Iron sights or red dot optic???

[Correy]

Hi,

New to the forum. I'm considering the M&P 15-22 and can't decide between the iron sight or red dot versions. I'm fairly familiar with pistols but am new to rifles.

Thanks,
Correy

 

[Cphobes]

IMHO, always red dots. Backup irons if you must.

 

[Grayfox]

Start with iron sights and build your fundamental skills. You can always add a red dot or scope later. Plus, its always good to have iron sights as a back-up if your optic gets broke or fails.

 

[A1Oni]

Start with iron sights and build your fundamental skills. You can always add a red dot or scope later. Plus, its always good to have iron sights as a back-up if your optic gets broke or fails.

nowadays dots are good enough that you can build fundamentals on just the dot tbh.

plus the nice thing about the red dot sight is that its easier to diagnose what you are screwing up in comparison with irons because the dot shakes more than iron sights due to how the eye perceives movement and distance.

the target pictured was shot at 10 yards with 10 rounds, which isnt really stretching the capabilities of a red dot sighted handgun but my groups with dot sights are much more tighter than me using a gun with irons from my experience.

 

[bigslimm]

Agree with comments to get used to the iron sights first to get familiar with operating your new carbine in its basic configuration. Then start having real accuracy fun with an optic. Since you are interested in a red dot, I suggest considering a LPVO - low powered variable optic - essentially a merge of a red dot and a regular variable scope. LPVOs can have a typical magnification up to around 8x. They really enable you to extend and refine your red dot accuracy.

Also recommend considering a some point a regular high powered optic. That will enable you to reach out further than any red dot. I alternate running a LPVO and a regular scope on my 15-22 depending on whether I am concentrating on close acquistion or distance acquirstion.

I any case enjoy your 15-22.

 

[GnarlsR2]

I would go right to irons and red dot.
After considerable experimenting with my Panther Arms, I ended up with this combo and they work prefect.
I absolute co-witnessed the MagPul pop-ups with the Romeo5XDR.

https://magpul.com/mbus-3-sight-front.html?mp_global_color=175

https://magpul.com/mbus-3-sight-rear.html?mp_global_color=175

https://www.sigsauer.com/romeo5xdr-1x20-mm.html

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Welcome to the campfire!!!

I dislike any optics on handguns but red dot optics on AR-type rifles work for me. I agree that you should be familiar with the rifle before you add the optic, even if you are familiar with the platform generally, it's a new one so tinkering after you're used to it is good advice.

 

[MTC(SS)Ret]

I have a Tippmann Arms M4-22, an AR style 22LR similar to the 15-22, and mounted a Sig Romeo MSR red dot on it after shooting it for a while with irons. The red dot made it much easier to shoot accurately for me out to 50 yards, no trouble getting 2" groups. I decided to mount a scope on the rifle to see what it was capable of shooting at longer distance and invested $100 in a Monstrum 2-10X30 MPVO. For the price this is a great scope. At 100 yards I was getting 1 1/2" groups, IMHO not bad for an AR style 22.