Which Osprey Global Optic is best for the AR-15?

The first big decision after getting an AR-15 is to decide on the best AR optic for it. The internet will try to sell you on a bunch of different options. Your friends and range partners will have suggestions that work for them. I'm sure they all mean well and they all have a valid point that works in certain situations but they may be not quite right for your personal needs.. A thing to remember is that while one person can pull off that salmon-colored jacket and loafers to a formal dinner doesn’t mean it will work for you. Same goes for your AR optic.

There is an abundance of choices on the market, so many it boggles the mind and can overwhelm the new person looking for an AR optic. You can set up for fighting the Russian mafia John Wick style with Osprey Global red dots and side mounts. You can get fast target acquisition options for hunting hogs or medium range AR Optics for hunting and targets. The applications for AR are only outnumbered by the variety of AR Optics.

The worst thing to do is look at all the options. Osprey Scopes has over 30 optic options appropriate for the AR platform. A google search will provide you with 600 pages of options for your tactical set up.The more you look the deeper down the rabbit hole you will go and the more confusing it gets.

The best thing to do is simply think about your end game. If you want to get out to 500 yards and kill rabbits you will want something completely different to the person protecting their home. So today we are going to outline three different popular AR setups: a Tactical set up, one for hunting and one for long barrel AR long-range setups, and give you multiple options for each.

Setting Up An AR-15 For Self Defence.

When setting up for self-defense there are a lot of things to consider. Most of the time it is going to be close range, and by close-range I mean within 25 yards. It is also more than likely going to be in a low-lit situation so that is something to keep in mind when selecting your AR-optic.

I know guys who put the Osprey Tactical Riflescope 6-24x50 IRF on their short-range 300 blackout and other people who do 400 yards on iron sights. We all have and are entitled to our style and opinion but there are some “rules of thumb” that will set you straight until you figure out what your style and preference is.

Best AR Optic Magnification For Self Defense.

Self defense is nearly always at close range. Magnification for self defense will nearly always be at little or no magnification. You also want to be adaptable so some magnification is not a bad idea. A Low Power Variable Optic is an excellent idea, like the Osprey Global AR Optic 1-4 or the Osprey Scopes signature series 1-6x26.

Many people will default to one of the Osprey Scopes red dots for self-defense because of its unlimited eye relief which translates directly to speed on target. They are an excellent choice for a dedicated self-defense weapon. If you want your AR Optic to be able to hunt and target shoot on top of the self-defense application then a low power variable optic may be a better option. What you sacrifice slightly in speed you make up for in all-round capability. A red dot, from Osprey Scopes or other company, is built to be ideal and fast in the 0-50 yard range. Beyond that you will want something different for you AR.

So before deciding on if you want an Osprey Global Red Dot or a Low Power Variable Optic you have to decide on what exactly you are using it for. Just remember that red dots are running on batteries so if you go that route have at least one or two backup options for aiming. The red dot with the green laser has a rifle strength green laser mounted to it that can be used as a secondary sighting tool and as an intimidation tool (BLOG: How And Why To Co-witness Red Dots) . Here at Buy Osprey Global, we lean towards Low Power Variable Optics as they can be used for self-defense at any distance. Remember in some situations you may need to defend yourself at 100 yards.

Top Three AR Optics For Self Defense:

Osprey AR Optic Riflecope1-6x24

Great LPVO that will let you track a moving target and reach out to a few hundred yards while still being able to be used in full tactical situations.

Osprey AR Optic Riflescope TA 1-4x24

Extremely fast and simple AR Optic. No fluff and no bells and whistles just a swift and reliable optic with excellent glass.

Osprey AR Optic Compact Riflescope 3-9x42 IRF

Osprey Globals biggest seller. Known for its eye relief which translates directly to speed on target. While not quite as fast as the true one power optics it more than makes up for it with its larger objective providing better low light capabilities and its superior magnification.

Osprey Red Dot With Green Laser

Osprey Globals best selling red dot. It is a tube style red dot that you can use in a co witness situation and comes with the mounted green rifle laser. Great for dedicating to home self defense.

Top Three AR Optics On An Ar 15 For Hunting.

AR 15 platforms can be an excellent choice for hunting. Especially hog hunting as it means that if you chance upon a group of hogs the AR platform gives you the option to take down more than one in the group. With the right AR Optic, you can track and drop multiple moving targets

They are also capable of more traditional hunting. Getting your AR-15 setup with an ideal optic for hunting isn’t hard, you can actually use the same riflescope as you use in your hunting rifle. The difficult part is retaining the benefits of the AR platform AND finding something that works for your hunting as well. To be tactical and have fast target acquisition while having enough glass to hunt effectively you will need more than your dads’ dusty hunting riflescope.

