When it comes to AR-15 and the myriad of choices you have to make, things can get overwhelming. A lot of folks get wound around the proverbial axel over things like barrels and triggers, and rightly so. But if you’ve read my guides on those topics, you also know that I think a lot of folks overthink it. AR-15 optics are similar. But when it comes to optics, I’d say that you get far more return on your investment for more money spent.

At least to a point.

There’s a lot of misunderstanding and “fluff” out there regarding rifle optics, especially the tactical variety. I want to take a few moments and discuss some thoughts on selecting an optic for your AR-15.

There are already some really great guides out there. My observation, however, is that they focus more on particular classes of optics. Rather than thinking about all of the considerations that go into picking the right class for you. 

This post is more like a broad overview of how to think about each type of optic and what you would use it for. 

Here’s the thing: the “best” AR-15 optic is a moving target that shifts every year as new products come to market and fads change. You’re far better served thinking carefully about your own real-world needs and picking a quality optic that matches your needs. 

That quality AR-15 optic will serve you for years and years just fine, and there’s no need to chase the latest and greatest. Don’t think that means I won’t provide some suggestions, though. I’ll include some of my favorite optics from each category as we go. 

Speaking of which…

This article contains affiliate links.

Care to Listen?

I made an audio version of this article with the podcast over here. If you want to hear my thoughts on this topic via podcast, you can listen to it with the player below.

A Refresher on the Basics

As a reminder from my other articles on picking AR-15 accessories, I have two fundamental rules for buying any firearms-related gear:

  • Let the mission dictate the configuration
  • Buy nice or buy twice

If you haven’t read my guide for buying your first AR-15, where I introduced these rules, let me give you a quick recap.

The actual purpose your weapon fulfills drives the choices you make. 

Too many people buy something because the internet told them to, and then try shoehorning it into a role it was never designed for. AR-15 optics are a bit like the rifles themselves: if you don’t have a particular role in mind, then the best path is typically a “general” option that does most things reasonably well.

On the second point, I’m not telling you to spend stupid amounts of money on something. I’m simply saying buy something nice enough that it will last a long time and serve you well. 

It doesn’t have to be “best in class.” Just buy quality.

The Five Classes of Rifle Optics

In 2008, Zak Smith wrote an article for Shotgun News detailing his thoughts on fighting optics. He categorized optics into three basic types: CQB, DMR, and SPR. Each type is best suited for different engagement ranges and weapon employment method.

I liked his general breakdown. However, a lot has changed in the world rifle optics since 2008. We need to adjust how we approach things

I divide AR-15 optics, or really rifle optics in general, into five groups:

  • Class I: Iron Sight Replacements
  • Class II: Low Powered Fixed Magnification
  • Class III: Low Power Variable Magnification
  • Class IV: Mid to High Magnification
  • Class V: Digital Hybrid

I derived these categories by using Zak Smith’s typography as well as the US Army’s phased plan of optics evolution. If you’ve never seen it, the Army had a presentation in 2015 where they detailed the future of military optics.

According to this slide, the Army considers my Class 1 and 2 optics to be the first generation of combat optics. Class 3 and 4 fall into the second generation group, and Class 5 aligns with 3rd generation.

Most shooters are reasonably familiar with my first four classes. The fifth is far less common. 

To be honest, I don’t think anyone has a very good idea of what the last group is supposed to look like. However, a good example might be the Tracking Point system that’s been sitting in limbo for years. 

Imagine an optic using digital displays along with a computer that fires the rifle for you when the sights are properly aligned. The Army’s been putting out industry requests for years on the topic, but nothing has materialized so far.

With that, let’s dig into the first category of AR-15 optic, the iron sight replacement.

Class I Optics: Replacing Iron Sights

This is the most popular type of AR-15 optic on the market. When you think of a Class I optic, you should be thinking of a Red Dot Sight (RDS).

Characteristics of Class I optics include zero magnification, parallax-resistance, though not necessarily parallax-free, and a priority placed on a speedy sight picture.

AR-15 optic display of EOtech XPS2
The EOTech XPS-2 is a classic example of a Class I AR-15 optic

The increased speed comes from removing the need to align the front and rear sights with the shooter’s eyeball. Instead, you keep both eyes open and focus on the target. The optic projects a dot onto the same visual plane.

