Top AR 10 Rifle Scopes – Complete Guide

It can be hard to choose a scope for an AR 10. There are so many good choices on the market that it get’s confusing and hard to choose. You may find yourself asking, what are the best AR 10 Rifle Scopes? I’ve done the research, came up with my top picks and now I want to share them with you.

What is the Best Scope for an AR10?

My favorite scope for an AR 10, is the Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Multi-X. This scope gives you really great features at a great price. That is the main reason it is my top pick.

The features are similar to a high end scope and the price is like a mid level scope. Bushnell has made their scopes to have crisp images, nice adjustments and this one has a generous eye relief to protect your eyes.

What To Consider When Buying AR 10 Scope

There are a few things to keep in mind while you are selecting a scope for your Ar 10. I’ve listed a few things here.

AR 10 Scope Durability

One thing to keep in mind as you are choosing your scope is that a .308 AR 10 has some recoil. It has enough recoil that you should look for a scope that is durable enough to withstand it.

Features such as the mechanisms inside the scope that move as you are adjusting, need to be able to withstand the abuse that comes from high caliber shooting.

Most known and established companies manufacture scopes than can take the beating a .308 AR 10 will give. You may want to stay clear of any company that you’ve never heard of or are brand new.

AR 10 Scope Magnification

You will need to consider your shooting distance. Think about what you will be using the scope for over the next several years and use that as your guide.

Since the .308 AR 10 has such an nice range, a 4-12×40 is the most popular scope for this rifle. The 4-12 is the magnification range. This scope has a minimum magnification power of 4x what is seen by the naked eye and a maximum of 12 times. The 40 is the size of the objective lens, in millimeters.

This scope gives you a lot of versatility. It is great for both hunting and target shooting. If you don’t think you will need this much power, the 3-9×40 is also another popular hunting scope magnification range.

Reticle Types for an AR 10 Scope

You will want to look at the different reticles on the market. They each have advantages and disadvantages, depending on how you use it.

Duplex Reticle

Simple, but quick and useful. Duplex reticles works great in low light and will give you the ability to extend your range. Duplex reticle is two crosshairs laid out with four quadrants.

Mil Dot

Mil dots let you range targets by using a mil-relation formula.

Ballistic

The ballistic reticle is great for medium range shooting.

This is just a simple sampling of the different types of reticles. You can check out all the different types as you are looking for your favorite scope.

AR 10 Scope Eye Relief

You really want to make sure your scope has enough eye relief, especially for high caliber rifles. You don’t want your rifle to jab you in the eye since it has a fair amount of recoil.

What Does Eye Relief on a Rifle Scope Mean?

Eye relief is the distance between your eye and the scope. There are two categories of scopes when it comes to eye relief. Short eye relief and long eye relief. Both kinds have a different design and use, and have advantages and disadvantages for the user.

Short Eye Relief

• 1.5 to 5 inches of eye relief, usually considered a regular scope
• Most common scopes. Usually found on rifles
• Only effective on long guns
• Most powerful scopes
• Mounted closer to the rear of the rifle
• Give a wider field of view
• FOV allows more to be seen at a magnified level
• Easier to adjust
• Clearer picture than long eye relief scopes
• Balance the rifle better
• Better level of magnification

Long Eye Relief

• Generally, anything beyond 6 inches is considered long eye relief
• Can be used on handguns
• Prefered for hunting revolvers
• Limited in magnification power
• The most powerful are only around 8x
• Better for large caliber rifles with a lot of recoil
• Easy access to chamber on bolt action rifles
• Certain weapons need a long eye relief just to eject rounds

The difference between a short eye relief scope and a long eye relief scope is pretty major. Short eye relief scopes work better for long range or precision shooting.

Long eye relief scopes are about hitting your target quickly.

AR 10 Scope Budget

I, like most people, enjoy finding the most value I can for my money. I don’t want to buy cheap stuff that will break after a couple of uses, but I don’t want to overspend for something that I may not need. This policy will allow you to get more gear for the same amount of money, which will make you happy.

