Best bang for your buck. - Leupold 1x14 Tactical Prismatic Rifle Scope w/ Illuminated Red Circle Plex Reticle

This optic was my last alternative to most other sights. I hated the idea of needing batteries. And I hate the bulkiness and width of Holographics. The red dots, as fine as they are, are ALWAYS blurry to me. Sure, within 300 yards its no problem. But, the battery. Acog 1.5x are great optics, but the tunnel effect of a magnified optic kept me away. Aimpoints, I always feel like I'm looking through a film canister with the bottom cut out. And the price was just too high. TriPowers are great, but the exposed adjustments make me unsure of them, and they are $200 more than the Prismatics, with no mounts. I finally bought a Prismatic at a local Cop Shop and haven't looked back. Since then, I have bought 2 more, one more Tactical, and one Hunter version with the DCD. Even though its not perfect, its got the most bang for the Buck. Less than $500, you get: 1) Great glass with a generous sight picture (unlike Aimpoints). 2) An etched reticle which doesn't require batteries and is less bulky. 3) 8(eight) different hight options between using no risers, some or all risers. 4) Capped adjustments. 5) A true real world 1X.

The Cons are few. I didn't like how when I made my adjustments in the cold, they were slow to get there. I have learned to keep the sight warm before I adjust it. After that it stays solidly in place. And, as everyone usually notices, the eye relief could be a bit longer. I had this mounted with a magnifier, and after the magnifier is removed the Prismatic too far forward to see well. So, I have also learned to use this with an adjustable stock. Stock extended with magnifier, and stock collapsed without.
This was and still is a no brainer to me, IMHO. If you want an absolute value, its the Leupold Prismatic.

This review was written in the old system and had content requirements that are different than reviews written today.