Many shooters are under the misconception that the AR-10 rifle platform is an offshoot of the popular AR-15 rifles chambered in .223 Remington (5.56 NATO).
Nothing could be further from the truth.
The AR-10 was conceived first by Armalite in the 1950s. The AR-15 followed in 1957 when the U.S. Army wanted a rifle chambered for the 5.56 NATO round. The AR-10, chambered for the 7.62×51 NATO cartridge (.308 Winchester), has remained a favorite rifle design, and the larger and more powerful cartridge requires a different combination of features from a riflescope.
Before choosing a riflescope for an AR-10, it is important to understand the ballistic characteristics of the more popular loads for this rifle. You also need to have a solid idea of how you will most often use your AR-10.
Rifles used for hunting routinely need a different set of scope features than ones used strictly on the range for target shooting. Rifles used in three-gun competitive matches or carried as a duty rifle by law enforcement or military personnel have different needs and requirements.
Before I launch into my choices of the best riflescopes for an AR-10, I want to spend a little time on the typical cartridge, loads, and ballistic characteristics, and how that may affect your choice of rifle scopes.
SKIP AHEAD
The 7.62×51 NATO Cartridge (.308 Winchester)
The AR-10 platform rifle has traditionally been chambered for the 7.72×51 NATO cartridge.
This cartridge has almost identical external dimensions to the .308 Winchester cartridge. The two are so close that a rifle chambered for one can usually safely shoot the other.
Internally, the 7.62×51 NATO cartridge case has slightly thicker walls. This makes the internal dimensions smaller and allows a slightly smaller powder capacity. In all other aspects, the two cartridges are the same.
When it comes to ballistics, the cartridges are almost identical as well.
Of course, the type of powder loaded, the size and the design of the bullet will affect the ballistic characteristics to a certain degree. Before you perform any custom loading, you should be thoroughly familiar with the reloading tables and data for the powder, bullet, and cartridge.
The Tale of the Ballistics Tables
Since most civilian shooters opt to shoot the .308 Winchester cartridge, that is what I will use for my data and testing for the balance of this article. 7.62×51 NATO cartridges are available, but the ammunition most widely available in the civilian market is .308 Winchester.
The testing and measurements shown below are based on a .308 commercially loaded cartridge shooting a 150 gr full metal jacket bullet. The ballistics information may vary depending on the manufacturer, the size of the bullet, and the powder loads.
Many shooters continue to choose the .308 Winchester because of its performance. As the ballistics table shows, out to 300 yards, the .308 Winchester is a relatively flat shooting cartridge. Between 300 and 500 yards, the bullet drop becomes more pronounced, but it is still acceptable in most instances.
However, if you go beyond 500 yards, the bullet drop becomes excessive rapidly, making accurate shots difficult.
Why is This Important in Selecting a Scope for AR 10?
Knowing the effective range of your rifle and cartridge is a determining factor in selecting your scope’s power, magnification, and features.
In the case of an AR-10 rifle and the .308 Winchester cartridge, it is highly unlikely that most shooters will expect to take shots over 500 yards routinely. Consequently, this distance is a factor in which scope for AR 10’s will perform adequately.
Other Factors in Choosing the Best Scope for AR 10 Rifle
As I began making the list of scopes to include in this article, I considered several basic factors that you should also remember as you shop for your rifle scope.
These are the factors I use, and I consider the most important to ensure that your scope and rifle work properly together for the shooting you intend to perform:
Type of Shooting
When considering the best scope for AR-10 platform rifles, you must make some decisions about the shooting you perform on a routine basis.
There is a lot of difference in the features you need in a scope for long-range shooting instead of a hunting scope. What types of game you are hunting can be a factor as well. If you are a competitive target shooting aficionado, then there are other critical factors to consider.
Defining the fundamental type of shooting you expect to perform is necessary for choosing the best scope for AR-10 rifles.
Magnification Range
Closely tied to the shooting you anticipate are the ranges involved. Precision long-range shooting requires a different approach to scope selection than finding the best scope for AR-10 rifles used for hunting most North American game animals.
