I’m going to break the best AR-15 scopes into two basic categories.
The first one is General Purpose “Jack-of-all-Trades” type AR-15 scopes. These are very versatile scopes that are perfect for almost any job including:
- Plinking
- Hunting
- 3-gun and other competition
- CQB to mid-range combat
- Home defense
- SHTF or TEOTWAWKI scenarios
- Plus almost anything else you can think of
The second category is for more traditional scopes. These scopes usually have 2-6 power on the low end and 9-20+ power on the high end. They aren’t as versatile as the general purpose scopes, but they’re what everyone thinks of when you say “scope”.
Best AR-15 Scopes for General “Jack-of-all-Trades” Use
Scopes with 1 power on the low end and 4 or 6 power on the high end are called “low powered variable scopes”. These scopes are ideal for almost any situation because of their magnification range.
On 1 power, 1-4 and 1-6 scopes are almost as fast as a red dot sight. And on 4 or 6 power, you have enough magnification to be accurate at several hundred yards. Even farther if you’re really good. (WWII snipers used 4 power scopes at 800 yards)
Basically, 1-4 or 1-6 scopes can cover the entire effective range of the AR-15 platform with only one optic.
There are better choices for close range (like red dot optics) and better for long range. (Like traditional scopes) 1-4 and 1-6 scopes don’t do anything perfectly, but they do a LOT of things well.
They are especially good for hunting and combat. In fact, the Military requested the first 1-4 scopes after the events chronicled in the movie Black Hawk Down.
From the mil side, the low-power variable scope was motivated by experience in the Oct 3rd, 1993 TF Ranger mission in Somalia. Back then the only optics in use on carbines were Aimpoint 1000s or ACOGs, both with distinct advantages. AARs (After Action Reviews) determined that many of the folks in that fight found that they needed the advantage of an RDS like the Aimpoint because of the close-quarters nature of the street fight, but also some level of magnification for positive target identification as their lanes will littered with threats and non-combatants. Having a marriage of the two would allow them to rapidly engage at close range while also being able to engage accurately at distance and ID targets further out.
Not much progress was made in that regard until the problem popped up again in 2003 with the invasion of Iraq. By 2004, the guys at the tip of the spear approached a few different optics manufacturers asking for this combo-scope, most failed to deliver to spec except S&B – and the Short Dot was born.
So here are some excellent 1-6 and 1-4 AR-15 scope options.
FYI: If you buy after clicking most of the product links on this page, I'll make a few pennies out of each dollar you spend. It's not much, but it keeps the website going and I would appreciate your support. 🙂
(ordered from highest to lowest price)
Trijicon VCOG 1-6×24 – $2150
In my opinion, the Trijicon VCOG (Variable Combat Optical Gunsight) is one of the best general purpose AR-15 scopes you can buy. Every other scope in this category is a compromise to this one.
What makes it so good?
For starters, it has the best glass of any scope in this category (not surprising with its price tag). Trijicon scopes are famous for both their durability and clarity; this is no exception.
People often underestimate the importance of clarity. Clarity is better than power. An extremely clear 6 power scope will allow you to shoot better than a “meh” scope with higher power. The VCOG’s incredibly clear glass allows you to make hits much farther than its “mere” 6 power would suggest.
Trijicon built this thing like a tank and it can take an extreme amount of punishment.
It’s made from Forged 7075-T6 Aluminum, which is stronger than many steels and far lighter. You could probably use it to drive nails and only damage the finish. (though I wouldn’t recommend that). It’s also waterproof to 20 meters (66 ft.)
The Reticle is fantastic.
On 1 power, it looks very much like a Red Dot Sight and works very well at close range. On the higher powers, the built in range estimation system and bullet drop compensator (BDC) allow you to make hits out to 800 yards.
The scope is First Focal Plane, which means you can use the ranging and BDC features on any magnification.
The reticle is illuminated, and is powered by common-as-dirt AA batteries. The illumination is night vision comparable on the low end, and daylight bright on the high end. In bright daylight, it’s often better to turn the illumination off and use it like a normal scope.
One cool thing is that there’s an off position between all of the brightness settings. This allows you to have it just one click away from your desired brightness. It also has the mount integrated, meaning you never have to worry about leveling the scope when mounting it.
Putting all those features together, the Trijicon VCOG is one of the best AR-15 scopes you can buy.
