Just because a scope is mounted on an AR instead of another type of
rifle does it have to be so called " tactical "? If your budget is 350.00
you could buy a Leupold VX-2 1-4 or with a little internet shopping a
Leupold VX-3 1.5-5. Check their website for information on the VX-3 line in particular. Very impressive.
Doesn't have to be called tactical. You do post some nice choices though for scopes in his price range.
One can call it anything. However, given that the civilian AR platform is based in style, visual/physical profile, and operating function upon the tactical military platform, some people choose to stay with the genre' of tactical as a choice or out of necessity. The use of the civilian platform for hunting or other purposes is a matter of choice, but the platform at its core in style, visual profile, and basic operating function is still tactical despite its other uses or interpretation.
Generally, basically, and broadly (applies to tactical sighting optics/devices as well); A tactical scope is one with a purposed core function of sucessful and reliable engagement in a tactical environment and purpose designed/engineered for such engagement which also has a certain usability, repeatability, survivability, sustainability, profile specifically adpated to the rigors and needs of the tactical environment; The tactical scope use and function has engagement purposed features tactical in nature that actually have use within the scope of the term 'tactical', with a purposed core use intention of tactical engagement with a weapons platform intended to be used in a tactical engagement environment.
Unfortunately, the word 'tactical' is over used by the marketplace. Sometimes the term is applied in jest or theme such as "tactical bacon" or "tactical bottle opener", or as part of a marketing strategy for products that are not really tactical level quality or intent. Most if not all of the cheap/poor quality scopes to which the word 'tactical' is applied are not really tactical scopes at all. A lot of lower cost scope manufacturers, for example BSA -NCStar - etc..., attach the word "tactical" to their scopes simply because they have a certain look/style, in some cases a feature that is tactical looking in nature, and want to attract customers who think they would get a true tactical scope.
Fortunately, there is a cross over area in the market by quality manufacturers who do produce lines of tactical scopes at reasonable cost with different levels of features which provide purpose and function in the civilian market. There are three different basic category classes of tactical scopes; Close engagement magnified (variable or fixed magnification 1-3x or more recently 1-4x, intended primarily for quick target acquistion and engagement inside 300 meters for 1-4x and inside 200 meters for 1-3x while providing a precentage of hit reliability capability beyond those distances but inside the 600 meter range with some shooter aiming adjustment), Mil-dot (has reticle marks calibrated for NATO rounds), Dial-in calibrated (elevation adjustment calibrated for NATO rounds). Each of these basic categories may or may not have blended features from another category, variations in implementation of features, enhanced a feature for more versitility, or added a feature in such a way as to make it applicable to a wider range of uses. "Red Dot" 1x only sights (in the same definition of tactical scope above) are not considered tactical scopes, they are considered tactical sights even if a seperate magnifier is used with the sight.
