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- Alfred Mendoza
- June 1, 2023
Shooters want their AR-15 rifles to perform with great accuracy, but the only way for this to happen is to equip their firearms with the best rifle scope in the market. However, it’s challenging to find accurate scopes at an affordable price.
Fortunately, our team took the liberty of looking for the best scope for AR-15 under $100 to help you decide what to purchase!
- Excellent lightning
- Provides a complete field of view
- Great value for its price
- Withstands hard use and weather
- Fog proof
- Has excellent magnification feature
- Sturdy scopes from aluminum
- Red and green illuminated reticle
- Best for target shooting
- Great value for the price
- Made from lightweight materials
- Has an adjustable objective
- Provides clear target image
- Recommended in low light conditions
- Easy to operate
Table of Contents
- 1 Top 10 Scopes for AR-15 Under $100
- 1.1 1. Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 Red Dot Sight Riflescope
- 1.2 2. CVLIFE 2.5-10x40e Red & Green Illuminated Scope
- 1.3 3. UTG 3-9X32 1" BugBuster Scope
- 1.4 4. Tacticon Armament Predator V1 Red Dot Scope
- 1.5 5. MidTen 4-12×50 Dual Illuminated Scope
- 1.6 6. Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Multi-X Reticle Riflescope
- 1.7 7. Simmons 560520 Truplex Riflescope
- 1.8 8. Monstrum S330P 3X Prism Scope
- 1.9 9. CenterPoint 1-4X20 AR Scope
- 1.10 10. XOPin C4-12X50EG AR15 Scope Combo
- 2 Factors to Consider
- 3 Our Team's Selection Process
- 4 What to Expect From An AR-15 Scope Under $100
- 5 FAQs
- 6 And The Best Scope for an AR-15 under $100 Is…
Top 10 Scopes for AR-15 Under $100
1. Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 Red Dot Sight Riflescope
Why We Picked It:
Bushnell Trophy is one of the best scopes for AR-15 under $100 because its build contains nitrogen inside to protect your scope from the fog. The waterproof construction also makes the O ring stay dry even when exposed to outside elements like water.
This red dot sight/scope is best for shooters who love to hunt in the wild. The manufacturer made sure that gun owners would be able to mount it easily and in a short span of time. This is perfect for rifles, pistols, shotguns, muzzleloaders, and an objective lens with 25mm.
EDITOR’S CHOICE
PROS
- Excellent lightning
- Provides a complete field of view
- Great value for its price
- Withstands hard use and weather
- Fog proof
CONS
- Battery life is short
2. CVLIFE 2.5-10x40e Red & Green Illuminated Scope
Why We Picked It:
CVLIFE offers an AR-15 rifle scope with an objective lens that measures 2.5-10X with 40mm and a field of view reaching 100 yards. It is one of our best picks because it is made from high-strength aircraft aluminum, making it sturdy and durable even when exposed to outside elements or when used for long periods.
This riflescope also features a multi-coated green lens that enhances the light transmission and has a Class III-A laser with 2mW making it an asset for fast target acquisition.
PROS
- Has excellent magnification feature
- Sturdy scopes from aluminum
- Red and green illuminated reticle
- Best for target shooting
- Great value for the price
CONS
- May not hold zero well
- Mounting screws my loose
3. UTG 3-9X32 1" BugBuster Scope
Why We Picked It:
UTG’s rifle scope is made from aluminum with a 9.84 x 3.35 x 3.94 inches dimension. It has a 32mm lens diameter and a 37.7 ft field of view. It is also fog, rain, and shockproof and contains nitrogen inside to assure the product’s strength, durability, and quality.
We also love that it has quick-detachable rings and high-standard lens covers. This rifle scope also has red and green illumination modes for versatile application and guarantees eye relief.
PROS
- Made from lightweight materials
- Has an adjustable objective
- Provides clear target image
- Recommended in low light conditions
- Easy to operate
CONS
- No night vision
- Crosshairs may get fuzzy
4. Tacticon Armament Predator V1 Red Dot Scope
Why We Picked It:
The Tacticon Armament Predator V1 is a combat veteran-owned company that offers tactical scopes known for fast target acquisition and iron sights that fit the optic. These are also water and fog-proof because of the sealed O-rings inside.
Its brightness settings allowed us to shoot anytime we wanted through the five brightness levels with green or red dot options. The Tacticon Armament Predator V1 has an extra battery included upon purchase.
PROS
- Mounts are tight
- Budget-friendly scope
- Easy to install
- Solid knobs and dials
- Bright dots
CONS
- Bad parallel effect
- Impossible for indoor shooting
5. MidTen 4-12×50 Dual Illuminated Scope
Why We Picked It:
MidTen manufactures one of the best rifle scopes in the industry with a 50mm objective lens diameter and a coated lens that gives its users maximum light transmission. It comes with a 33mm reflex lens aperture that offers a wide field view and targets 100 yards.
