With over 20 years in the firearms industry, I’ve seen a few trends make ripples. Sometimes it’s a very small, simple thing like the shift from aluminum to polymer magazines. You can also have huge, monumental upheavals like when a small, no name company makes the right voodoo mix of marketing and quality and BAM! The new hotness is all over everything. Sometimes that’s a good thing, sometimes not so much.
One of the most common places I’ve seen change the market is competition shooting. Now before you go off on a “that’s not real training” post, let me finish. Sometimes things in competition make their way to the training fields and become standards in LE agencies across the world. A great example is the transition from 4 railed handguards to MLOK, extended handguards. This was not some FBI armorer in a basement in DC dreaming these innovations up, it’s shooters that shoot every weekend because they love it, not because they are paid to. Competitors are always gaming so they are looking for every opportunity to shave half an oz. here and add it there. Streamlining aero and smoothing every movement to save precious tenths of a second.
LPVO’s or “Low Power Variable Optics” are another piece of now standard equipment that really got their hold in competition shooting first. When setting up stages, most match directors have a good mix of bay, close-in targeted stages and long range stages with targets out to 500+ yards. 500 yards is a poke for an AR but is something a skilled shooter can repeat without much trouble if the conditions are in their favor. A large, magnified optic would be ideal for these shots, but not for the bay stages. A red dot is great out to 300 yards if you are good, but after that things get hard to see. The bay stages would be your advantage with no magnification and a lit red dot.
What if I told you there was a way you could have both? That’s right, LPVO’s answer both calls. There are a significant number of manufacturers embracing the LPVO now, but it wasn’t always this way. The first few were very expensive. 1-6x scopes from companies like Khales and Niteforce were all that were available and they were over $2K each. That’s not chump change, but top competitors know they are paying top dollar to shave time up front. This kept the sales respectable but kept the common man out of the game until the launch of the Strike Eagle from Vortex. Finally, a sub $500 option for a good 1-6x scope! The masses accepted with open arms and sales skyrocketed. They were very hard to find for the first few months but eventually things leveled out. The wave was so big, it opened the door for other companies to join in and start making good scopes at a decent price. Now finding a scope for any level is not too bad. Here are my picks for Top 5 LPVOs Under $1000 in 2025:
I couldn’t make this list without putting the Strike Eagle up top. Not resting on its laurels, Vortex continues to improve this line by offering the same scope people have come to love in a First Focal Plane EBR-8 MOA reticle. Using a 30 mm tube, it’s a standard and easy to find a great mount. Weighing in at 23.9 oz she’s a big girl, but there’s a lot to love.
Find Vorex Strike Eagle @ EuroOptic for just $699!:
When it comes to MSR innovations, Sig Sauer continues to push the envelope. Their MSR 1-6x24mm SFP scope is no different. With a nice, clean lit reticle and easy to use dials, this scope is a great option for people who are maybe new to the LPVO game and don’t want to dive in headfirst. The adjustment rings and knobs are easy to operate and click to let you know each notch audibly. There are 11 brightness setting and it is shockproof, waterproof, fog-proof, and comes with their ALPHA-MSR mount. Don’t sleep on this one!
Find Sig Sauer Tango MSR 1-6x24mm SFP with Mount at PSA for just $229.99!
When Crimson Trace entered the optics game a few years back, I was sure their product would be great. I have used several of their lasers on carry and competition rifles and have always been pleased with their durability and performance. Their optics are no different and the Hardline is a great example of their handiwork. The reticle on this SFP optic is a Mil dot making calculations much simpler. Crimson Trace illuminates this scope with an LED and finishes the 34mm body with hard coat anodize for durability.
Find Crimson Trace Hardline 1-10x28mm at Optics Planet for $330.42!
When you think about Bushnell, you think outdoors, old binoculars or scopes that your Grandpa had, and good memories. Their AR Optics line is no different, just brand new and ready to rock. The 1-8x24mm Mil scope is all you want in an LPVO and more. The first thing that caught my attention was the adjustment ring throw lever. It flips up so you can move it easier and quicker, then folds down out of the way. The glass on the Bushnell is clear for the price range and performed well in a dark, barely lit indoor range. I enjoy the BDC reticle they use and wouldn’t hesitate to add another one to any of my guns.
Find Bushnell AR Optics 1-8x24mm at EuroOptic for just $239.99!
Swampfox is another company that has made quite an impact in the last 5 years. Their Arrowhead LPVO comes in at a great price with tons of options. This scope is offered in 3 different reticles include MOA or Mil Dot, 12 red or green illumination settings, and push/ pull lock for turrets to ensure no adjustments are made accidentally. This model also includes an extended throw lever to change magnification on the go. While Swampfox is a newer brand, they are certainly bringing the heat!
Find Swampfox Arrowhead at Buds Gun Shop for $370.99!
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