One of the biggest mistakes I see some shooters make is putting too much scope on their rifles for the types of hunting or shooting they do.
Additionally, a poorly mounted scope on the best long range rifles will never give satisfactory results.
Reticle Style and Design
Rifle scope manufacturers seem to delight in creating new and different reticle designs to attract customers.
I find that many of these reticle designs are cluttered and difficult to use. I much prefer a simple reticle with clear and precise mil.dot or MOA markings.
In some cases, a reticle with bullet drop compensation features is a handy addition. However, with a little practice, the same sort of compensation can be done using standard hash marks on the reticle.
On the whole, reticles are based on mil.dot measurements or MOA measurements. Both angular measurements allow you to quickly calculate and adjust your rifle scope for windage and elevation.
Which type of reticle you choose is a purely personal preference.
Optical Glass Quality
If you want the best scope for AR-10 rifles, you must shop for the highest quality glass you can afford. The optical glass quality of any scope for AR 10 rifles is the foundation of how well your scope will perform.
A scope made with the finest materials, the highest quality craftsmanship, and with every feature you can imagine will still only deliver mediocre image quality if the optical glass is low-grade.
Image quality is everything in a scope. Poor image quality will make rapid target acquisition almost impossible.
You can find a budget scope with good optical glass that will work well in many circumstances. At max magnification levels, poor-quality glass will start to become a bigger problem and can turn a good scope for AR 10 into a mediocre-performing optic.
Construction and Materials
I always encourage my associates to buy the best rifle scopes they can afford. A well-constructed rifle scope made from the highest quality materials can easily become a tool that you can pass from generation to generation.
It can be hard to judge the quality of workmanship and materials from a cursory look at a scope at your local gun store.
My advice is to shop with known manufacturers with a reputation for producing quality materials, exerting the highest quality control standards, and who will provide a solid warranty on their product. Buy the best scopes you can afford with the features you need.
First Focal Plane or Second Focal Plane Reticle?
If you are shopping for a variable magnification scope for AR-10 rifles, you must decide on the focal plane of the reticle. This is another choice that is more about personal preference than one beginning better than the other.
Each has its advantages and disadvantages and depends greatly on how you use your rifle scope.
The key factor is how the reticle appears to your eye at higher magnification. A first focal plane scope puts the reticle before the magnification erector. As you increase or decrease the magnification of your scope, the reticle will get larger or smaller with the magnification.
The second focal plane scope puts the reticle image behind the magnification erector. As you increase magnification, the reticle remains the same size regardless of the magnification setting.
The Advantages of First Focal Plane Scopes
Many people who do long-range shooting prefer a first focal plane scope because the hash marks on the reticle are always sized relative to the target image, making range estimation and wind adjustments easier to see.
For long-range shooting, this can be a big advantage when hunting to make corrections on the fly.
The Disadvantages of THE First Focal Plane Scope
As the magnification increases, the size of the reticle also grows. This can put some of the markings on more advanced reticles out of the field of view at high magnifications.
Scope with complex bullet drop compensation reticles often suffers from this problem. At long range, parts of your scope reticle may not be visible or usable.
The Advantages of a Second Focal Plane RIfle Scope
Using a complex reticle design won’t lose any of your reticle information at high magnification with a second focal plane scope.
The reticle will remain static despite any magnification increases. This can be important to anyone using a tactical range estimating scope.
Second Focal Plane Reticle Disadvantages
At long range and high magnification, it may become difficult to use the hash marks on the reticle to perform any range or wind estimation. Since both MOA and Mil.dot scopes are angle measurements, you must mentally adjust the hashmark measurements at various longer ranges. Some shooters find this a challenge for long-range shooting.
My Take on The Best Scope for AR-10 RIfles
There is no one best scope for AR-10 rifles. All of the factors listed here must be considered when choosing the best scopes. This holds for any rifle and scope combination, not just scope for AR 10 firearms.
