LPVO is one of the most mentioned sights on the market today. It is an innovative development in guns industries. With the generally higher price, it makes people wonder if they worth to try. Read more to find your answers!
What does LPVO stand for?
LPVO stands for Low Power Variable Optic. The defining characteristic of the LPVO is its 1x setting. Meaning it will have no magnification on its lowest setting. On the high end of its magnification, the LPVO can reach 10 power, but 4, 6, and 8 power are more commonplace as of right now. 1-4, 1-6, 1-8, and 1-10. Despite the different magnification ranges, these are all considered LPVOs as they all meet the pre-requisite of having a 1x setting on its lowest magnification.
AR users often chose LPVO, especially for 3-gun shooting. Because…
Large Field of View, red dot-like capability, quick magnification adjustability, and a plethora of reticle options make the LPVO one of the most popular options for 3-gun, personal preservation, and military uses.
When shooting on 1x, you will find that the eye-box and eye relief are more generous than when looking through optics with greater magnification, such as a 4-16 or even a 2-10. The shooting experience, as a result, is more forgiving when you are shooting under pressure, for speed, or in unconventional positions when your head may not be able to be perfectly aligned with the optic.
LPVO can be applied to different distances shooting.
From 5 yards to 500 yards and beyond, the LPVO excels at close to medium ranges. You will hear the term “General Purpose Rifle” a lot when talking about rifles with LPVOs. This is the amount of versatility that the optic offers the rifle system. The general purpose is the capability of making quick hits and positively identifying your target from 5 to 800 yards. Not necessarily the best at any 1 trade, but by far the most balanced optics on the market today.
Simple Set-up Process
The set-up process is pretty simple with LPVOs. Plenty of tools can make this process even easier for you, but a simple 2-dollar bubble level can suffice. Other products that can simplify this process are optic leveling tools made by companies such as Arisaka. Very handy, especially if you are in an uncontrolled environment. I recommend using a torque wrench when securing your optic to your mount and your mount to your rail. Most companies will have a general torque spec that should prevent you from under torquing or over-torquing, which potentially renders your optic ineffective.
There are tons of instructional “how-to” articles on mounting your optic. Just take some time to ensure your optic is both leveled and torqued properly. Adding some blue loctite will also aid in keeping your optic secure but is not necessarily required.
Wide field of view
Having a wide field of view helps maintain an increased level of situational awareness when either shooting or gathering information. Having too much magnification or a very narrow field of view will make getting sucked into your optic a potential problem. The greater your field of view, the more information your eye will be capable of gathering from the image projected through your scope.
Red dot vs. LPVO
Many people are curious if they should get an LPVO if they already have a red dot sight. Well, to do a good job, an artisan needs the best tools. So here are some ways to help you determine if you should put an LPVO in your shopping cart.
Price
The price of LPVOs will generally be higher than red dots. However, paying 2-3 times more for an LPVO of the same quality of a particular red dot is commonplace and is something to be considered when purchasing.
Weight
The overall weight difference between red dots and LPVOs is roughly 16-20 ounces. The differences will fluctuate depending on the type of mount and optic used, but it is close to your expected weight difference. If the extra pound really breaks you, I would recommend some physical training to supplement increasing your own capabilities.
CQB (Close-quarter Battle)
The red dot is still the CQB king, no doubt. You are not dependent on a specific eye relief and eye box to obtain a sight picture. This makes manipulating the weapon quickly in tight environments extremely intuitive. That being said, the LPVO has gotten very good at the 1x setting in the last decade. If you train, the difference in speed is actually pretty negligible.
If you have multiple AR set-ups, having a dedicated red dot for home defense is a good idea. However, if you can only have 1, the LPVO will undoubtedly be the more versatile system. We are also in an age where mounting a red dot in conjunction with your LPVO is now commonplace. Another facet to consider when making this decision are mounts. It is certainly worth checking out both the 45-degree offset and the piggyback style of red dot mounting options that work great in conjunction with LPVO’s
Flexibility
Red dot and LPVO both have their strong suits for flexibility. Different shooting circumstances or habits will dictate varying needs for flexibility. I will say, though, for overall capabilities, the LPVO wins out.
Eye relief
This is one of the best attributes of LPVOs. Well-made LPVOs should have both a very generous eye relief and a very forgiving eyebox when compared to scopes of greater magnification. This is one of the main reasons LPVOs can be used so quickly and effectively as it is extremely fast in acquiring a sight picture.
Pair with other Gear
As mentioned before, LPVOs can work great with secondary optics on the same platform. Both top mounted and 45 degree offset red dots increase the already versatile LPVO to an even more elevated level. Use your secondary red dot for CQB or stay dialed up in magnification and provide an even quicker transition to 1x capabilities. Secondary red dots are also becoming common as backup sights are preferred by some over iron sights.
Function
Functionally, LPVOs are not much different from any other magnified optic. You will have turrets for windage and elevation, a magnification dial, a diopter,1st and 2nd focal plane options, and generally some illumination dials. Therefore, it will excel in both close-range and medium-range applications.
Pick the perfect sight for your guns TODAY!
Now that you understand what an LPVO is, you can have your mind set on the optic that suits your needs best. Tacticon Armament provides affordable optics that give you a chance to try out a new optic without breaking the bank. Talk to our customer service now, and pick the right optic for your trusted sidekick!
Great article! Thanks
Thank you, Jeremy! Stay tuned for more!
This is the best company to purchase all your shooting products. The customer service is the best in the business. If you are thinking of purchasing any of Tacticon products, just make the purchase, and know they will always have your 6.