The key benefit here is simplifying the act of obtaining a sight picture.

This class of rifle optic rose to prominence during the early 2000s. The intense CQB/urban operations in Iraq were ideal for red dot sights. These optics are fantastic for use against moving targets or any situation where the speedy acquisition of a sight picture is the top priority.

I think of Class I optics as better versions of the M16A1 iron sights.

RDS Employment: Set and Forget

The best way to employee an RDS is utilizing the point blank zero. Figure out your velocity and trajectory, then pick an appropriate zero to meet your needs.

Use holdovers as necessary for anything outside of that point blank zero range. This class of AR-15 optics excels from bad breath distance out to 250-ish meters. They are lightweight, compact, and some can be left on for years before the battery needs to be changed. Some models do not have batteries at all, and will use fiber optics and tritium for illumination.

If you regularly shoot from unconventional positions where a proper cheek weld is difficult or unlikely, then these optics are king of the hill. It’s also the only type of optic that will co-witness with iron sights. If you’re not familiar with the term, that means you can use your iron sights through the optic. If the dot ever fails, you can still seamlessly use your backup sights.

Class I Limitations

While Class I optics are a great choice for a general-purpose defensive weapon, they do have limitations.

Shooters with uncorrected astigmatism may see imprecise blobs or clusters rather than nice crisp red dots. I fall into this group, as I have slight astigmatism and don’t usually shoot wearing corrective lenses. 

This affects me for all of my illuminated optics, not just red dot sights. I find that battery-powered illumination is slightly worse than fiber optic.

The lack of magnification in this category of AR-15 optic also means it’s not ideal for observation and identification. Furthermore, Class I optics are not designed for easy zero adjustments in the field. 

It’s all Kentucky Windage, all of the time.

Class I AR-15 Optics Roundup

Most people, in most realistic defensive situations, are well-served by a Class I type optic. They excel from 0 to 250 yards, provided your eyesight is up for the task. This is the range envelope the 5.56 is designed for, and the one where most uses of rifles occur.

Class II: Low Powered Fixed Magnification

In this category, you’re looking at rifle scopes like the famous ACOG.

There are many others on the market, such as the ELCAN SpecterOSTrijicon ACOG, and Sig Optics Bravo series.

This class of optic really gained traction during the US Army’s Advanced Combat Rifle trials in the 1980s. Notably, Trijicon teamed with AAI to submit an early version of the TA01 ACOG on their rifle entry. 

ELCAN presented an early version of the C79 with Colt’s submission. While the replacement rifle never came to fruition, the optics did.

battle belt version 5
My ELCAN SpecterOS, a fixed 4x magnification combat optic, mounted to a RECCE-pattern rifle

Class II AR-15 optics flourished over the years as militaries recognized the value of ruggedized magnified optics for field use. They are typically compact, relatively lightweight, rugged enough to put up with the abuse of infantry life, and offer huge marksmanship benefits over iron sights.

The reticles in these optics usually have some form of range-finding stadia and a calibrated bullet drop compensator (BDC). These are field-expedient methods of estimating where hits will land and not intended for true precision shooting.

The BDC reticles are not terribly precise, usually matching to a specific bullet moving at a specific velocity under specific environmental conditions. Deviating from these standards means that the BDC is not correct, but should still be “close enough.” 

If not using a reticle with a calibrated BDC, this type of optic still works well with a point blank zero or with a Swiss Sniping 4th Generation technique.

Employment

I would venture to say that Class II optics embody the skillset of a traditional rifleman. They are fantastic for fighting in the open in distances between 50 and 300 yards.

But they lose out to Class I optics when it comes to close-in fighting.

The TA-110 LED Powered ACOG, a 3.5x magnification Class II optic

Class II optics truly reward proper execution of marksmanship skills. They excel in combat environments infantry units typically found themselves in. 

These are not CQB optics. The use of a Class II type optic assumes that the shooter has time to see a target, move to appropriate cover, identify the target as a threat, and then apply marksmanship fundamentals to eliminate that threat.

When I did the MVT course in the mountains of West Virginia, both my ELCAN and ACOG were outstanding tools for locating and engaging hard to see targets in the wooded environment. More often than not, it seemed like those of us with magnified optics were calling out targets for the guys equipped with the Red Dot Sights.