I have broken my list of best scopes for AR-10 rifles into categories by application and price. I will try to explain why I chose each scope for the category, what features I find important, and any advantages and disadvantages I see in the selection.
Best Overall AR-10 Scope – Vortex Optics Viper PST Gen II FFP Riflescope
Choosing a rifle scope for the best overall category is always difficult. People see best overall and immediately assume that the scope chosen will do everything and do it well.
While I try to find a scope for this category that will perform reasonably well for any application, sometimes I don’t anticipate what people expect well.
In this case, however, my selection meets most of the needs of most shooters under average conditions.
Vortex Optics has a reputation in the industry for producing quality scopes at an affordable price that gives excellent performance. The Vortex Viper PST maintains this reputation and makes my list as the best scope for all-around use on an AR-10 rifle.
Why Does the Vortex Viper Get My Pick as the Best All-Around Scope?
Simply because it is at the top of the list in almost every category I use to pick a scope for an AR-10 rifle. We can check the list and see how the Vortex Viper stacks up.
- Vortex has an excellent reputation for using some of the best optical glass in the business for the Viper line of scopes.
- The Viper scope is a first focal plane scope, which is almost always my choice for scopes with higher magnification.
- The Vortex offers one of the best warranty programs in the industry, and its customer service is above par.
I run a lot of Vortex scopes on different firearm platforms. When I compare prices, performance, and features, Vortex Optics scopes usually float to the top of my lists.
Features
- Laser-etched turrets for easy elevation and windage adjustments with positive clicks and quick return to zero settings.
- Fiber optic rotation indicator to ensure that you are always aware of your turret position.
- The Vortex Viper features the Vortex MRAD reticle with clear and precise marks to make range estimation, hold-over, and windage corrections easy.
- The illuminated reticle offers ten intensity settings for optimal aiming at almost any light level or time of day.
- Each Vortex Viper scope uses high-quality low-dispersion optical glass that creates superb resolution and color fidelity images.
- Fully multi-coated lenses protect the glass from scratches, oil, and dirt.
- O-ring sealed construction and argon gas purging create a waterproof and fog-proof scope.
- Single-piece aircraft-grade aluminum tubes mean a durable and touch scope that will last for years without problems.
Specifications
- Magnification – 1-24X
- Objective Lens Diameter – 50 mm
- Eye Relief – 4.0 inches
- Field of View – 17.8 – 5.1 Ft @ 100 yards
- Tube Size – 30 mm
- Turret Style – Tactical
- Adjustment per click – 1/4 MOA
- Travel Per Rotation – 12 MOA
- Max Elevation and Windage Adjustment – 65 MOA
- Length overall – 15.41 inches
- Weight – 22.6 ounces
The Pros
- Excellent optical performance out to 750 yards
- Illuminated reticle with 10 settings calibrated in MOA
- Vortex quality construction and materials
- Some of the best turrets in the business
- Great eye relief
- Relatively inexpensive for a scope of this quality
The Cons
- No parallax adjustment, which can be a problem at high magnifications
- The magnification ring can be stiff and hard to manipulate
- You must purchase your base and rings separately
For a relatively long-range scope, the Vortex Viper is a real performer. You won’t get 1,000 yards out of this scope easily, but very few shooters or hunters go to that kind of distance.
I recommend the Vortex Viper Gen II if you are interested in a good all-around scope for an AR-10 rifle.
- The Viper PST Gen II takes incredible performance and rock solid features to new heights. The...
- Users who dial their turrets for drop and wind compensation will appreciate the laser etched...
Last update on 2023-09-14 at 01:22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best Budget All-Around AR-10 Scope – Athlon Optics Talos BTR 4-14X44 FFP
If your budget won’t quite stretch for a Vortex Viper Scope, there are some alternatives to consider. One of my favorites is the line of optics from Athlon.
I have been quite impressed with the quality and clarity of these Athlon optics so much that I mounted one of my project rifles a few months ago. I have been very happy with the results and more than impressed with the price.
As an alternative to more expensive all-around scopes for your AR-10, I recommend the Athlon Optics Talos BTR 4-14X44 rifle scope.
