After you buy your first AR15 it’s difficult to choose between a red dot or a traditional scope. You want long range accuracy without suffering at short range. Thankfully the firearm industry took notice and designed 1-4x optics. Pairing short range red dot like accuracy with a 4x magnification setting was a recipe for success. With 1-4x scopes you have the best of both worlds with a true 1x magnification and ACOG like long range accuracy.
What is The Best 1-4x Scope?
1. Bushnell Optics BTR-1 1-4x24mm Illuminated Riflescope
If you’re looking for a high quality optic look no farther than the Bushnell BTR-1 Illuminated Rifle scope. Bushnell’s innovative design and affordable price point make this the best 1-4x scope on the market. Thankfully you won’t have to spend a fortune to buy this durable 1-4x scope.
Bushnell designed its BTR-1 Scope to compete with some of the best manufacturers on the market. By keeping prices low and packing in features Bushnell was able to make an exceptional scope. Like most of the Bushnell lineup the BTR-1 features a durable design. Featuring a high-durability aluminum alloy design with an anodized finish seal to keep out the elements. The Tube is nitrogen purged and O-Ring sealed for a 100% waterproof, fogproof and shockproof design. Virtually scratchproof and rustproof the 1-4x BTR-1 is the perfect compliment for your AR15 or any other high recoil rifle.
Innovation isn’t something you normally think of in the optic world, but Bushnell managed to deliver with their BTR-1 scope. Bushnell decided to do things a little different with their 1-4x scope. Designed to be a tactical optic, the BTR-1 is loaded with features to improve efficiency. The most notable design change is the throw down PCL lever for quick magnification adjustments. With the through down lever you can quickly transition from 4x magnification to 1x at the flick of a wrist. Pair that with Bushnells high performance illuminated reticle and you have a red dot killer in your hands. When fully illuminated the glowing red reticle is extremely easy to see. You’ll be able to get on target quickly making this the perfect complement for an AR15 or other tactical rifle. Don’t worry about the battery dying when you need it most. After the battery dies the reticle turns a sharp black and is still clearly visible. With the 4x magnification you’ll be able to reach out a few hundred yards and quickly pick off targets. Since Bushnell originally designed this scope to be used by the law enforcement community it’s sure to stand up to some serious abuse. Due yourself a favor and buy the Bushnell BTR-1 1-4x24mm Illuminated Riflescope today.
2. Vortex Optics Crossfire II 1-4x24mm Riflescope
Vortex Optics Crossfire II is another great 1-4x scope on the market. Vortex somehow manages to make just about every scope magnification option you can imagine. So it’s no surprise that they make an excellent 1-4x scope. Vortex Crossfire lineup of scopes were designed to be high quality scopes at an affordable price point. Vortex packs their scopes with features that aren’t normally found at this price point. While the 1-4x crossfire scope is one of Vortex more expensive offerings it’s a really nice scope for the price.
Vortex Optics Crossfire II 1-4x24mm scope is an excellent choice for your tactical rifle. After initial inspection I was pleasantly surprised with the Crossfire scope. It seems to be built to last using a hard anodized aircraft grade aluminum body and including sturdy turrets. With a nitrogen purged and O-Ring sealed tube this scope is 100% waterproof fogproof and shockproof. The already sturdy design is backed by Vortex best in the business no questions asked lifetime warranty. Designed for discriminating hunters and shooters this scope is sure to last even the worst environmental conditions.
Vortex made it extremely easy to adjust the magnification level on this scope. While not as simple as the above Bushnell scope, Vortex includes oversized turrets and an easy to grab fast focus eyepiece for quick magnification changes. Designed to be a mid range replacement for a red dot you can quickly change between the true 1x magnification and the 4x magnification. Looking through the sight picture proves why this is one of the top 1-4x scopes. Combining a crystal clear sight picture with a crisp illuminated red reticle makes this the ultimate tactical scope. Vortex V-Brite reticle is very easy to see and naturally draws your eyes to the reticle. It includes a 4 inch eye relief which is actually pretty impressive on a adjustable magnification optic. Vortex designed this scope to be extremely easy to see in low light conditions. The battery life on this unit is surprisingly long, but don’t worry you can still use the scope after the battery dies. It will look like a traditional pinpoint black crosshair like you see on most hunting scopes. Why not check out the Vortex Optics Crossfire II 1-4x scope and let me know what you think in the comments below.
