If you guys get tired of my questions let me know and I will give it a rest for a while.Do any of you use a magnifier in front of your red dot,if so how does it work for you and how do you like it.As opposed to a variable scope with illumination on the dot or triangle,thanks again.

Personally don't have any issues with your questions. So, you can keep plugging away. I don't use a magnifier with my RD. Unless I'm going for shooting tiny groups, or past 100yds, I see no need for the magnifier. If I'm looking for small groups, doing load development, or going beyond 100yds, then I mount my 3x9 variable.

To me, it makes more sense to go with the illuminated variable scope than with the RD+magnifier. Less things to break. Better overall balance. Plus with the variable you're not making a compromise as to the magnification.

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Peace was my Profession

I use the EOTech with magnifier on one of my rifles and it works great, I have old eyes. I like to shoot irons and then turn on the eotech and shoot with the reticle. Then to shoot further I just slap the magnifier and I can shoot further all in a matter of seconds.

Does it work better than a variable scope, nope.

Am I glad I bought it, yes.

Would I buy it for all my rifles, nope.

It's one of those deals where if you want it and are willing to fork out the money for it than do it, but a scope would be cheaper and do the same.

Right now I have mine set up on a DD.

tdhhh by hd_rolling, on Flickr

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M&P15 sport II, Retired Army

Thank you gentleman

Normally a magnifier is mounted behind the optic, not in front of it.

I'm not a magnfier fan, that's just me. Too much weight, too much bulk, too much fuss. If you want magnification, get a good 1 x 4 scope, it works better in the long haul. Again, that's just me.

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Still carrying my S&W 642

I tossed a Meprolight - maybe it is a MEPRO M21 - on my M4, after I used one in Israel at Caliber 3's tourist class (long story). Mostly, an expensive fun item, something novel instead of just using my two flip up iron sights. I don't shoot the gun much but I wouldn't add anything else on there - the concept to me is quick sighting of a target in reasonably close proximity, not sniping at long distance.

Though about it ........... no thanks...... Aimpoint or a 1-4x20 Leupold scope.

KISS....keep it simple stupid

I have a couple of magnifiers from Primary arms.
http://www.primaryarms.com/MCategori...Dot-Magnifiers Their house brand is cheap enough to try it. It works fine. I got it because I had to admit that my wife's 1-4 scope is better than my Eotech at 100 yds plus. But I don't much like scopes. Two problems that I see w/ the magnifier. 1- You have to move the dot pretty far forward to have room for the magnifier, or remove the stock rear sight. 2- The magnifier means you get back to needing that perfect eye position much like w/ a scope. They are a fun toy to play with ( and at around $100 from PA not too expensive) and have some use, but none are on any of our rifles right now.

I went through the optic roller coaster instead of taking advice from members here. I didn't really know what I wanted or even how I was going to use the rifle..First was a strikefire 2 and I really liked it but then got seduced by watching YT videos of the strike eagle so off went the red dot and on with the SE..well longer range shooting didn't appeal to me and acquiring that perfect cheek weld was cumbersome and I realized that the both eyes open quick target plinking is what I enjoyed more. And the reticle of the strike eagle was just a little too busy for my liking after I actually started to use it..SO back to a red dot...I found a really good local deal on a Sparc 2 and I liked the vortex warranty so on goes the Sparc2.......then exactly 24 hours later a too good to pass deal popped up on AL from a guy that was 5 minutes from me on an Aimpoint PRO....NIB....yep..the 4th optic in just over a year went on and now I'm finally satisfied with exactly what I wanted in the first place.........lesson learned??...yea...buy once..cry once...seems like I read that from someone in here

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witty signature goes here

Dumb question...What is "the AL" where you found the aimpoint? I'm not familiar with that term.

Armslist...

Exactly my experience. I liked the EOTech because of not needing to align the eye for a quick shot - the holographic dot is on target as long as you can see it, regardless of eye position or a partially obscured lens window. The magnifier is 3x EOTech as well, and can be flipped into position or away, or be removed and the zero still holds.
Only problem is that I could have a very nice 1-4x or 1-6x scope for the same money, about $1,100.

cyphertext is spot on.....armslist around here has some good secondary deals....nib PRO for $300.....I'm going to get a sport2 for the sparc2

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witty signature goes here

I think so.

With all the endless choices... from $100 optics to $2,000... the Aimpoint Pro & Micro and the Leupold VX-R series for magnification have most all the bases covered for a modest investment that will hold value relatively well.

I would go with an illuminated 1-4x24 or 1-6x24.

You will have an x1 power (none of the scopes, sights are true x1 power anyway)

This is whay I say all the time. Now you've spent ACOG level money and don't have an ACOG. Don't get me wrong, the PRO is a good optic, it just cost you more than it should have.

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Freedom isn't free.

Well you should by now... after suffering a series of dime store optics including a tacticalized red dot laser death ray combo called a Couterstrike.

Not trying to hijack the thread, just have a question regarding the 1-4 or 1-6 scope. At the 1 or 2 power setting what ring height would be best on a sport to either (for the lack of a better phrase) co- witness with the front sight??

1 inch tall (base to bottom of ring) is generally used on an AR platform regardless of front sight configuration. One-piece scope mounts designed for an AR platform are a good option.

With a magnified scope at 1x the front sight will be blurred enough to be of little use.

Some guys get it in their head that if they have taller rings the scope will sit over the irons and not be in view at low magnification. Forget about it.

Perfect, thank you

.....well not really when i figure the net amount...the Strikefire 2 that I bought originally from cabelas with my points and it being a store display with that discount come out to $140 and I sold it for $130...the Strike eagle from the Bay was $240 shipped and the PA mount was another $60 and sold it for exactly what I had in it..and the Sparc 2 off the Bay LNIB for $125....and I'm keeping it as an excuse to get another rifle.....so it was a $10 net lesson but I know exactly the point you are making

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witty signature goes here

You don't want to co witness a 1x scope because, unlike a 0x RDS, a magnified scope has a limited eye box. With an RDS, you can look over the front sight. With a magnified optic (yes, a 1x is classified as a magnified optic) the eye box is limited. The cross hairs will sit right on top of the front sight post.

If you're going to use a 1x optic with a fixed front sight, use a lower one third mount so the cross hairs will sit above the front sight. A better solution it's to use a folding front sight or shave the front sight base down