Best Night Vision Scope for AR15: Night vision scopes are extremely useful for hunting in low light. But finding a good night vision scope for your rifle can be a daunting task. So we have reviewed some of the top scopes out there to find you the Best Night Vision Scopes for AR15.
If you are in a hurry:
ATN X-Sight 4K Pro is the Best Night Vision Scope for AR15.
Now let’s move on to our detailed reviews.
Best Night Vision Scopes for AR15
Here is our list of the Best Night Vision Scopes for AR 15
Last update on 2024-11-07 / Paid links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
ATN X-Sight 4K Pro Day Night Scope
ATN X-Sight 4K Pro 5-20x is a digital night vision scope for AR 15. It comes with a 5-20x zoom and an Obsidian 4 Dual Core Processor. The smooth zoom allows you to fine-tune magnification for perfect adjustment.
This is a day-night scope for AR 15 that you can use both during the day and night. It provides great images irrespective of the available light. It comes with a ballistic calculation system to help calculate ballistics for long-range shots. A ballistic calculator shifts the point of impact in real-time to calculate ballistics.
It also includes an inbuilt rangefinder to help you calculate the range to your target.
Pros
- Day and night vision scope with 4K resolution.
- Stream videos to your mobile device at HD resolution.
- Ballistic Calculator to help you calculate ballistics on the fly.
- Laser Range Finder to determine the range to your target.
- Excellent night vision scope for mid to long-range.
- IR illumination works well up to a range of 125 yards.
ATN Thor HD Thermal Scope
ATN Thor HD comes with a thermal sensor that uses thermal energy for night vision. Thermal sensors are different than light sensors as they allow vision even in complete darkness.
These sensors convert heat or thermal energy from animals or prey into images. ATN Thor HD is a top-rated thermal scope for AR15.
It also comes with a ballistic calculation system to help you calculate the bullet trajectory and improve your shot placement. It can help you hit the target with your first shot.
It includes an inbuilt rangefinder as well to help you calculate the distance for improved accuracy.
Pros
- AR15 thermal scope with a 384×288 sensor.
- Detects heat instead of light to allow you to see even in complete darkness.
- Smooth zoom allows you to magnify without losing your target.
Sightmark Photon RT Digital Night Vision Scope
Sightmark Photon RT comes with a 4.5x magnification and 42mm objective lens. The 4.5x zoom will change to 9x when the 2x digital zoom is applied. It is a digital night vision scope, which is comparable to Gen 2+.
It comes with an inbuilt 850nm LED infrared (IR) illuminator. The 4.5x magnification combined with a large 42mm lens provides crisp images at 768×576 resolution. It had a detection range of up to 220 yards at a 0.05 lux illumination level. The digital precision system for elevation and windage adjustments.
Sightmark Photon RT is versatile and provides precision placement at medium range with crisp detailing up to two hundred and twenty yards and is capable of use in both daylight and darkness. It features 6 digital reticle styles in white, red, and green. 2 crossbow reticles, 2 duplex reticles, a Mil-Dot reticle, and a German-style reticle.
Even Gen 1 digital night vision scopes, provide almost the image quality of a Gen 2+ scope. It is also compatible with the Weaver rail mounting system. Sightmark Photon RT is thirty percent lighter weight than most scopes on the market. It is resistant to bright light exposure and provides longer eye relief.
Battery life is thirty-three percent longer than other scopes on the market; however, the batteries are easy to change even in the dark if the need arises. The video output feature allows for video recording.
Pros
- Shockproof and weatherproof construction with long eye relief.
- Streams real-time video to YouTube or any smart device using the Stream Vision App.
- Batteries last up to 30% longer than comparable night vision scopes.
- Thirty percent lighter weight than other digital scopes.
- Precision placement at a medium range.
- Six green, white, and red digital reticle options.
- Crisp detailing up to one hundred and twenty yards.
- Weaver rail mounting.
- Digital windage and elevation adjustment.
- Day and night usage.
Cons
- Control placement may be awkward for some users.
- The manual is lacking in instructions on how to use the scope.
Armasight Orion Infrared Scope
Armasight Orion is a Gen 1+ night vision scope with an infrared illuminator. It provides powerful magnification of up to 5x. The F1.6, F108mm lens system provides a 10° field of view.
This is an infrared scope for AR15 which comes with a long-range detachable IR illuminator. It also features an illuminated red cross reticle and adjustable reticle brightness.
Armasight ORION 5X can be mounted on standard weaver rails.
Pros
- AR15 infrared scope with IR810 long-range illuminator.
- Illuminated red cross reticle with variable brightness.
- Rubberized body and a water-resistant design.
- Powered by a 3V battery which lasts up to 40 hours.
Firefield Night Vision Scope
Firefield 3X42 is a Gen1 night vision scope. It comes with a 3x magnification and 42mm lens. The large 42mm lens provides excellent light-gathering capabilities. It is very ergonomically designed for a comfortable experience.
