Trying to decide on optics for my AR-15

[Marshal Tom]

Just purchased my first AR-15, a left handed Stag Arms model 15. It had a cheap BSA dot sight on it when I got it and I started looking at alturnative sights for it on the internet. I have bee looking at the Aimpoint Pro and the Nikon M-223 1-4X20 Point Blank opticle as well as some others. What are you running and why? I am devided between red dot or irons.

Tom

 

[cyphertext]

What type of shooting are you wanting to do? Do you want to be precise, one ragged hole, shooting from the bench? Or do you want to acquire the target quickly, run and gun type shooting where you may or may not be in perfect shooting positions?

I am currently running a red dot. This allows quick shooting where a hit is a hit. I can rapidly and consistently break 4" sporting clays set out at 50 yards. That is enough accuracy for my use.

 

[rojodiablo]

I run irons. If I were to add an optic, it would be an Aimpoint or EoTech for a red dot. (Eotech!) If I were running a scope on that rifle, I would get something that gives me a 6x magnification to a 9x on the high side. A 4 power is decent, but really, for more accurate shooting to 200 yds, a 4 power will not really give you enough pinpoint accuracy. It's not that the optic is not accurate, it's the magnification is not really going to zoom in well enough for any real MOA level shooting. If you are happy shooting MOB, then for sure, the 1-4 will do the job well.

 

[JWS3]

I have an Eotech XPS2 affixed to my M4. Great optic! I like the wide FOV and the fact that should the glass become cracked, the holograph will continue to project the reticle on any remaining, usable portion of the glass.

Lately though, I have been giving scopes (fixed or variable ones) some thought. With my older eyes, having some magnification is a good thing.

On an added note, should you be new to your platform, I can't stress strongly enough to become proficient with the iron sights first.

 

[webfarmer]

I'm running an Eotech 512 on my S&W Magpul Mid and a tactical scope on my SP1. Like JWS3, I like scopes more than anything these days but for a 16" non-target barrel, the 512 really makes sense. I originally wanted an Aimpoint Pro but the 512 certainly isn't lacking anywhere and about the same price. I like the co-witness ability as well. Good luck!

 

[crofoot629]

An Aimpoint Pro or Aimpoint H1 or T1 would be my choice.

I have both a T1 and H1.
Flame suit on, but the sheriff's office I worked for gave up on Eotechs after multiple failures.

I can shoot my 4 MOA dots out to 200 yards well enough to make center hits on a silhouette. I'd go for the 2 MOA dot given the option though.

Emory

 

[oneyeopn]

Emory..I cant imagine why you would put your flame suit on..LOL both are great optics....
I myself am running an Optronics 8-32x42 for that pinpoint accuracy out over 200 yards. The old Sport 1:8 5R barrel will shoot at that level. For close up shooting I have a set of 45deg offset irons that allow me to shoot and hit an 8" gong all day long out to just a bit over 100yrds. Due to some physical issues I am not a run and gun guy so I set my sport up for my style of shooting.
Everybody is different, what works for me may not for anyone else. That is what makes this forum so cool. So many different styles of shooters and no one is right or wrong!!! good luck on your search!

 

[andyo5]

I just ordered a Vortex Strikefire, after having seen it used in a couple of Jerry Miculek videos. It is perhaps not as good as an Aimpoint or an Eotech, but at $169 it is not nearly as pricey. It has a 4 MOA dot in selectable red and green. Various power settings, and an on/off switch. I have heard some folks say that the on/off switch is a bit too sensitive.

 

[thetalon]

I know lots of people like them and I'm sure they're nice optics but I've yet to find any justification for optics in the aimpoint eotech price range. As long as it holds zero and you can see in one end and out the other seems to me it would just come down to magnification level.

 

[caribe]

I was running a Primary Arms micro dot for about a year. Great little optic for the price. I now have an Aimpoint pro. I like being able to leave it on all the time.