Vortex Razor HD Gen II 1-6×24 with JM-1 Reticle – $1399
This scope has become a favorite in the 3-gun crowd, and for good reason. While some might balk at the price, remember this optic was designed to compete with $2000+ optics. The Razor HD 1-6 simply blows cheaper 500 AR-15 scopes away (and most others around it’s price too.)
Again, I have to say that Clarity is more important than magnification.
While it doesn’t have high magnification, it has unbelievable clarity for it’s price. Like the VCOG, that extreme clarity means this scope can shoot much further than you might think.
The Razor HD also has a HUGE field of view, meaning the exact position of your head matters much less. In close quarters, this meas you can get on target faster. In fact, at least one 3-gun shooter was slightly faster with this scope on 1x than with a red dot sight.
That’s a HUGE accomplishment.
Additionally, Jerry Miculek (the wold champion shooter) designed the reticle. While it’s not as advanced as the VCOG reticle, it includes ranging and a BDC out to 600 yards while still being very fast in close quarters. It includes an illuminated center dot that mimics a red dot sight, and is bright enough to be seen in almost any condition.
Vortex also has arguably the best warranty on the planet. I can sum it up like this: “You break it, we’ll fix or replace it.” Or to quote from their website:
“If you ever have a problem, no matter the cause, we promise to take care of you.”
The Vortex Razor HD 1-6×24 is easily the best AR-15 scope in the mid-range, with the only downside being the weight. You’ll definitely notice the extra 25.2 ounces.
Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6x – $299
Starting the sub-$400 lineup is another Vortex Optics scope. They are famous for putting very good glass on their scopes for the money.
The Vortex Strike Eagle is no exception. At this price point, it’s hard to find better glass
The Strike Eagle has better (clearer) glass than most scopes twice it’s price. It’s not up there with the VCOG or even the Razor (not by a long shot) but the clarity is very good for the money.
The other very notable feature of this scope is the reticle. In fact, it’s almost the same reticle as the Trijicon VCOG, except the reticle is on the second focal plane. (meaning the BDC and ranging are only accurate on the highest power setting)
Like the VCOG, the horizontal lines in the reticle are the width of an average man’s shoulders at various ranges. That tells you not only how far away they are, but also how much the bullet will drop at a given range.
The large illuminated ring makes getting on target quickly a snap, and the BDC makes longer range hits fairly easy. The illumination does wash out a little bit in bright light. However in bright light the “crosshairs” will still work perfectly.
It has capped turrets and – while not bombproof like the more expensive optics – it’s very tough. Should you manage to hurt it, Vortex will be waiting with their industry leading warranty.
The Vortex Strike Eagle is probably the best AR-15 scope if you’re on a budget.
(NOTE: Vortex also makes a 1-8 power Strike Eagle. While the additional magnification is nice, quite frankly the reticle is crap. If they would’ve stuck with the original Strike Eagle reticle it would be a no brainer. But $100 more for two power and a useless reticle is a lot to ask.)
Primary Arms 1-6×24 with ACSS Reticle – $270
The huge selling point of this scope is the reticle. (which I’ll get to a minute.) Primary Arms is a fairly new player in the optics market, but they hit a home run with this scope.
While the glass isn’t quite as clear as the Vortex Strike eagle, it is very good for the money. Like the Strike Eagle, there is a little “fish eye” distortion around the edges, but not bad at all.
The illumination is reasonably bright, but will wash out in bright sun (though the “crosshairs” still work perfectly making that mostly a non-issue.)
The best feature of the Primary Arms 1-6 is the Advanced Combined Sighting System (ACSS) reticle. In my opinion, the ACSS reticle is the best reticle on the market.

Picture borrowed from here.
No exceptions.
No qualifications.
It’s the best in my opinion.
What makes it the best are the features and the uncluttered look. It has the usual horizontal ranging and BDC features, but it also has vertical ranging for a human sized target, holds for shooting in the wind, and holds for leading a target.
The leading holds are calculated for the average man running with a weapon. I obviously haven’t tested it, but Primary Arms says they are accurate from 100 to 300 yards.
Comparing the Primary Arms scope to the Vortex basically boils down to this: The Vortex has better glass, the Primary Arms has a better reticle.
If your purpose is mostly target shooting or hunting, the clearer glass on the Vortex Strike Eagle will probably serve you better. Either way, you’ll have an extremely capable scope on your AR-15.
