Best Red Dot with Magnifier on a budget?

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zkehoe02

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Hey guys, so I've been shopping around to find the best red dot sight that comes with a 3X magnifier for my 15-22. Does anybody have any suggestions on either combo packages or buying the RD and magnifier separately? I'm on a tight budget so there's NOOOO way I can afford an EOTech. I'd like to get both the RD and magnifier for under $200...is that even possible? Thanks for the help!
 
Primary arms would be my choice on your budget
 
Would you happen to have any specific suggestions? For either the red dot and/or the magnifier that would work together?
 
And you trust the quality of any Primary Arms Magnifiers? The other 3X magnifier I was looking at was UTG. I've heard good and bad and it's a hell of a lot cheaper. Haven't heard much on PA though... When compared, who wins and why?
 
Im no fan of those setups, but if i was... and wanted to keep things around $200... I'd call PA and tell them what you want and they'll fix you up.

Cheap UTG magnifier compared to cheap PA? Probably come out of the same Chinese labor camp.
 
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+1 on Primary Arms when you're on a budget. That or try something like the new Vortex Sparc without the magnifier. If you're new to red dots, you might surprise yourself how well you can target shoot with a 2 moa red dot. Especially within the range of the 15-22.

On another note, part of me wonders if a sticky on threads like these would be worth having, since this type of thing comes up at least once every couple weeks. Then again, if the mods stickied the threads like this, what would we talk about in between new toys and ammo shortages?;)
 
Primary Arms. Buy with confidence. But like the others, if I need magnification, I'm going with a 1-4 scope (actually, I did and it was Primary Arms also). My other 4 red dots are all Primary Arms. 1 30mm, 2 Micro Dots, 1 Multi Reticle (sold).
 
Red dots + magnifiers have pretty much gone out of fashion in the serious shooting community. This has been driven mostly by 3-gun competition. They used to be used in 3G but the advent of really good scopes with 1-6x power ranges and accurate BDC reticles has proven to be a more accurate long and short range solution that the old setups. As a result decent 1-4x scopes are now in the $200 range, like for instance the Bushnell AR-Optics 1-4x24 at $190. I know club level 3-gun shooters using this very scope. I use a slightly more expensive Burris 1-4x24 MTAC until recently in 3-gun and at 4x I can successfully engage targets out to 400 yards. I just switched my 3-gun AR to the Burris 1.5-6x40 MTAC scope and put the old 1-4x24 scope on my .22 AR conversion upper for training use.
I would use anything from Primary Arms before I stooped down to use an optic from UTG or similar companies.
 
cyphertext said:
I have never been a fan of the red dot plus magnifier set up. Seems to me that if you need magnification, then you should have went with a scope.
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Each to his own. I like the combo. Guess I'm not a serious shooter. :)

I have a high powered scope ( Leupold Mark 4) and it is really nice however I have trouble quickly acquiring the target. With a red dot by itself, I can VERY quickly acquire however with my old eyes, I have to be in pretty close... under 50 yards. Since most of my shooting is under 50 yards, that is not an issue.

The advantage of the combo is it allows me to quickly configure my gun for the shooting I will be doing that day. If it is all short range, I simply remove the magnifier & I am left with a lightweight gun with fast acquisition. If long range shooting (100 yards or so for me) is in store, or I need to sight in the scope, then I attach the 3x magnifier. When not needed, it is flipped to the side, so it does not interfere with normal shooting. Only downside is a little extra weight. Once again, if I'm all done with the precision shooting, then I simply remove the magnifier. Adding & removing the magnifier does not impact the zero as the sight itself is not moving.

On my 15-22, I use the PA 3x magnifier with my Aimpoint. On my AR, I use an Eotech with their 3x magnifier. Suits my shooting style perfectly. On a tight budget, I like the TRS-25 with the PA magnifier. Get the flip to side mount.
 
photoracer said:
As a result decent 1-4x scopes are now in the $200 range, like for instance the Bushnell AR-Optics 1-4x24 at $190.
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I like the reticle on this one much better than on the Millet that I posted... I thought the Bushnell was higher priced than $190.
 
Primary Arms gets almost all the votes in a thread like this. They are certainly the front runner for low budget optics and if I was ever in that market they would probably be my first choice.

As for the RDS and 3X magnification combo, I have never shot this combination, but it does seem kinda bulky. On the other hand, from what I have heard is that the variable magnification options (and I don't own one) do not provide you with a true 1x two eyes open shooting experience like the non magnified Aimpoints, Eotechs or Trijicons...Not sure how true that is so I am interested on hearing about the differences on a fixed 1x magnification optic compared to a variable optic set at 1x.
 