There is no best optic for the AR-15 and it will depend on what you are hunting and what else you want to do with your AR-15. Most of Osprey Global’s scopes will work in one scenario or another. The following three optics are the top three AR optics for hunting.

Top Three AR Optics For Hunting On An AR.

Elite Riflescope 4-16x56 MDG

Osprey Globals Elite Series 4-16x56 is currently the number one hunting riflescope regardless of platform. The 56mm objective is excellent at gathering light. When that large objective is coupled with the excellent HOYA glass and the superior convex design it ends in flawless clarity.

It is common in traditional hunting riflescopes to have slower target acquisition due to the larger magnification range. This slower-to-target effect is almost non-existent on this Osprey scope. While the more traditional AR optics will be slightly faster, this Osprey 4-16x56 is still very fast and comes with better low-light capabilities than any dedicated AR optic on the market.

Ospreys AR Optic Compact Riflescope 3-9x42 IRF

This little AR optic packs a lot of punch for such a compact package. It is Osprey Globals biggest selling scope of all time. The unique eye relief is what makes the AR Optic compact Riflescope 3-9x42 IRF so popular. The eye relief is huge! A full 9 inches instead of the typical 2-3 inches. This eye relief increases your target acquisition dramatically,It almost feels like a red dot!

The compact scope also has a variable magnification range of three on the low end to nine power at the top. This makes it ideal for all kinds of hunting, from hogs to exotics. If you are like the majority of hunters in America and you are hunting below four hundred yards then this is an ideal all-around AR optic.

Osprey Global AR Optic Riflescope 1-6x24

The 1-6 is a classic AR scope for the AR platform. Since it has a beginning magnification of 1 power it has the fastest target acquisition of these three options. The top power of six is more than enough for nearly all AR optic situations. The main drawback from the 1-6 that made it come in third of the top three AR optics for hunting is because it does have a smaller objective than the other two. This means that in low light, while still having excellent glass, the light transition won't be as good as the previous two.

Top Three AR Optics At The Range.

When going to the range for plinking or practice it is important to keep it interesting. There are a lot of things that can keep you sharp on the trigger without boring you with drills. Use a duelling tree with friends, different sized targets and speed drills are all fun. We find that the key to keeping the range interesting it is important to have something to grow into or strive for. So for something to grow into we are thinking longer range AR optics. AR optics that have decent magnification give you the ability to punch out to further targets and you can also use these for hunting as well.

The following AR platform optics work really well on longer rang eAR platforms like the 6.5 creedmore, AR-10 and other long barrel AR rifles.

Osprey Tactical Riflescope 6-24x50 IRF

The 6-24 IRF is a great hunting AND target riflescope. It has very fine ⅛ inch MOA adjustments so at long range you can make precise adjustments. The eye relief is still generous enough for hand-holding and stalk hunting but the top magnification of 24 is enough to get the capable shooter and weapon to a thousand yards.

Osprey Scopes Core Riflescope 3-12x44 MDG

Osprey Globals 3-12 AR optic is a scope that is capable at low range and middle to long range. It is a bare-bones AR optic but if reliability and clarity are important then it is more than a proficient option. It has locking turrets and an above-average magnification making it excellent for those wanting to dip their toes into longer-range without losing the full value of a tactical AR optic.

Osprey Globals Elite Riflescope 8-32x56 MDG

Great for those ready to dedicate their AR platform to a longer range. It has a precision reticle that translates directly to target shooting. The 56mm objective will provide clarity in every scenario and the pop and lock turrets mean it can switch between hunting and targets easily. This Riflescope is not ideal for an “ all-rounder” AR platform. You have to want to do distance on a regular basis but when you get past the 500-yard mark this riflescope really starts to show off like a show pony.

So What Is The Best AR Optic?

Any of these lists you read online or in magazines listing “ The top three ar optics” or “the best scope for your AR” read with caution. The reason being is that the “best” Ar Optic simply does not exist. Think about what you want to achieve. Do you want to keep it as a home self-defense weapon? Sure the red dot green laser is a great option. Do you want to hunt hogs and deer? The Osprey Global elite 4-16x56 is an excellent option. Maybe you just want something that can do everything well? You cannot go past the Compact 3-9x42 IRF.

You may just want to stick to red dots, you may be the guy who only wants to use the biggest magnification you can find. The above options are great starting points but as Chuck Norris once said “You do you”.