How To Choose Your Next AR Optic.

There are so many options for the AR platform these days. Osprey Global Red Dots are super popular for tactical options. At the other end of the spectrum, you can get slap an Osprey Scope 6-24x50 MDG/IRF or some other longer-range riflescope on there and bring your targets up close and personal. There is no perfect option for your AR and it always depends on what you want to accomplish. There are a few questions to ask yourself before you commit to your next Osprey Scope.

How Far Will I Shoot With My AR Optic:

How long is a piece of string? A 24-inch Valkerie round on the AR platform is capable of a shot well over a thousand yards. If you are shooting a ten-inch barrel that spits out blackout rounds then you would be more accurate with a prayer, a horse-shoe, or a hand grenade if trying to get on a target beyond 200 yards.

The long and the short of it is that the AR platform has become very versatile at all distances from home self-defense to precision shooting. Your AR optic should reflect you and your weapons strengths. If you have an AR pistol and never intend to shoot past a hundred yards do not get the elite 8-32x56 riflescope and if you want to do the coveted thousand-yard shot with your new 6.5 Creedmore you are going to want more from your AR optic than a red dot and an educated guess.

What Caliber Is My AR?

This is going to affect your AR optic decision as much as how far you intend to shoot your AR. If you have an AR-10 then you may want something capable of a longer range shot because the 308 round will travel further than most AR rounds. The 6.5 Creedmore and Grendle rounds are also very effective at long range. On the other side of the coin, if you own a 300 blackout or 762x69 AR platform then you will probably never need AR optics with a magnification higher than six power

Will I Use My AR Optic For Self Defense:

This is huge. Self-defense with an AR will nearly always be in close quarters, be it in a car or your home. The biggest two factors when considering the best AR optic for self-defense are SPEED and RELIABILITY. To ensure speed then you need something with a big, or even better, unlimited eye relief like a red dot or Low Power Variable Optic. The second thing to consider is reliability. It is no good getting on target quickly but the battery on your red dot dies at the critical moment. If you decide on a red dot for your AR optic then make sure you have a second or even third backup. For example, you could have an Osprey Scope Red Dot but also have a green rifle laser AND have iron sights. So in a worst-case scenario, you can still put your bullet where it needs to be.

Some people will get a Low Power Variable Optic as their primary sight like the Osprey AR Optic Riflescope 1-6x24 and put the Osprey Global Red Dot RSMR on a 45 degree mount on the side. This setup is playfully called the “Jon Wick Special” and gives you reliability, speed, and backup options. Whatever you do with your AR optic for self-defense remember the most effective setup is the one you are comfortable with.

Am I Going To Hunt With My AR Optic?

Some people will never take their AR-15 beyond a hundred yards meaning they will only ever need a tactical AR optic. Others will choose to hunt varmints and hogs while others will do regular shots over 500 yards while hunting on the AR platform.

If you ever plan to hunt with your AR optic think realistically about what you want to hunt. Most AR hunts are 0-200 yards and a simple 1-4 is enough. If you want to dedicate yourself to hunting deer and more traditional trophy animals then a 3-9 or above would be necessary.

So What Is The Best AR Optic For Me?

Once you have answered the above questions you should have a better idea of exactly what you are doing with your rifle. You will most likely use it for more than one activity. You can use your AR for deer hunting AND self-defense or Hog Hunting AND three-gun competition. Just have a think about your PRIMARY use. Where are you going to be for the majority of your trigger time? If you may do an occasional 500-yard shot but are most likely doing 0-200 yards then a nine power is enough. If you are dedicating to the 500 yards shot you probably want at least a 16 power. So think of your primary use then check out our favorite AR optic and Osprey Scope for each situation.

Best AR Optic For Competition:

This will obviously depend on the competition you plan to compete in. The most popular competitions you would need an AR optic for are "three-gun” and “run-and-gun”. You want quick set covered turrets to adjust your zero on the fly while also protecting your zero from accidental adjustments while sliding down a hill. You also want a solid etched reticle so it is reliable and has enough magnification without the AR optic adding bulk or weight.