3. Monstrum Tactical 1-4×20 Rifle Scope
Monstrum Tacticals 1-4x Tactical Rifle scope is a cheaper alternative to the above rifle scopes. That being said you aren’t really sacrificing a lot buying the Monstrum Tactical scope. Monstrum Tactical packs everything the discerning shooter needs in a lightweight affordable package. With all the features packed into this scope there’s no wonder Monstrum Tactical is quickly making a name for themselves in the firearm industry. By focusing on quality products at an affordable price they are carving their own niche in the firearm world.
As the name implies Monstrum Tactical focuses primarily on the tactical firearm market. They’re constantly expanding their lineup of affordable optics, so they must be doing something right. Monstrum Tactical is known for packing features that you wouldn’t normally see into entry level optics. While they’re known for innovation this 1-4x scope is very durable as well. Crafted from aircraft grade aluminum this scope is both sturdy and lightweight. The 1 inch sealed nitrogen charged tube is restistant to water and fog. The water resistance rating is the only thing that worries me about this scope. As someone who’s had a thing or two destroyed in my flooded truck box, it really worries me that this scope isn’t 100% waterproof. If you can live with that this scope really does have it all feature wise.
Where the Monstrum Tactical 1-4x scope really sets itself apart is the reticle. The reticle features an intuitive range estimation tool to make estimating the range quick and easy. You can estimate the range in 50 yard increments all the way from 25 yards up to 500 yards. All you need to do is estimate a persons shoulder width. The illuminated rangefinder reticle is easy to see in all brightness levels. It can be adjusted to suit your needs with multiple brightness settings and a red or green reticle. When the illuminated reticle is shut off you can view the reticle in black. You aren’t going to complain about the clarity of the sight picture, but it’s nothing to write home about. Why not save a little money with the Monstrum Tactical 1-4x riflescope.
4. Primary Arms 1-4X 24 Illuminated Scope
Primary Arms 1-4x Illuminated Rifle Scope is a moderately priced alternative to the above optics. Primary arms makes well designed affordably priced optics and this scope is no exception. Designed to be a basic tactical 1-4x scope, Primary Arms was able to throw in a lot of features while keeping the price affordable. If you’re looking for a durable waterproof 1-4x scope you can’t go wrong with this offering from Primary Arms.
Where Primary Arms really sets itself apart from the competition is its durability and price. It was the cheapest 100% waterproof 1-4x scope that I could find.(let me know if you find one cheaper) Using a nitrogen purged tube the scope is both waterproof and fogproof. While the body is nothing to write home about, it’s functional and durable. Primary Arms included finger adjustable windage and elevation knobs with a quick adjust eyepiece. You can switch between 1x and 4x magnification easily and quickly. Where Primary Arms really sets itself apart from the above Monstrum Tactical optic is its sight picture. With a clear and focused sight picture you can easily see why this scope demands a higher price tag.
Primary Arms chose a Duplex Dot reticle for their 1-4x scope. Honestly you can never go wrong with a duplex dot reticle on a tactical rifle. They’re extremely easy to use and give you a decent sight picture out to a few hundred yards. Pairing a duplex reticle with multiple illumination options gives you an extremely reliable short to mid range rifle. For easier magnification adjustments you can buy a Cat Tail Lever separately to easily switch through the magnification range. Primary Arms made one of the best budget 1-4x rifle scopes on the market.
What’s The Best 1-4x Scope?
It’s actually somewhat difficult to find a quality 1-4x scope. This low magnification range isn’t extremely popular so most of the time you can’t just walk into your local gun store and pick one out. The good thing about 1-4x scopes is that they don’t cost a lot of money. The low magnification level paired with a low demand makes this one of the most economical scopes on the market. That doesn’t mean they aren’t high quality. Most of the best snipers in World War 2 used fixed 4x magnification sights. They were extremely deadly out to a few hundred yards. If these scopes were accurate back then imagine how much better they are now.
The 1-4x scope market is dominated by extremely affordable scopes. Since low magnification scopes are typically cheaper you won’t find big name manufacturers at this price range. It’s a close race between the Bushnell Drop Zone Scope and the Vortex Crossfire II. Bushnell packed the dropzone with a ton of features at a very affordable price. The runner up would have to be the Vortex Crossfire II. The Vortex Crossfire is extremely durable and comes with one of the best warranties in the industry. If you are looking for a budget 1-4x scope you might want to try the Primary Arms or Monstrum Tactical scopes. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get one of these great scopes.