You can use some examples of Class II AR-15 optics like you would red dot sights, but it’s not perfect. 

Trijicon touts what they call the “Bindon Aiming Concept” for this. The belief is that a bright enough reticle still draws the eye. So if you use a magnified optic with both eyes open and use the non-sighting eye for scanning, the brain superimposes the bright reticle over your field of view, working like a red dot sight.

This harkens back to the original Armson Occluded Eye Gunsight (OEG) and Single Point Sight used on the Son Tay Raid. In fact, Trijicon used to be called Armson USA and was the sole importer of the Armson OEG.

A pro-tip for this type of aiming with an ACOG is to close the lens cap, if you have one, for CQB. It’s a far less distracting experience. You might notice a shift between POA and POI when using this method. It’s a genetic factor that’s different for everyone.

You see, your eyes aren’t always looking at the exact same point all of the time. When you stick magnification in front of one eye and not the other, the effect gets worse. This is “phoria” and usually means that the Bindon Aiming Concept isn’t terribly useful beyond CQB distances for people like me.

Limitations

Like all magnified optics, Class II AR-15 optics are limited by the physics of bending light through lenses. That means that the shooter must have a consistent cheek weld to account for eye relief, parallax, and the exit pupil of the optic. Incorrect alignment results in poor sight pictures and missed shots.

Magnified optics are slower to move from target to target than Class I types since the eye has to readjust and refocus as targets come into view. Class II optics, like Class I, do not usually allow for easy zero adjustments in the field for “dialing” shots. They are meant to be zeroed and left alone.

Again, it’s all holdovers, all the time. But at least Class II optics usually provide you with more reference points for those holdovers.

Lastly, Class II optics are typically fixed at a certain parallax setting and do not have diopter adjustments to account for different people’s eyes.

You might wonder if Class II optics still have a place in a world where we have very fast Class I optics and super-versatile Class III optics, which I’m getting to in a minute. We had that very discussion in our forums, and the conclusion was “Yes. Yes they do.”

Class II Top Pick: The Trijicon TA-33

The key benefit of Class II optics is their light weight and durability. As much as I like my ELCAN and TA110, I have a hard time justifying them over a Class III LPVO given the weight. However, a compact ACOG like this is perfect for the job.

Class II Ar-15 Optic Roundup

When it comes to AR-15 optics, Class II types are best suited for practical marksmanship and general dismounted shooting, where a balance must be struck between speed and accuracy at a variety of distances. 

They excel between 50 and 300 meters, assuming your vision is up to the task.

Class III Optics: Low Power Variable

This class of AR-15 optics is fairly new, but dominating the market. Class III AR-15 optics bridge the differences between Class I and Class II categories.

They usually have some way to switch between 1x , i.e. “No magnification,” and some number greater than that. When they first hit the scene, the standard was 1-4x, as with my Trijicon TR24

But as the competition picked up, so has the magnification range.

My trusty Trijicon TR24G. It's a little long in the tooth but still kicking butt.

It’s common to find this Class III optics with 1-4x, 1-6x, and even 1-8x options.

Most of these optics adjust magnification by rotating a lever or knob. This allows you to choose a magnification setting anywhere along the range. Another method uses a rotating prism and cam system that switches only between 1x and the other end, with no options in between. This is the system employed by the ELCAN SpecterDR.

You might have noticed that I mentioned “No magnification” when these optics work at 1x. 

Even though the image appears to not be magnified, the light is still passing through lenses and bending along the way. You still have to deal with the limitations that come with bending light, particularly eye relief, exit pupil, and parallax.

Eye relief and exit pupil are pretty generous, but they still don’t work as a Class I optic. 

Also, you cannot cowitness through Class III AR-15 optics.

A look through my TR24G at 1x. Despite appearances, this isn't actually cowitnessing.

Employment

The Class III group offers a fantastic range of capabilities.

Set at 1x, they are nearly as fast and user-friendly as Class I optics. Set at higher magnifications, they retain much of the same capability as Class II optics or offer even more.

I used to shoot several local 3-Gun matches with my trusty Trijicon TR-24G. Being able to use the big glowing green triangle up close at 1x and then quickly switching to 4x for 200-300 yard shots gave me a huge advantage.

