scope or red dot??

[tim from illinois]

I just got mp new 15-22. So I was wondering being new to sights other than iron would a red or green dot sight help. Mostly shooting at an indoor range. Really dont want to spend over $200. Thanks Tim

 

[Doug B]

Pick up a $60 scope and a $60 red dot. Good enough quality to have some fun with.

 

[BillyJack2012]

At an indoor range, I can't imagine you having enough distance requiring a scope. A red dot for fast target acquisition is fun to have. I tend to leave mine turned off and sight my irons through it more often than I use it. Primary Arms makes a nice red dot for the money. I also haven't had any problems with my $29 BSA on my 15-22.

 

[Basic]

IMO. DOT.
Where abouts' in Ill

 

[tim from illinois]

I think once in a while my brother and me will be going to an outdoor range too. Can you guys recomend a brand and power for a scope. Same for the red dot. I have never used either one before. The last time I shot a gun I was about 16. Now Im 65 so its like learning all over. I bought it to just shoot at targets once in a while. The guy at the gun store said it was a nice rifle so I bought it. I got a little Walther 22 pistol too. Figured they should both be cheap and fun to shoot. Im also thinking about getting a mp Smith and Wesson 22 pistol for fun. I live up by the wisconsin border not far from the lake.

 

[Neumann]

I think once in a while my brother and me will be going to an outdoor range too. Can you guys recomend a brand and power for a scope. Same for the red dot. I have never used either one before. The last time I shot a gun I was about 16. Now Im 65 so its like learning all over. I bought it to just shoot at targets once in a while. The guy at the gun store said it was a nice rifle so I bought it. I got a little Walther 22 pistol too. Figured they should both be cheap and fun to shoot. Im also thinking about getting a mp Smith and Wesson 22 pistol for fun. I live up by the wisconsin border not far from the lake.

Scopes are nice on .22LR's because their surprisingly accurate, and the holes are impossible to see without magnification. On the other hand, a red-dot sight is tacti-cool on an AR style rifle, and more than adequate for 2" groups at 100 yards.

There is a caveat. If you have uncorrected astigmatism, you will see a line rather than a dot, which rules out generic drug-store glasses, or cheap safety glasses with a diopter correction.
You need prescription glasses under safety goggles.

A Burris Fastfire II comes in right at $200, with a mount for a Weaver (picatinny) rail. It is rugged enough to handle recoil from a .308 rifle or .44 Mag pistol, and easy to adjust. The profile is very low, so you can get a good cheek weld, even if you don't need it with a .22. The intensity automatically adjusts to ambient light - something an Eotech doesn't do. The Fastfire III has a battery you can change without dismounting the sight - a definite plus if you can wait.

 

[tracksol]

I've been using a Primary Arms M4 clone with the multiple reticule for a few months now and it has been flawless so far. I highly recommend Primary Arms Red Dot for a good quality budget optic. They also have magnifiers and scopes which are very good as well.

Edit: Neuman, I just wanted to point out that there actually is a difference between a Weaver rail and a Picatinny Arsenal MIL-STD-1913 rail (AKA Picatinny rail).

From wikipedia: The Picatinny locking slot width is 0.206 in (5.23 mm). The spacing of slot centers is 0.394 in (10.01 mm) and the slot depth is 0.118 in (3.00 mm).[3] The only differences between the Picatinny rail and the similar Weaver rail are the size of these slots and the fact that they are standardized. Weaver rails have a slot width of 0.180 in (4.57 mm), but are not necessarily consistent in the spacing of slot centers.[4] Some accessories are designed to fit on both Weaver and Picatinny rails; but most Picatinny devices will not fit on Weaver rails.[4]

 

[tim from illinois]

Thanks for all the info guys. I saw a scope on a wb sight that you could mount a red dot or laser to. Is it better to mount the red dot on top of the rifle or underneath. I did check out some bsa sopes on line and they seem pretty nice to. May be I will get lucky and run into someone at the range with a rifle like mine that can ckeck out the scope on. I will be looking for a while thanks for all the great help. Now maybe tomorrow I can take it out and shoot it.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

There is a caveat. If you have uncorrected astigmatism, you will see a line rather than a dot, which rules out generic drug-store glasses, or cheap safety glasses with a diopter correction.
You need prescription glasses under safety goggles.

That's a good point and not mentioned enough. Quite often folks will gripe about the dot being elongated or looking like a cluster of grapes, thinking that the red dot must be no good. In these cases, a test is to hold the optic in your hand and rotate it while looking through it. If the elongated dot or cluster of grapes does not rotate with the scope, then your eyes are the problem.

 

[Fat Old Guy]

Is it better to mount the red dot on top of the rifle or underneath.

Simple question for you to come up with the answer to your question. If you mounted your red dot underneath your rifle how could you sight through it?

In any case, I would recommend mastering iron sights before fussing with optics.

 

[Guy A]

May be I will get lucky and run into someone at the range with a rifle like mine that can ckeck out the scope on.

Look at the photos here and in several other threads on the forum:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-m-p-15-22/249839-pictures-your-optics.html

 

[tim from illinois]

Great pictures! You are right I do need to shoot with iron sights first. Guess I getting ahead of myself trying to figure out what to do when the time comes. Thanks a lot guys.

 

[inmysights]

Tim, here in central Illinois I only have outdoor ranges near me.. I have both but do admit I don't use the red dot much. We spend a lot of our time on the range shooting against each other so the scope is little more usefull... Would like to find a indoor place within driving dist.

 

[tim from illinois]

I found Barska sights on line are they any good? Like I said Im just looking righr now. I need any advantage I can get if I shoot against my brother. Copy cat went out and bought the mp 22 too.

 

[darksideemt]

for scope i recommend the center point 3x9-32. it has red/green reticle, although I just leave it turned off mostly. They are especially made for .22 rifle and for the money, $50-60, you can't go wrong. For your indoor range go with a Red Dot, again there are several good ones for $30-60 BSA, NcStar, Truglo in the price order. It is a fun gun and you might want to buy more mags before worrying about optics. 44mag.com has the best price and great service.

 

[tim from illinois]

Thanks for the lead on the mags. All the gun stores around here are out of them. Cant even say when they will be in. I have two 25 round mags so far. The clips I cant hardly find or get a deal on are for my little Walther p22.

 

[mark olindale]

Red dots are fun. And you should be able to find one adequate for a rim-fire and an indoor range under $200 pretty easily. Just check online or at your local sporting goods store.

 

[azcabal]

+100 on the primary arms RD. i had an issue with an M4 that i bought well out of warranty. i shipped it back for repairs and when they couldn't fix it, they replaced it. no one has better customer service and it's a great product for the $.

 

[Basic]

Tim, here in central Illinois I only have outdoor ranges near me.. I have both but do admit I don't use the red dot much. We spend a lot of our time on the range shooting against each other so the scope is little more usefull... Would like to find a indoor place within driving dist.

And you Sir? What county is "central Illinois"?
Im Coles/Shelby area

 

[inmysights]

I am in Champaign county