Best Ruger AR 556 Scope
The Ruger AR 556 is a budget-friendly AR 15 style rifle that was introduced in 2009. This rifle has gone on to become one of Ruger’s top-selling rifles. Its price point combined with its excellent features makes the AR 556 a darling to many. The AR 556 comes with a rapid deploying rear sight but it is not enough for that accuracy and high performance you need from your rifle. The sight folds flat to create room for your scope. The best scope for Ruger AR 556 is one that compliments this rifle’s strength to increase its performance and accuracy.
The AR 556 is an easy-to-control, lightweight rifle that is not good at long-range shooting. It’s cartridges the .223/5.56 are ideal for shooting targets up to around 300 yards. What this means is, getting a high-powered optic for your AR 556 will affect the weight balance on your rifle and greatly hinder its maneuverability. Scopes with huge objective lenses and a wide range of magnification tend to be heavy. Mounting a heavy scope on your AR 556 will weigh down your rifle and throw it off balance.
What you want is a light and compact scope to go with your light AR 556 rifle.
Best scope for Ruger AR 556 buying guide
Magnification
The .223 cartridge that the AR 556 shoots are effective up until around 300 yards. Getting a scope with serious magnification setting might be counterproductive because power significantly drops over 300 yards. A scope with 1x to 6x is ideal for the AR 556.
Durability
Buy a scope that is made of high-quality material to ensure durability. You want a waterproof scope that won’t rust especially if you regularly shoot in the rain. A scope with fog proof abilities will be useful when shooting in humid conditions. It is nitrogen purged to keep moisture out of the scope. Scopes constructed with premium casing like aircraft-grade aluminum are durable and can withstand use in any terrain.
Range
The Ruger AR 556 is a powerful scope that wasn’t necessarily designed for long-range. A compact and lightweight scope is ideal for the AR 556. As earlier mentioned, this rifle is lightweight and easy to maneuver so you don’t want to mount a heavy scope on it as it will affect the balance and maneuverability of the rifle.
Hunting
If you are using the AR 556 to hunt, a scope with modest magnification is enough. A scope that comes equipped with a BDC reticle and a wide field of view will help you to hit small prey from a distance.
A night vision or thermal scope is ideal if you are hunting under low light conditions like at dawn.
Home Defense
The ease of use and the compact design of the AR 556 makes it ideal for a home defense weapon. Since you will be shooting at close range targets, a red dot is perfect for your rifle.
Price
For scopes and optics, the saying “you get what you pay for” is true. Getting quality means you will have to cough up some money but if you get a quality and durable optic, you won’t need to keep buying a new scope regularly.
Best scope for Ruger AR 556
Choosing the right optic for your AR 556 can make you feel overwhelmed especially due to the huge number of optics found in the market. This list is to help you narrow down your search.
If you are pressed for time, here is a quick list
- Primary Arms SLX 1-8x24mm SFP Rifle Scope
- Vortex Optics 1-6×24 Strike Eagle
- Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 Red Dot Sight Riflescope
- Nikon P-Tactical .223 3×32 BDC Carbine
Best scope for Ruger AR 556 Review
#1) Primary Arms SLX 1-8x24mm SFP Rifle Scope
This Primary Arms SLX 1-8x24mm SFP Rifle Scope is one of the best scopes available for the AR 556 rifle. It is a scope that will help you improve your accuracy and all round performance.
As one of the best scope for Ruger AR 556, this scope comes with the ACSS reticle that helps a shooter in range estimation and compensating for wind and bullet drop. The reticle is also positioned in the second focal plane which means it will not adjust with adjustments in magnification.
This scope comes with a true 1X and the maximum magnification is 8X. The objective lens is 24 mm which is ideal for this rifle as it doesn’t affect the rifle’s balance. The scope comes with a red illumination that is red and comes with 11 brightness settings that is battery-powered.
The Primary Arms SLX 1-8x24mm is constructed with high-grade aluminum that ensures the durability of the scope. The scope is waterproof and fog proof which is ideal for use in unfavorable weather conditions.
Features
- Comes with the intuitive ACSS reticle.
- Second focal plane.
- Magnification range of 1-8X.
- Waterproof and fog proof.
- Lifetime warranty.
#2) Vortex Optics 1-6×24 Strike Eagle
Vortex is a well-known optics brand that is consistent in putting out high-quality scopes throughout. The Vortex strike eagle is a ‘budget’ scope that comes with premium features without the expensive price tag. It is among the best scope for Ruger AR 556 because of its magnification range of 1x to 6x and a 24 mm objective diameter lens.
