Best Scope for PTR 91: Giving a New Life to the PTR-91

I bet you’re here because that PTR 91 is still holding up pretty well to this day.

We’ll try not to make fun of it while we’re at it. Since the rifle isn’t particularly new, you often suffer as the newer optics don’t go with it.

But you have to get the hunting job done, right? And switching to a more modern rifle isn’t really the budget route if you ask me.

So which optic do you get? We picked up some of the best scopes, red dots, and holographic sights for you guys. And I think you can pick out the best scope for PTR 91 here.

We’d say the TRUGLO TRU-Brite takes the cake if you want an all-around performance. It’s not going to give you the longest range like the CVLife Illuminated Scope, but it beats it in almost all other factors.

And if you don’t like the weights of scopes, trying out the EOTECH 552 Holographic sight or the Aimpoint PRO Red Dot should be proper alternatives.

We’ve come up with other comparative bases further down the article. So let’s get straight into it.

Types of Scopes to Choose From

Well, since the rifle itself isn’t that new, you don’t get a ton of options to choose from. But we’ve divided the choices into three categories today.

We’ll be looking at a few scopes and red dot sights too. I mean, some of the sights might have green dots. But we’ll still call them red dot sights for the sake of simplicity.

The third category is, you guessed it, holographic sights. 

There really isn’t a straightforward answer to which optic you should choose.

That’s because these three categories have different use-cases for the most part. But we’ll still make the comparison for your ease.

Scopes vs. Red Dot Sights vs. Holographic Sights

If you know your basics, then you probably know that red dots can’t provide magnification.

So if you’re target practicing or even hunting at around 50 yards, a red dot is useful. They’ll provide you with a better reticle than the substandard iron sight of the PTR 91. 

You also get to adjust your eyes with the lens faster. So there’s that. 

So when do you choose a scope? If you’re going to shoot medium-long range targets, then you should go for magnified scopes. This is if you’re shooting anything over 100 yards.

The technique is obviously important in these instances. But if you can’t see the target, what are you even going to shoot at?

ScopesRed Dot SightsHolographic Sights
ForShort-range targets that are faster to acquire.Longer range shooting. Very good for stealth. Short-range shooting with a wider field of view. 
Ease of CleaningA bit harder to clean.They’re compact and easy to clean.They are moderately easy to clean.
CostYou get to choose between cheap and expensive scopes.This is the budget option among the three.You lack budget options here. They are in the premium segment.
Our Recommendations TRUGLO TRU-Brite ScopeAimpoint PRO Red Dot SightEOTECH 512 Holographic Sight

Best Scopes for PTR 91

Let’s head into the reviews right away. Here’s a short comparison among the best scopes first. Then we’ll head into the red dot sights.

Here’s a visual representation of the comparison among the scopes-

Radar Chart

Disclaimer: The quicker the reload time, the higher the points a scope gets. 

TRUGLO TRU-Brite Scope: More About Product

We’ll start off with the start of the show for this round. I’d say you don’t even need another scope if you end up getting this one. 

Okay, that might have been a total overstatement. But hear me out.

This one offers 1-6x magnification. And it’s the only scope on the list that offers that 1x zoom when you need it. I know that’s nothing to write home about.

But you usually need a red dot or a holographic to mimic the 1x zoom. With this one, however, you can skip the lighter alternatives.

If you just want pure magnification, check out the CVLife Illuminated scope that came in at third place on the list. 

We know you don’t get the lightweight factor that comes with red dots or holographic sights, but it’s on the lighter side for scopes regardless. 

I’d say the best part about this is the attached bipod you get for a few extra bucks. So if you want that extra stability while aiming for a buck, you have that option with this.

Although this thing lacks magnification, it makes up for it in the eye relief department. During our testing, this felt like the most comfortable optic on our eyes.

Since it doesn’t give you higher magnifications like 9 or 10x, it doesn’t need a bigger diameter.

The 24mm lens lets in enough light and it fares well against the competition. You do need to spend a bit more on this one since it’s the priciest one on the list. 

We were able to shoot far-away targets without much fuss. So I don’t think you would suffer either.