The Best Traditional AR-15 Scopes
(Again, from highest to lowest price)
Vortex Razor HD Gen II 3-18×50 – $2199
A disclaimer first: these scopes are a little too large and heavy to qualify for a “walking rifle”. Personally, I would only use them on a bench rest rifle because of the size and weight.
However their optical clarity is unbelievable, on par with optics that cost $3500+
The first time I looked through one I was completely floored. I could literally see the veins on leaves that were 100 yards away. (and no, that’s not exaggeration)
But it gets better.
Thanks to the HUGE objective lens, the light gathering was spectacular. Looking through the scope made the world looker brighter even at noon. This scope would excel in low-light conditions. It will also allow you to squeeze every last bit of accuracy from even the best AR-15.
I won’t waste time listing every feature (because this article would double in length) but suffice it to say they got all the details right.
I will talk about the huge magnification range though.
3 power on the low end and 18 power on the high end is nothing short of amazing. You’ll have as much or as little power as you need for virtually any application. And with it’s incredible clarity, it would be a great scope for shooting at 1000 yards.
Possibly well beyond 1000 yards.
Also noteworthy is the reticle. It’s a “Christmas tree” style reticle that allows you to make long range shots without dialing your scope in. The reticle includes a grid of MOA-based dots that are small enough to not get in the way, but large enough to use. Once you figure out the drop and drift of your bullet, simply count dots, hold, and squeeze. It’s much faster and far less error prone than dialing your turret knobs for every shot.
These are incredible scopes and they have Vortex’s unconditional lifetime warranty should anything happen. Plus they compete favorably with optics that cost a LOT more. If you need a full power scope, the Vortex Razor HD 3-18×50 is an excellent choice that you won’t regret.
Vortex Viper PST 3-15×44 FFP – $999
I have no affiliation with Vortex Optics and they didn’t pay me to include their scopes on this list. However there’s a reason so many of them made the list.
The Vortex Viper PST line is fast becoming a favorite among shooters because Vortex Scopes have very good glass for the money.
If you would like an exhaustive review (with exhausting detail) of the Viper PST scopes, you can find one here. I’m just going to hit the highlights.
There are a few reticles available in the Viper PST line, but arguably the best is the “EBR-2C reticle” (link to pictures). Like the other Vortex scope above, it’s designed to let you range your target and then hold instead of having to dial the elevation and windage.
You simply measure the range of the target using the MOA or MIL system (they’re available with both). Then look at a ballistics chart and hold where you bullet will impact at that range and wind.
It’s much faster and less error prone than dialing your scope in for every shot,

Notice the thickness of the lines, and also the two Vertical black bars. In FFP, the bars are always the width of the bullseye, in SFP they aren’t.
You can also get the scope in either First Focal Plane (FFP) or Second Focal Plane (SFP).
In a FFP reticle the crosshairs stay the same size relative to the target, which means they appear to change size when you change the power. That means you can use the ranging and BDC features on any power.
In a SFP, the reticle stays the same size relative to you. However, the ranging and BDC features will only be accurate on a single power (usually the highest).
The FFP and reticle on the Vortex Viper PST 3-15×44 give it a LOT of flexibility for longer range shooting. It’s an excellent choice for a mid-range optic.
Leupold VX-1 Line – $199 – $299
Leupold has been making scopes since the end of WWII and their considerable experience shows in all of their optics. They have scopes that compete with the best in the world, but today, we’re talking about their entry level scopes: The Leupold VX-1 Series.
I won’t gush about the VX-1’s glass because it’s not gush worthy… Until you look at the price tag.
These are entry level optics that score very well (in their price range) for clarity, eyebox, brightness, and virtually every other metric you can measure them by. I won’t pretend these are the best scopes made (they are an entry level scope) but they’re a strong contender for best in class.
It’s VERY hard to beat them for the money.
Leupold has managed to get an almost cult like following among shooters. It earned that following with great products and excellent customer service.
I’m sure that Leupold’s full lifetime Guarantee helped to create that following. It’s nice to know that no matter what happens, the company stand behind their products. Plus, they are American made which is unique to scopes on this list.
Also, there’s a touch of class on Leupold scopes. The simple black with the gold rings will lend some elegance to your AR-15 as it helps you shoot bulls-eyes.
Scope Mounts
Even the Best AR-15 scope is completely useless unless you can mount it to your rifle. Here are the best options for mounting a scope to your AR-15.
