The Best AR-15 Optics
equip your AR-15 with the best optics for any scenario
When it comes to finally putting together that AR-15 rifle you love, whether that be 5.56 or some other caliber, there are so many attachments you can have on it. However, it is not complete without an optic. You can have a rifle sling (with a sling tab of course), a binary trigger, a suppressor, or whatever other attachment you like, your rifle is not complete without a quality optic. Now, you can enjoy your red dots which are perfect for scenarios that involve more close quarters combat, or maybe you like an LPVO for some long range engagements, but an optic is a necessity. That being said, we have put together a list of the best AR-15 optics of 2024 for you to check out and upgrade your rifle with.
Let’s dive in.
The Best AR-15 Optics
Best Bang-For-The-Buck Red Dot: Sig Sauer Romeo5
Best Budget Red Dot: Sig Sauer Romeo MSR
Gold Standard Red Dot: Holosun HS503G
Best Holographic Sight: EOTech XPS2
Best Magnifying Optic: Vortex VMX-3T 3x Magnifier
Best Bang for the Buck ar-15 Red Dot: Sig Sauer Romeo5
Let’s face it, being firearms enthusiast is not the cheapest hobby in the world. Whether you are paying for all of the ammo that you will be taking to the gun range, or you are paying for tactical training courses, there are some expenses that you need to take care of. That being said, sometimes you need to spend a little less on things like optics, but you don’t want to sacrifice the quality. The best bang for the buck AR-15 optic is the Sig Sauer Romeo5, and for good reason.
The Romeo5 offers a robust, compact red dot sight. It comes equipped with a 1x aiming solution optimized for today's modern sporting rifles, shotguns, carbines, submachine guns, and full-sized handguns, offering great versatility for a small price, hence the reason it made the list of best AR-15 optics). It is also waterproof and fog-proof.
Price: $139.99
Best Budget Red Dot for an ar-15: sig romeo MSR
Now, if you need to go with a truly budget option when it comes to shopping for an AR-15 optic, you still do not want to sacrifice quality. That being said, the Sig Sauer Romeo MSR may be the way to go. At slightly lower price than the Romeo5, this AR-15 optic definitely still offers quality while not breaking the bank. The Romeo MSR offers 12 brightness settings and levels for optimal hunting and targeting use at night or during the day.
It also offers a special lens coating the Sig Sauer Electro-Optics Compact Romeo MSR allows for greater light transmission and dot contrast in varying situations. You are able to engage with your target quicker, faster, and more accurately with this AR-15 optic.
Price: $109
best Red Dot for an ar-15: Holosun HS503G
The gold standard red dot is for someone who is not too concerned about price, but just truly wants a quality red dot. That said, the Holosun HS503G is the way to go. This is built for people who want a red dot that will not budge no matter the caliber you are using, nor how many rounds you put through it. Now, the Holosun HS503G won’t be your best friend on the long range, but at close to medium range engagements, this is perfect for your AR-15.
Price: $249.99
Best Holographic Sight for an ar-15: EOTech XPS2
Holographic sights differ from your standard red dot as they offer more complex reticles, such as circle-dot combinations and multiple aiming points. This versatility that holographic sights offer allows for precise shot placement and the ability to engage targets at various distances, from close quarters engagements to long range. Not to mention, holographic sights have superior performance in low-light conditions. Now that you know that, what is our favorite holographic sight? The EOTech XPS2.
This is an operator grade weapon sight, easily making the list of best AR-15 optics. Not only is it durable, able to withstand the harshest of conditions, but the EOTECH XPS2 offers variable lighting and reticle options. EOTECH reticles feature a 68 MOA ring surrounding a 1 MOA center dot allowing the shooter to quickly pick up and lock on a target.
The one downside of this is it is a bit pricey!
Price: $629.00
Best Magnifying Optic for an ar-15: Vortex VMX-3T 3x Magnifier
No list of the best AR-15 optics would be complete without a magnifying optic. Some people prefer to shoot at distances, and having an optic to match that is essential. With that in mind, the Vortex VMX-3T 3x Magnifier is our favorite magnifying optic as it offers the clearest glass, good eye-relief, it is changeable for people who are left handed, it was easy to mount, and it was lightweight. However, just because it is light does not make it cheaply made, as even when shooting several rounds for a long period of time, it did not have to be re-zeroed.
The Vortex VMX-3T is a great option for those looking for a magnifying AR-15 optic.
Price: $199.00
What We Look for in the Best AR-15 Optics
When it comes to how we choose our lists, especially the best AR-15 optics, we test out every single product. The team at Core Vision strives to bring you the most honest reviews, so we take all factors into consideration. Some things that we looked for with the best AR-15 optics were:
Durability
Clarity
Reticle
Reputation
Notice how we didn’t say “price”, as when shopping for the best AR-15 optic it is more about the build and what it can do, rather than the price. While we did have a few options for people on a tighter budget, we still made sure that those optics were quality and came from a reputable brand.
Training
Throwing an optic on your AR-15 is one thing, but actually zeroing it in and using it, getting familiar with it, and becoming deadly is essential. You can do that at the gun range, but you can also check out some tactical training courses at Core Vision Training, to see how you really react in different scenarios. Using your AR-15 with an optic is completely different when you are trying to clear a room, or hit a target from a great distance. When it comes to finding good tactical training, Core Vision Training offers a wide variety of tactical courses that will help you get used to your gear and maneuvering through different situations.
The best part is, they offer training in many different areas of the country. Core Vision offers some awesome LPVO training, as well as medical training to get you used to utilizing a first aid kit if you were to ever need one. Core Vision Training also offers some great close quarters courses. This can be extremely beneficial when it comes to defending your home, which hopefully you never have to do.
There also are multiple states that Core Vision Training is in, offering tactical training courses in:
Aside from Core Vision offering tactical training for you to try, it is also a team made up of great guys with various backgrounds, many in special forces. The team makes you feel comfortable with what you are doing, because they know that for many people it is their first time being exposed to this type of training. The guys take their time to explain everything and make sure that you are the best that you can be by the time you leave their courses.
