My first red dot. Mounting location?

[Brmprice]

Got my first red dot sight, a Bushnell TRS 25, for Christmas.

Any suggestions on the preferred location to mount the optic on the rail? Toward the front or rear?

Or is it just trial and error?


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[S&W1006]

Just my opinion but with a red dot with no magnification it is totally up to you. I mounted mine in the same location as a magnified optic would go but you can play around with different locations to see what works for you.

 

[Vinney47]

Since eye relief isn't an issue, it won't matter. Lots of folks mount them as far forward as possible without going out on the rails over the barrel - which is pretty much the one rule: keep it over the receiver. Try out some different positions and see what you like/works best.

 

[Rundover]

The farther away it is from your eye the less field of view you have. My vote is for somewhere in the middle which is a compermise and also balances the added weight over the grip.

 

[Ohsheepdog]

Mine work best an inch or two in front of the rear sight...balance is better, FOV is better...

Sent from somewhere between the Ohio territory and the neutral zone.

 

[Vinney47]

The farther away it is from your eye the less field of view you have...

That's exactly opposite. The further away something is from your eye, the more you can see around it. The rim of the sight is what blocks out things and focuses your eye to it's center. The further out it is, the "smaller" the rim appears and the more outside of the sight your eye can take in. If you want the most field of view, you want to move whatever you are focusing on away from your eye, not closer.

(stick your finger right in-front of your eye, and then move it out at arms length. which gives you a better view around your finger? Same principle with the sight - further gives a better field of view)

 

[kingfhb]

Here's a great explanation of mounting on your weapons platform.

AR-15 Accessories: Do's and Don'ts - YouTube

It was made for an AR, but it applies as far as optics go.

 

[coltle6920]

I agree that where you place the TRS-25 depends on where you are comfortable.I had the TRS-32 set up on my AR-15 right in front of the rear sight about 3-4inches from my eye.If you mount it further out on the rail you will have a wider field of view but a narrower view of the red dot.

If all you will be doing is target shooting you should be alright wherever you mount it. Some people prefer a red dot that allows for quick target acquisition.I bought another red dot for under $100 that I actually prefer.It's called "Mueller Quick Shot Reflex-HoloSight".

The pictures below show the Mueller red dot optic on the left and the advantages of it's design on the right.

 

[RedNeck Jim]

I have a Primary Arms magnifier, with flip to side mount, for my 15-22. I have it positioned as far back on the rail as possible, so much so that I removed my MBUS to allow it to get as close to me as possible. My optic is positioned accordingly, which puts it a little more forward than I would choose if I didn't have the magnifier. However as mentioned above, it most certainly stays on the receiver... not the guard. Also as mentioned, that forward position gives me a better field of view, which is nice when acquiring the next target.

Even though the magnifier can flip to the side, for normal shooting I have it removed. I prefer keeping my gun as light and clean as possible and for the shooting I normally do, magnification is not needed... nor is the extra weight. But by keeping my optic where it is, I retain the flexibility to instantly add back the magnifier, when needed.

Don't forget you have an adjustable stock on the gun (assuming you don't live in a communist state). I think some folks forget about that feature. If my magnifier is removed and I wish my optic closer to me, as opposed to moving the optic, I simply shorten the stock. You can bring your eye to the optic as opposed to moving the optic back on the rail.

 

[BillyJack2012]

That's exactly opposite. The further away something is from your eye, the more you can see around it. The rim of the sight is what blocks out things and focuses your eye to it's center. The further out it is, the "smaller" the rim appears and the more outside of the sight your eye can take in. If you want the most field of view, you want to move whatever you are focusing on away from your eye, not closer.

(stick your finger right in-front of your eye, and then move it out at arms length. which gives you a better view around your finger? Same principle with the sight - further gives a better field of view)

This. It's a red dot, not a magnified optic. You're shooting with both eyes open so you have a large field of view regardless. Mounted forward towards the end of your receiver is a most common best practice.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

With a 1x red dot you have unlimited field of view with both eyes open.

Keep the optic on the reciever. This will prevent the optic from moving with the flexing plastic handguard.

Move the optic forward on the reciever. This reduces blind spot from the tube of the optic and its better than being right up against a fixed rear sight, IMO. If you are just punching holes in paper none of this much matters.

 

[Brmprice]

Thanks. Picked up some valuable tips to get me started especially the tip to stay over the receiver. I didn't think about that. I will report back when I get a chance to go to the range. And yes I am just a paper shooter limited to 25 yards. Looking for a range to go farther in the Marietta GA area.