Class III optics have a variety of reticle patterns and illumination methods. Some have similar BDCs to Class II optics, while others employ MRAD and MOA reticles of Class IV optics.

Some illuminate the entire reticle, others only illuminate certain segments that best draw the eye in CQB situations.

The turrets on Class III optics may or may not be quickly adjustable. It really depends on the design of the scope and whether it errs more towards speed or precision. These optics usually have a diopter adjustment for eyes, and may or may not have a parallax knob, AKA a focus knob.

To an outside observer, they really offer the best of both worlds. This is why they have taken the AR-15 world by storm lately.

But there are tradeoffs.

Class IV AR-15 Optic Limitations

Class III AR-15 optics are heavier than either Class I or Class II options, usually weighing between 1 and 2 lbs without a mount. 

In comparison, an Aimpoint PRO weighs 11.6 oz including the mount. A Trijicon MRO comes it at a scant 4.1 oz without a mount. Stepping up to Class II, a TA-31 ACOG weighs 13.8 oz with mount, and the compact TA-33 weighs 11.7 oz with a mount.

The TR-24 served as my primary competition and marksmanship training optic for years

The Class III group also has increased mechanical complexity. That translates to a higher risk of parts breakage. Overcoming the durability issue means increased cost in engineering, manufacturing, and parts.

For example, Trijicon’s VCOG, a Class III optic designed to be as tough as their ACOG line, costs around $2500. The ELCAN SpecterDR, which switches between 1x and 4x, is around $2200. If you don’t mind losing the ruggedness aspect of the high-end options, other quality Class III optics cost between $600 and $1500.

Class III Roundup

Class III optics occupy a solid middle ground where they are the jack of all trades, but master of none. They make ideal optics for Recce rifles.

They are can be nearly as fast as Class I optics up close, but lose out due to eye relief and parallax. They can be as useful at distance as Class II optics, but are heavier and less durable unless you want to step up to much higher prices. Now whether or not you actually need that increased durability is another question. Most of the mid-range optics in the $700-$1500 are fantastic and will serve you well.

Top Pick for Class III: SWFA 1-6x24

To be honest, it's hard to pick a single winner in this category, especially because the price ranges vary so much. But if I had to pick one, it would be the lesser-known SWFA, which has a great combination of ruggedness, optical clarity, and intelligent reticle design

If you do not need to operate on the extremes of speed and/or durability, then the Class III is probably a good option for you.

Class IV Optics: Mid to High Magnification

This is analogous to Zak Smith’s Type III optic for SPRs. I look at this category as optics geared more towards precision AR-15 optics than anything else.

For the most part, Class IV optics have all the same traits as Class III, with a few notable changes. The low-end magnification in this class is greater than 1x, and will usually be 2.5, 3, or 4x. The high end will probably be somewhere between 9x and 16x, or beyond.

The reticles will almost always be of MRAD or MOA design, and the turrets should are readily adjustable to dial for range and windage.

These optics effectively take the rifle to the limits of its capability.

The higher magnification levels of Class IV optics are useful for observation and target identification, but can severely limit how a rifle is used. More magnification means more movement in the scope. Things that you might not otherwise notice, like your heartbeat or muscle tremors, become readily apparent and frustrating from unstable positions.

For this reason, Class IV optics are mostly limited to supported positions where you can mitigate these instabilities.

Top Class IV Pick: Vortex Gen 2 PST 3-15x44

Are better, fancier, more advanced scopes available? Yes, of course. But I think this one is hard to beat when it comes to balancing cost, quality, and performance. Really, you should consider the entire PST line, depending on your needs.

I only advise Class IV optics for AR-15 rifles that will primarily be used from a bench or other stable platform in a long-range or precision shooting format. For practical marksmanship or field use, most shooters will be better served by an optic from Class I, II, or III.

Class V Optics: Digital Hybrids

Class V represents the future.

The optics in this group use a mixture of optics, computers, and displays to revolutionize how you aim. It’s the stuff of science fiction.

I’m not talking about night vision or thermal sights that overlay a reticle, but rather actual computers that provide real-time information to the shooter and/or calculate ballistics on the fly.

I attribute the creation of this class to the Tracking Point system introduced several years back. The company struggled mightily since its introduction, but I predicted back then that the technology would get smaller and cheaper over time. This optic integrates laser rangefinding, ballistic computer, digital display, and even includes a fire control system to automatically fire the rifle when aligned to the correct point of aim.