There are a few companies who have really found how to balance quality and price. I recommend going with those companies.

Top AR 10 Scopes

	Product Name	Where to Buy
	Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Multi-X
	Vortex Diamondback 4-12×40 BDC
	Monstrum G3 6-24×50
	Nikon ProStaff 3-9×40 Nikoplex Riflescope

Let’s get on to our top AR 10 scope picks. If you are new to scopes, I hope you have learned enough of the basics to feel like you can confidently choose a good scope for your .308 AR 10.

1. Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Multi-X

Bushnell is one of the world’s leaders in sports optics. This scope features an extremely bright sight picture, allows for high resolution images even in low light or other undesirable conditions.

Features

• Polymer and Aluminum made
• Compact
• 4-12×40
• Fully multi coated
• Zero reset turrets
• Nitrogen filled
• O ring sealed
• Waterproof
• Fogproof
• Duplex Recticle
• Quick eye focus eyepiece

Pros

• Great scope for the money
• Holds zero
• Sharp image
• Good low light transmission
• Sturdy
• Lightweight
• Eye relief is good

Cons

• Knobs seemed a little stiff at first
• Made in the South Korea

2. Vortex Diamondback 4-12×40 BDC

This is another nice scope that is loaded with features. This thing is durable since it is crafted with  solid, one piece design, aircraft grade aluminum alloy. Dead Hold BDC reticle is custom designed to keep guesswork out of holdover and windage correction.

Features

• Aircraft grade aluminum
• Dead Hold BDC reticle
• Highly resistant to magnum recoil
• Virtually indestructible
• Fully multi-coated optics
• Precision guide erector system

Pros

• Clear glass
• Reticle is nice
• Audible clicks with rests
• Holds zero
• Easy to zero in
• Great in low light
• Great quality
• Eye relief is generous
• Unlimited warranty

Cons

• Covers seem flimsy
• Gets fuzzier with higher magnifications

3. Monstrum G3 6-24×50

This scope will give you longer range than the 4-12×40 scopes we’ve looked at so far. The lens is oversized and great for high caliber rifles. Of course, just like the other scopes listed, it is waterproof, fogproof and shockproof, and features multi-coated optics.

Features

• Large magnification range
• Great for high caliber rifles
• Quick focus eyepiece
• Fully multi-coated optics

Pros

• Rugged
• Lightweight
• Flip up lens covers
• Sunshade
• Holds zero
• Great optics
• Works great for AR 10
• Illumination Control Knob
• Clear, sharp image
• Lifetime Warranty

Cons

• AO adjustment knob tough to turn
• Adjusting the illumination brightness loosens cover

4. Nikon ProStaff 3-9×40 Nikoplex Riflescope

If you want a little less range, than the ProStaff 3-9×40 is the way to go. This scope includes all the features for a great scope. Fully multi-coated optics, and precise ¼ moa hand turn adjustments. This scope gets you zeroed in quick, and on to shooting with accuracy.

Features

• Nitroplex reticle
• Quick focus eyepiece
• Measures 12.4 inches
• Fully multi-coated optics
• Nitrogen filled
• O ring sealed
• 3.6 inch eye relief

Pros

• Clear, bright image
• Simple duplex reticle
• Good for the price
• Positive click adjustments
• Solid build

Cons

• Plastic turret covers are flimsy
• Turrets seemed off

Best AR 10 Scopes – Conclusion

I’ve listed some great AR 10 scopes here for you to choose from. I listed a couple 4-12×40, and a 4-16×42 for longer range and a 3-9z40 for less power. They are all good scopes and any one of them could work for you depending on your needs in a scope.

My top pick is the Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Multi-X

This scope it very high quality, won’t break the bank, and comes with a great warranty.

I hope this article has narrowed down your choices in scope for your AR 10. I hope you feel you could click on any of these links and purchase a great scope, at a great price, and start shooting with great accuracy.

For more Gun Scopes reviews, visit our Gun Scopes Reference.

Recommended Reading

AR-10 The Most Versatile Rifle

Best AR-10 Lower Receivers