Optic Guides
The optics that fit and suit popular firearms — each pick research-verified for mount compatibility and ranked by how well it suits the gun.
Pistol red dots
Slide-mounted dots for optics-ready carry and duty pistols.
- Red DotsGlock 19Every micro red dot that fits the Glock 19 Gen5 MOS, with the exact adapter plate each one needs. The MOS cut takes plates for the common footprints, so the real choice is dot size, an open vs. enclosed emitter, and battery life for a do-everything compact 9mm. Below: what mounts, ranked by how well it suits the gun.
- Red DotsGlock 17Red dots for the Glock 17 Gen5 MOS. The full-size 9mm's longer sight radius rewards a crisp 2–3 MOA dot, and the MOS plate system fits the major footprints. Here is every compatible optic and the plate it takes, ranked by suitability.
- Red DotsGlock 45The Glock 45 pairs a full-size Gen5 frame with the compact 19-length slide — a top duty/carry crossover. The MOS cut takes plates for the common footprints, so the real choice is dot size and an open vs. enclosed emitter. Here's every micro red dot that fits and the plate it uses.
- Red DotsGlock 34The Glock 34 Gen5 MOS is the long-slide competition 9mm — a long sight radius plus the MOS plate system make it a natural red-dot host. These are the optics that fit, ranked by how well they suit a match or duty setup.
- Red DotsGlock 43XThe Glock 43X MOS is a slim single-stack carry 9mm, so it wants a small, low-profile micro red dot on the compact RMSc-class footprint. These are the dots that fit and the cut or plate each one uses.
- Red DotsGlock 48The Glock 48 MOS pairs the slim 43X frame with a longer slide — an excellent carry red-dot host on the compact RMSc-class footprint. Here's every micro red dot that fits and how it mounts.
- Red DotsSIG P320Red dots for the SIG P320-M17 and the wider P320 family. The optic cut uses the ROMEO1Pro / DeltaPoint-class footprint, so this full-size duty 9mm pairs naturally with a rugged enclosed-emitter dot. These are the optics that fit and how each one mounts.
- Red DotsSIG P320 XCarryThe P320 XCarry is the carry-length workhorse of the P320 line; its cut uses the ROMEO1Pro / DeltaPoint-class footprint, so it pairs naturally with a rugged enclosed-emitter dot. These are the optics that fit and how each mounts.
- Red DotsSIG P365The SIG P365 is the micro-9 that launched the category; the optics-ready slide takes the ROMEOZero / Shield RMSc-class footprint. Here are the low-profile micro dots sized for deep concealment, and how each one mounts.
- Red DotsSIG P365XLThe SIG P365XL is the benchmark optics-ready micro-carry 9mm; its slide cut takes the ROMEOZero / Shield RMSc-class footprint. Here is every micro red dot that fits, sized for everyday concealed carry.
- Red DotsM&P9 M2.0Red dots for the optics-ready M&P9 M2.0. The cut ships with plates for the common footprints, so this full-size striker 9mm fits most micro dots — the choice comes down to dot size, durability, and battery life. These are the compatible optics and the plate each takes.
- Red DotsShield PlusThe Shield Plus OR is a benchmark micro-carry 9mm cut for the Shield RMSc footprint. Here is every micro red dot that fits a slim everyday-carry pistol, ranked by suitability.
- Red DotsHellcatThe Springfield Hellcat OSP is a micro-compact carry 9mm cut for the Shield RMSc footprint. Here are the low-profile micro red dots that fit a deep-concealment pistol, ranked by how well they suit it.
- Red DotsHK VP9The HK VP9 OR ships with an adapter-plate system covering the major footprints, so this full-size striker 9mm fits most micro dots — the choice comes down to dot size, durability, and battery life. Here's what mounts and on which plate.
- Red DotsWalther PDPThe Walther PDP Full Size is a purpose-built optics-ready duty 9mm; its plate system fits the common footprints. These are the compatible red dots and the plate each one takes, ranked by how well they suit the gun.
Rifle & rimfire red dots
Picatinny-mounted dots for carbines and .22s.
- Red DotsBCM RECCE-16The BCM RECCE-16 is a flat-top 5.56 AR carbine — its Picatinny rail takes any micro red dot directly, no plate needed. A crisp 2 MOA dot (often backed by a magnifier) suits its medium effective range; here's every red dot that fits, ranked by suitability.
- Red DotsRuger AR-556The Ruger AR-556 is the value-leading flat-top 5.56 AR; its Picatinny rail mounts any red dot directly. These are the compatible micro and full-size dots, ranked for a do-everything carbine.
- Red DotsM&P15Red dots for the S&W M&P15 Sport — a flat-top 5.56 AR that takes any micro dot directly on its Picatinny rail. Here's what fits and how each one suits the platform.
- Red DotsRuger 10/22Red dots for the Ruger 10/22 — fast, fun, and ideal for plinking and small game. Its rail takes any micro or full-size red dot; these are the compatible dots, ranked for a .22 carbine.