The best AR optic from Osprey Global that ticks all those boxes is the AR Optic 1-6x24IRF. It is very rugged and reliable with competition pop-and-drop turrets yet small enough to sling around all day without adding pounds to your pack and strain to your back.

Best AR Optic For Competition : AR Optic Riflescope 1-6x24mm

Best AR Optic For Self Defense

We are not a huge fan of relying on batteries  here at Buy-Osprey so this pick may surprise you. We have chosen the most popular Osprey Global Red Dot as the best optic for self-defense. It is is the Osprey red dot with green laser. This Red Dot comes with a built-in backup green rifle laser. It is also the perfect height for a Co-Witness in relation to your iron sights.

The green laser can act as an intimidation tool and may stop you from having to engage. ( For more info on why lasers are a useful addition to any AR read : Osprey Lasers: Buyers Guide And Reviews) The red dot is fast and if your battery fails you still have the green laser AND your iron sights to get you where you need to be.

Best AR Optic For Self Defense: Osprey Global Red Dot With Green Laser

Best AR Optic For All Round Use.

This list would be amiss if it didn’t include Osprey Scopes all-time top seller the Compact Riflescope 3-9x42 MDG/IRF. It can do everything on this list, it is a great AR optic for self-defense, for all kinds of hunting and targets. It can do all of it well so it is the best all-rounder for your AR.

If you want to DEDICATE to one discipline then there is probably a better option on the list, BUT if you want to do it all pretty darn well in all the disciplines then you cannot go wrong with the Compact 3-9x42MDG/IRF

Best AR Optic For All Round Use : Osprey Globals Compact Riflescope 3-9x42 MDG/IRF

Best AR Optic For Hunting

General hunting is best at dawn and dusk. Low light capabilities are important in these crucial hunting moments so you want an Osprey Scope that can handle those darker moments. The elite series all have 56 mm objectives that allow for enhanced low light gathering. The elite 4-16x56 has the larger bell for low light and the high-grade ED Hoya Glass to get results in low light. It also has a large eye relief so you can get onto a target fast without squinting or bobbing your head till you get the perfect eye relief. Some will find the elite 4-16x56 MDG a little bulky for an AR and if you want to keep it as light as possible this is not the Osprey Scope for you, both the 1-6x24 and the compact 3-9x42 MDG/IRF are other excellent hunting options.

Best AR Optic For Hunting: Elite Series 4-16x56 MDG

Best AR Optic For Long Range:

There are many optics in the Osprey global arsenal that can get excellent results at a thousand yards and beyond. The 6-24x50 IRF Osprey Scope is a popular riflescope that can hunt and reach out to top long-range groupings. Though there is one that has recently been eclipsing the Osprey 6-24x50 scope for the AR platform. Many of the team at buy Osprey Global have given it a nickname: The Creedmore.

So what AR optic has earned the title of “The Creedmore”? It is the Osprey Scope 8-32x56MDG . You get breathing space at a thousand yards but you do not have to absolutely dedicate to long-range shooting. The bottom end og eight power lets you have a fast view pick-up. Some dedicated distance optics like the Osprey Scope 10-40x50 MDG/IRF are not ideal for low-distance or short range shots as they can be a little slow on target acquisition. This AR optic allows you to both hunts and does long-range precision target shooting. 

Best AR Optic For Long Range: Osprey Global Elite Series 8-32x56 MDG.

How To Choose An AR Optic: Conclusion

There are so many options for your AR platform. It is literally leggo for adults. Everything you add to your AR customizes it to your style and makes it yours. This is no different when choosing the Osprey Scope you want to install. Get what works for you. 

Want it all tricked out with three 45 degree mounts an under-barrel green rifle laser and a full tactical Osprey Scope? Do it. Want a simple fixed six power scope like Grandpa Joe used to have? It will work. Just figure what your shooting style is, what you want to do with your AR, and choose something you will be comfortable with. It doesn't matter what tool you use, as long as the job gets done.