Best LPVO Under $500 (Black Friday 2026): 5 Low-Power Variable Optics Compared
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If you run an AR or carbine and want one optic that does it all — fast up close, precise farther out — a low-power variable optic (LPVO) is the answer. The hard part is finding the best LPVO under $500 without wading through a dozen spec sheets. We did that legwork for Black Friday 2026, checking real prices on five scopes that actually deliver 1x-to-6x or 1x-to-8x versatility without draining your ammo budget.
We priced each scope on November 8, 2026, and we're telling you now: prices on optics move constantly, especially between Black Friday (November 27) and Cyber Monday (November 30). Treat every number below as a snapshot, not a promise, and check the live price before you buy.
Quick picks
- Best overall value: Primary Arms SLx 1-6x24 Gen IV — illuminated ACSS Nova reticle, $349.99.
- Best 1-8x reach: Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8x24 — MOA BDC reticle, widely available.
- Best deal with a mount included: Sig Sauer Tango-MSR 1-6x24 — $199.99 at EuroOptic with the ALPHA-MSR mount in the box.
- Best budget LPVO 2026: Bushnell AR Optics 1-8x24 — as low as $199.98 on sale direct from Bushnell.
- Best all-rounder spec sheet: Burris RT-6 1-6x24 — compact, 11-position illumination.
Comparison table
| Model | Key specs | Price (checked Nov 8, 2026) | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Arms SLx 1-6x24 SFP Gen IV, ACSS Nova Fiber Wire | SFP; illuminated, 11 settings; ACSS Nova MRAD reticle; 30mm; 10.4 in; 17.9 oz w/ battery; 4.0 in eye relief; FOV 120–20 ft @ 100 yd | $349.99 at Primary Arms | Check price at GunDeals |
| Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8x24 SFP, AR-BDC3 (SE-1824-2) | SFP; illuminated; AR-BDC3 MOA reticle; 30mm; 10.0 in; 17.4 oz; 3.5 in eye relief; FOV 109–14.4 ft @ 100 yd; MSRP $559.99 | $399.99 at SCHEELS (EuroOptic showed $319.99) | Check price at SCHEELS |
| Sig Sauer Tango-MSR 1-6x24 SFP, MSR BDC-6 | SFP; illuminated, 11 settings, CR2032; 30mm; 18.5 oz; 3.93–3.74 in eye relief; FOV 124.8–19.6 ft; includes ALPHA-MSR cantilever mount | $199.99 at EuroOptic (was $279.99) | Check price at GunDeals |
| Bushnell AR Optics 1-8x24 Illuminated, BTR-1 | SFP; illuminated BTR-1 BDC; 30mm; 10.2 in; 16.5 oz; 3.6 in eye relief; IPX7; short/long throw levers included | $199.98 sale at Bushnell (reg. $399.95); $304.99 at Palmetto State Armory | Check price at GunDeals |
| Burris RT-6 1-6x24, Illuminated Ballistic AR | SFP; 11-setting illumination, CR2032; 30mm; 10.13 in; 17.4 oz; 3.3–4.0 in eye relief; FOV 106–18.5 ft; MSRP $444 | $370.99 at Palmetto State Armory (reg. $411.99) | Check price at GunDeals |
The picks
Primary Arms SLx 1-6x24 SFP Gen IV, ACSS Nova Fiber Wire
Best for: shooters who want a true MRAD holdover reticle without paying FFP prices.
Key specs: SFP; illuminated reticle with 11 brightness settings; ACSS Nova MRAD reticle; 30mm tube; 10.4 inches long; 17.9 oz with battery; 4.0 in eye relief; field of view runs 120–20 ft at 100 yards across the zoom range.
Why we picked it: The Primary Arms SLx 1-6x24 Gen IV pairs a well-regarded ACSS reticle with a mid-pack price of $349.99 direct from Primary Arms. Its 4.0-inch eye relief is among the most generous here, which matters if you're running the scope on a carbine with some recoil.
Trade-offs: It tops out at 6x, so if you want more reach you'll want the Strike Eagle or Bushnell below. Like every scope here except the Sig, it doesn't ship with a mount.
Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8x24 SFP, AR-BDC3
Best for: shooters who want the extra top-end magnification and a MOA-based BDC reticle.
Key specs: SFP; illuminated AR-BDC3 MOA reticle; 30mm tube; 10.0 in long; 17.4 oz; 3.5 in eye relief; FOV 109–14.4 ft at 100 yards; MSRP $559.99.
Why we picked it: The Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8x24 stretches to 8x, which gives you more working distance than the 1-6x scopes on this list, without adding noticeable weight. We saw it at $399.99 at SCHEELS, and EuroOptic showed $319.99 on the day we checked — pricing on this one moves around, so compare both before buying. Vortex also sells a first-focal-plane version with the EBR-8 reticle for $499.99 at Primary Arms (23.9 oz) if you want ranging marks that scale with magnification; it sits right at the top of this budget.
Trade-offs: Eye relief is a touch shorter than the SLx or Sig at 3.5 inches, and as with any 1-8x SFP scope, the BDC holdovers printed on the reticle are only accurate at max magnification (more on that below).
Sig Sauer Tango-MSR 1-6x24 SFP, MSR BDC-6
Best for: buyers who don't already own a 30mm cantilever mount and want everything in one box.
Key specs: SFP; illuminated, 11 settings, CR2032 battery; 30mm tube; 18.5 oz; eye relief 3.93–3.74 in; FOV 124.8–19.6 ft; includes the ALPHA-MSR cantilever mount.
