Training on a budget is becoming very popular for shooters who want to shoot but do not want to spend much on ammunition. And the M&P 15-22 is a .22 caliber polymer long rifle that won’t break the bank getting you to into sport shooting. With that in mind, your options for finding the best scope for M&P 15-22 aren’t that many.
But that’s a good thing!
Being a .22 caliber rifle means that you don’t have to spend that much on the scope, and the selection in this article includes the best scopes for M&P 15-22 currently on the market. All the products are excellent in their own right, but our aim is to help you find the scope that best suits your needs and how you want to use your rifle.
But before we get to the reviews, if you are pressed for time, here is a comparison chart that sums up all the features to ‘focus’ in your choices.
Best Scopes for M&P 15-22 Comparison Chart
| Name | Battery-Life | Reticle | Brightness Levels | Magnification | Objective Lens |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Also Great Barska 3-9x32  View Price | Battery-Life No battery | Reticle Mil-dot crosshairs | Brightness Levels None | Magnification 3-9x | Objective Lens 32mm |
Best Choice Leupold VX-Freedom Muzzleloader  View Price | Battery-Life No battery | Reticle RFP tri-MOA | Brightness Levels None | Magnification 3-9x | Objective Lens 40mm |
Also Great Aimpoint ACO Red Dot Reflex Sight  View Price | Battery-Life 10,000 hours | Reticle 2 MOA dot | Brightness Levels 9 levels | Magnification None | Objective Lens 28mm |
Battery-Life 250-3,000 hours | Reticle DRT MOA | Brightness Levels 9 levels | Magnification None | Objective Lens 28mm |
|
Battery-Life Long battery life | Reticle 4 reticles | Brightness Levels 5 levels | Magnification None | Objective Lens 32mm |
Now that we know what’s being featured, let’s get to the in-depth reviews and find the perfect M&P 15-22 Scope for your needs…
Top 5 Best Scopes for M&P 15-22 in 2023 Reviews
1 Barska 3-9×32
Well known in the sport optic industry, Barska provides an extensive line of sport optics in over 40 countries. They also have strong brand recognition within the U.S and are in the top 100 companies for the sale of sporting goods.
Built to last…
Made from high-quality aluminum, the Barska 3-9×32 can take on any scenario you might find yourself in. Although it is not made for combat, it is fully water and fog proof, so the weather won’t be stopping you from your shooting trip. It is also shockproof, meaning it can take the recoil of the .22 as well as larger calibers if you ever need to fit it on another rifle.
The windage and elevation turrets have nice audible clicks for each turn and lock in place, so they don’t get affected by the recoil. The turrets are also capped to prevent them from getting dirt and mud into the mechanisms.
Crystal clear…
To keep the image clear, the lenses are also covered with a special multi-coating to enhance brightness as well as keeping dust off the lenses. Sharp images with well-defined edges help you as a shooter to spot and hit targets further down the range.
The Barska 3-9×32 is a slim-looking scope that helps you reach out to targets over 100 meters with ease with its powerful 3-9 magnification and large 32mm objective lens.
Lightweight and comfortable…
Weighing just above 11 ounces, the scope measures at 12inch with a 1inch diameter tube. The turrets have a 0.250inch click value and comfortable 3.5-inch eye relief.
Barska guarantees its scope with a lifetime warranty and includes basic items into the package like scope rings to mount on your M&P 15 and lens covers for transportation.
(4.3 / 5)Pros
- High-quality sport optic.
- Weatherproof.
- Capped turrets.
- Multi-coat lenses.
Cons
- Non-illuminated reticle.
- Scope rings are a little low.
- No parallax turret.
2 Leupold VX-Freedom Muzzleloader – Best Lightweight Scope for M&P 15-22
Leupold is one of the best optics manufactures in the shooting industry, and its name is known by every scope owner. They have made a reputation for being high-quality, as well as showing extreme performance that exceeds expectations that come with the golden ring.
Tactile and usable…
Made with aircraft-grade, the Freedom Muzzleloader uses a solid piece of tubing, giving it the durability of the outdoors and keeping it ultra-lightweight. The magnification ring is also enlarged, making it much easier to change magnifications without slipping.