Another thing we love about this riflescope is its illuminated reticle, which has a five brightness level and detachable green laser lights reaching 300m. It is also easily mountable to any 22 Weaver or Picatinny rails.
PROS
- Best for hunting
- Easily adjustable magnifications
- Affordable price
- Very accurate lasers
- Scopes appear clear
CONS
- Impossible to use for night vision
- Hard to find compatible batteries
6. Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Multi-X Reticle Riflescope
Why We Picked It:
This rifle scope features a fast-focus eyepiece that measures 12 inches long and a larger objective lens diameter of 40mm. It is important to note that the size of your lens matters as it transmits the amount of light you will see whenever you are shooting your firearm [1].
This scope has 3.3 inches of eye relief and is good to use even in a low-light setting.
PROS
- Greatly handle recoils
- Works in distant targets
- Offers a wide field of view
- Provides value for its price
- Good in low light
CONS
- Has rough adjustments
- Does not hold zero
7. Simmons 560520 Truplex Riflescope
Why We Picked It:
The budget scope manufactured by Simmons has 32mm objective lens diameters and a minimum magnification of four. It also features fully coated lenses and easily adjustable rubber surfaces.
Their rifles are also lightweight and work best for hunting expeditions. The three to four inches of eye relief also helped us focus and see our targets vividly.
Customers who bought Simmons’ scope praised its affordable price, great quality, and accuracy. Satisfaction is their users’ usual response to their products.
PROS
- Affordable price
- High-quality finish
- Works for long-range shooting
- Clear and bright glass
- Versatile scope for hunting
CONS
- Cannot lock eye relief adjustment
- Crosshairs are turning
8. Monstrum S330P 3X Prism Scope
Why We Picked It:
Monstrum offers one of the best and high-quality rifle scopes in the industry. Their scopes are aluminum with a 45mm objective diameter and adjustable magnification lens. Furthermore, they also offer quick target acquisition for up to 400 yards and above.
We liked this scope because of the adjustable objective lens that helped us see a crystal clear picture of our target. It is also water and fog-proof because of its nitrogen component inside.
PROS
- Good for night vision
- Heavy-duty prism sight
- Has lens protectors
- Made of lightweight materials
- Smooth adjustments
CONS
- Stiff light switches
- It does not hold zero
9. CenterPoint 1-4X20 AR Scope
Why We Picked It:
CenterPoint Optics offers a budget scope with a 20mm objective diameter and a 1-inch diameter tube. It comes with Picatinny rail mount rings, fine lens covers, and eye relief.
The red dot let us see small distant targets when we used it in the range. It also has a 3-minute angle (MOA) center dot and 65 MOA ring that maximizes its performance.
This scope is lightweight and can be zeroed in four rounds, which makes it a high-performing scope.
PROS
- Solid and compact mount
- Smooth zoom adjustment
- Satisfying night visibility
- Glasses are crystal clear
- Crisp reticles
CONS
- Reticle washes out in light
- Slight distortion in magnification
10. XOPin C4-12X50EG AR15 Scope Combo
Why We Picked It:
This rifle scope is aluminum with a green and red dot for Picatinny and Weaver mount that will work best for your hunting escapade. It also has a fully coated optical lens and nitrogen that make it fog and waterproof.
This scope is also known for having a detachable green dot laser light and red dot sight [2]. It could help make your AR-15 rifle capable of rapid target acquisition even in dark hunting modes and low-light environments.
PROS
- Solid aluminum instruction
- Stable rail attachment
- Affordable price
- Bright red dot sight
- Suits low light shooting
CONS
- Has minor glare issues
- No manual/instructions included
Factors to Consider
Lens Glass/Image Quality
A good AR-15 rifle scope should have transparent glasses that give you a crystal clear sight picture of your target. Do note that the diameter of your lens determines the amount of light that will enter your scope.
There are available water or fog-proof lenses in the market that are useful when temperatures suddenly change while in action. The lens is one of the most important in buying scopes. It is of utmost importance to carefully scrutinize the product when looking for scopes.
Magnification Range
The magnification range determines how many times closer the image appears to your scope. The benchmark magnification of rifle scopes for long-range shots targets 100 up to 1,000 yards.
The magnification lens is important because it sets the picture of your target. This is also essential if you opt to see targets from afar, especially when you are out hunting. On the other hand, a scope with high magnification requires more weight, optic, and price. Still, light refraction might happen, which might result in a distorted image.
Reticle Type
Mil-Dot
The Mil-Dot reticle works as a range-finding device by utilizing rifle scope optics to determine the approximate distance of the target.
Mil-Dot reticle is an important range-finding tool used for fast target acquisition. You also use this to conduct an elevation adjustment and give a measured reference when looking through your scope.
Duplex
The Duplex reticle has thick lines found in the edges of the scope that helps to focus on the target. There are thin lines in the center that can help your eyes to target and aim quickly.