(Again, from highest to lowest price… mostly)
LaRue Tactical LT104 QD Scope Mount – $282
This is easily the best AR-15 scope mount you can buy. It’s the Porsche or Ferrari of the scope mounting world.
The LaRue LT104 mount is absolutely bombproof and is used by the military and law enforcement. You can remove and re-mount it as many times as you want and it will never lose it’s zero.
However you only need this mount if you’re going to remove and then re-mount your scope regularly.
If you’re going to just mount the scope on your AR-15 and leave it there, (like most people) you don’t need the extra cost. In fact, I literally spared no expense building my own AR-15 and I didn’t use a LaRue mount.
I went with something else because I didn’t plan to remove the scope ever, much less regularly. Go LaRue if you want, but realize you probably are better served with one of the options below (unless you plan to re-mount your scope regularly.)
Aero Precision Ultralight SPR Mount – $76
I use this on my own personal AR-15 because it’s very lightweight at only 3.3 ounces. It also mounts rock solid and is very reasonably priced.
One of the things I like best about the Aero Precision mount is how easy it is to attach. Most scope mounts slightly twist the scope as you tighten the screws down. This leads to a frustrating back and forth as you try make it level when the screws are fully tightened.
I didn’t have that problem with this mount though. The scope went on easily and has remained 100% rock solid ever since.
Ounce for ounce and dollar for dollar, this is one of the best AR-15 scope mounts you can buy.
Also (and I realize this is vanity talking) but I like that there’s a big “A” on the side of it. (Remember, this is Abe’s Gun Cave)
Burris PEPR Mount – $90
It’s a little heavy at 8.7 ounces, but they build these very tough. It’s also ideal for mounting a micro Red Dot Sight on top because of the picatinny rail on top of the rings.
The Burris PEPR mount was the undisputed king of budget AR-15 scope mounts before the Aero Precision ultralight mount came along. It’s still a VERY strong contender, with it’s weight being the only downside. However, I think the Aero Precision mount is better in every way… Unless you want to mount a red dot on top of your scope.
And again, you could mount something on top if you ever wanted to.
Burris PEPR with Quick Detach mount – $110
If you would like the Quick Detach capability, but don’t want to shell out nearly $300 for a LaRue mount, the Burris PEPR QD mount is the perfect solution.
Everything I said about the standard PEPR mount applies, except this mount will come off your rifle quickly if the scope is damaged. (or if you just want it off.)
It will not return to zero like the LaRue mount.
However, it also costs half as much and very few people actually need return to zero capability anyway.
Conclusion
A high quality AR-15 is a very versatile and effective weapon system. This list of the best AR-15 scopes should give you some equally versatile and effective options to make the most of your rifle.
Howdy Abe, first is like to thank you for all of your insightful posts and articles. Not that you need my seal of approval, but I think you’re spot on with what I’ve read. A little about me, I grew up shooting, went in the Marines in the early 90s and got out at the end of 2006. Became a contractor, then joined the army NG as a Sapper and finally got done with it all in 2012. After that I walked away from everything having to do with guns and shooting until just recently. My point is to give you some perspective as to the way I look at rifles and how I use them. While I was in the Marines I was a Designated Marksman from the 90s until i was out of the army. There’s a whole story behind that, but in the mid 90s there was no such official designator except for Security Forces. My Plt Sgt was a Sniper and I shot on the Rifle/Pistol Team, so our CO gave us the latitude to try the idea and concept out……Anyway, when I look at rifles THAT is the angle I come from. I love DM type rifles because of their versatility. My favorite was the SAM-R, or earlier versions that Battalion Armory made for us. I’m not a tall guy but an M16 is still a carbine to me, so I can kick doors and pie corners with it. (An M4 is better for that shit though) But with the long FF barrel I could take long shots when needed. Sometimes as far as a klick. Grant you wind played hell at that range and it wasn’t the most effective ESPECIALLY before the 318 ammo. (I really didn’t get to shoot that too much then) but the rifle could still pull off long shots….sometimes.
OK, so I’ll get to the point. I believe a 6.5G from a SAM-R type rifle would be just about the perfect set up for a DM type roll. 20″ barrel, 6×2? Ffp Scope, and a grip pod (I like, some don’t) should give me 1000m accurate range with good terminals at the end and I can still stack on a door and have good terminals at the muzzle. I know you like 6.5 for basically the same reasons as me but what’s your opinion sir? Do you see any flaws in my concept? So you know, I’m brand new to the 6.5G, I’ll be building this rifle over the next few months. I have ZERO experience with the round. After much research I like the concept because it seems that I can get 1000m rifle out of an M16 sized weapon instead of having to go up to the size and weight of the stupid M110/AR10/SR25. (If you can’t tell, I’m not a fan of it).
