Fixed vs. Variable Scope for Your AR-15, What Do You Prefer?



Choosing the best rifle scope for your AR-15 can be challenging especially if you’re new to scopes. There are hundreds of scope options on the market leaving you with a huge decision to make. Do I go with a variable or fixed scope? These are some of the questions to ask as you look forward to selecting an ideal scope for your AR rifle. The fixed and variable scopes are the two types of scopes in the market.

Before we even get to decide the best scope for an AR-15, let find out the differences between these two types of scopes. 

Fixed scopes

A fixed scope just as the name suggests uses a specific power that cannot be changed. They have no adjustment on the magnification. This provides them with the benefits of being less complicated, lighter, compact and cheap. They are highly portable, easy to carry something that makes them a great pick for beginners. 

However, fixed scopes lack flexibility when it comes to setting the right magnification. They might not be an ideal pick when you need to use different magnifications. 

Variable Scopes

These are scopes tailored with variable magnification powers to suit different situations when shooting or hunting. One of the most significant benefits of the variable scope is being able to tailor the amount of magnification to the target at hand. You can adjust to maximum magnification to spot targets at long distances before narrowing down the magnification for a precise shoot. 

However, they come with their disadvantages. They are usually bulky and heavier making transportation in the field an issue.  They also require parallax adjustment and are usually hard to site in.

So, What is the Best Scope for Your AR-15?

In general, the only difference between a fixed and variable scope is the settings on their magnifications. The AR-15 is one of the most versatile rifles to use and one that will require a robust scope. However, the choice between a Fixed and a variable Scope for Your AR-15 will still come down to the exact use of the scope. A fixed scope can work well for sports purposes where you have to shoot at close ranges. However, the most versatile scope for an AR-15 is the variable scope which gives you good speed up close and great precision when shooting at long ranges.

For long range shooting, you need variable long range scope to gain more shooting capabilities.  You can easily nail down targets from distances of 600 yards using variable long range scope as compared to fixed scopes.

The variable scope might have the weight drawback, but that will not be a major concern when you consider the versatility they give your AR-15.  They also come with a variety of features which enable different users to achieve their goals. The target game is also crucial in determining magnification as opposed to range.  There is a misconception that range usually determines magnification when hunting small game. Hunting a squirrel at 100 yards will require the same magnification as a deer 600 yards.

This is where our variable scope comes in with the primary benefit of collecting information first. A variable scope on your AR-15 when hunting can collect information at very high magnifications. Once you have the target on site, you can then lower the magnification to engage targets easily. 

Final Verdict

For the AR enthusiasts, choosing a variable scope for your AR-15 comes with plenty of benefits. Think about your needs carefully and choose a model that matches them. Navigating the variable scope might be the hard. However, it is not as hard as navigating your AR-15 rifle. While a fixed scope is also excellent, it is not the best when handling a versatile rifle like the AR-15. It does not offer AR-15 users the much-needed flexibilities when shooting. Flexibility to play with your magnification to get the target at close and long range is only possible with a flexible scope.