This scope is loaded with features that you would normally expect to find only on scopes in a much higher price category. The quality of the glass is good. The construction and finish is very nice.
Features
- A first focal plane reticle is a definite plus in a budget rifle scope
- Glass-etched reticle for precise and sharp images no matter the magnification
- An illuminated reticle allows for improved aiming and target acquisition during low-light conditions
- One-piece heat-treated tube for structural strength and integrity
- Nitrogen purged assembly for improved extreme conditions performance
- Fully multi-coated lenses for improved light transmission and lens protection
- APLR2 reticle allows fast and accurate ranging capabilities to quickly determine distance, holdover positions, windage correction, and leads on moving targets
Specifications
- Magnification – 4 -14X
- Focal Plane – First Focal Plane
- Field of View 27.2 – 7.9 feet @ 100 yards
- Eye Relief – 3.23 inches
- Adjustment per click – 0.1 mil per click
- Overall Length – 12.9 inches
- Weight – 23.6 inches
- Objective Lens Diameter – 44 mm
- Adjustment per rotation – 10 mil
- Total Elevation Adjustment – 18 mil
- Total Windage Adjustment – 18 mil
- Parallax Adjustment – Side Focus
The Pros
- An affordable rifle scope that still packs in lots of features and good quality
- Respectable construction and materials offer lots of value in this scope
- The glass is not on par with Leupold or Schmidt & Bender, but at this price, it is above average
- You probably won’t find another scope in this price range that offers an FFP reticle and a side focus parallax adjustment
- The glass-etched illuminated reticle is sharp and precise.
- Athlon offers a limited lifetime warranty
The Cons
- The exposed turrets could be a problem under extreme climatic conditions.
- This Athlon scope has a bit of a narrow field of vision.
- At the highest magnification, you may notice a small amount of distortion around the edges of the field of vision.
Surprisingly, the budget scope in my list is one of the few with parallax adjustments and a first focal plane reticle.
Athlon packs a lot of features into its scope while keeping the prices at a surprisingly reasonable level. I will admit that these are Chinese scopes using Chinese glass, but the quality is much higher than you might expect.
- First focal plane reticle stays valid at all power settings allowing you to fully utilize the...
- Reticle etched on the Glass that provides excellent backing support for complex reticle design and...
Last update on 2023-09-14 at 01:22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best Long-Range Scope for AR-10 Rifles – Nightforce NXS 5.5-22x50mm Rifle Scope
Nightforce has greatly impacted the rifle scope market since it introduced its first line of scopes in 1992.
The quality and performance of these scopes are well known and haven’t gone unnoticed by military and law enforcement. Many snipers in the U.S. Military routinely field Nightforce scopes as standard equipment.
There isn’t a much better recommendation to be had than to be used by some of the most elite special forces in the military.
For civilian use on an AR-10 platform, the Nightforce NXS 5.5-22x50mm scope is my choice as the best long-range scope for the money. If you want to get to the bottom line, Nightforce builds some of the best scopes on the market without question.
Why Does the NightForce NXS Scope Make My List?
When I start considering a long-range scope, I look at all my factors. But the one that gets more attention than anything else is the quality of the glass and the clarity of the images, especially at high magnification.
Nightforce uses Japanese glass, which rivals the best optical glass from Europe. The manufacturing quality equals the quality of the optical glass, which makes for a superior scope.
- These are some of the most durable and rugged scopes on the market. Surviving the rigorous field conditions required by the military ensures that you get a scope that can go anywhere.
- The illuminated reticle is sharp and crystal clear. You won’t have to guess what you see even under the most trying low-light conditions.
- Lightforce’s high-speed turret system allows you to traverse 20 MOA with one turret revolution. No more endless turret twisting to achieve fast and accurate windage and elevation adjustments.
This is a professional-level rifle scope. If you want to step up your long-range shooting, this scope from Nightforce is certainly the choice.
This is a scope that will let you test your skills and the limits of any AR-10.
