When you are using a rifle like the M4, an optic for it is a must. Whether it’s a sight we are talking about or a riflescope, something is mandatory for the M4. While I could talk for days about how good the M4 is, today you and I are not here to discuss the M4. Rather, it’s about time someone makes a proper guide of the best optics for M4.
Allow me to elaborate on that and take you on a journey. All I ask for you is a bit of your time and patience. I can guarantee you, that you will walk away with a scope for M4 today. With that said, let’s start the show.
Best M4 Scopes & Sights – [Editor’s Choice]
1. NightForce NXS 2.5-10X42mm ZeroStop Hunting Scope
Nightforce is well-known for its high-end riflescopes. They compete with any of the big brands you could think of. Their scopes speak for themselves. The one I recommend to you guys is called the NXS.
The NXS is built to last in military environments and tough weather. While many scopes claim they are weatherproof, not a lot of them pass the weatherproofing test on the field. You don’t have to worry about NXS. This is made out of aluminum. A lightweight and durable material of choice for all brands. The optic is water, fog, and shockproof. Without any worries, you can pair this with your M4.
The lenses of the scope are made out of glass. The glasses are fully multi-coated. The clarity of the lenses is something else. There isn’t a single dull moment with this scope. The vision through the NXS is something else. As there are no chromatic aberration or color-related issues, you can use this to locate your target before shooting.
Overall, the performance of NXS with a M4 is something to long for. The synergy between the two is nice and it’s clear that NXS was made to compliment guns like M4. While it’s not night vision capable, the NXS can shoot in low light. Making it a wonderful choice for hunters and range shooters who often forget track of time.
Does NXS come with mounting rings?
No, it doesn’t. There are several reasons for that. The main one is, that the manufacturer doesn’t know what kind of guns you are going to pair their scopes with. It could be dovetail rail, Picatinny, or weaver. Depending on what kind of rails your gun has, buy the mounting rings for that.
Is Nightforce NXS available in higher magnification?
Glad you asked. It is available in different configurations. Depending on which configuration you go for, the price of the scope will go up severely. Or may even go down and sit perfectly with your budget. You are not stuck with a single reticle either. You get several options there as well.
Is NightForce NXS a good scope for M4?
Standalone, the NXS is a very good scope for any guns. I repeat, any guns. It’s a versatile scope that can target shooting and hunting. The M4 is a versatile gun as well. You can see why this is one of our top suggestions for M4 owners.
2. Trijicon Acog 4 X 32 Dual Illuminated Chevron Scope
As Trijicon is the sole maker of ACOGs, you are kind of stuck on the choice here. But Trijicon does make ACOG in different configurations. The one we are recommending is a 4×32 Dual Illuminated Chevron .223 Ballistic Reticle ACOG for M4.
This ACOG is made out of high-quality aluminum. Trijicon has worked with the military in the past. They know how to make a good scope that will perform under harsh conditions and a cut-throat environment. The ACOG here is quite lightweight. While it doesn’t look the most appealing optic by any means, it performs insanely well. The price tag of this ACOG is completely justified.
The lenses of the optic are made out of glass. The glasses are coated multiple times to improve their strength of gathering sunlight. Light transmission is smooth and the color reading of this optic is accurate as well. As the inside of the rugged aluminum housing is purged with nitrogen, the ACOG doesn’t suffer from fogging or moisture. This is water and shockproof as well. M4 won’t be able to do any harm to an optic like this.
If you just account for the sight for its performance alone, it’s an insane value for any kind of shooter. If tact shooting is your main priority, then you know this is the optic to get. After all, Trijicon does make some great performing scopes. This is one of them.
Does this scope come with mounting rings?
It doesn’t need mounting rings. There is a built-in mounting base installed on this scope already. You don’t need to buy a raiser or any sort of mounting device for this to work with your rifle. Installing and removing the optic is quite easy as well.
How does the illumination work on this?
As you read earlier, this ACOG is illuminated. The reticle here is illuminated in red. Without using any electric circuitry and battery, the ACOG lights itself up with tritium optic fiber. Yes, the same type of tritium stick you see in night sights.
Is this optic good for hunting?
ACOGs are by no means “hunting” scopes. They are made for military environment shooting and activities like militaries. They are used on service rifles as well. While you can hunt with them, they are not suitable nor permitted for hunting in most states.
3. Aimpoint PRO Red Dot Reflex Sight w/QRP2 Mount
This is the beauty of a gun like the M4. This gun is capable of taking any sights and scopes you throw it their way. And when it comes to reflex sights, how can we forget the glorious creation by Aimpoint? Aimpoint needs no introduction, I believe. They are good, great even. Their service is good and commendable as well.
The Aimpoint Pro is a revolutionary reflex sight made by Aimpoint to cater to tact and hunters. Whether you are using this for close-range combat or airsoft playtime, this red dot is capable of doing it all. The best part is, that you can later carry this sight onto a different gun if you so wish.