Things That Need to Improve:

  • It doesn’t offer the best magnification. If that’s all you care about, you can try out a scope with better magnification
  • The reticle isn’t well equipped. Check out the next scope if a good reticle is a must for you. 

Vortex Crossfire II: More About Product

The perception that all the marketing gives you is that if a scope has higher power, it’s better. 

Well, not quite. 

The Crossfire scope goes toe-to-toe with the TRUGLO one that we just reviewed. If it weren’t for the hideous eye-relief, I think this would have taken the crown.

While this lacks in the eye relief department, it kind of makes up for it with the reticle.

This one is equipped with a clean reticle without much fuss. When you’re hunting, I’d say the cleaner outlook is more important. But you might prefer the “Christmas Tree”-like aesthetics. 

Image Source: tractoptics.com

In that particular case, you might prefer something else. 

We talked about how the weight of the previous scope was too much. Well, this one is way better. It’s still not as light as the next scope on the list.

But the lighter weight allows you to take off some pounds from the PTR 91. So your reload time sees an improvement too. This scope ranks second when it comes to the reload time among the top choices.

If we had complaints against this one, it’s regarding the size. Although the weight is lower, the size is bigger. I don’t know how they managed to do that. So the build quality should seem concerning.

You might need to train yourself a bit before trying this out. 

Things That Need to Improve:

  • It comes with poor eye relief. You should opt for the previous one if eye relief is your only concern. 
  • Takes longer to focus on higher magnifications. If you prefer a faster point-and-shoot experience, check out the next scope. 

Monstrum Rifle Scope: More About Product

Yep, Monstrum’s Rifle scope goes toe-to-toe with the previous one from Vortex in terms of magnification.

But we’re more concerned about the faster focus. So it’s one of the better options if you want the point-and-shoot experience. 

What I like about this is the weight. It’s the lightest scope on the list, even with the highest magnification.

I’m surprised they managed to pull this off with the aluminum body. Maybe the slight plastic accents helped out in this case.

If we weren’t clear enough for the previous one, you get a quicker reload time. So once you accidentally miss your shot, you can quickly get back to reloading for the next one.

Since it has the highest magnification on the list, it also gives you a bigger diameter. So the scope lets in more light eventually. Although it lacks a dedicated night vision mode, you still have decent light coming in.

The reticle for this one is below-average. There’s nothing to write home about. You can control the illumination with the dials on the scope. But I would’ve preferred if it lit up a bit more. 

But it’s appreciable that they decided to add both the green and red colors.

This one isn’t the best in terms of build quality. But it’s not far behind. A couple of “accidental” drops from shoulder height wasn’t enough to put dents on it.

So that’s a relief.

Things That Need to Improve:

  • The reticle isn’t the best. If a good reticle is all you need, try out a scope with a decent reticle
  • It’s a bit on the larger size. This could seem concerning if you care about balance. Pick out the TRUGLO scope in first place if this bothers you.

CVLIFE Illuminated Scope: More About Product

I’d say pick up this one from CVLife if you’re tight on budget. This is the cheapest option among the scopes. 

Although it comes with a build quality similar to the third one, it’s still aluminum. I think they focused more on the practical aspects of things.

The unique part about this is that it comes with a laser. So if you’re a beginner, you might make use of the laser to get better accuracy.

We tried this scope out for a couple of weeks, and it did not disappoint. 

This one also wins the numbers game when it comes to magnification. But the 10x maximum zoom isn’t as good as it should be. It’s harder to obtain a crystal velar view through the lens at 10x.

CVLife also offers an even cheaper option than this. But you will miss out on the 2.5x minimum magnification if you choose that one.

So we think this is the one that should have made the shortlist. 

This one is also the most compact among the scopes on the list. It’s surprising how they still allow the highest magnification with the shortest length.

If you don’t want to tinker with the balance of your PTR 91, you should pick this one. The size and weight of this one should be enough to get you going.

