The Best AR-15 Scope (for the Money $$$) for Your Rifle for 2023
Travis Olander 07.17.23
The AR-15 is a versatile weapon platform: it can be configured as a PDW or short-barreled rifle, a “do-it-all” gun, a range plinker, or a proper long-range competitor – but you need to find the right optic to get rounds on target accurately. We’re taking a closer look at the most popular scopes available for the AR platform in 2023.
1. Best AR-15 Scope: Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6x24mm
At around the $300 mark, the Strike Eagle from Vortex provides loads of power and performance for its price. It earns a near perfect 5/5 rating from thousands of shooters, thanks to its clear glass, bright reticle with holdovers, compact tube with excellent clarity, and reliable windage and elevation adjustments that hold true — even when subjected to the recoil of larger AR calibers (like supersonic 300 BLK, 6.5 Grendel, or .243 Winchester).
The Strike Eagle’s reticle is helpful for making on-the-fly holdovers without feeling too busy or crowded. Clearly marked subtensions provide compensation for various distances (20 to 650 yards) with 5 mph wind increments so you needn’t touch the turrets in the field.
The Eagle’s low-profile turrets and roughly 1.1 pounds of tube make it a perfect companion for any lightweight AR build, while its 6x magnification is more than enough to take full advantage of the average 5.56/.223 or similar cartridge being sent downrange.
Strike Eagle Specifications
- Tube Diameter: 30mm
- Magnification: 1x to 6x
- Weight: 18.5 Oz
- Length: 10.5″
- Reticle: BDC3 MOA
- Turrets: MOA, 0.5 per click
2. Best AR-15 Scope: Vortex Viper PST II 1-6x24mm
Offering even better glass with crisp internal illumination and “RZR” zero stops, the $600 Viper PST II is the upgraded version of the Strike Eagle — for those willing to double their budget. Vortex’s extra-low dispersion “XR” glass provides even greater clarity and less fish-eye lens effect at max magnification, while 10 brightness settings provide good target acquisition in any ambient light.
Having a bullet drop-compensating reticle means avoiding touching the turrets. If you’re the experienced shooter who dials in and then relies on holdovers as much as possible, the zero stop functionality built into the PST Gen II provides a logical feature that the Strike Eagle lacks.
Vortex manages to provide this extra hardware without dramatically increasing scope size or weight: The PST II weighs around 22.7 ounces (~1.5 pounds) with an overall length of 10.9″ — just 0.4″ longer than the Strike Eagle. The PST II also provides somewhat better eye relief with the same 30mm tube and 24mm objective lens, providing some relief on the cheekweld.
The VMR-2 reticle built into the PST II is a bit more minimalist than the Strike Eagle’s, but it still affords plenty of subtensions on windage and elevation. You’re also getting 20 additional MOA of maximum travel (160 vs. the Strike Eagle’s 140).
- Tube Diameter: 30mm
- Magnification: 1x to 6x
- Weight: 22.7 Oz
- Length: 10.9″
- Reticle: VMR-2 MOA/MIL
- Turrets: MOA/MIL 0.5 /0.2 per click
3. Best AR-15 Scope: Leupold VX Freedom 1.5-4x20mm
Leupold’s been making great glass for decades, and their VX Freedom LVPO’s no exception to their lineup. At just $300 at the time of publication, the VX Freedom gives the Strike Eagle a run for its money, offering an even more compact unit with a svelte weight of just 9.6 ounces (0.6 pounds). The smaller objective lens and 1″ tube sacrifices a bit of view and magnification, but in exchange, you’re getting some of the best glass on the market in a tiny (9.3″ long) package.
I’ve personally ran a VX Freedom on an AR for hunting boar, and it afforded excellent low-light clarity (thanks to Leupold’s advertised “Twilight Light Management System) with dead-reckoned tracking on windage and elevation. The VX Freedom can be optioned with a simple Duplex reticle, or some more complex holdover reticles (like the Pig-Flex, Rimfire MOA, or Tri-MOA).
All options provide 0.25-per-click MOA adjustments with maximum travel of 125 MOA in all directions. Leupold’s finishes and fitment are perfect, too. If you want a scope that not only performs well but looks fantastic at a great price, the VX Freedom is a top choice for your AR.
- Tube Diameter: 1″
- Magnification: 1.5x to 4x
- Weight: 9.6 Oz
- Length: 9.3″
- Reticle: VMR-2 MOA/MIL
- Turrets: MOA/MIL 0.5/0.2 per click
4. Best AR-15 Scope: Trijicon VCOG 1-6x24mm
Of course, we had to throw in the top choice for those with no budget. The ~$,2000 VCOG 1-6×24 scope from Trijicon is a current-issue LPVO for some U.S military rifles, and it provides the legendary reliability that Trijicon’s optics have always promised their government customers.
With its one-piece, integrated Pic rail mount and totally over-engineered housing, the VCOG is a beefy, heavy scope: It tips the scales at approximately 3 pounds (when the mount’s included). But this is an optic you can probably stomp on with a combat boot and it simply won’t mind.
The VCOG’s also been tested under government contract to ensure it can handle large .30-caliber cartridges without suffering reticle drift, spun turrets, or other recoil shock. It’s also submersible waterproof up to 66 feet.
Housed inside the VCOG is a single AA battery that provides up to 1400 hours of continuous illumination for its holdover “halo” and segmented crosshair reticle. Bullet drop subtensions provide holdovers out to 1,000 yards.
- Tube Diameter: 30mm
- Magnification: 1x to 6x
- Weight: 23.3 Oz (optic only)
- Length: 10″
- Reticle: Segment Crosshair, MOA/MIL
- Turrets: MOA/MIL 0.25/0.1 per click
5. Best AR-15 Scope: Bushnell AR Optics 1-4x24mm
If the VCOG’s price tag causes panic, relax: Here’s the cheapest optic that gets the job done, and it does it well (plus, it only costs a cool $150). This popular entrant from Bushnell, the AR Optics 1-4×24 Scope, affords plenty of LPVO goodness for its puny price.
Equipped with Bushnell’s “Drop Zone 223” reticle, reliable holdovers are provided for the average .223 (and 5.56) loads out to 600 yards. There are no turret caps, here — but that’s OK, because the AR Optics is waterproofed with an IPX7 rating.
The traditional things you want in an AR optic are present: Multi-coated glass, purged tubes, convenient “toggle” throw lever for magnification adjustments, a 30mm tube with 3.5″ of eye relief, and a modest weight of 18 ounces, or 1.06 pounds.
The AR Optics is only available with a MIL reticle and turrets, but it provides plenty of travel with 34.9 MILs of windage and elevation adjustment range (equivalent to 120 MOA).
From my personal experience, I’ve also found Bushnell’s “Ironclad Warranty” to be excellent. For this particular scope, it’s warrantied for 30 years against defects with normal wear and use. If your lenses ever start fogging, or you start experiencing loose turrets or reticle drift, just ring up Bushnell — no product registration is required — and they’ll fix or replace your scope.
- Tube Diameter: 30mm
- Magnification: 1x to 4x
- Weight: 18.0 Oz
- Length: 9.5″
- Reticle: Drop Zone 223
- Turrets: MIL, 0.1 per click
