The introduction of LPVOs, or Low-Powered Variable Optics, has been a game-changer for competition, law enforcement, military, and recreational shooters. If you’re looking to enter into the fraternity (or sorority) of LPVO owners, this three-part series discusses how the demand for LPVOs drove innovation while breaking down what features to consider when shopping for an LPVO. Three optics, at several different price points, are reviewed, compared, and contrasted to discuss what you’re getting (or not) when purchasing an LPVO.
Why do I need an LPVO?
An LPVO is simply defined as a scope with a true 1x power magnification at its lowest setting with a variable magnification up to at least 4x. Most LPVOs have a maximum of 6-8x power magnification. LPVOs are a historical progression of attempting to find a balance between the rapid target acquisition of a red dot or holographic sight while reaping the benefits of a magnified optic. However, what are the benefits of a magnified optic? For most, the answer is simply “because I can see the target better”. While a gross oversimplification of the reason for the need for magnification, that is an accurate response.
For the average hunter or competition shooter, magnification translates to a more precise shot on the intended target. While important in law enforcement and military applications, the bigger benefit of magnification for those in law enforcement and the military is PID. PID is an acronym for “positive identification” of a target. PID starts with being able to identify the person or item as a threat or danger. With consideration given to rules of engagement in the military and legal, policy, and ethical concerns in law enforcement; PID is an exceptionally important thing. I defer to this component of firearms safety rule number four: Know your target. If one can’t positively identify the target as the needed or intended recipient of a high-velocity projectile, we shouldn’t be shooting at it. LPVOs provide that clarification for the end user.
For years before modern LPVOs, the answer was complex. Some used the addition of a removable magnifier with an unmagnified red dot or holographic sight. The addition of a fixed power magnifier offered some benefits but added bulk to the rifle. Furthermore, the size of a red dot is limited when magnified. A 2 MOA dot is suddenly 8 MOA under 4x magnification, and so on, leading to less than ideal conditions for attempting a shot potentially requiring 2 MOA accuracy at distance.
Others sought resolution with a fixed power optic, such as a Trijicon ACOG, or sacrificed with a medium-power variable optic (such as a 2.5-10x scope). Fixed-power optics like the ACOG seemed to provide a benefit but didn’t offer the same speed or field-of-view that red dots offered. Medium-power variable optics presented the same issue. For many, the answer was to add a small reflexive sight on top of the scope or attach the red dot at a 45-degree angle to the optic. This required the shooter to adjust the position of the rifle when engaging targets at closer ranges. Needless to say, this adds another optic to the rifle that increases weight and bulk while being an additional potential point of failure on the weapon system.
With early LPVO offerings, the end user saw the benefits, and as such, demand grew. As demand increased, so did the companies offering LPVOs, and, as the market grew, so did the features. LPVOs are now a well-established and diverse component of rifle optics available to amateur and professional users alike. This perspective brings me to the biggest question many have about LPVOs.
What Does the Price Tag on an LPVO get me?
When I take an LPVO with a $4,000 price tag and lay it next to one with a $370 price tag, what are the differences between them? The answer, for some, is “you’re buying a name.” Such a response oversimplifies the intricacies involved in manufacturing a reliable and durable scope. This doesn’t mean purchasing a $4,000 scope is the only answer to obtaining a quality optic nor does it mean spending that kind of money is a fool parting with their cash.
To understand the pricing of LPVOs, one must understand their function, limitations, and application. There is no free lunch when purchasing an optic for your application. Cheaper prices mean fewer features, while higher prices typically reflect more features. Furthermore, the law of diminishing returns is in full effect. To obtain some of the small incremental benefits sought in LPVOs, the cost can increase substantially – and even by an order of magnitude.
LPVOs are priced as low as the $200 range (ex. Vortex Crossfire or TruGlo Omnia) while easily approaching or exceeding the $2,000 price tag (ex. Nightforce ATACR or NX8 or Steiner T6Xi). I recently obtained some hands-on time with a range of LPVOs to gain some perspective on the feature-to-price point correlation with them. I obtained a Burris RT-6 1-6x24mm, Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8x24mm, and Steiner M8Xi 1-8x34mm to use throughout this series for comparison. With prices at $370, $600, and $4,000, respectively; these optics were at the opposite ends of the spectrum with one (the Vortex) sitting at almost everyone’s budget for a quality optic.
When considering an LPVO, you have to look at the intended use first and foremost. Is it a range queen? Competition? Law enforcement? Home defense? Clandestine operations in South America? I think most of us would love to have the top-of-the-line LPVO, but money has a way of hindering those desires. I discussed this with several of my peers and we came up with several considerations the buyer should account for when pulling the metaphorical trigger for one:
Durability
How durable do you need the optic to be? If it’s a range queen or for competition, you probably don’t need it to withstand harsh conditions and dramatic temperature changes. The application is incredibly important and some scopes can meet your needs without breaking the bank. While nice to have, a $3,000 scope on a $1,000 AR-15 range queen is probably overkill. The quality of manufacture is also important to ensure the optic can withstand prolonged use. Factors such as windage and elevation adjustments, tube construction, lens coating, and quality of components have a significant impact on how durable and reliable a scope can be with prolonged use under less-than-ideal operating conditions and the repeated recoil of a self-loading rifle.