The sight is made out of aluminum. A durable and lightweight material. There are no visible errors present on the optic. The Aimpoint Pro is internally purged as well. The purging makes it moisture and fog-proof. On top of that, the sight is water and shockproof. You can see why this sight gets recommended over and over again for many different guns.
But we are not here to talk about those different guns. We are here talking about M4 with scope. While this is not a scope, it’s one of the best military optics for M4. It’s been tested and proven countless times how good this sight is and why it costs big money. Believe me on this, it’s well worth the money you are going to pay for it.
Does this optic come with mount?
Yes, the sight has a built-in mounting system that mounts directly on the rail of your gun. As the height of Aimpoint Pro is quite nice as well, you don’t need an additional raiser either. You are good with the stock package.
Is the reticle illuminated?
Yes, Aimpoint Pro features an illuminated 2MOA reticle. You can adjust the brightness of the illumination as well. There are a total of 10 adjustable brightness settings available in the Pro. Make sure to take full advantage of that.
Is this sight NVD compatible?
Yes, the Aimpoint Pro is NVD and magnifier compatible. If you want to increase the effective range of the sight, then you can do that with a magnifier. Down the line, you should invest in one. Just in case.
4. Vortex Optics Strike Eagle 1-6x24mm SFP Riflescope
Never gets old! The love for this is eternal. It’s one of the best budget riflescopes you could ever buy. I know it sounds exaggerating, but that’s the truth. Don’t worry, I don’t let my favoritism bias towards a review. Rest assured, it’s as neutral as humanly possible.
The Strike Eagle is made out of aluminum. It’s lightweight and durable. It’s made to last years to come. The scope is designed to support all sorts of guns and shooters. That includes hunters, tact shooters, airsoft, and any other gun holders. The internal of the tube is purged with nitrogen. Purging makes the scope moisture and fogproof.
The lenses of the Strike Eagle are made out of glass. It’s a fully multi-coated pair of lenses. Their performance is impeccable for the money. When it comes to performance, Strike Eagle is miles ahead of anything in the similar price bracket.
Whether you use it for target practicing or hunting, the Strike Eagle will perform well paired with the M4. The Strike Eagle was made for hunting mainly, but it can work for other subjects as well. When it comes to pairing, M4 is one of the best out there.
Does Strike Eagle come with mounting rings?
Unfortunately, it doesn’t. There are good reasons for that as well. One of the simplest reasons is the compatibility issue. The manufacturers don’t know what kind of gun you are using. They don’t want to include the wrong rings. That’s why, it’s better to buy aftermarket rings.
Is the reticle in SFP?
Yes, this variant of the Strike Eagle is in the second focal plane. The reticle is available in two different options as well. Depending on what you fancy, you can go with BDC3 or EBR-4. Both are great reticles and serve different folks.
Does this scope come with a warranty?
Yes, it does. It comes with Vortex’s unconditional lifetime warranty. No question asked you will always get your warranty. Unless you physically abuse this to death, Vortex will provide a warranty for scope failure.
5. Leupold VX-Freedom 1.5-4x20mm Riflescope
While the Bald Eagle represents American freedom, the Leupold VX series represents freedom to hunt. This is a budget offering lineup from Leupold offering newbies and veterans alike a chance to use a high-end scope for a low-end price. That doesn’t mean the VX-Freedom is cheaply made or has poor build quality.
The VX-Freedom is made out of aluminum. The total weight of the scope is quite low and the overall structure is solid. The inside of the housing is purged with nitrogen. Purging with chemicals makes it immune to moisture and completely fogproof. That means, you can use this under any given weather and you won’t suffer from internal fogging.
The scope is also water and shockproof. That’s why, it’s an easy recommendation to anyone getting started with scopes.
The lenses here are fully multi-coated. On top of that, Leupold also added their twilight light management system to this scope. Twilight light management system improves the low-light performance of this and makes it a better performer for hunters. As you can practically use this in any given lighting condition (except nights), it’s one of the easiest recommendations to hunt.
Does this scope come with mounting rings?
Like most other riflescopes, this one doesn’t come with mounting rings either. Leupold sells mounting rings appropriate for the scope separately. Buy a pair of rings that support the rail on your gun. Don’t buy a different one.
Where is this scope made in?
Leupold is an American brand that designs and manufactures in America. There are parts imported from other countries, but assembly and making are all done in their factory in the USA.
Is this a good scope for hunting?
Yes, it’s an excellent scope for hunting. This scope was mainly aimed at hunters. While it can do target shooting just fine, it’s not made for that task. You should take a look at the other scopes we mentioned so far for that.
6. Bushnell 3-9×40 Riflescope with DZ 223 Reticle
Are you looking for a good mid-range M4 scope? If you are on a tight budget and want to explore the mid-range distance on a budget, this could be your gateway towards that market. Bushnell is very well-known for their budget riflescopes. This is one of their budget offerings as well.
