Need some help....with optics

[welcome2goodburger]

Hello all!
Having already put about 600-700 rounds down range, I am ready to upgrade my sight options.
I have been looking for the past week, and I am just a little overwhelmed. I could use some help.

Ideally, I would like a red dot (PREFERREBLY enclosed or holographic style), that I will eventually get a magnifier for. I think I have decided against a traditional marksmen scope, though I have heard good things about the Nikon series of scopes.

So, what are y'all using? How long have you been using them. I'm looking for something between $50-$150, give or take.

I have heard good things about the Bushnell TRS-25, as well as Primary arms various models.

Any input would be great. Thanks y'all

 

[little_airwolf]

Yep Im a trs-25 convert. I had tasco scopes and airsoft scopes with lasers.
The best darn rds out there for price is trs-25. I wish it had an auto shutoff.

 

[welcome2goodburger]

Yep Im a trs-25 convert. I had tasco scopes and airsoft scopes with lasers.
The best darn rds out there for price is trs-25. I wish it had an auto shutoff.

How do you have that mounted? What size risers do you have with that? Im waiting to keep the stock sights on for now, and have them cowitness

 

[cxwrench]

TRS-25. I'm using the UTG mount. 1" gives lower 1/3, .83 is absolute...right? Someone correct me if I'm wrong. I'm using the 1" mount now and liking lower 1/3 co-witness after trying absolute. Just seems easier to see my target this way...less clutter through the scope.

 

[RedNeck Jim]

How do you have that mounted? What size risers do you have with that? Im waiting to keep the stock sights on for now, and have them cowitness

Before you go thru the cost & effort of cowitnessing, I suggest you evaluate your style of shooting. If you are just target shooting & not doing competitions or training with a similar setup on an AR, then I suggest removing the iron sights. I went thru all the risers & such to keep my backup sights on, however I never used them & all they did was take up space & add weight. This is especially important if you want to add a flip up magnifier for the red dot. Gets real crowded with a rear sight, magnifier mount & then the optic. By removing the backup sights, I was able to move the magnifier all the way back on the rail. That put the optic in a more natural position... for me.

I keep spare batteries for my optics in my Magpul grips, so no problem if the batteries run out... which is more likely with a TRS-25. If the optic dies for some other reason, I just would quit shooting. The more I shoot, the less stuff I want on my rifle... no matter how tacticool it looks. For that reason, I normally don't keep the magnifier mounted. The slots are there if I need to attach it but for most shooting, I don't. Keeping it off until you need it saves a lot of weight.

 

[Bat Guano]

Another TRS-25 vote here. After some 3500 rounds I like it just fine, particularly for the price. Mine needed two risers, but they now make a version with integral AR-height mount. The dot is 3 MOA which works well for me, all the way out to 200 yards on an E target. (Hint--hold about 12" high...)

 

[little_airwolf]

If you shop around, you can buy the trs-25 with riser for the same price as one without. The Bushnell riser is great.

 

[welcome2goodburger]

Yeah, I've been looking at getting the TRS-25, which I found for 62 bucks on Amazon; another 10 bucks on Amazon adds the UTG medium riser. SO I'm looking at about 74 bucks with shipping. Sounds like a good deal to me. I have the magpie grip as well, so the battery compartment idea is something worth looking into. As I'm not planning on doing any comp shooting (at least not now), I may very well just end up with a pair of magpul MBUS sights. Thanks for the help y'all

 

[buzzkillbob]

I'm another one for the TRS-25. I'm usins a UTG mount with absolute co-witness. I'd be okay with the lower 1/3 co-witness, but if I was to use iron sights, I turn off the red dot.

 

[sanford12]

If you shop around, you can buy the trs-25 with riser for the same price as one without. The Bushnell riser is great.

+1 I bought the one with the 1" riser included at PSA. I am surprised how good it is for the money.

 

[mn_doggie]

Beware that nobody makes a new, true holographic sight in the $50 range.

What they are selling is still a reflex sight (either open or tube type) with magnified reticles rather than just a simple dot.

The TRS-25 is a good choice.

 

[ScrapmasterFlex]

I have an Aimpoint Micro on my 15-22 with a Daniel Defense (tall) mount. Amazing. Pretty much an expensive overkill but a joy to shoot and a beauty to look at.

Pretty cool with a dollar store battery you get several years of light from the red dot, without ever turning it off. With a decent battery and setting 8 out of 12, you get 5+ years of it on, and a year at its second-brightest setting.

Plus it's an Aimpoint, built for war, just in case zombie squirrels invade your perimeter!!!

 

[ScopeEye]

I tried a TRS-25 it was fine at first, but then turn to s##t
The dot would randomly disappear after a shot then after few seconds it would reappear
I ditched TRS for Primary Arms micro dot, the PA is much nicer fit and finish and best of all it works great
I own 4 different PA red dots all are great, PA has great CS and quick shipping

 

[kreativecid]

If I get the TRS25 and plan to remove the stock iron sights which risers are shooters having best success with? The 1"?

 

[BigWaylon]

Vortex SPARC. Comes with riser and a doubler (screws in). Could add a magnifier down the road. Smaller 2 MOA dot, best warranty on the market.

If I wasn't going that route, I'd look at Primary Arms' offerings.

 

[kreativecid]

Any specific Primary Arms?

Vortex SPARC. Comes with riser and a doubler (screws in). Could add a magnifier down the road. Smaller 2 MOA dot, best warranty on the market.

If I wasn't going that route, I'd look at Primary Arms' offerings.

 

[RedNeck Jim]

If I get the TRS25 and plan to remove the stock iron sights which risers are shooters having best success with? The 1"?

Why would you want a riser with no iron sights?

I always thought you wanted the optic as close to the bore as possible.

 

[ScrapmasterFlex]

Why would you want a riser with no iron sights?

I always thought you wanted the optic as close to the bore as possible.

One the Aimpoint Micro, for example, you can't use it without a riser on an AR. You are actually much too close to the bore.

When they were on sale in late late Dec. 2010 ,I bought 2 and ordered 2 more that didn't get fulfilled. I planned on using 2 on my ARs (15-22 .22LR and my 5.56 AR), 1 on my M930SPX, and one for a future purchase. Everyone said I'd need mounts for the 2 AR uses and I said , No I'm good as is... People said, No you're not.. and I said, yeah I'm good kthxbai.

And sure as shotshow, you couldn't use the optic when it's just mounted to the rail w/ the integral mount. Not on an actual AR-15, you're starting into the front sight base, and not on a 15-22, where you can't get a sight picture. I went with was the cheapest option at the time, incidentally the one I'd want anyway and am very happy with, the Daniel Defense tall mount for the Aimpoint Micro. Perfect lower 1/3-ish cowitness with MBUS on a 15-22.

I'm not going to say it's THE EXACT SAME w/ other, similar optics, but yeah, I can imagine you'll need risers for these styles of optics on uses such as an AR-style rifle. A shotgun or perhaps different rifle application w/ much different stock (and comb) .. perhaps, but not in my experience with the AR.

 

[BigWaylon]

Any specific Primary Arms?

All depends on what you want. Several options here.

Either of the two reflex sights, or one of their micro offerings.

 

[ScrapmasterFlex]

Primary Arms is very highly regarded and often said to be the best for the buck. Many people use their Micro and other red dots on nice, hooked up 5.56 ARs and are very happy with them.

I have used one or two and liked them quite a bit, and they are great people over there, they have talked to me and explained things for 1/2 hour+ more than one time. Just totally chill and no qualms about helping etc.