Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles Recommend an optic…

..in the 1-4 to 1-6 range for a flattop AR, pic rail, 5.56, 8 twist, illuminated reticle nice but not a deal breaker, would like to not get much past $500 with rings. What are useful bells and whistles, what to avoid??? Would post this on the optics forum, but you know how things get there…

I have 3.5 x 10 Leupolds on two Rock Rivers

Not quite what you are looking at, but I have a Vortex 1-8 Strike Eagle. Love it, even if it is chinese made. Palmetto had these on sale (there is a 1-6 version also) recently, with a cantilever mount and I think it was priced at $600. I think the 1-6 option would have gotten you under your $500 limit....

Kaiser Norton

I use a Burris RT-6, got it this winter. Haven't really stretched it out yet, but I like it so far.

I have a SWFA 1-4 mounted on one AR and a SWFA ultralight 2.5-10 mounted on another. The 1-4 is built like a tank. Have not abused the ultralight, but it works well enough that I have not replaced it yet.

Hanco what brand of handguard are those? I think they are the same brand right? I've already wasted 15 minutes trying to recall, and it just won't come out of the dust folds. Thanks.

Trijicon for me in the illuminated 1-4 role. A little over your budget, but less than a 1-6 Razor

Picked up one of these at a LGS recently. Had never heard of them before, but for the price decided to try it. Put it on a new SA Saint and really like it so far. Adjustments are precise and illuminated reticle has like 11 brightness settings. No complaints so far. Mine is the 1-8x24 with "Guerrilla Dot BDC".

https://www.swampfoxoptics.com/tomahawk-series

A budget priced option:

Burris RT6 Rifle Scope

I have two Leupold VX-R patrol with the fire dot reticle and I am quite pleased. They can be bought used in the $400-$500.

Athlon 1-4.5 is good, hilux 1-4 is good, swfa 1-4 is good, the first 2 are very popular with the highpower crowd. All 3 of them fall into your price point.

I like the Primary Arms with the ACSS reticle. If you want to get a lot, without paying a lot, give them consideration.

This is the 1-6x24 SFP ACSS,

https://www.primaryarms.com/primary...3-illuminated-acss-5.56-5.45-308-reticle




PA has some newer 1-6x24 offerings as well, that are still very budget friendly,

https://www.primaryarms.com/rifle-scopes/with-acss/magnification/1x-6x

I hate to buy anything Chinese but the Athlon Midas is or at least was an excellent scope for the money. I bought a gen 1 on closeout a few years go and would definitely recommend it. I haven’t kept up with the pricing. Otherwise as Goalie said the Trijicon 1-4x would be my next choice baring a killer deal on something else. 1-6x is great but I’d give up some power for a Trijicon over a Vortex Razor. Better glass, a reputation for being a whole lot more durable, with a proven background and USA made.

I have Trijicon 1-4 Accupower's and a 1-6 Credo, they are great scopes.

Where are they made?

China

A Vortex viper PST 1x6 is close to your price range

The new PA 1-6 with the Nova fiber optic illum reticle would be my choice under $500.
https://www.primaryarms.com/primary...illuminated-acss-nova-fiber-wire-reticle

Well, just pulled the trigger on a Burris 1-6 today. Started shopping around online and Midway had them with a deal , through in the mount at no extra cost. Find myself leaning toward Burris a lot lately. We’ll see how it works. Tax and all, out the door for $404.

Now you have some left over to add an off set red dot.