The design of the optic is quite simple. It’s a single-piece tube design with turrets to adjust windage and elevation. The inside of the tube is chemically purged. Making it fogproof and immune to moisture. The outside structure is durable as well. It’s shock and waterproof. That doesn’t mean it’s submersible, however.
The lens of the scope is fully multi-coated. Multi-coating enhances the clarity of the lenses and increases the light transmission capability. The color accuracy of this is great as well. There is no chromatic aberration or color error either. There is no visible distortion at maximum magnification as well.
With fast focus and DZ 223 reticle, it’s a great pair with something like an M4 and M4A1. It’s one of the best M4 scopes on the budget. If budget is your main concern and you don’t want to skimp out on many features, this is the scope to go for.
Is the reticle in FFP?
It isn’t. The reticle is in the second focal plane. There is nothing wrong with the second focal plane, but if you are looking for FFP, this isn’t it. Keep in mind, that the glass-etched second focal plane reticle on 9x is more than fine.
Is this scope good for hunting?
It is mainly made for hunting. You will see Bushnell sells it as a hunting scope, rather than tact or airsoft scope. It’s legal in most states as well thus, making it appealing to newbies who are on a tight budget. It’s a good way to start the journey.
Does the scope come with mounting rings?
Unfortunately, it doesn’t. This is probably one of the downsides of this scope to most. As it’s a budget scope, people don’t tend to spend much on the upgrades of this. But you need to grab a pair of mounting rings for this scope.
7. Sig Sauer SOR52001 Romeo5 2 MOA Red Dot Sight
I’m here to suggest you M4 optics that you should buy at this moment. How can this list be complete without mentioning the best sight for M4? On top of that, it’s one of the few military-grade optics for M4. That’s right, I’m talking about the Sig Sauer Romeo 5.
The Romeo 5 is a unique sight that works on pistols and rifles. Besides working as an AR15 sight, the Romeo 5 works as an M4 sight as well. This sight was made with harsh conditions in mind.
The sight has a rugged and durable structure with a waterproof rating. The sight is also fogproof and shockproof. Giving you the freedom to use this sight in any weather you could think of.
The lenses are fully multi-coated. It’s a 1x red dot sight, there isn’t much room to face distortion at maximum distance. Light transmission of the Romeo 5 is unbelievably good! Surprised to see how well Sig managed to put this together. As a red dot sight, it’s one of the best for any rifle you could think of.
Does this sight come with a mount?
The sight includes a Picatinny low mount riser and a co-witness 1.41” riser mount. You don’t need to buy anything separately. Unless you are planning to mount it on a dovetail rail gun.
Is the reticle of this sight illuminated?
Yes, the red dot is illuminated. You will need a single CR2032 battery to turn on the reticle and use it on any lighting. Even at night, the reticle is visible. You select 8 daylight brightness settings and two-night vision brightness settings. Don’t let the light dictate your shooting.
Will this optic work on Airsoft rifles?
Yes, this sight will work on practically any rifle that has a Picatinny mounting rail. Airsoft rifles have Picatinny rails for mounting different accessories. That includes this sight.
How To Choose The Best Optics For M4?
While choosing the right optic, you will need to keep a broad mind and take in every knowledge possible. Whether it’s a sight you are looking for or a scope, you will find the right one for you quite easily. Here are a couple of things that you should keep in mind.
Build Quality
While the M4 is not the most demanding gun, you shouldn’t go and pair a poorly constructed scope with it. It can very well tear down a poorly made scope. Make sure to grab something that feels and is solid.
Warranty
While it’s not treated as one of the most important parts of an optic, it is. Nobody wants their sight to die on them and then find it they can’t put it under warranty. A good warranty will go a long way to support you for years.
Lens Quality
Lenses are the most important part of an optic. If the lenses of the optic aren’t good, then you won’t be able to see your targets clearly, let alone shoot them. You should grab a sight with good lenses. Your best interest lies in that.
Summary
That would be all I wanted to share with you today. These are some of the best optics for any rifle you could think of. Specially, if you have something like an M4, an optic is a must for it.
That’s why it was my humble attempt to help you decide on the best optics for M4. All of them here are the right choice. You can’t go wrong with either, choose the one that fills your needs the most and fits in your budget. With that said, that’s all for now. Take care and keep hunting.
Scopes & Sights:- 11.5 SBR | 300 Blackout | Colt LE6920 | MK18 | Ruger Charger | S&W M&P 15&22 | S&W M&P 15 Sport 2
Hi, I’m Brent Hansford. A writer turned hunter & now sharing my love for the sport through writing. As I practically breathe weapons, I firmly believe I’m capable of providing you with new knowledge about firearms and hunting. My mission is to help more people get better at hunting & master the weapons. Let me help with unleashing the beast within you!