No option to try PA gear in the UK as they don't ship internationally, but I was very happy with my Vortex Sparc and VMX-3 combo (until I had the opportunity to upgrade to an Eotech setup!).

Whilst not bargain basement prices, the Vortex line has some serious stuff to offer at a good mid-range point between the cheapest gear and the likes of Eo and Aimpoint. The Sparc was the only lower priced option that offered a 2MOA dot when I was looking. I understand that they've got a Gen2 version of the Sparc (1MOA?) and VMX now. Great lifetime warranty too.
 
I went with the Vortex Strikfire for my 15-22, it comes with a screw in 2x magnifier which I use rarely. For $169 it is a fine scope.
Vortex® StrikeFire Red Dot Scope : Cabela's
I put a Nikon m-223 1-4 scope on my Windham Weaponry SRC. AR-15. It's a perfect fit for me.
 
Primary Arms.

most of there gear is built in the same factories as other mil sec gear.. I am no way saying its mil spec but its pretty dam close/ good stuff. Hell them guys even cooked a Micro dot in a frying pan to see if it would stand up to the heat from a ultimak rail on a AK.. If you have any issues call PA and talk to Marshal or head over to there industry form on ar15.. They are one of the few vendors that go the extra mile to make the customer happy..
 
IceStone said:
Primary Arms gets almost all the votes in a thread like this. They are certainly the front runner for low budget optics and if I was ever in that market they would probably be my first choice.

As for the RDS and 3X magnification combo, I have never shot this combination, but it does seem kinda bulky. On the other hand, from what I have heard is that the variable magnification options (and I don't own one) do not provide you with a true 1x two eyes open shooting experience like the non magnified Aimpoints, Eotechs or Trijicons...Not sure how true that is so I am interested on hearing about the differences on a fixed 1x magnification optic compared to a variable optic set at 1x.
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Actually a good 1-4x scope will give you very good 2 eyes open shooting similar to a red dot. I have no problem in 3-gun shooting my Burris MTAC scope at 1x as if it is a red dot. Problem with a red dot, magnifier or not, is you have a dot zero'd for a given distance and you have nothing that will aid you when shooting at any other distance except trying to figure out how big the target is and how much you have to hold over or not. With a BDC scope like the Burris it has dots for every range out to 600 yards and it works for just about any 55-62g bullet. For heavier bullets the dots only get off by a few inches when you are beyond 400 yards. Up to 400 yards a 69g SMK is still right on target. Can't do that with a red dot and magnifier. In 3-gun its how fast you can shoot and hit the target at any distance from 3-600 yards. Nothing beats a 1-4x or 1-6x scope for that. That is why no one uses the red dot and magnifier at the top level anymore. At the last 3-gun match I was at they surprised us with a target at 394 yards, having never had one past 300 before. Only took me 2 rounds in some wind to hit it. I doubt I could have done that with a red dot and magnifier no matter how much it cost (maybe the Eotech with the 4 dots).
 
photoracer said:
Actually a good 1-4x scope will give you very good 2 eyes open shooting similar to a red dot. I have no problem in 3-gun shooting my Burris MTAC scope at 1x as if it is a red dot. Problem with a red dot, magnifier or not, is you have a dot zero'd for a given distance and you have nothing that will aid you when shooting at any other distance except trying to figure out how big the target is and how much you have to hold over or not. With a BDC scope like the Burris it has dots for every range out to 600 yards and it works for just about any 55-62g bullet. For heavier bullets the dots only get off by a few inches when you are beyond 400 yards. Up to 400 yards a 69g SMK is still right on target. Can't do that with a red dot and magnifier. In 3-gun its how fast you can shoot and hit the target at any distance from 3-600 yards. Nothing beats a 1-4x or 1-6x scope for that. That is why no one uses the red dot and magnifier at the top level anymore. At the last 3-gun match I was at they surprised us with a target at 394 yards, having never had one past 300 before. Only took me 2 rounds in some wind to hit it. I doubt I could have done that with a red dot and magnifier no matter how much it cost (maybe the Eotech with the 4 dots).
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I have been reading that the new Trijicon VCOG is getting some great reviews and the more I read about it, the more I like it. Although it retails for around $2400, I think guys have been finding them for $1400 on sale. Since its a new product i would imagine you will be seeing more of them at the 3 gun comps soon if the reviews hold true.
 
IceStone said:
I have been reading that the new Trijicon VCOG is getting some great reviews and the more I read about it, the more I like it. Although it retails for around $2400, I think guys have been finding them for $1400 on sale. Since its a new product i would imagine you will be seeing more of them at the 3 gun comps soon if the reviews hold true.
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$1400 (or $2400) scope on a $400 gun????
 
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