← Back to guides
Buying guideMission planningOptics

AR Optic Selection Matrix

Dial in glass that matches your rifle’s purpose. Compare popular optic families, understand what they weigh fully mounted, and learn how agencies and trainers pair them with accessories for night or day-time work.

Data drawn from trainer round tables and manufacturer spec sheets.Always re-confirm zero after changing mounts, risers, or magnifier alignment.

Category overview

Each optic family excels in certain environments. Use these highlights to match capability to mission demands before you dive into specific SKUs.

Micro Red Dot

4–6 oz

Close quarters, home defense, NV-compatible builds

Strengths

  • • Fast target transitions with unlimited eye relief.
  • • Works when shooting from unconventional positions or behind cover.
  • • Large aftermarket for mounts, risers, and NV-height options.

Considerations

  • • Requires backup magnification past 150 yards.
  • • Battery or emitter failure possible—keep spare power source logged.
  • • Window size matters; micro dots require precision placement under stress.
Keep in mind

Pair with 1.93" or 2.26" mounts for nods and passive aiming.

LPVO (1-6 / 1-8x)

17–24 oz

General purpose patrol, Recce, rural defense

Strengths

  • • True 1x with daylight bright reticles on premium models.
  • • Variable magnification covers CQB to 400+ yards with holds.
  • • Encourages consistent cheek weld and position fundamentals.

Considerations

  • • Heavier than dots; balance rifle with stock and rail accessories.
  • • Requires practice for rapid magnification adjustments under stress.
  • • Budget glass often trades low-light performance for cost savings.
Keep in mind

Add a throw lever and offset dot if you expect mixed distances indoors.

Fixed Power Prism (3x / 5x)

10–16 oz

SHTF do-all, astigmatism shooters, minimalist Recce

Strengths

  • • Etched reticle works with or without illumination—no batteries needed.
  • • Compact and durable with generous field of view compared to legacy ACOG designs.
  • • Built-in BDCs simplify holds with common 5.56 loads.

Considerations

  • • Eye box tighter than LPVO at close range—needs training for CQB.
  • • Limited reticle choices; confirm compatibility with your ballistic profile.
  • • May require risers or specific mounts for passive NV sighting.
Keep in mind

Add piggyback red dot or 45° offset irons for true 0–50 yard speed.

Red Dot + Magnifier

11–14 oz combined

Budget general purpose, shared rifles, patrol cars

Strengths

  • • Keeps dot speed but adds quick 3x–5x magnification when needed.
  • • Magnifier can flip to side or be removed entirely to save weight.
  • • Lets you share a zeroed dot across multiple hosts with spare optics.

Considerations

  • • Eye relief is short; maintain consistent stock placement.
  • • Additional mounts add failure points—lock-tite and re-check torque.
  • • Offset weight can feel uneven; plan sling placement accordingly.
Keep in mind

Zero dot at 50/200, confirm magnifier alignment to avoid parallax drift.

Mission-driven picks

Start with the mission, then pick glass. These combos reflect common agency selections and vetted civilian pairs that keep rifles balanced.

Home Defense / CQB

Field tested

Preferred

Micro red dot on 1.93" mount

Secondary

Prism with piggyback dot for astigmatism shooters

Keep brightness preset to indoor level; stage white light and sling alongside the rifle.

Patrol / Duty Carbine

Field tested

Preferred

LPVO 1-6x with illuminated reticle

Secondary

Dot + magnifier for agencies standardizing on shared optics

Add throw lever and track torque on mount hardware in an armorer log.

Rural Property / Recce

Field tested

Preferred

LPVO 1-8x with MIL/MOA reticle

Secondary

5x prism with offset dot

Weight budget matters. Balance optic with lightweight can and rail accessories.

Night Vision Focused

Field tested

Preferred

Micro red dot with NV-compatible settings + 1.93" or 2.26" mount

Secondary

LPVO with dedicated IR laser/illuminator combo

Confirm passive aiming height and consider sacrificial lens covers for IR splash.

Truck / Second-Line Rifle

Field tested

Preferred

Prism 3x with etched reticle

Secondary

Red dot + micro magnifier

Favor rugged mounts, anti-fog lens coatings, and quick-detach for maintenance.

Accessory checklist

Optics are only as good as their mounts, batteries, and the shooter’s reps. Use this checklist when you issue or field a new optic.

  • • Torque mounts to manufacturer spec and paint-pen witness marks for quick inspection.
  • • Log battery brand, install date, and re-up schedule in your maintenance tracker.
  • • Confirm cheek weld and eye relief with sling, body armor, and helmet on.
  • • Zero from the position you expect to fight from—standing for CQB, prone for Recce, etc.
  • • Practice transitions between magnifications using the gear you will deploy (throw lever, offset dot).

Final tip

Re-zero any time you change ammo lot, sling tension, or mounting hardware. Small shifts in optic height or eye position snowball during stress shoots—log those changes like you would a barrel swap.