So loaded question here. I’m sure there are a ton of opinions and I’m curious as to the one that everyone agrees to.

My friend of 42 years gave me a really beautiful, brand new AR for my birthday last month.

I want a Trijicon ACOG. Out of the budget. Not happening. It’s a $1k gun, I’m not putting a $1700 optic on it.

I would like to keep it around $200, but would be willing to spend up to $500 if it was the cocksucker deluxe.

I have spent so many hours googling optics and reviews and I’m now more confused than I could imagine. Almost to the point of “fuck this, iron sights”.

What are your recommendations?

If you want a prism sight, perhaps the Primary Arms GLx 2x will fit your needs. What you put on it really depends on the type/distance of shooting you're doing with it.
ACOGs are about $900.

I’m partial to the aimpoint T or H series red dots. They can be had somewhat reasonably when on sale.

I’ve been happy for my casual usages of lower end Leupold and Nikon scopes - useful for 100-300.

I have a leupold 1-4x scope with a red dot (Firedot?) that I couldn’t get used to for close and quick. And 4x isn’t ideal for me at 200. I wouldn’t buy again and may be a karma someday.

Ymmv.

ETA: sorry, it’s been awhile since I’ve bought an aimpoint. Seems like prices are higher than I remember. I have an aimpoint pro as well which has been just fine.

If you want an unmagnified red dot, an Aimpoint Pro is hard to beat.

get an aimpoint. be happy forever. Everything else is a step down in some meaningful way...

Vortex Strikefire II here.
Red & green dot options
Only knock on it is that it's pretty tall overall. Makes it tough to fit in my hard cases.

Coworker put a Sparc AR on his & happy with it so far.

My suggestion for versatility would be a magnifying optic. I have a Vortex 1-6x24mm Strike Eagle. Can be had for less than $350 and includes an illuminated reticle. I like red dots but keep them on platforms that I don’t intend to shoot at distance; ~75 yards or less. The 1-6x extends my range quite a bit over a non-magnifying dot.

Make sure that you are looking at optics that will play nice with your eyes.

Astigmatisms may not play nice with all types of optics for example. Not to say you have one, but an easy example to illustrate that one size does not fit all.

I wanted an Aimpoint PRO, then I looked through one. Can't use it with my eyes. Got an Eotech 512 instead.

You should get the ACOG. Heh.

I really like SWFA's scopes. I have a 6x on my PredatAR.

They are big, but good glass and tracking for the money IMO.

Trying really hard not to buy this large but awesome scope:
https://www.swfa.com/swfa-3-15...flescope-107011.html

They are actively in production so backorder isn't a bad way to go if they are OOS on what you like.

I have been happy with the Vortex Spitfire 1x. They also offer a 3x version. It is prismatic and has options for either green or red illumination of the reticle. They are currently on sale at Bass Pro / Cabelas for a decent price.

I also just picked up a Sig Tango6 MSR but haven’t yet been to the range with it.

In the $200 range the Romeo5 XDR works well.
$500 range is the Aimpoint PRO

For scopes I have come to prefer med power scopes over LPVO's like 2.5-10 or 4-16.

SWFA has a 2.5-10x32 for under $300, made in Japan.

I always spend more on glass than my guns, and I've never regretted it.
You haven't said what your use will be?

Another vote from r the Vortex Spitfire, in my case the 3X.

quote:

Originally posted by sigmoid:
I always spend more on glass than my guns, and I've never regretted it.
You haven't said what your use will be?

I'm near 1:1 on my Tikka/Nikon. Love the Monarch.
More like 3:1 on the AR/Vortex, but still happy with the Strikefire.

Go over to the rifle section as there is a ton of good info on rifle optics there plus some mighty knowledgeable people too. Many factors go into selecting an optic and cost is just one. My biggest factor is what I intend to use the rifle for, hence I have rifles with $99 optics and rifles with optics that cost more than my first new car.

1. Aimpoint T1/T2
2. Aimpoint H1/H2
3. Aimpoint Pro

These types of threads always have a catch. They say “best optic for an AR” but always have the catch of a bargain basement budget that clearly won’t be “the best”.

T-Rex Arms is running a special on a ACOG TA02 with an RMR06 for $1400. That’s a bargain.

To stay within the bargain basement $200, the Vortex Sparc comes in within budget and is durable. The Aimpoint Pro is within $500 and an awesome optic.

Sparc II user here. I'm pleased and a lifetime warranty at that price point is a win.

Why are pistol and rifle questions/discussions starting to pop up in the Lounge and not in their own respective sections where they belong? Seems like it’s suddenly a trend here.

For awhile, when ACOG's were ramping-up in popularity, probably the best clone to an ACOG, that was value based, was Lucid P7, which was similarity set-up but, for $300. I don't believe the P7 is made any longer however other optic suppliers have since come on the scene with their versions supplanting Lucid.

Vortex Spitfire is likely the current reigning champ for ACOG clone. Lighter and arguably easier to use than an ACOG, Vortex has made quite a name for themselves coming out with solid mid-tier and better value optics. Primary Arms GLx 2x is also a very good value optic.

For straight red-dot, can't go wrong with Aimpoint. Pro, H2 or, T1...all super solid but, at a premium

I've been enjoying running a Low Power Variable Optic from Nightforce, however that price-point exceeds what you're looking for, and it's a bit more specialized.