It also includes an inbuilt, high-power infrared illuminator which improves image quality and viewing range even in near-zero daylight. The multi-coated optics combined with an illuminated red duplex reticle helps the shooter be better aware of their surroundings.
It has a detection range of up to 100 yards and an IR illuminator range of up to 80 yards. It offers 20 hours of battery backup with IR and 50 hours of battery backup without IR.
Firefield Night Vision Scope is an excellent scope with 3x magnification, a 42mm lens, and an ergonomic design. It features a built-in IR and titanium body which is high quality and durable. It also has a quick detach weaver mount for easy removal.
The high-powered IR illuminator enhances the image details and increases the viewing range in total darkness. The illuminated red duplex reticle has incremental brightness and adjustment which allows the shooter quick adaptation to surroundings.
The scope is attractive as well with a compact tactical design.
Pros
- Easy to change optics and still returns to zero.
- Forty-two-millimeter lens for light gathering and three times magnification.
- The flip-up lens cover protects from harsh weather conditions and impacts.
- Enhanced multi-coated optics.
- Illuminated red duplex reticle.
- Built-in IR for a high-power advance range.
- Quick detach weaver mount.
Cons
- Mounting the scope can be difficult.
- Images are slightly blurry around the edges.
Bushnell Equinox Z Night Vision Magnifier
Bushnell 4.5X40 Equinox Z is a night vision magnifier for AR15. It comes with a 4.5x zoom and a 40mm objective lens. The high-quality 40 mm objective lens combined with 4.5x zoom provides great optical clarity even at higher magnifications. Bushnell 4.5X40 offers excellent infrared illumination with a wider field of view.
It comes with a versatile mount, and tripod mounting capability. The mount helps attach this night vision magnifier easily to your AR15. Bushnell Equinox Z is smaller than most other night vision scopes. It is lightweight and portable, weighing only 2.6 lbs.
Bushnell 4.5X40 Equinox Z has a long-lasting battery life. Although it is important to note that battery life may vary depending on the IR brightness level being used.
Pros
- Feature-rich, simple design, and low price.
- It comes with features such as Daytime Color, Video Recording, and Image Capturing.
Yukon Titanium Night Vision Rifle Scope
Yukon Titanium is a Gen1 night vision rifle scope for AR 15. It comes with a 1.5x magnification and 42mm objective lens. The large 42mm lens allows for excellent light-gathering capabilities. The multi-coated optics provide crystal clear high-resolution images.
The lens provides 1.5x magnification, 20-degree FoV, and 45mm eye relief. It has a built-in IR illuminator that improves brightness and range even in almost total darkness. Yukon Titanium 1.5X42 has a detection range of up to 200 yards and an IR illuminator range of up to 100 yards.
It is a sleek night vision scope that is smaller and lightweight than most others. Its ergonomic design allows for a comfortable shooting experience. The Yukon Titanium night vision rifle scope comes with the standard weaver rail mount system. It is compatible with a wide range of rifles including bolt action types.
Yukon Titanium allows for enhanced multi-coated optics observable under the flip-up lens and will fit a standard weaver rail mount. It is constructed of a titanium body. The 42mm lens provides higher resolution and light gathering.
The red reticle is illuminated and sits on the green field view. The scope boasts a built-in Infrared Illuminator (IRI) to expand the view range. The built-in IR illuminator also minimizes battery drainage while providing for maximum possible infrared output.
The illuminator diode pulses protect the IR from burning out. But the pulsing is invisible to the naked eye but allows the IR to be useful at longer distances. Optics are fully adjustable and can be turned off completely.
Pros
- The long mount allows for comfort.
- Able to accommodate the widest of rifles.
- Multi-coated optics.
- Standard weaver rail mount.
- Red or green adjustable reticle.
- Large controls are easily found in the dark.
- It allows a remote control to be mounted on AR15.
- Focus ranges up to seven yards.
- Water intrusion rating IPX5.
- IR reaches up to one hundred yards.
Cons
- View through this scope is really small.
- Not designed to shoot at long range.
- Magnification of only one and a half.
Burris Fastfire III Night Vision Scope
The biggest draw for the Burris Fastfire III night vision scope is that the graphics are etched in the glass. The company boasts outstanding ring and coil designs to help stabilize the scope. It also provides an additional range even though it is a compact design.
Burris Fastfire III features a quick-change option from red to green or black for the reticle. There are five red and five green power levels to match all the lighting conditions quickly.
The rugged construction is designed to withstand recoil and abuse. This Burris scope for AR15 is waterproof and stands up to all weather conditions. It boasts nitrogen-filled body tubes to prevent internal fogging in cold and rainy conditions.
Pros
- Three times magnification of the image.