Things That Need to Improve:

  • The build quality takes a major blow for this one. If you want something a bit more durable, pick out either of the TRUGLO or Monstrum scopes. 
  • It’s lighter, but you don’t get the reduced reload time. The previous scope from Monstrum provides the best weight-reload time performance. 

Bushnell Banner Riflescope: More About Product

Finally, we have unique little scope here from Bushnell Banner. And it comes with quite a few caveats.

Although it comes with a poor plastic build, it’s still priced higher than the previous one from CVLife. So we’re definitely going to criticize this one. 

The 40mm objective lens diameter is one of the widest among the scopes on the list. This allows enough light into the scope. But I think they should have rethought the design.

Yes, this is the longest of the scopes. You might take a bit longer to get used to the balance. They could have made the scope a bit shorter.

You also get a higher minimum magnification of 3x on this one. So you will miss out if you want that lower 1x or 2x minimum magnification. 

The eye relief isn’t bad. It’s actually pretty average. And you shouldn’t have to worry about the scope hitting your face due to the recoil from the PTR 91. 

Things That Need to Improve:

  • It boasts a poor build quality. The plastic body gets scratched up quite fast. If this bothers you, try out the more expensive scope sitting up top.
  • This one’s on the longer side of things. So the illumination should’ve been better. The CVLife scope that we just reviewed gets more points on the size department. 

Best Red Dot Sight for PTR 91

That’s about it for the scopes’ part. Let’s take a look at some of the red dot sights now. We’ll start with the comparison table first-

With the quick comparison out of the way, take a look at how we ranked the red dots here-

Disclaimer: The quicker the reload time, the higher the points a scope gets.

Aimpoint PRO Red Dot Sight: More About Product

In first place, we have Aimpoint’s Pro Red Dot Sight. This one easily beats the rest of the red dots in terms of diameter.

You get a lot more light into the lens with the 38mm objective lens diameter. The 2 minutes of angle on it isn’t the best on the list, but this is comfortably covered by the rest of the aspects. 

They provide a few different brightness settings, ten to be precise. You can toggle the brightness using the dial. Since the lens diameter is big, they were able to give you this option.

Unfortunately, this is among the priciest red dots out there. It beats even some of the higher-end scopes when it comes to pricing. So that’s a bummer.

We tried this out with our PTR 91, and the results were satisfactory. Although we got the 2 MOA, the overall build goes with the rifle. 

You can even use this with some specific handguns too. 

Another unique thing about this is the night vision. It doesn’t actually make night look like day. But you can still see movement rather clearly. 

We were also impressed with the overall build. The build makes this the heaviest red dot on the list.

You can slide this onto the mount that you’re using with the PTR 91. This one does come with a mount, unlike others.

Things That Need to Improve:

  • A bit on the heavier side. If you only want lighter weight, check out the next option from Vortex.
  • The overall footprint of the sight isn’t compact. It’s rather bulky for a red dot. If you want a more compact solution, check out a smaller sight

Vortex Optics Venom: More About Product

If you want a bit more MOA, this is the obvious pick. The company even allows you to choose between 3 or 6 MOA. This is the only one on the list that provides you with this option.

Vortex’s Venom is also the lightest red dot on the list, weighing in at just 1.1 oz. You also pay a lot less than the first one in this case. So why did this one rank second?

It’s the objective lens diameter. 20 mm didn’t seem like enough to let in enough light. And this suffers while trying to aim in lowlight conditions. So, that’s a bummer.

In terms of the build quality, this isn’t as good as the previous one from Aimpoint. You also get a lower eye relief compared to the Aimpoint up top.

It’s aluminum, but I think you can bend it easily. Even the lens catches micro-scratches sooner than you think. 

During our time with it, it gathered quite a few micro-scratches on the lens. So the lens is far from super-durable. 

You don’t have to face a ton of trouble while reloading for the next shot. Since the entire mechanism is so light, you will probably not even notice that it’s attached to your PTR 91.

Things That Need to Improve:

  • Very low objective lens diameter. If you’re not convinced with this, check out the previous one from Aimpoint or the next one from Trijicon. 
  • The build quality isn’t the best. It’s built with thin aluminum, which you can damage easily. If this concerns you, pick a durable sight that’ll last. 