I don’t particularly care for the last bit, but it exists. The shooter isn’t looking through glass with the Tracking Point scope, but a digital picture zoomed in like a video camera. Something to remember with this optic is that if the electronics fail, the whole scope is dead, you cant see through it.

That last bit is the important part. If you look at the Army’s slide up at the beginning of the post, they explicitly stated that the optic must still be usable if the electronics fail.

In 2014, Trijicon paired up with Kopin to produce an optical overlay system tailored to this need. To my knowledge, the project still hasn’t won any contracts, but the prototypes are out there.

Whenever this technology is ready for the prime time, you can bet that the paradigm will shift for everything.

Combining AR-15 Optics Groups

I skipped over this point while writing. You always have the option of combining classes of optics together on the same weapon system.

An obvious example is mounting miniature red dot sights, like the Trijicon RMR, on top of Class II optics like the ACOG. 

Another is using flip-to-side magnifiers (Class II) in front of red dot sights (Class I). 

Yet another is mounting offset miniature red dots (Class I) next to Class IV rifle scopes.

Another interesting combination is Leupold’s D-EVO system. This uses a prism system to place a red dot picture and magnified sight picture directly in front of your eye. You don’t have to change your cheek weld at all to choose between the two.

These combinations certainly work fine if you don’t mind the increased weight and cost. But there are some other downsides you should be aware of.

Combining two different AR-15 optic types on the same rifle helps provide the “best of both worlds,” but you have to give something up in return. This compromise usually shows up as ergonomics.

As an example if you mount a miniature red dot on top of a Class II optic, you will sacrifice a solid cheek weld to use it. It’s simply too high over the bore to keep that solid position.

That may not be a big deal at close ranges, but it’s not the optimal way to use it.

Another common solution is using offset optics tilted at 45 degrees or so from the main optic. This keeps the backup sight closer to the bore of the rifle, and saves your cheek weld, but you also limit yourself to only using it on one side

Moreover, that offset-mounted optic can get in the way of some low-profile shooting positions. It’s a fairly common technique to rest a rifle sideways on a barrier to maintain the lowest possible profile. A side-mounted optic might prevent that.

The same thing applies to flip-to-side magnifiers. They are certainly useful for what they are, but be aware of the compromise they bring to the table.

Summing it Up

At the end of the day, you need to go with the option that best suites your needs and capabilities.

Assuming eyesight isn’t an issue here, I suggest this simple breakdown for AR-15 optics:

  • 0-100 yards with priority on speed? Take a Class I Red Dot Sight
  • 50-400 yards general field use and low weight? Class II low power fixed magnification
  • Not concerned about weight, but need performance from 0 to 500 yards? Class III low power variable.
  • Mid to long range precision? Class IV scopes.
  • You won the lottery and want to invest? Angel invest for a Class V optic.

These rules are not hard and fast, so don’t go taking them as gospel. Given time, you’ll find that everyone has their own preferences and twists. The key thing is that you need to get out there and shoot.

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Matt

Matt is the primary author and owner of The Everyday Marksman. He's a former military officer turned professional tech sector trainer. He's a lifelong learner, passionate outdoorsman, and steadfast supporter of firearms culture.

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19 Comments
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Tony
Tony
Guest

Excellent article. I would have liked to read more about combining two optics, though. Off the bat, it seems like a perfect solution for eliminating the weak spots of any given type of optic – but of course, combined optics have their own downsides to consider. I feel there really is not enough high-level discussion about this topic out there – everyone seems to focus on only one optical device at the time.

Sunshine_Shooter
Replying to  Tony

I’m with you there. Some high level shooters (most notably Sinistral Rifleman) actually prefers red dot + magnifier to a class-III scope, whereas 99% of the people who used to run such a setup have switched to LVPOs. I’m always interested when someone who knows what they’re talking about goes against the crowd. There’s definitely something there that needs exploration.

I’m also fascinated by the Leupold D-EVO.

Larry
Larry
Guest
Replying to  The Marksman

Personally for my “do all rifle” I run a Eotech EXPS 2.0 (2018 model) with their G33 magnifier. The best part is you can easily remove the G33 and drop some weight if you know you wont need it. If I am shooting short range drills then off it comes. Zeroing or pushing past 100 yards it goes back on. I actually use it for hunting both dear and pigs and the flip to side helps a lot.