Features
- The 5.5-22 magnification range is perfect for an AR-10 rifle for both long-range shots and close-range situations.
- Built tough and durable, the Nightforce NXS rifle scope can handle the recoil from the largest rifle calibers without question.
- Titanium BETA erector springs provide greater strength and spring pressure than conventional erector springs to ensure precise and stable elevation and windage adjustments.
- Despite its power and rugged construction, the Nightforce NXS presents a slim profile on your rifle for a more ergonomic mount.
- The turrets are easy to manipulate, even with gloved hands. The detents are positive, and the clicks are easily felt and heard for quick and efficient adjustments to windage and elevation.
- ZeroSet turrets ensure that you can quickly return your scope to its zero configuration by counting clicks or turns on the turrets.
Specifications
- Magnification – 5.5-22X
- Focal Plane – Second Focal Plane reticle
- Tube Diameter – 30 mm
- Overall Length – 15.1 inches
- Weight – 31.0 ounces
- Adjustment per clock – 0.25 MOA per click
- Maximum Windage Adjustment – 100 MOA
- Maximum Elevation Adjustment – 60 MOA
- Eye Relief – 3.7 inches
- Field of View – 4.7 feet – 17.5 feet @ 100 yards
- Reticle – 20 MOA graduated
The Pros
- Superior optical glass delivers some of the best clarity and light transmission I have seen.
- The high-speed turret adjustment is a great time saver when you are trying to get on a long-range target before it moves.
- The glass-etched illuminated reticle is crystal clear and precise.
- These scopes are designed for extreme conditions and should last for generations.
- The generous eye relief makes it possible to mount this scope to a wide array of rifles, including the AR-10 platform.
- The Nightforce NXS displays some of the best optics in low light conditions we have found.
The Cons
- There is no separate focusing ring. The configuration of the magnification ring means that if you use slip-on flip-up scope covers when you rotate the magnification ring, the scope cover will turn as well.
- There is no lever on the magnification ring. This seems like an oversight considering the cost of these scopes and the way they are designed.
- You may find the weight of the Nightforce NXS scopes a bit excessive. The higher weight is the penalty you pay for the rugged construction and almost indestructibility of these scopes.
There are more expensive scopes on the market. The Nightforce NXS scope is certainly not to be considered a budget scope contender.
However, if you want the long-range performance, highest quality optics, and construction that is perhaps the most rugged available, then the price may seem to be right on target.
- BROAD MAGNIFICATION - Both 5.5-22 Nightforce NXS models provide a broad magnification range,...
- IDEAL FOR LARGE CALIBERS - The Nightforce NXS 5.5-22x50 attributes is superbly suited to the heavy...
Last update on 2023-09-14 at 01:22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best Budget Long-Range AR-10 Scope – Riton Optics X3 Conquer 6-24X50 Rifle Scope
Even the most serious competitive long-range shooters balk at spending 2 or 3 times what they paid for a rifle on a scope.
AR-10 rifles can be had for between $500 and $1500. Putting a scope that costs 3 times that amount just for long-distance shooting is a tough nut to swallow.
If that is the situation for you, then take heart. Riton Optics may have a solution for you with its X3 Conquer 6-24X50 rifle scope.
If you don’t do a lot of close-range work, the Riton Optics X3 Conquer will let you push the limits of your AR-10 to your heart’s delight. These are feature-packed scopes with excellent quality at a reasonable price. I am seriously considering adding a Riton scope to one of my long-range rifles this coming spring.
Why Does the Riton X3 Conquer Make My List?
There are several reasons Riton gets a place on my list of best scopes for AR-10 rifles. You can use this scope for medium-range shooting.
However, the quality of this glass gives you long-range capability without the cost often associated with scopes that offer an extended shooting range. I am also impressed with Riton’s meticulous attention in building these scopes.
Features
- First Focal Plane Riflescope
- Uses Riton’s proprietary HD optical glass
- Illuminated reticle featuring 6 brightness settings
- 50mm objective lens diameter for better light-gathering capabilities. A larger objective lens gives you a larger field of view at higher magnifications.