The experts who love long-range shooting utilize the Duplex reticle for preserving excellent rifle scopes for hunting. They also use it to fixed target shooting because of its noticeable thin crosshairs when aiming.
Build Quality
A high-powered AR 15 rifle scope has a sturdy build quality to establish good quality and performance. They are usually made from aircraft-grade aluminum to ensure that they are sturdy, durable, and can withstand any outside elements.
It should also possess clear glasses which are fog and waterproof to avoid experiencing unnecessary and unexpected blurs in your expedition if the temperatures suddenly change. Proper handling is also a key for gun owners to maintain the good build of their rifle scopes.
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Parallax
Parallax is the term used to explain the result when the target and reticle of your AR-15 rifle scope are not on the same focal planes. The amount of parallax depends on your measured distance from the target. Hence, you should check and adjust it at all times.
This parallax happens when you have a high distance magnification of over 250 yards. It is important to observe this closely as it can result in a missed shot if not corrected.
Eye Relief
Eye relief refers to the distance you should hold from the ocular lens of your scope to view a wider field area. The best scopes also provide an adequate amount of relief to help prevent the scope from touching your eyebrows.
This relief may also depend if you have a short or long-range scope. Commonly, it has a fixed setting but can be adjustable either forward or backward to fit your needs.
Adjustability
Great rifle scopes in the market have adjustable brightness settings and magnification with a maximum of five levels. It allows the users to utilize their scope both in the dark and dawn when shooting targets.
A scope whose brightness can be adjusted is an advantage because it is efficient in many ways. On the other hand, most gun owners are looking for smooth windage and good elevation adjustments.
Turret Quality
“Turrets are traditionally used by target shooters to make fine adjustments during competitions.” – Chris Denham, Hunting Expert
You can find turrets at the beginning of the eyeball along the right side of your rifle scope. It has minutes of angle (MOA) that gunners can adjust when shooting targets.
Some turrets are custom-made to fit the specifications of your rifle. It could be beneficial if you don’t want to make any further adjustments every time you use your firearm.
Price Range
Some shooters are willing to invest in pricy rifle scopes and for good reasons. The scope price may vary based on the materials used. It may vary depending on its finish, weight, durability, and clarity.
It is also important to note that a cheap scope doesn’t automatically mean that it is not of good quality. There are many affordable scopes out there that provide great value for their price.
Our Team's Selection Process
Overall Performance
Our team considered the durability, quality, price, and build of the rifle scopes. The overall performance of these scopes is exemplary, considering the fact that they possess basic essential features like red and green dots adjustable brightness.
They also come with excellent iron sights that can accurately help users shoot, whether in an open or close range.
Weapon Compatibility
Ensured weapon compatibility is visible through the adjustment options given by each rifle scope brand. Scopes with red and green dot adjustable brightness and a focal plane that modifies Mil or BDC reticle and magnification are usually compatible with many firearms.
However, shooters are still responsible for checking the specifications of their firearms before buying one to avoid any unexpected issues.
Product Quality
Our team looked for the best high-quality rifle scopes in the market. Customer reviews often commend the green and red dot scope and adjustable brightness settings of optics. A red/green illuminated scope with a glass prism optical system always comes recommended by most users.
What to Expect From An AR-15 Scope Under $100
- Some manufacturers created AR-15 scopes with clear and adjustable objective lenses. Don’t worry because buying a rifle scope at a cheaper price can provide you with high-quality features too.
- Users can get a compact scope that offers targeting and distancing laser that is best used for hunting.
- Most scopes come with a red/green illuminated scope that enhances your aim and focus.
- AR-15 rifle scopes with multi-coated optics can give you a clean and transparent target view.
- You can buy night vision scopes with a red or green dot under $100 that is highly functioning and convenient when doing hunting expeditions at night.
FAQs
Yes, it is wise to buy cheap scopes for AR under $100. There are scopes with an accurate tactical optic, high-quality red and green illuminated scope, and backup iron sight. These features can help to elevate your gun performance in the field at very affordable prices.
Yes, AR-15 scopes under $100 are reliable because they are made from durable aluminum and other strong metals that make the body, scope tube, and handles sturdy. The manufacturers also provide manuals to ensure users an easy-to-use rifle experience and a quality tactical scope.
And The Best Scope for an AR-15 under $100 Is…
After days of extensive research, our team has concluded that the best scope for AR-15 under $100 is the Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 Red Dot Sight Riflescope! This scope is allotted for the subcompact sight department. It also has an incredibly fast target acquisition which is best for your hunting escapades.
The red dot sight also works well to help you focus on your aim and get more precise shots. Its users have mentioned their remarkable experiences. They have also expressed their satisfaction when using this scope, helping us conclude that Bushnell offers the best scope for AR-15 under $100.
EDITOR’S CHOICE
Our #1 Recommendation
Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 Red Dot Sight Riflescope
- High-powered rifle scope
- Provides value for your money
- Excellent lighting
- Offers a wide field of view