Moving to the turrets, the caps keep dirt from getting into the turret mechanisms. The windage and elevation turrets have nice clicks that confirm each adjustment you make. They may not be the most audible, but they are still very tactile, with each click being ¼ MOA.
Crisp and clear…
The reticle is set in RFP (rear focal plane), so the reticle won’t cover up the target when zoomed in. Its reticle is also set in Tri-MOA, which is versatile for bullet drop and windage compensation.
The lenses are spectacular in that they are crisp and clear, giving you a brightly lit view of the target. They also have a special coating keeping it from getting scratched and prevent dust from collecting on the lenses.
Being entirely waterproof and fog proof, you’ll have no problems shooting outdoors under stressful situations.
Impressive specifications…
The VX Freedom Muzzleloader is a 3-9x magnification with a 40mm objective lenses. There is no need to mention that these numbers are perfect for AR-15 platforms like the M&P.
The scope is surprisingly light for a 40mm scope, and most of the weight would come from the mounting rings. The body is made from a single piece of aluminum and measures 1inch in diameter.
(5 / 5)Pros
- Crystal clear lenses.
- Ultra-lightweight.
- Large adjustment ring.
- Tactile clicks.
Cons
- No parallax turret.
- Non-illuminated reticle.
3 Aimpoint ACO Red Dot Reflex Sight – Best Premium Red Dot for M&P 15-22
Next, in our reviews of the Best M&P 15-22 Scopes, we have a Red Dot from Aimpoint, who you don’t normally associate with affordability. The company is one of the more expensive optic choices on the market. However, this comes as no surprise because they are known for their reliability, durability, and dependability.
Backed by the brand, you are guaranteed a high-end optic with a mid-range price. The body is made from high-quality aluminum with a hard-anodized coat. Without a doubt, the ACO is more durable than the majority of red dots on the market. Even though it won’t quite withstand getting run over by a tank, it will take a beating from rugged use.
Brighten up your target…
The lenses are multi-coated and set back from the edge to give it a little more protection during transportation. The red dot has nine brightness settings that you can choose from. If you are shooting in a brightly lit area, you can still see the reticle at its highest setting.
At its lowest setting is perfect for indoor shooting and home defense. In short, it won’t be hard to find the perfect setting for your needs.
A rubbery feel…
Another feature is the rubber cap rings. These rings ensure that you don’t over-tightening of the elevation and windage turrets and also prevent you from losing the little caps.
The battery on the ACO is a little different from regular optics and doesn’t use CR batteries. Rather, it uses a 3V battery that gives the reticle up to 10,000 hours of constant on, at its medium settings.
No blur…
The reticle is 2 MOA and the mount co-witnesses with standard iron sights with unlimited eye relief. The lenses also have astigmatism correction helping you to see the red dot more clearly without any blur.
(4.1 / 5)Pros
- Aimpoint backing.
- Durable.
- High-quality.
- Includes mount.
- Long battery life.
- Co-witnessing.
- Rubber cap catches.
Cons
- Not NV compatible.
- No lens covers.
4 Vortex Spitfire 1x-AR Prism Scope SPR-200 – Best Hunting Scope for M&P 15-22
Vortex is another premium sporting optic that has taken the market by storm. Their products are, without a doubt, made with the end-user in mind. Founded in the early 2000s, they know the market and know what their customers are looking for.
The SPR-200 is a robust scope perfect for AR-15 platforms as it comes with a built-in Picatinny rail mount. The simple to use controls are easily accessible from the rear with a nice rubber feel to it.
Easy to use…
To turn on the optic, you simply press a button, and it will change colors if you press both the up and down button at the same time. The colors cycle from red and green then off. There are also brightness levels, so you can find the best intensity for the lighting conditions.
The turrets are capped and can be adjusted without any tools making it easy to make field changes. This also becomes easier with the help of their yardage caps that can be placed on the MOA turrets to get accurate yardages once you have the reticle zeroed in.