This scope comes with fully multi-coated lenses and extra-low dispersion glass that provides crisp clear images. Featuring a glass-etched illuminated reticle, this scope can be easily used under low light conditions. The reticle is also positioned in the second focal plane which has eleven brightness settings that can be easily adjusted for visibility in any lighting condition. It features a fast-focus eyepiece that ensures the reticle can quickly focus.
The scope is constructed with aircraft-grade aluminum that ensures durability. The vortex strike eagle is waterproof, shockproof and fog proof to ensure it’s reliable under all weather conditions.
Features
- It is waterproof, fog proof, and shockproof.
- Equipped with fully multi-coated lenses to ensure crisp clear images.
- Features a glass-etched illuminated reticle.
- Second focal plane.
- It comes with extra-low dispersion glass for high-quality images.
#3) Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 Red Dot Sight Riflescope
This is a light and compact red dot sight that comes with multi-coated optics which provide clear sight pictures. The lens reduces glare and also allows maximum light transmission. The sight comes with the 3 MOA Dot reticle that has eleven brightness settings which allow you to adjust visibility under low light conditions.
This Bushnell red dot sight is very versatile and is compatible with muzzleloaders, pistols, and even shotguns. Its unlimited eye relief allows you to take quick and accurate shots at any angle and target acquisition is faster.
This scope is o-ring sealed to ensure optics stay moisture-free inside giving it waterproof performance. What is more, the scope is nitrogen purged ensuring it stays fog-free even when there is high humidity or temperatures change rapidly. Its shockproof construction allows this scope to handle drops, bumps, and rough environments in the field.
Features
- Shockproof, waterproof, and fog proof.
- Features the 3 MOA Dot reticle that comes with 11 brightness settings.
- Nitrogen purged and o-ring sealed.
- Multi-coated lenses.
- Comes with a one-year limited warranty.
- Unlimited eye relief increases your awareness of your shooting environment.
#4) Nikon P-Tactical .223 3×32 BDC Carbine
Nikon is a well-known optical brand best known for its cameras. They believe in quality and excellence and this Nikon scope is everything and more. For starters, it comes with spring-loaded instant zero-reset turrets that allow you to quickly reset to zero after sight in. The windage and elevation turrets are also elevated and marked clearly for quick adjustments. The turrets are exposed and engraved to allow for easy readability and smooth adjustments.
As one of the best scope for Ruger AR 556, this scope comes with Nikon’s BDC Carbine reticle that matches the .223 Remington ammo to help you accurately shoot targets up to 600 yards.
This scope features a generous eye relief that protects your brows from heavy recoil. The Nikon P tactical is o-ring sealed to ensure the scope stays moisture-free and nitrogen purged for complete reliability in case of thermal shock. It is also shockproof meaning it is able to handle heavy recoil.
The optics are fully multi-coated which ensures images are crisp and clear. Al these features are housed in aircraft-grade aluminum casing that is reliable in any environment.
Features
- O-ring sealed and Nitrogen purged.
- Spring-loaded instant zero-reset turrets.
- Generous eye relief.
- Clear marked elevated windage and elevation turrets.
#5) Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9X40mm Riflescope
The Leupold VX-Freedom riflescope is one of the best scope for Ruger AR 556. This scope comes with Leupold’s Twilight Light Management System that helps in reducing glare hence crisp clear images. This patented system also adds up an extra 10 of shooting light in low lighting conditions. It ensures there is enough brightness to get a clear sight picture.
The VX-Freedom is constructed using aircraft-grade aluminum that guarantees its durability and reliability even under the harshest conditions. The lenses are scratch-resistant to military standards.
This scope is shockproof, waterproof and fog proof allowing use even under unfavorable conditions. This scope is unbelievably impressive with its rugged design, high dependability, and unparalleled accuracy. It also comes with a one-inch main tube perfectly complimenting your AR 556.
Features
- Features the Twilight Light Management system.
- Waterproof, fog proof, and shockproof.
- Scratch-resistant lenses.
- The reticle is positioned in the second focal plane.
- The main tube is one inch.
- 0.25 MOA finger click adjustment value.
- A matte black anodized finish.
Conclusion
The Ruger AR 556 is a modern entry-level sporting rifle that has a very affordable price point. The best scope complements this rifle to increase its performance while shooting. It’s light and easy to maneuver around while shooting which makes it the ideal rifle for hunting, competition shooting, or even defending yourself at home.
Get one of the best scope for Ruger AR 556 to maximize this rifle’s potential.
Stay safe and happy shooting!