Trijicon MRO-C-2200030: More About Product

You might think of this one as an abomination. It’s a mix between a holographic sight and a red dot. But it’s more of a red dot, so we’re talking about it in this segment.

Since it’s a cross between a red dot and a holographic sight, you get a bulky appearance. It does not affect the overall weight.

When it comes to weight, the Trijicon MRO-C-2200030 sight comes in second. Since it’s comparatively lightweight, you get that quicker reload time too. 

The reload time is on par with the previous one from Vortex.

It’s light but built fairly well. 

When it comes to the reticle, you get a clear image. You won’t get bombarded with lines all over the optics. This would rank second among the four in terms of the reticle.

I’d say this outperforms the previous one from Vortex in the build quality, eye relief, and reticle departments.

But this easily falls short when it comes to the size and MOA. So it depends on your priorities in the end. 

Overall, it’s a well-balanced piece. This perfectly falls in the middle of the spectrum. 

Things That Need to Improve:

  • It’s on the bulkier end. This might bother you. If it does, you can go with the previous red dot from Vortex.
  • This one is on the pricier side. If this bothers you, you can check out the next red dot from Sig Sauer. 

Sig Sauer SOR52001 Compact Red Dot: More About Product

Yep, Sig Sauer’s SOR52001 is the cheapest on the list. Unfortunately, it ended up at the bottom. Let’s talk about how this came to be.

Just like the previous one, this doesn’t really look like a red dot. It’s got that hybrid build. But we decided it deserves a spot on the top four.

In terms of build quality, you could compare this to the second one from Vortex. That is, it’s on the average side.

I mean, you won’t break it if it falls from hip height. But you would still scratch up the glass rather quickly. 

The view from the reticle seems obscured at times. This also occurs when you face a heavier recoil from the PTR 91. So the reloading time takes a hit in this case.

This would sit at the bottom when it comes to the reload time.

Even the objective lens diameter is the smallest for this one. So how does this even stack up against the other choices?

The only good part about this is the cheap price point. You could use this sight as a gateway into red dot scopes for the PTR 91. And you might fancy this if you already have a couple of other optics. 

Things That Need to Improve:

  • The reticle doesn’t offer the best view. For getting the best reticle view, pick out the Aimpoint Pro in first place.
  • This one is on the heavier side. If you prefer something lighter, go for either of the Vortex or Trijicon optics. 

Best Holographic Sights for PTR 91

Lastly, we’ve picked up some of the top holographic sights and pit them against each other. Here’s how they fared. You can start by checking out the comparison table first-

That was the quick comparison among the top three. Here’s how we ranked them visually-

Radar Chart

Disclaimer: The quicker the reload time, the higher the points a scope gets.

EOTECH 512 Holographic Sight: More About Product

EOTECH’s 512 holographic starts off the list for the top holographic sights. I’ll warn you before going in too far.

Holographic sights aren’t cheap. Even the ones with poor build quality would cost a lot. And that’s the case with this one too.

This one slightly stands out from the rest with a ring size of 69 MOA. The other two come with 68 MOA rings. So there’s that.

All three of the sights have a 1 MOA dot size. That’s not really a good thing since even the red dot sights offered better options. 

The problem with these three is that they’re pretty evenly matched. Even the weights differ by just a fraction of ounces. Even then, this one isn’t the lightest on the list. 

But after our testing, we can say that the reload speed of this one was the quickest.

The only caveat we found is the size. The entire body of the holographic sight is a bit longer on this one. I mean, this wasn’t a problem with the PTR 91. But I don’t know why they added the additional elongated part at the end.

All three sights have the same objective lens diameter of 20 mm. so they more or less let in the same amount of light into the lens.

So you won’t see a drastic visual difference unless you check them out side by side.

Things That Need to Improve:

Vortex AMG UH-1: More About Product

This one is slightly smaller than the previous one. 

Vortex’s AMG UH-1 is the different-looking holographic sight among the three. And this looks super futuristic if you ask me. 

