This is written for mid-distance type shooting. Anything from 20 yards to 400 yards. I went looking for the best scope to put on a rifle. My personal preference for these ranges is a variable scope with adjustable magnification. I care about size, both weight and length, how easy they are to use, and glass quality. I like a good warranty, like Vortex has, but at the end of the world, there might not be a company around to honor that warranty, so I personally would like a warranty I’ll never need to use. These are the main factors I looked at when making these decisions. I’ve organized this list by price point. If you’ve got the money to buy the very very best, more power to you. If you want the best you can afford, I look at several scopes at several different price points. I’ve used different scopes on this list at different points in my life. If its a tool you’re going to trust you life with, get the best you can, whatever that means to you.
Best AR 15 Scope for less than $100
Simmons Whitetail Classic
The first Simmons I owned was a range finder I picked up as a kid for getting into bow hunting. Though it didn’t feel like it then, it was pretty inexpensive, and I wasn’t expecting much. It had trouble ranging past 350 yards, but darn it all, it just plain worked for what I needed. I wasn’t gentle with that, and it kept working. I’d still have it if I hadn’t dropped it on a mountain in Eastern Utah after having to run a quarter mile to get into position to take a shot at a mule deer that went down a different path, I’d still have it today. Simmons products work. They aren’t fancy. They work though. This scope falls along those same lines. I don’t recommend spending less than $100 on glass. If I had to though, this is what I’d buy.
Weight: 1.2 lbs
Length: 13.75
MSRP: 90.99 (can be found cheaper)
Best AR 15 Scope for less than $200
Vortex Crossfire II
The crossfire 2-7 is a scope I once ran on an AR 15 carbine. I’ve since upgraded to something smaller and lighter and with better glass, but at the price point, I would say that it is very hard to beat. I’ve owned several of Vortex’s crossfire line. They aren’t the best glass, but its hard to find something better at their price point. Vortex offers the crossfire in a 1-4, which you can usually find for about $70 more, but I wanted the extra magnification, and didn’t want to pay the extra $70. The 1-4 scope is about 2 inches shorter and would be a good option for a 300 blackout, 450 bushmaster, or other subsonic round you’d want to keep under 200 yards. At that range though, I honestly prefer a red dot. The 2-7 has since moved to a 22, but It was fully functional, and the glass was good enough to do the job. In fact, I was able to find a picture from that time. It is longer than some of the others on the list, but it works, plain and simple.
The scope is available in a dead-hold bdc and a v-plex reticle. I prefer the dead-hold reticle. Once you learn your reticle with the dead hold, you can quickly range things, gauge distances, and get on target.
Weight: 14.3 oz
Length: 11.52 inches
MSRP: 179.99 (but you can find it much cheaper)
Bushnell 1-4
Bushnell offers a 1-4 scope. It can be found online for about 170. If you want to keep it smaller than the crossfire 2-7, but want to keep it under 200, this is your best bet. Bushnell also offers a 1-6 as well for about 20 less than the Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6. If you’re looking at a 1-6, unless you’re a huge Bushnell fan, save up another week and go with Vortex (not a sponsor, yet). The 1-4 is a great option under 200 for a shorter AR style scope. Technically, with tax, the Vortex 1-4 with tax would technically put you over 200, so that’s why the Bushnell makes the list
Weight: 1.1 lbs
Length: 9.4 inches (smaller than most)
MSRP: $280.95 (we found it for about 170)
Best AR 15 Scope for less than $300
Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6
The Strike eagle has a reticle that is good for quick target acquisition and ranging targets. It was modeled after the Primary Arms optic (which I discuss more below). I personally prefer the Primary Arms reticle to Vortex’s version. I’d save up a little more and get the Strike Eagle 1-8. The extra range is nice, and the 1-8 is also more compact and lighter.