LPVOs
1× speed with zoom on demand for AR-pattern rifles.
- LPVOsDDM4 V7The best scope for the Daniel Defense DDM4 V7 is a low-power variable optic (LPVO): a 16″ 5.56 carbine lives at CQB-to-medium range, where a 1–6× to 1–8× does everything — true 1× speed up close and a precise reticle out to its effective range. The flat-top Picatinny rail takes any LPVO directly; here's every one that fits, ranked by how well it suits the gun.
- LPVOsBCM RECCE-16The best low-power variable optics for the BCM RECCE-16 — its flat-top Picatinny rail takes any LPVO directly. A 1–6× to 1–8× suits its medium effective range; these are the compatible LPVOs, ranked by suitability.
- LPVOsM&P15LPVOs for the Smith & Wesson M&P15 Sport — a flat-top 5.56 AR that mounts any 1–6× or 1–8× low-power variable on its Picatinny rail. These are the compatible LPVOs and how they suit the platform.
- LPVOsAero M4E1LPVOs for the Aero Precision M4E1 — a flat-top 5.56 AR that mounts any 1–6× or 1–8× low-power variable on its Picatinny rail. Here are the compatible LPVOs and how they suit the build.
Rifle scopes
Hunting and precision glass for bolt guns and rimfire.
- ScopesTikka T3xRiflescopes for the Tikka T3x — a smooth, accurate hunting and precision bolt gun that takes standard rings on its dovetail or a Picatinny base. Match the magnification to your range; here's every scope that fits, ranked by suitability.
- ScopesBergara B-14The best riflescopes for the Bergara B-14 — a Remington 700-footprint hunting/precision rifle that mounts any scope on standard rings or a rail. These are the compatible scopes, ranked for the B-14's reach.
- ScopesSavage 110Riflescopes for the Savage 110 — a workhorse hunting bolt gun that takes standard rings and bases. From a 3–9× hunter to a long-range FFP, here's what fits and how each one suits the rifle.
- ScopesRuger AmericanThe best scopes for the Ruger American Rifle — a value-leading hunting bolt gun. Mount a hunting 3–9× or a longer-range variable on standard rings; these are the compatible scopes, ranked by suitability.
- ScopesRemington 700Riflescopes for the Remington 700 — the most-cloned action in existence, taking any scope on the universal Rem 700 bases and rings. Here's every scope that fits, ranked for a hunting or precision build.
- ScopesRuger 10/22Rimfire scopes for the Ruger 10/22 — America's .22 carbine, which mounts a scope on its included rail. A compact 2–7× or 3–9× rimfire scope suits small game and plinking; here's what fits, ranked by suitability.
Precision & PRS scopes
First-focal-plane glass for chassis and precision bolt rifles.
- PRS ScopesRuger Precision RifleThe Ruger Precision Rifle is the gun that put PRS within reach — a chassis bolt rifle that runs with customs at a fraction of the price. It wants a first-focal-plane, high-magnification scope with a precise MRAD reticle and turrets you'll dial all day. Its Picatinny rail takes any scope on rings; here's every precision optic that fits, ranked by how well it suits long-range work.
- PRS ScopesBergara B-14 HMRThe Bergara B-14 HMR pairs a sub-MOA barrel with a molded mini-chassis stock — a precision rifle that punches above its price. It pairs naturally with a high-power FFP scope dialed in MRAD. The Picatinny base takes any scope on rings; these are the compatible precision optics, ranked for long-range accuracy.
- PRS ScopesTikka T3x TAC A1The Tikka T3x TAC A1 is a chassis-stocked precision rifle built on Tikka's famously smooth action — a benchmark entry into serious long-range and PRS. It earns a top-tier first-focal-plane scope with the magnification and turret travel to reach. The full-length rail takes any scope on rings; here's every precision optic that fits, ranked by suitability.
Thermal & night vision
Heat-vision optics for hog and predator hunting after dark.
- Thermal ScopesRuger SFARThe Ruger SFAR packs .308 into an AR-15-sized rifle — a do-everything hog and predator gun that begs for a thermal on top. Its full-length Picatinny rail takes any thermal scope directly. Heat vision finds hogs in brush and tall grass day or night; here's every thermal that fits, from the entry 320 sensor to the duty-grade 640, ranked by how well it suits the rifle.
- Thermal ScopesRuger AR-556The Ruger AR-556 is the value-leading AR-15 — and its flat-top Picatinny rail mounts any thermal scope directly, turning a do-everything carbine into a night-hunting rig. Thermal reads heat through brush and fog at ranges no IR light reaches; these are the compatible thermals, ranked from budget 320 sensors to the 640-class glass that turns blobs into hogs.
- Thermal ScopesSavage 110The Savage 110 Tactical is a precision .308 bolt gun on a Picatinny rail — a natural predator and hog platform once the sun drops. A thermal scope finds warm bodies across a field or through cover in total darkness; here's every thermal that fits, ranked by how well it suits the rifle's reach.