You get the night vision toggle and the brightness toggles on the side of the sight. The others use dials for these features. So this looks more like a small camera, if I’m being honest.

The build quality isn’t quite on par with the first one. This seemed slightly less durable than the EOTECH one we just reviewed.

As for the dot size, you get the same 1 MOA. But the ring size is slightly smaller than the previous one. It sits at 68 MOA on this particular model.

I’d say it does the job in terms of being lightweight. It’s not drastically lighter, but you might see the difference if you put the two side by side.

Things That Need to Improve:

  • The buttons aren’t tactile. So you have to tinker with them to make sure. You can pick either of the other two if you prefer dials over buttons. 
  • This one comes with average eye relief. If this concerns you, you can go for the previous one. 

EOTECH EXPS3 Sight: More About Product

Finally, we have another one from EOTECH. The EXPS3 one tops the chart with the best reticle. You won’t get bombarded with different lines that don’t have any use.

But it’s a shame that the eye relief isn’t as good as the other two.

This one is the most compact among the three. But it still comes second when it comes to weight. I’d still say that it’s easier to carry. 

Where this falls way short of the other two is in the build quality department. we noticed a big smudge after it got dropped from shoulder-height. So this might not sound like a good idea.

We expected better since it’s also the most expensive of the three.

The eye relief on this is worse than the previous two. If you can’t handle the heavy recoil from the PTR 91, I would suggest that you pick the first one.

You should only pick this one if you want the most compact design. Otherwise, I think this is just overpriced. 

Things That Need to Improve:

  • This one is on the pricier side. You can get a better deal by picking the first one from EOTECH.
  • The build quality takes a hit on this one. If this seems concerning, you can pick the 512 version from EOTECH on top.  

Selecting the Magnification

Honestly, this depends on the range. You won’t always be shooting from a long distance. 

A 1-4x magnified scope can get the job done if you just want to shoot within a range of 100-125 yards. You can probably get by fine when hunting medium-sized game or hogs. If you’re lucky, you can even hunt a couple of deer while you’re at it. 

Close-in shots require smaller magnifications. You would find the best results using a 1x scope in this case. 

So, what’s the limit? If you’re sure that you’ll shoot from 1000 yards away, pick a 10x scope. You won’t need other scopes in this way. 

And if you’re not going to be shooting targets from far away, pick any holographic or red dot sight. Those will do the trick for the most part.

Choosing the Best Mount

I guess you’re done picking the scope of your choice by now. But where do you install the scope on?

That’s right. The PTR 91 does not come with a standard scope mount. So whether you want to use a red dot, a holographic sight, or a scope, you need a mount.

We’ll be talking about scopes for the most part. But I’ll add a few recommended mounts and rings below:

  • If you want a well-balanced set of rings and scope mount, then try out a kit from M1SURPLUS
  • You might not need the entire set at times. Some copes even come with the rings. In that case, pick up a cheap mount option

Frequently Asked Questions

Which scope would give me good eye relief?

I’d say 3.5 inches is the sweet spot. That’s enough to sit your eye comfortably on the optics. Considering the above-average recoil of the PTR 91, I think 4 inches is the safe spot. 

Is more eye relief better?

It depends. If a rifle has heavier recoil, you’ll need more eye relief. I know you need shorter relief if the magnification is greater, but a lot of you often ignore the recoil.

How can I clean the scope lens after use?

Using a lens cleaning kit is pretty practical. You can also opt for a decent lens pen that pretty much does the job for you. This should also take care of any fungal condensation for your optics. 

Will my longer scope face condensation on the lenses?

If you’re shooting in winter, there’s a huge chance of snow buildup around the lens. But that’s nothing a little cleaning kit can’t solve. Snow shouldn’t tinker with your adjustment settings. 

Conclusion

With that, we’re at the end of the page. 

Optics that go well with the PTR 91 are becoming rare. So you might want to pick one out before it’s too late. Go through the comparisons and check out which optic came out on top. 

I’m sure you can make the proper decision and pick the best scope for PTR 91. And, we’re glad to help. 

Just remember not to overspend if you have that option. Till then, good luck and happy hunting!