Weight: 17.6 oz
Length: 10.5 inches
MSRP: 399.99 (but you can usually find it around $300)
Best AR 15 Scope for less than $400
Leupold VX-Freedom 1.5-4
Leupold has incredible quality, both in its craftsmanship, and in its glass quality. This particular scope only has a range of 1.5-4. It’s simple, small and high quality. I personally would rather pay for increased magnification, and would take a primary arms or a strike eagle over this scope. If you only want up to 4 magnification in this price range, but still want a higher quality optic, this is the one for you.
Strike Eagle 1-8
This is almost exactly the same as the Strike Eagle 1-6. You pay about $100 more and you get two more magnification powers in a package that’s more compact and lighter than the 1-6. If you watch your deals, I’ve found this on sale for less than $400 before.
Weight: 17.6 oz
Length: 10 inches
MSRP: $499.99
Primary Arms
You can find this around 500 or less. the reticle is amazing. It’s one that is replicated in video games because its so clean and popular. Primary arms hasn’t been making optics for as long as some of these other companies, but what they’ve done, they’ve done well. When I’m buying in this price point I really go back and forth between this one and the Strike Eagle. My preference changes day to day.
Swamp Fox
This one is available in 1-10 and has become increasingly popular. Great magnification for an AR scope.
Best AR 15 Scope for less than $700
Viper PST
The PST offers great glass. I would say that in Vortex’s Viper line, the PST offers the best glass. I have owned a number of scopes from their Viper PST line, and they have all been incredible. PST offers great value and is very well built. It can be found for around $600. It’s very similar to the Vortex Razor for about half the price. Like the Razor, I love the low profile turrets. It makes this a simple and clean looking scope.
Weight: 22.7 oz
Length: 10.9 inches
MSRP: $699
Best AR 15 Scope for less than $1200
Eotech
1-6 around 1100
Eotech is very popular among military and law enforcement groups. Eotech is known for being able to take a lickin’ and keep on kickin’. This is a great SHTF option. It has a great reticle and is really compact.
Weight: 21 oz
Length: 10.6 inches
Best AR 15 Scope for mid distance
NightForce ATACR 1-8
Are you looking for the best your money can buy? It’s got to be a NightForce. Their quality is magnificent. This particular model also has a 34 mm tube, allowing in more light for a better sight picture. Their reticle is fantastic. It has all the features of all the others, but at a higher qualityIt’s the clear winner. It costs just shy of $3,000. Does it really cost that much? Is it worth it? See for yourself.
Weight: 21 oz
Length 10 inches
Leupold Mark 8 CQBSS 1.1-8
This one is right there with the NightForce in terms of quality. As I said before, Leupold makes a high quality product, and this is one of their top of the line products. It also has all the features, everything you’d want. Some prefer Leupold over NightForce. If you’re in that camp, here’s your gold standard.
Weight: 23.2 oz
Length: 12 inches
Razor
Razor is Vortex’s top of the line scope. This 1-10 power option features really nice glass. This scope is also has a first focal plane reticle, which I’m a really big fan of. Razor also offers this scope in less magnification at a less expensive price, the Razor 1-6. Like the PST this scope in either magnification has really low profile and clean turrets. It also has a 34 mm tube which lets in more light for a cleaner picture.
Weight: 21.5 oz
Length: 10.1 inches
Eotech 5-25
I know, I said I was looking for a good midrange options. I contend that having a 5 power option, this also qualifies as a midrange scope. But, with the capacity to go up to 25 power and have a first focal plane reticle also makes this a good long range option, and at a compact size similar to the other scopes on this list. If you want compact, and you want high power and high quality, this is what you’re looking for.
Weight: 29.5 oz
Length: 11.2 inches
Other things to consider
All glass is fallible. It doesn’t matter how much you spend, glass can break. Some glass and optic housings are better than others. Either way, it only takes one accident in an apocalyptic situation, and you’ve no longer got a scope. Have a set of iron sights, either some back up iron sights, or some you just keep at home in case you need to swap out.
We realize this isn’t an all inclusive list. There are hundreds if not thousands of scopes on the market. Are there any glaring options we missed? Let us know in the comments below so I can check them out and add them to the list.
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