Pedigree
If I’m looking for a top-end K-9 for personal protection, I’m probably not going to our local kennel to fulfill that need. The breeder’s reputation and the bloodline of that dog are incredibly important to its longevity, performance, and temperament when conducting training. Scopes are no different. While many of us can snag a “good deal” at our local gun show, the reputation of that scope manufacturer may be suspect at best. How is the warranty? Better yet, is it likely you’ll ever need a warranty? The LPVO market has exploded in recent years with an amazing selection available. Do your homework on the manufacturer and ensure it’s not an untested and unproven optic you’re spending your hard-earned money on.
Glass
This factor is one many may not notice but is profoundly important. I will cover this in-depth in the second part of this series but, for now, will give a primer on considerations when looking at glass. Optical clarity has advanced significantly over the last twenty to thirty years and it’s hard to notice a difference in light transmission under normal daytime conditions. More costly optics excel in dimmer light conditions such as dusk or dawn. Furthermore, the coating on the lenses can affect light transmission and glare.
Field of view under low power and high power are factors to consider. The tube diameter (24mm, 30mm, or 34mm) has an impact on how much light is collected for the user to see the target and, while a matter of millimeters, is noticeable. Furthermore, your field of view (how much of the area down range is seen through the optic) is influenced by the objective and tube size. LPVOs are still scopes and don’t have the flexibility of a red dot or holographic when your head is positioned slightly offline from the optic. Some LPVOs allow the user to see a greater field of view and are more forgiving when the shooter is behind the optic if their head isn’t perfectly aligned. In effect, a greater field of view and eye relief allows the user more flexibility in less than conventional shooting positions like rollover prone or while braced on a barricade.
Reticle, Illumination, and Focal Plane
The options available for reticles are overwhelming. Every company has a unique take on what they think is the best reticle on an LPVO. Vortex offers their AR-BDC3, among others, while Burris has their Ballistic AR. Most LPVOs have built-in ballistic compensation measurements included for the shooter out to 500 or 600 meters. Steiner, for instance, uses a Millrad reticle that is almost overwhelming to the shooter if they don’t know what they’re looking at, or for, the first time they peer through it.
Illumination is another option offered on many LPVOs. Unfortunately, the battery life, unlike most red dots, is only in the few hundred-hour range on a single CR2032 battery. The reticle is normally illuminated using an LED lamp to make the reticle glow red or green during day or nighttime use.
Focal plane is an important consideration and needs to be understood when shopping for an LPVO. Focal planes fall into two categories: first focal plane and second (or rear) focal plane. The first focal plane is fantastic for windage and elevation holdover adjustments because the reticle is magnified along with your intended target across all ranges of power when adjusted. Thus, the holdover values on the reticle remain consistent regardless of the magnification. While beneficial, it’s a more complex construction and comes with an increased cost to the user. Second focal plane is cheaper to make and less complex, thus at a lower cost to the user. Most companies will set ballistic and windage holdovers at a specific magnification on the scope that they are calibrated for. For instance, most LPVOs with second focal plane magnification have windage and elevation adjustments calibrated at maximum power.
Application and Price
Unfortunately, we’ve arrived at the single greatest limitation for most of us – budget. Money is a huge factor. Would we all love to stick $2,000 plus optics on every one of our rifles? Yes, but after the expense of a rifle, ammo, and other gear; the budget can be somewhat limited. While some scopes are “great deals” and can get your rifle outfitted quickly with some glass, how much of a benefit would you receive if you saved up a couple of extra paychecks? What if you didn’t buy that coffee first thing in the morning for a couple of weeks? Ultimately, your budget is your budget. However, expending $100 (or a couple hundred) more for a higher quality optic is worth its weight in gold for long-term satisfaction.
When pricing an optic, I suggest looking at what you intend to use it for and how hard you plan to push that optic in its performance on your rifle. Then, look at what is just a step above and consider that as your goal for an optic. LPVOs are no different. Inexpensive LPVOs in the few hundred range will serve well for range duties but going a step above will give you confidence that it will remain functional in the unfortunate incident your rifle falls over or a torrential downpour halts your range outing.
The Future
This lengthy primer of a three-part series is meant to get you up to speed on the considerations, features, and design of LPVOs. There’s a lot to take in with the available information and it can be overwhelming. The aforementioned considerations are not meant to overwhelm you but to get the proverbial mental hamster wheel spinning on what you want out of an LPVO. There is no silver bullet optic and you have to find what factors are important to your applications and budget. Part two of this series will delve into the optics tested and how they compare under a variety of conditions. This series will round out the benefits and considerations of running an LPVO versus red dots, holographic sights, and medium-power optics. Stay tuned for more than you probably ever needed to know on LPVOs.