- Riton R3 Zero Stop turrets
- Integrated throw lever on the magnification ring
- Fully multi-coated lens
- Aircraft-grade aluminum one-piece 30 mm tube
Specifications
- Magnification – 6-24X
- Objective Lens – 50-mm
- Tube diameter – 30-mm
- Reticle position – First Focal Plane
- Lens Coatings – fully multi-coated optics
- Riton MPSR Illuminated Reticle
- Field of View – 16.8 – 4.4 feet @ 100 yards
- Eye Relief – 3.3 inches
- Adjustment Per Click – 1/10 MRAD per click
- Max Windage and Elevation Adjustment – 21 MRAD
- Overall Length – 14.12 inches
- Total Weight – 27.1 Ounces
The Pros
- For the price, these Riton scopes have some of the best optical clarity available.
- Top quality construction, made in the USA and assembled in a clean room environment.
- Very few scopes in this price range get you an FFP reticle, parallax adjustment, and an illuminated reticle.
- The turret adjustments are crisp and positive, easily felt and heard.
- Zero Stop turrets ensure you can always return to scope to zero after any field adjustments.
- Adjustable Objective lens eliminates parallax error for long-distance shots.
The Cons
- No sun shade on the objective lens.
- At the lowest brightness settings, the reticle may be hard to see.
Riton offers one of the best warranties available. Each scope includes a lifetime warranty that requires no proof of purchase or registration requirements. In most cases, shipping the damaged scope back to Riton gets you a brand-new scope back in the mail.
- Item Package Dimension: 17.4803149428L x 4.724409444W x 3.93700787H inches
- Item Package Weight - 2.8880556322 Pounds
Last update on 2023-09-26 at 15:33 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best Tactical Scope for an AR-10 – Trijicon VCOG 1-6X24 Rifle Scope
A tactical scope may better fit your purposes if your hunting doesn’t involve long-range shooting but is performed where close-range or medium-range shots are the norm.
Typical tactical scopes are meant for working at a closer range where maneuverability is valued over long-range precision shooting.
When it comes to tactical optical equipment, my logical choice is Trijicon.
This company has written the book on tactical optical equipment for military and law enforcement use. Now, many civilian shooters have come to recognize that the same features that are valuable in a combat setting translate very well into many competitive or hunting scenarios.
What Makes the Trijicon VCOG my Tactical Scope for an AR-10 Rifle?
Reputation. That should be enough when you start talking Trijicon and tactical optical equipment. Years of experience with battle-proven systems make Trijicon the go-to tactical scope for your AR-10 firearm.
There are some compelling reasons that I have this opinion:
- Ask almost any combat veteran which scope they prefer when headed into some dicey situations, and they will invariably choose Trijicon.
- These are scopes designed to withstand extreme conditions and use.
- At medium ranges, these are as accurate as any scope on the market. Under most circumstances, the Trijicon VCOG will perform accurately at the extreme range of most AR-10 rifles.
When your targets are at medium range, you don’t need huge amounts of magnification. You need the right scope for the situation that you can count on with confidence.
Features
- Red segmented circle reticle with a center crosshair for fast target acquisition.
- Integrated ballistic reticle matched to 175-grain .308 cartridge loads.
- The first focal plane reticle maintains its relation to the target and keeps the ballistic reticle true to the target.
- Up to 700 hours of continuous runtime at setting 4 on the illumination intensity.
- Waterproof to 66 feet.
- Battle-tested and proven design.
- Tested to Mil-Std 810G for ruggedness and reliability.
- Easy to set and adjust turrets.
- Integrated mounts designed for AR-style platforms require no additional mounting equipment.
- A built-in fin on the magnification ring ensures easy and accurate magnification adjustments.
