Optics opinions

[E.Marquez]

http://www.trijicon.com/na_en/products/ ... 2032%20LED" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

or
http://www.trijicon.com/na_en/products/ ... id=TA01NSN" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

But Im biased..Nor have I tried dozens of different brands on the AR platform.. Offerings from EOTECH and Trijicon I have used with , umm, effective results..Rugged, reliable, and they work.

I readily admit they may be better offerings for many, but none that I will ever trust as much as these.

[Pawpaw]

I have a TA01 (not the NSN) with an RM04 mounted on top.

I don't think you could ask for a better scope for an AR-15. More magnification would be nice, but 4x is plenty for the intended purpose. I have used it to hit at 500 yards.

I especially like that I have no batteries at all in my setup.

[FL450]

1-4x optics are nice but get heavy when doing dynamic shooting/training. I still have a 1-3 on my patrol rifle but the weight really bugs me. It's a trade-off I make. The 1-4x would be good for your use, but why not get a 3x9 just to see where you find yourself dialing in the most? I find most recreational enjoy a bit stronger glass to shoot really tight groups at distance or hit a small lethal area on a pig. TAMs post is solid though if you go that route. He's probably procured more glass than I have.

That's a thought Gigag
Thanks

[FL450]

Thanks to all the reply's. I have gained a lot on knowledge and incite. Now we will see if I shipped all my money to Bloomberg country.
My wife and two of my daughters are in the Republik if New York for a girls trip this week. The good news is I got to start my build last night and finished it this morning. Took it to the range and It actually goes bang.

[45Carrier]

Skip the 1x4 versions and go with the SWFA 1x6 http://swfa.com/SWFA-SS-HD-1-6x24-Tacti ... 53845.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

True 1x if you need to co-witness and the reticle is outstanding. I sold my Burris MTAC to pick up a SWFA in 1x4 before the 1x6 was available. The 1x6 will be in my future pending toy budget money sufficiency.

The MTAC was decent for the most part, the SWFA is just better on all accounts.

The P.E.P.R. mounts are pretty good bang for the buck, but, if you are a buy once cry once person, go with a bobro mount and forget about it. http://swfa.com/SWFA-Precision-Optic-30 ... 48134.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If you do go with a Burris to save a few bucks, definitely go with the MTAC over the XTR.

[The Annoyed Man]

1-4x optics are nice but get heavy when doing dynamic shooting/training. I still have a 1-3 on my patrol rifle but the weight really bugs me. It's a trade-off I make. The 1-4x would be good for your use, but why not get a 3x9 just to see where you find yourself dialing in the most? I find most recreational enjoy a bit stronger glass to shoot really tight groups at distance or hit a small lethal area on a pig. TAMs post is solid though if you go that route. He's probably procured more glass than I have.

I might have bought more in quantity, but I've made my share of mistakes too. My first exposure to low power variable optic scopes was the Leupold 1.5-5X33 Scout Scope I bought for my Gunsite Scout rifle, but I bought that one after I had already bought that Burris AR-536 for my AR15 I posted about a while back. I really liked the AR-536 a lot, particularly the reticle, but 5X fixed power is difficult to use for things that are closer in, and even though I like having that level of magnification, it's not very useful for close up, and in retrospect I wish I had spent more money and bought a good variable power in the 1-5X range. My scout scope is a Firedot, which means that it has a plain red dot in the center of a simple plex reticle, and I've come to respect a simple dot if you know something about your bullet's ballistics. I have had real good luck with SWFA's SS brand twice before, and they have a 1-6X that I'd be willing to consider too.

So I don't know ultimately what I'm going to do with my carbine, but despite my fading eyesight I'm leaning toward small and light with no magnification. With a (Santos Modified) 50 yard battle zero, an AR15 carbine is within 2" and 2" low all the way out to 225 yards.......further than I can see with the unaided eye.....and I have .308 rifles with variable power optics of decent magnification if I need to shoot further than that.

Since I gave her the EOTech sight to my wife for her carbine, I'm still on the quest for the perfect optic for mine. I am impressed with my son's Aimpoint micro H1, which is on an American Defense T1-10 mount. It's small and light, and the battery life is really really long. I'm getting less and less interested in carrying more weight than necessary, so something really small and light like the Aimpoint is looking better and better.

[Topbuilder]

My eyes are at the point where irons are not really an option. I can see the target with blurry sight or see the sights with a blurry target. I recently got a Eotech 1MOA and was happy to discover that the way the sight works I can shoot with out glasses. I can see the dot and target clearly since it gives the appearance that the dot it at the target. So, if you are at the "reading glasses" stage that might be somthing to consider.

[FL450]

I am 20/200 with a stigmitism so I need all the help I can get

[Abraham]

Just came across this thread.

Eyesight slowly going south, as in slowly forming cataracts - both eyes.

That being said, I too am undecided as to what to get in the way of an optic for my new AR. At this point, it'll be doing duty as a general purpose rifle.

At the same time, I don't care to spend almost as much (or more) than the rifle itself cost for a new scope. Will $350 or less get a decent scope?

Some other considerations: Illuminated or not for a variable power scope? Is such a decision critical? Which variable? 1-4 or 5 or 3-9.

Larue seems to be THE go to mount as in the LT-104 for $210.00

The reviews I've read assure me that when it's removed to use iron sights it will remain zeroed when mounted back on as long as it's remounted in the same place it was zeroed in and is a snap to take on and off.

But, are these features perhaps equally so for less costly / different brand mounts as in Leupold mounts?

Have I asked enough questions?

O.K., I'll stop now...

Thanks!

[Dadtodabone]

Just came across this thread.

Eyesight slowly going south, as in slowly forming cataracts - both eyes.

That being said, I too am undecided as to what to get in the way of an optic for my new AR. At this point, it'll be doing duty as a general purpose rifle.

At the same time, I don't care to spend almost as much (or more) than the rifle itself cost for a new scope. Will $350 or less get a decent scope?

Some other considerations: Illuminated or not for a variable power scope? Is such a decision critical? Which variable? 1-4 or 5 or 3-9.

Larue seems to be THE go to mount as in the LT-104 for $210.00

The reviews I've read assure me that when it's removed to use iron sights it will remain zeroed when mounted back on as long as it's remounted in the same place it was zeroed in and is a snap to take on and off.

But, are these features perhaps equally so for less costly / different brand mounts as in Leupold mounts?

Have I asked enough questions?

O.K., I'll stop now...

Thanks!

TAM's post on first page of this thread provides quality options in your price range.

[Abraham]

Dadtodabone

Thanks - I started reading this thread from a search that put me on page two.

Not realizing this, I overlooked the great info on page 1.

Thanks again for the heads up.

[Dadtodabone]

Welcome. Thought that might be the case.