I also have a primary arms 1-6 FFP on another rifle. While I love the magnification for long range shooting the 1x will never be like a Red-Dot. The eyebox really starts to slow me down if I using say a VTAC barricade to run drills when shooting the lower slots in less than ideal positions. That is where the Eotech really shines.

Mark C.
Mark C.
Guest

Like always, a great read. What keeps me coming back time and time again is the consideration put into your articles. There’s the info but also what it means and its ramifications…which some of us might over look or don’t have the experience to consider.

I find that I have come to many of the same conclusions as you and have ultimately settled on two setups based on your past three articles. This one cemented my last decision to keep the heavy beast with the variable power.

Ben Dover
Ben Dover
Guest

Thanks for another excellent article! You’re the reason I got a trijicon accupower 1-4 (green BDC). Everything else I have runs straight irons ( took your advice and built my own minuteman rifle but with a5 collapsible system & a knights rad m5).

Do you have a preference on red dot brand? I keep wanting an aimpoint t1 or t2 but am reaally tempted to get s vortex sparc ar. This is to be on a 12.5” pistol build. Thanks for your help!

Also, do you have thoughts/opinions on the usefulness of anAR pistol especially with the development of the new braces that actually kinda work? What would your ideal do it all pistol be?

Ben Dover
Ben Dover
Guest
Replying to  The Marksman

I LOVE the Accupower. For me it feels like shooting an EOTech with the segmented circle & dot at 1x. The green reticle is nice and easy for me to pick up and in bright daylight the etched black reticle is easy to use. The biggest draw for me was by getting a 1-4 “used” cheap. And by used I mean someone opened the box and handled it. Only downside is weight….

I get where you’re coming from with pistols/SBR’s, I figured with 556 that 12.5” was the shortest I was willing to go, now that I’ve got it I want to go 9” in 300 BO. I was listening to a podcast by Kevin Brittinham (Q &A**; he’s from AAC, Remington, and Sig) and he talks about how 300 was optimized for 8.5-9” barrels. Do you think 300 has any viability in marksmanship or is it just a special purpose round( since it was developed for SOCOM).

Ben Dover
Ben Dover
Guest
Replying to  The Marksman

I’m with on the logistics issue, only thing that holds me back. My next in that vein will most likely be the CZ Evo since magpul is doing 35 rd mags or a PSA MP5 if/when those come out; and since its a much cheaper entry price.

Die Hard makes me want an MP5 clone so bad; but for a starting price of $1600 it hurts.

Sunshine_Shooter
Member

Awesome article as always. Like others have said, your knowledge and thought about the topic at hand always comes through.

I did find it interesting (not bad, interesting) that your optics classification system is based on the physical optic itself, whereas the system Zak Smith used was based on use of the optic. Since an optic’s use is pretty much determined by what type it is, this isn’t really an issue, but I did find it interesting.

I’m glad you showcased the D-EVO. I’ve played with on in person for a couple minutes and I personally love them. I actually think it’s superior to Class-III scopes, just priced out of my league (for now).

Where would you put NV and thermal optics? Your class-V is titled “Digital Hybrids” so they don’t really fit in that class. Do you consider them non-viable fighting options or is there a Class-VI “Non-Visible Spectrum”?

ILya Koshkin
Guest
Replying to  The Marksman

Steiner introduced an interesting sight called the CQT. It fuses a reflex sight with a thermal sight. It worked spectacularly well and it can be paired with a magnifier (which magnifies both thermal and visible image). This is easily the best such implementation I have seen yet, but I have also seen a good number of prototypes behind closed doors that try to do something along those lines for less money. A different approach is what Torrey Pines is doing with their ID (Internal Display) technology. It also works quite well and they perfected inexpensive zoom with an infrared lens. Their approach is a lot more affordable and quite workable. I’ll probably do an article on one later this year.

Cz10101
Cz10101
Guest

“Mission dictates equipment” i get the gist of the idea but, how is a noob supposed to negotiate all the ads., reviews, & assorted fluff that is touted as expert advice? Can you go to a range and rent optics like you can pistols and rifles?

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