Specifications
- Available with red or green reticle
- Horseshoe or segmented reticle design
- Ballistic reticle for .308 175-grain FMJ ammunition
- Magnification – 1-6X
- Power source – AA lithium or alkaline batteries
- Adjustment per clock – 1/4 MOA per click
- Weight – 23.2 ounces
- Objective lens diameter – 24 mm
- Focal Plane – First focal plane
- Max Windage Adjustment – 90 MOA
- Max Elevation Adjustment – 90 MOA
- Eye Relief – 4 inches
The Pros
- Top-of-the-line construction and optical glass
- Crisp, precise zoom
- Adjustable illuminated reticle
- Smooth magnification adjustment with an easy-to-grasp adjustment ring
- No additional mounting equipment necessary for an AR-10 installation
- Weatherproof, shockproof, fog proof
The Cons
- Not compatible with a lot of other scope accessories
- A bit on the heavy side
- The cost is a stumbling block for many shooters.
If you want the best tactical scope for your AR-10, there is no question that the Trijicon VCOG is the choice. My only reservation about putting this scope on my list is how to justify the cost for most average shooters.
- Red Horseshoe reticle matched with 175-grain .308 loads
- First focal plane allowing the ballistic reticle to be used at any magnification
Last update on 2023-09-26 at 16:12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best Budget Tactical Scope for AR-10 Rifles – Monstrum Spectre 1-6X24 Rifle Scope
If you aren’t interested in making long-distance shots but want a great scope for mid-range shooting with a hunting scope, you should check out the Monstrum Spectre 1-6X24 Rifle Scope.
This is one of the best scopes for an AR platform that features tactical styling at an affordable price. These are a versatile scope choice for a AR 10 without a huge investment.
I am normally wary of imported optics that originate in China. However, Monstrum has demonstrated a dedication to delivering solid scope performance at a very competitive price to the U.S. market.
The Monstrum Spectre 1-6X24 rifle scope offers a level of quality I don’t usually find in imported Chinese scopes.
Why Does The Monstrum Spectre Get a Place on This List?
Tactical style scopes are a specialized type of optic that isn’t found in many budget scope manufacturers’ product lines.
The Monstrum Spectre isn’t a Trijicon by any stretch. However, it does offer a full set of features at a price that makes it an easy reach for most budget-conscious shooters. For the average hunter or weekend range shooter, Monstrum is a logical choice.
Features
- A low-power variable optic that gives great performance at close to mid-range distances.
- The second focal plane reticle is perfect for shorter distances.
- The Monstrum is one of the few scope choices that include the scope mount and flip-up lens covers in the package.
- Anti-reflective lens coatings provide higher light transmission and superior image clarity than most other scopes in this price category.
- Designed to provide a shorter scope with longer eye relief and a wider eye box than competing scopes.
- Integrated throw lever on the magnification rings makes manipulation sure and positive, even with gloved hands.
- Dial-controlled reticle illumination with 5 brightness levels and switchable from red to green.
Specifications
- Magnification – 1-6X
- Objective lens diameter – 24mm
- Tube Material – 6061 aircraft-grade aluminum
- Reticle – MOX-X1
- Tube Diameter – 30mm
- Eye Relief – 4.5 inches
- Weight – 17 ounces
- Length – 10.75 inches
- Finish – Type III hard anodized
- Nitrogen sealed tube
The Pros
- The reticle design makes target acquisition quick and easy.
- Clear glass with surprisingly good clarity for a scope in this price range.
- The push/pull locking turrets are easy to manipulate when making adjustments.
- Durable and tough enough to take the recoil from large caliber rifles.
- If it counts for anything, the packaging on these scopes is better than most scopes costing 3 or 4 times the price.
The Cons
- Some purchasers find that the illumination on the reticle is not bright enough for their uses.
- Battery life is pretty short if you forget to turn off the illumination when you are done with the scope.
All in all, for the price of the Monstrum Spectre rifle scope, you won’t find a much better optic in this price range.
This is a great entry-level scope with these features and this quality of optical glass.
- Low power variable optic from 1-6x magnification with an integrated throw lever for smooth...
- Features a brand new second focal plane MX1 box reticle with MOA hashmarks. Second focal plane...
Last update on 2023-09-26 at 16:12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