- Outstanding ring and coil design.
- Made for extreme shooters.
- The red/green reticle is sharp.
- Easy mount on a standard rail.
Cons
- It tends to be heavy.
- Screws may loosen over time.
Aipa Tactical Night Vision Scope
Aipa Tactical Scope for AR15 features a high-grade fully coated optical lens and a thirty-two-millimeter reflex lens for a wider field of view. The holographic red and green dot sight is controlled by electronics and not by a screw.
Aipa Tactical Night Vision Scope is great for fast-moving targets. It features a high-resolution image with unlimited eye relief as well as brightness control. This durable scope is one hundred percent waterproof, fog proof, and shockproof. It comes with a nitrogen-filled dual-illuminated rangefinding graph or reticle.
Pros
- Fifty millimeters beautiful flower object lens.
- High-grade fully coated optical lens.
- One hundred percent waterproof.
- Rail mount on Picatinny or Weaver mount.
- Wide field of vision.
- The reticle color is red and green.
- Windage and elevation adjustments.
- The red laser reaches one hundred meters.
Cons
- Clarity is reduced with magnification.
- Issues with the function of the reticle.
How to Choose the Best Night Vision Scope for AR15
The night vision scope for AR15 should be capable of mounting to standard rails and providing the same level of precision as a day scope. It should allow the hunter to see clearly between one hundred and fifty to two hundred yards. Inside that range, the shooter should be able to tell whether it is an acceptable animal to hunt or not.
Almost all night vision scopes for AR15 come equipped with IRI or Infrared Illuminator. Basically, IRI throws out a beam of infrared light that is almost invisible to the naked eye, but the scope can see it and this allows the scope to work in total darkness. As an IRI works like a flashlight, the distance you can see with it is limited. There are also some generational differences between night vision scopes.
Generation 1 night vision scopes use intensifier tubes as opposed to the simple process of amplifying light. As such, generation 1 night vision scopes tend to be cheaper than Gen2 and Gen3. The Gen2 night vision scopes include a micro-channel plate that multiplies the electrons. Thus, these scopes can provide more depth and a clearer line of vision.
You can check out our guide on How to Choose a Night Vision Scope if you need more help choosing the right scope for your needs.
Generation 1
Generation 1 night vision scopes are built around image intensifier tubes with very simple configurations. Although Gen1 provides lower light amplification or gain and image resolution as compared to Gen2/ Gen3 scopes, they are most popular and widely used among hunters. Gen1 night vision scopes usually satisfy most recreational needs.
Generation 2
Generation 2 night vision scopes are enhanced by using a microchannel plate (MCP). The MCP looks like a honeycomb where each cell has a large number of channels for electrons to enter. The MCP boosts the light gain of an image tube by about one thousand times. It will also provide the shooter with a brighter and clearer image and is suited to more advanced users.
Generation 3
The Gen3 night vision scopes are military-grade. These night vision scopes provide the longest range and the topmost resolution. It operates without the use of an IRI and functions in all light conditions. This scope provides better versatility and durability. It also has the longest life expectancy of ten thousand hours.
Generation 3 devices also come with a microchannel plate that has the same abilities as a Gen2 night vision scope. But, the main addition to the generation 3 scopes is the Gallium Arsenide Photocathode. It helps create more photoelectrons compared to the earlier generations.
No doubt Gen2 and Gen3 night vision scopes offer better light amplification and performance than Gen1. But, they are more expensive than what most hunters intend to pay. Even a high-quality Gen1 device can provide enough lighting for hunters.
Conclusion
Again, here is our list of the 9 Best Night Vision Scopes for AR15:
- ATN X-Sight 4K Pro — Winner
- ATN Thor HD
- Sightmark Photon RT
- Armasight ORION 5X
- Firefield NVRS 3X42
- Bushnell Equinox Z
- Yukon NVRS Titanium
- Burris Fastfire III
- Aipa Tactical Rifle Scope
As you can see, owners of AR15 are presented with many options while purchasing a night vision scope. The basic function of a night vision scope is to aid eyesight in low lighting by amplifying the surrounding light. A rifle scope also magnifies objects so they appear closer and provide a clear and focused picture.
Ergonomic design and durable body, make ATN X-Sight overall winners amongst all the scopes we reviewed. It provides 5-20x magnification and has a high-quality image and resolution with the built-in long-range infrared illuminator.
The scope itself is durable and comes with a 20000mAh battery pack. It also includes an easy-to-use remote access control system that provides control over features such as Rangefinder, Ballistic Calculator, etc. The eighty-five-millimeter lens helps gather light and the 5-12x magnifier makes objects more visible.
The ability to record your hunting activities in 1080p HD quality makes it the Best Night Vision Scope for AR15. If you have any other recommendations then you may let us know through the comments section.
Last Updated on January 5, 2024 by Victor Mays
