At Industry Day at the Range the Monday before SHOT Show 2020 opened, we had a chance to stop by the Bushnell booth and check out the new AR Optics 4.5-18X riflescope. This new second-focal-plane series - available with and without illumination - ships with four different turrets: .223 Rem., .308 Win., 6.5 Creedmoor and 224 Valkyrie. The reticle, called Windhold by Bushnell, is mil-based with 1/10 mil gradations. A 6 mil turret is standard in addition to the caliber-specific turrets.
Another neat option is the inclusion of a throw lever for rapid magnification changes, which is available in a standard or a long configuration. It can also be removed should you prefer to dial magnification by hand. The scope is a 1-inch tube, manufactured from aircraft-grade aluminum. MSRP runs $249 for non-illuminated, $299 for illuminated reticle.
I had a chance to use the 4.5-18x AR Optics scope at the 100-yard range, and found it to provide a clear, crisp picture. Granted, this was on a sunny day out of direct sunlight, so I can’t speak to low-light conditions or in poor weather, but it certainly performed at a level well above what its price point would suggest.