Why we picked it: The Sig Sauer Tango-MSR 1-6x24 was $199.99 at EuroOptic, down from $279.99, and it's the only scope here that ships with a mount — the ALPHA-MSR cantilever. Factor that into the math: with every other scope here you'll still need to buy a mount, so this is effectively the cheapest complete setup on the list.
Trade-offs: It's the heaviest scope here at 18.5 oz, and it tops out at 6x.
Bushnell AR Optics 1-8x24 Illuminated, BTR-1
Best for: the tightest budget, especially if you catch the direct-from-Bushnell sale price.
Key specs: SFP; illuminated BTR-1 BDC reticle; 30mm tube; 10.2 in; 16.5 oz; 3.6 in eye relief; IPX7 rated; ships with both short and long throw levers.
Why we picked it: At $199.98 on sale direct from Bushnell (regular price $399.95), the Bushnell AR Optics 1-8x24 is the lightest scope on this list and the only one here with a stated IPX7 rating. Palmetto State Armory had it at $304.99 the same day, so the Bushnell storefront price is worth grabbing if it holds through the holiday weekend. It also ships with both short and long throw levers.
Trade-offs: Bushnell's own page lists different length and weight figures than Palmetto State Armory's listing (likely packaged dimensions), so confirm the specs on the listing you buy from.
Burris RT-6 1-6x24, Illuminated Ballistic AR
Best for: shooters who want a compact 1-6x with a wide eye relief range.
Key specs: SFP; 11-setting illumination, CR2032; 30mm tube; 10.13 in; 17.4 oz; eye relief 3.3–4.0 in; FOV 106–18.5 ft; MSRP $444.
Why we picked it: The Burris RT-6 1-6x24 was $370.99 at Palmetto State Armory, down from $411.99. At 10.13 inches it's one of the shorter scopes in this group, and the flexible eye relief range (3.3–4.0 in) gives you more room to dial in a comfortable cheek weld.
Trade-offs: It's priced closer to MSRP than some of the other deals here, so it's worth comparing against the SLx before deciding.
1-6x or 1-8x?
More top-end zoom sounds like a straightforward upgrade, but it comes with trade-offs. Going from 6x to 8x typically means a smaller eyebox at max magnification — small head movements cost you more of the picture — and a bit more weight and length on your rifle. If most of your shooting happens inside 300 yards, a 1-6x like the SLx, Tango-MSR, or RT-6 is plenty and easier to use quickly.
All five scopes on this list are second focal plane (SFP), meaning the reticle size stays fixed as you zoom. That's great for speed at 1x, but it also means the BDC holdover marks on the reticle are only calibrated correctly at the scope's maximum magnification (6x or 8x, depending on the model) — not at every power in between. If you're not sure what that means for how you use holdovers in practice, our FFP vs SFP explainer breaks it down in plain language.
What else you need
Four of the five scopes here — the SLx, Strike Eagle, Bushnell, and Burris — do not include a mount. Budget for a quality 30mm mount sized correctly for your receiver and sight height before you check out; a cheap mount undermines an otherwise solid optic. The Sig Tango-MSR is the exception: it includes the ALPHA-MSR cantilever mount in the box, which is part of why its effective price is so competitive.
If you're weighing an LPVO against a dot-plus-magnifier combo instead, our guide on how to choose a magnifier for your red dot walks through that decision, and our red dot vs. holographic sight comparison is worth a read if you're still deciding what kind of optic fits your rifle at all.
Whatever you choose, any firearm purchase should go through a licensed dealer and follow all applicable federal, state, and local law. Store firearms securely when not in use, and get proper training before you take a new optic to the range.
Where to find the current deal
Optics pricing shifts constantly between Black Friday (November 27, 2026) and Cyber Monday (November 30), and retailers often run separate, short-lived promotions on top of their listed sale prices. Check our today's best optics deals page for the latest snapshot, and before you buy, compare the final price, shipping cost, and return policy across retailers — a slightly higher sticker price with free shipping and an easy return window can beat a rock-bottom price with restrictive terms.
If you're also shopping for a fixed-power scope instead of a variable, our Best Rifle Scopes Under $500 (Black Friday 2026) guide covers that category separately.
FAQ
When do the best LPVO prices usually show up?
Optics are often discounted around Black Friday and Cyber Monday, though deals can appear earlier. Some retailers, like Bushnell's own store in this roundup, run direct sales that beat third-party listings — it pays to check both.
Primary Arms SLx vs. Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8x — which should I buy?
The SLx uses an MRAD-based ACSS Nova reticle and tops out at 6x; the Strike Eagle uses a MOA-based BDC reticle and reaches 8x. If your ammo data and other optics are already in MOA, the Strike Eagle keeps things consistent. If you prefer MRAD holdovers or want to save a little money and don't need the extra zoom, the SLx is the simpler, cheaper pick.
Do I need to buy a mount separately?
Yes, for four of the five scopes here. The Sig Tango-MSR is the only one that includes a mount (the ALPHA-MSR cantilever). For the others, budget for a quality 30mm mount — it affects both durability and how well your reticle lines up with your eye.
Is an LPVO a good choice for a first AR?
Yes, if you expect to shoot at mixed distances — close and out past 200 yards. An LPVO gives you both in one optic. If most of your shooting will be close-range, a red dot alone is lighter, simpler, and faster to get running; see our comparison above for more on that trade-off.