Barska Towne Center Dr. Email Us service barska. We gladly accept the following. It zeroed in easy with only 8 rounds at yards. It works anywhere from 15 yards up to without an issue including parallax adjustment. Simply throw on a micro red dot — like the Vortex Viper — on the top offset rail. The Spitfire has the functionality of a red dot and fixed power scope in one package…without the price tag.

And one of the best compact scopes for AR Pretty solid. The scope is favored by the military, police, competitive shooters, and hunters alike. Crystal Clear — in the same league as Nightforce, Schmidt-Bender, and other yard scopes. The scope comes with a wide field of view. I feel like I could spend all day behind the scope. The clicks are crisp and audible. The 34 mm tube gives you a larger range for adjustments: 34 mils for elevation and 15 mils for windage.

It stops. Within the first 5 rounds, I was able to zero the scope without issues. Even with the heavy recoil and accidental drops, the Steiner held zero like a champ. This second ring prevents that. You can have it repaired or replaced without charge if it breaks or arrives defective. No card or receipt needed. If you shoot no more than yard targets, then you need the best red dot sight possible.

They acquire close range targets several seconds faster than scopes. But which is the best red dot for AR? Look down below. This is due to the fully multi-coated lens setup. This increases light transmission and yields a crisp view of the target. The red dot is pretty standard in dot size. But for some people they may prefer bigger eyeboxes. Otherwise, read on. After being submerged for an entire day under freezing water…it still turned on with no issues.

In comparison to the other AR red dots on this list, this makes the Sparc AR one of the heaviest and bulkiest. With all that said, 7. Matter of fact, it can last up to 5, hours or days of continuous operation on the lowest setting. This upgrade basically gives you Aimpoint Pro battery life. This gen can easily last up to 50, hours or about 6 years of continuous operation on the lowest setting. It adjusts in 1 MOA increments. This makes for quick operation.

This saves you a bit of cash. Need some magnification? Then get the VMX-3T magnification. It gives you power of a LPVO with the target acquisition of a red dot. However, if you want the bar none cheapest red dot for your AR that still delivers quality performance, then this next option might be for you….

You can get it for a fraction of the price. It even comes with an integrated rail mount for out-of-box action. But what if you want more magnification? The result? These optics came out on top. Could you still return it? You can use this scope for 30 days risk-free. I paid the same amount as any other customer on Amazon. I have no financial ties with any of the scope manufacturers in this article.

Although it took me a few weeks to draft up this scopes guide alongside the Best Scope for , it was worth it because I finally found the right scope for me.

Let me know by leaving a quick comment below. And if you have any other scopes to recommend, feel free to let me know down below. And thank you to all members of our military, in all branches, past and present, living and dead. The ACOG is battle tested and it just works. Essentially it automatically ranges and calculates bullet drop, wind correction and target lead…all without the shooter really having to think about it once some experience is gained.

I definitely agree, Bill! On my Enjoyed the article. I have the P BDC and as you stated …. I tack drive at to years consistently. I looked at the Amazon link for eye piece protectors. Amazon has 2, 19 eyepieces So which one is the correct? Also, do you have a recommendation for an objective lens cover with honeycomb or sunshade for the objective lens of the P BDC I hunt several places where the sun is either rising or setting right in my face and want to prevent lens glare.

My apologies for not specifying the eye piece size. If you want to prevent lens glare, I recommend getting a Nikon 40mm Matte Sunshade. Great info. My husband and I just got an AR 15 and your article helped a lot with picking the right scope.

Once the scope arrives and you take it for a spin, feel free to come back and leave a comment detailing your thoughts on it! Primarily for shooting enjoyment, home defense. Most shots way less than yards. Prob more like 50 yards or less. Looking specifically for best unit for ruger AR pistol In Legend for yd hunting. Thank you for any recommendation. Have you checked out the Sig Romeo 5 Red Dot? The clicks are spongy and not as crisp as other scopes but still work quite well.

The Monstrum X32mm scope comes with a detachable throw lever to assist with magnification adjustments. And comes with a standard set of scope rings as well. The TRS is small, compact, and lightweight. That allows for rapid target acquisition and only a small amount of added weight to your rifle set up.

Though it is best for close range shooting it can be paired with a flip-over magnifier to allow for further range shots. The Leupold VX Freedom 1. It is waterproof, shockproof, and fog proof. The glass is clear and crisp.

The lens is scratch-resistant and has a duplex reticle. They are not locking or zero resetting turrets. The clicks are crisp and clear when adjusting. The Monstrum PB prism scope is a 30mm objective with 3X magnification.

Unlike a red dot, the dot on the prism scope is visible even when not illuminated. The glass is clear and is multicoated to protect against scratches. The eye relief is 3. With the eye relief being 3. The PB prism scope is ideal for anyone with an astigmatism and is best for close to mid-range shooting.

It has 10 illumination settings, 8 for daytime use and 2 intended for nighttime shooting. The glass is clear and multicoated with antireflection technology to decrease any interference with clarity of the dot in all light conditions.

This is a great addition to the red dot as it helps save battery life and makes it much easier to just engage your target without having to turn the power on. The Romeo5 is ideal for close to mid-range shooting but can be paired with a flip to the side magnifier for making longer shots. The reticle has an open circle aiming point with additional hash marks for shots from to yards.

The glass is a nitrogen purged, multi-coated optic, that is shockproof, waterproof, and fog proof. The glass is crisp and clear.

The turrets are spring loaded, locking and zero locking turrets.