Lastly, how well do the 1×4-6 power combat scoops typically gather light. I’ve never used one and they seem perfect for a hunting rifle (short to medium range) My concern is that they don’t gather enough light at dusk because of how small the objective lense is. Your thoughts?
If you get a chance to respond, thank you. If not, I understand. Happy New Year Sir
I absolutely agree that a properly configured Grendel would make an excellent DM rifle while still retaining the Close Quarters ability. The only thing I’ll add is I would prefer a bullpup design. The Kel-Tec RDB will be available in 6.5 Grendel sometime soon. The 5.56 version is getting very good reviews, and if the accuracy is acceptable it would a perfect “do all” weapon system with a 1-X scope. It’ll be my my Go-To rifle assuming it’s reliable and accurate.
Assuming you have great glass and scope design, light gathering is mostly about exit pupil. Exit pupil is calculated by dividing the objective lens size by the magnification and Shooting Times has a great article about Exit Pupil. Because the magnifications are so low, the small objective works perfectly fine. Basically your eyes’ pupil can only open to 5mm – 7mm in pitch black conditions and much smaller in bright light. Design limitations mean scopes only have ~10mm of exit pupil on 1x, but that’s still way more light than your eye can accept.
So a 1-4×24 scope has a 6mm exit pupil on 4x, still plenty enough for low light. I think a 6×24 would still be bright enough on 6x with it’s 4mm exit pupil because you need enough light to ID your target anyway. If there’s enough light to ID your target, I’m guessing 4mm would be plenty. (I’m not sure though because I’ve never dialed my scope up to 6x in low light.) If not, you could dial it back a notch to get the brightness back.
(Also, I hate the AR-10s too.)
You left out a very good scope. The ATN X-sight II HD 3-14. I truly love this monster. My AR is in 300 black out, I use both sub and super sonic, suppressed and not. Once I put the information into the scope, all 4 shooting solutions are just a touch of a button away. It can also digitally go to 37 power, not a great image, but still usable. The night vision is out of this world, I can see farther than I would probably shoot in this caliber. I can also take it off the AR and use it on my 243 and 300 mag, both just a button click away. It’s larger than what some may like, but it really is a great scope.
When you update your General Purpose scopes, take a look at the Nikon BLACK FORCE1000 1-4×24 IL SPEEDFORCE. The glass clarity is amazing. Too bad the scope is 1-4 vs 1-6.
First of all, Thanks for such a great article about Best AR15 scopes/optics available on Today’s Market. Your article helped me to pick the right one, After reading it, I am going to choose Vortex Razor HD from Your List. What do you say about my choice?
Hello Abe,
Any thoughts on the Trijicon Accupoint series? As nice as the VCOG is, and despite the better reticules available, I think the Accupoint is a good contender for a do-all AR scope. It’s got similarly clear glass, the same Trijicon durability, and the German triangle post reticule is just about as good as a red dot at 1x magnification. However, it’s lighter than the VCOG (the 1-4x is only 14 ounces), and thanks to the fiber optic/tritium combination, you will always have illumination, even without batteries.
Im having really good luck with a leupold VX-3, 2-7 firedot on a bushy xm15. My peers call it the cheesemaster. But.. My groups are as good if not better than theirs. Going to look into Abes less than $650 build next.
I have a different view of the Vortex 1-8x24mm Strike Eagle’s reticle. I find it better than the one used in the 1-6x variant. It is as some say intuitive to use. The small 1 MOA dot in the center makes it easier to hit small targets compared to the 1-6x. I’d take the 1-8x24mm over the 1-6x because it is available for a great deal from Brownell’s. I just ordered my second one for $369 including a great Brownell’s cantilever scope mount. Everyone has them for $399 without the mount. It’s a good deal either way. Shop around, look through both and see if the new pattern reticle is right for you. Look for the sales.
For scope leveling it pays to buy an Arisaka scope leveling set. It is two highly precision pieces that squeeze together between the flat turret bed and the mount or ar flattop. It is quick, simple, accurate and doesn’t require the use of bubble levels.