 

[Jim F]

I would shoot the BSA red dot and see if that works for you, for awhile before changing anything.

Also I agree with the 1SG- becoming proficient with the Iron Sights is a good thing.

 

[cyphertext]

I know lots of people like them and I'm sure they're nice optics but I've yet to find any justification for optics in the aimpoint eotech price range. As long as it holds zero and you can see in one end and out the other seems to me it would just come down to magnification level.

If you depend on the rifle and optic, like a police officer may, and you pick up the rifle only to find that the cheaper optic has drained the battery, or no longer holds zero or quit altogether from bumping around in the rack or the trunk of the patrol car, you would understand the difference.

I don't depend on my rifle to protect my life, so I run a cheaper optic. However, I know that it is not a question of if, but when my optic fails. If it fails while I am at the range, or hunting, no big deal. Pop up the back ups and continue to enjoy my hobby.

Take a police officer who is called out to a standoff that becomes a two way range and his optic fails...totally different scenario.

Having an Eotech or Aimpoint does not guarantee that the optic will not fail, but the likelihood of failure is greater with a Bushnell, Primary Arms, Millet, BSA, etc.

 

[thetalon]

I think if my life was on the line I would go with a good quick aquisition iron sight to begin with. Irons dont need to batteries or a power switch. The holos might improve reaction and first shot time at close range vs iron but at those ranges a laser may do more for reaction speed than an optic. Course I admittedly am just talking out of my butt making assumptions. Closest I've been to combat was aiming down the sights of an m60 waiting for iraqis to make a wrong move. Anyone w close quarters training would be well in line to say I'm wrong.

 

[cyphertext]

I think if my life was on the line I would go with a good quick aquisition iron sight to begin with. Irons dont need to batteries or a power switch. The holos might improve reaction and first shot time at close range vs iron but at those ranges a laser may do more for reaction speed than an optic. Course I admittedly am just talking out of my butt making assumptions. Closest I've been to combat was aiming down the sights of an m60 waiting for iraqis to make a wrong move. Anyone w close quarters training would be well in line to say I'm wrong.

The red dot optics are much quicker than irons and do not require you to acquire a perfect sight picture. It doesn't matter how I shoulder the firearm, where the red dot appears is where the bullet is going to impact, +/- 2 inches high or low depending on distance. So the red dot could be high and to the right side in the tube, but if the dot is on target, it will hit there. In other words, the dot does not have to be perfectly centered in the scope.

 

[oneyeopn]

I think if my life was on the line I would go with a good quick aquisition iron sight to begin with. Irons dont need to batteries or a power switch. The holos might improve reaction and first shot time at close range vs iron but at those ranges a laser may do more for reaction speed than an optic. Course I admittedly am just talking out of my butt making assumptions. Closest I've been to combat was aiming down the sights of an m60 waiting for iraqis to make a wrong move. Anyone w close quarters training would be well in line to say I'm wrong.

Small world 34 years ago I was aiming down the sights of an M60 at Panamanians...LOL....being the Marine Corps is a part of the Navy, it might have been the same M60

 

[thetalon]

Given the condition that our m60s and m14s were it may very well have been.

 

[cyphertext]

Small world 34 years ago I was aiming down the sights of an M60 at Panamanians...LOL....being the Marine Corps is a part of the Navy, it might have been the same M60

I know what you were trying to say there Grover. The Marine Corps is part of the Department of the Navy.... The men's department!

Man I miss it guys. The rivalries between the services...fun times.

 

[oneyeopn]

hahahaha...I was trying not to be offensive...if a squid is staring down the sights of a 60 he is not a little boat boy...

 

[SmittyGoBang]

I run an EoTech 517 on my m&p15. While it's a great optic I'll be moving to a scope due to the fact I have an astigmatism so the brighter I have my sight turned up the more blurry it gets.

 

[sunny61]

I run an Aimpoint Comp M2.