Dual Ring Tactical MOA Dot…
Vortex lenses are also known for their insane clarity giving the shooter maximum light and crisp images of the target as well as their DRT MOA reticle. The Dual Ring Tactical MOA dot is a unique design rarely found in red dot sights and helps with acquiring targets for speed shooting when pinpoint accuracy isn’t the goal.
The SPR-00 has no magnification and a wide 28mm objective lens. With a full AAA battery, the red dot will stay on for 250-3,000 hours of constant-on depending on the brightness intensity.
Come rain, come shine…
Constructed from a single piece of aluminum and coated with a hard-anodized finish, the red dot is perfect for sport and hunting scenarios. Adding to the durability, the SPR-200 is fully waterproof, fog-proof, and shockproof.
Pros
- DRT reticle.
- Tool-less turrets.
- Lens caps included.
- Built-in rail mount.
- Vortex warranty.
Cons
- Only five brightness settings.
- Short battery life.
5 Sightmark Ultra Shot 1x34mm SM14000 – Best Budget Scope for M&P 15-22
Sightmark produces quality budget red dots for sport shooting and offers far more than what you need to get on to the range at incredibly friendly prices.
You may be familiar with its design because the lens hood and wide widow looks very similar to an Eotech. Those who like this design for a reflex sight will be glad to have this more affordable option as Eotechs are a bit high on the price range.
Feature-packed…
The body is made from a solid piece of aluminum that also includes the rail mounting, quick-detach system. With a simple pull of a lever, you can change positions or remove the dot completely.
The reticle is the most attractive feature on the SM14000, as it comes with four different reticles and two different colors. The first reticle is a red dot, which is good for close-range shooting. The second reticle is a circle/ring, which is great for rapid-fire and speed shooting.
The third option is the classic crosshair, which is ideal for multiple purposes. The last one is a combination of the circle reticle and the crosshairs. All of this is packed into a single red dot sight to ensure that you can get as much as you can for a very agreeable price.
Red or Green?
Aside from the reticle options, you can also choose between two colors, red and green. Depending on the scenario, red and green are standard for red dots, but rarely do you get both in the same optic. In addition to the color choices, the SM14000 also offers five brightness levels to match the lighting conditions.
Lightweight, yet durable…
The 34mm objective lens is nice and large to get a full view of the target, making acquisition easy and fast.
It comes with a lightweight build as well as being durable and shock-resistant. And the parallax is corrected so you won’t get any blurry imaging, plus the eye relief is unlimited, making it easy to see the reticle at any position on the rifle.
Pros
- Dot cover.
- DQ mount.
- Four Reticle options.
- Battery cover lasso.
- Two colors.
- Lifetime warranty.
Cons
- None considering the affordable price.
Best Scopes for M&P 15-22 Buyers Guide
There really isn’t that much to mention in terms of buying an M&P 15-22 scope apart from what you will be using it for?
If you’re a long-range shooter, then the lens clarity is the priority because you will be hitting targets more than 100 yards away. Turret accuracy is also key to making long-range shots. So make sure the turrets hold true and are easy to adjust because you will be using them a lot more than you would a red dot.
Speaking of red dots…
If you choose to go for a red dot sight for your M&P 15-22, there are a few things to keep in mind. The first would be battery-life. Are you the type of shooter that would leave their red dot on all the time? If you are using the rifle for home defense, then a red dot with long battery life is ideal.
However, if you want something more suitable for the range, then performance has a higher priority. Features like the durability and reticle colors may be more useful? Also, if you are a speed-shooter, the size of the objective lens plays a role in making a decision.
So, what are the Best Scopes for M&P 15-22?
It’s been impossible to choose the very best scope for M&P 15-22, so we’ve chosen two. One magnified and one non-magnified.
The magnified crown goes to the excellent…
Leupold VX-Freedom Muzzleloader
This is the clear victor as it has superior lenses and brand backing. It also has a larger objective lens giving you a wider field of view.
For the non-magnified option, the…
Sightmark Ultra Shot 1x34mm SM14000
…is a more versatile option and great for a starter optic. However, if you are an experienced shooter and own multiple rifles, the Aimpoint ACO Red Dot Reflex Sight is the better option. It has Aimpoint quality and durability and will match your level of shooting.
Happy and safe shooting.