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[Dikinalaska]

Another benefit I've found, for me anyway, from having it further forward is that it's easier for me to move from target to target. With the dot closer to my eye, it's easier to pass the target when I'm trying to move fast. With the dot being further forward, it seems to be easier to stop where I want to. The fulcrum point(for lack of a better term because the fulcrum point would be the stock against my shoulder) changes further forward allowing easier transitions. YMMV though. Plus as stated you have a better field of view. Congrats on the trs though. I got myself one for Xmas and absolutely love it. Couldn't be happier. Have fun, and happy shooting.


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[BigWaylon]

I mounted my first one (a SPARC) in the location shown in the Vortex manual. It didn't tell you where to mount it, I just followed what the pic showed. The front edge of the mount is basically lined up with the front edge of the magwell (basically at the edge of the upper receiver. It's worked for me so far, so all of mine (except AR57) are mounted this way.

 

[NH Shooter]

I mounted my first one (a SPARC) in the location shown in the Vortex manual. It didn't tell you where to mount it, I just followed what the pic showed. The front edge of the mount is basically lined up with the front edge of the magwell (basically at the edge of the upper receiver. It's worked for me so far, so all of mine (except AR57) are mounted this way.

I picked up a sparc cheap for mine... Whenever I can eventually get the rifle. How do you find it?

 

[tomcatt51]

Keep the optic on the reciever. This will prevent the optic from moving with the flexing plastic handguard.

Sure that's true? Looking at how the 15-22 is made I'm not so sure. Seems like the barrel is secured as well to the forend as it is to the upper receiver. Relatively speaking (compared to a "real" AR platform) it seems the sight to barrel attacment is a flexi-flyer either way.

Least chance of flex probably being at the very front of the upper receiver / rear of the forend?

 

[BigWaylon]

I picked up a sparc cheap for mine... Whenever I can eventually get the rifle. How do you find it?

Find it? As in like it?

If that's the question, I'm satisfied. Here's a post I made recently on another forum when the topic of RDS choices came up:

I really like mine. It's the RDS I've installed on all my builds, so I've bought 9 of them so far. There are some less expensive ones out there like Primary Arms and the Bushnell TRS-25, and we all know there are much more expensive options as well.

The SPARC does have NV capability, but I haven't gone that route...at least not yet.

I chose the SPARC for two main reasons:

1. Vortex's lifetime warranty (transferable, no receipt needed, no registration required)
2. 2 MOA dot, as opposed to most that have a bigger dot

I also like the fact it comes with the mount needed to cowitness (absolute or 1/3), as well as the doubler (for the random times I want to use it). I have replaced the included bikini caps with Butler Creek 04 caps.

If you get one...please don't pay $199.99 for it. I paid $149.99 for most of mine (PSA currently has it for that price). Most I've paid was $169 w/ no tax and free shipping from B&H Photo.

I do know that Vortex is coming out with a new version at some point in 2014.

-Greg

I don't have a lot of experience comparing it to others. It was one if the first I tried (for the reasons above) and since it worked, I didn't keep looking any further.

Assuming I can link to other sites, check out this SPARC torture test

If you were asking a different question, let me know.

 

[NH Shooter]

Find it? As in like it? ....

Thats just what I was asking really... Thanks for the reply.

 

[RED ZMAN]

I mount my dot sights so the front edge of it lines up with the front edge of the receiver rail. You'll see there is a split from the rail on the receiver, and the barrel railing. This way it gets the EXACT same mounting every time I take it off and put it back.

Consistancy in mounting is as paramount as consistancy in your sight picture, trigger pull, and breathing.

If that is too far forward for yours, get some dark red nail polish and make a mark on the rail in FRONT of your sight when you find a comfortable mounting point. THis way you'll always have a reference.

I like mine as I can do it in the dark if needed, and it balances nicely on the rifle.

 

[NJDevil72]

I've got a question about my mounting. I got a decent little red dot, it's a Center Point Multi-TAC Quick Aim Sight. I like it, it makes shooting fun. I'm not sure if I have it far enough forward because I'm not getting the best sight picture from it, especially when I try using my electronic ear muffs. I do better with just ear plugs but some courses I want to take require the electronic protection so I'm trying to get used to wearing them while shooting the rifle.
Also I think I should be using an extension to raise the height of it since when I put the iron sights in they are very high up in the optic's sight circle and getting a good sight pic on the target with them is difficult. Thanks!