Help a newbie choose a Red Dot / Aimpoint

FrontSight · July 5, 2007, 12:32 PM

Hi,

Just picked up an M1A (Socom 16) and want to put a red dot / Aimpoint on it, but have no experience at all with them (have always used standard scopes).

I have no idea which one I should get, other than "you get what you pay for" and make sure it's parallax free....

Can anyone help me out with some suggestions. And how do you feel about Aimpoint vs Truglo, or would you choose a different company, and why?

Thanks in advance!

RocketFoot · July 5, 2007, 01:33 PM

I'll tell you what, I had a Tasco Red dot on my Colt Anaconda .44 mag and it preformed flawlessly! I know folks shudder when Tasco is mentioned, but I feel much better humping through the woods with an expendable scope rather than a $300 one. If Tasco can handle a .44 mag, it's good enough for me.

john_galt · July 5, 2007, 01:40 PM

i have a socomII with an EOTech 512. i mainly shoot indoors at 50 yds. shoots great. easy to sight in.

hoytinak · July 5, 2007, 02:09 PM

EOtech

Doyle · July 5, 2007, 02:15 PM

I just went through the same search (except for a .44 SBH). The only "value priced" sight I could find that had no reports of being shaken apart from the magnum recoil was the Millett. I bought one and am now waiting on delivery of a Weaver mount.

FJR1300 · July 5, 2007, 09:59 PM

another +1 on the EOTech.

Some red dots use big, easy-to-see dots which cover up a good piece of target. Others use small dots for more precise shot placement, but those can be hard to find. EOTech gives you the best of both worlds by using a big ring with a small dot- very quick to acquire your target and also very precise. Parallax free, tough and really easy and fun to use.

Martyn4802 · July 6, 2007, 07:53 AM

+3 for EOTech.

Martyn

Zak Smith · July 6, 2007, 10:06 AM

From an upcoming article

Quote:

I'll go out on a limb and call the Aimpoint M3 and M4 the best choices for a fighting Type I optic.
The EOTech has followers and is used in harm's way, however, the Aimpoint line trumps the EOTech
in several important respects: the Aimpoint's battery lasts much, much longer than the EOTech and
the Aimpoint can be turned on and off using only tactile feedback. The shooter needs to be looking
at the EOTech to determine if it's on. Market price for an EOTech or Aimpoint including
quick-release mount ranges from about $500 up to $700.

DIXIEDOG · July 11, 2007, 02:10 AM

My vote goes to Eotech also, as far as battery life the batteries seem to last forever on the 512 and when they do go I just go to the store and buy 2 more AA batteries for less than 3 bucks. I also have a buis on my AR-15 , even if my batteries did go dead I would still have the co-witness irons so it is a non issue for me.

Martyn4802 · July 11, 2007, 05:54 AM

+1 on battery life with EOTech's that use the "AA" batteries. The ones that use the "N" cells may have a battery life issue, but not the 512 and 552 which are powered by "AA's".

Martyn

c4igrant · July 12, 2007, 11:37 AM

The problem with mounting an EOTech on a SOCOM is that it sits too high for proper eye relief.

If it was my gun, I would most likely go with an Aimpoint in a 10818 mount or the new Micro series from Aimpoint.

Just got two of these in and thought I would get some pics up. I must say that this is a really impressive optic for its size.

C4

SPECS:

Dot Size: 4MOA
NV Capable: Y
Power Settings: 12 (8 daylight/4 NV) It states in the brochure that one extra bright setting automatically adjusts.
Power Source: 3V CR2032
Battery Life: Over 5 years of Continous use at position 8.
Weight: 3.7 ounces with mount
Waterproof: 80ft
MAP: $585

spctim11 · July 17, 2007, 07:42 PM

An ACOG 4x so you can reach out and touch something

July 5, 2007, 12:32 PM	#1
FrontSight Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2005 Posts: 1,712	Help a newbie choose a Red Dot / Aimpoint Hi, Just picked up an M1A (Socom 16) and want to put a red dot / Aimpoint on it, but have no experience at all with them (have always used standard scopes). I have no idea which one I should get, other than "you get what you pay for" and make sure it's parallax free.... Can anyone help me out with some suggestions. And how do you feel about Aimpoint vs Truglo, or would you choose a different company, and why? Thanks in advance! __________________ To kill something as great as a duck just to smell the gunpowder is a crime against nature. - Alan Liere Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve. - George Bernard Shaw

July 5, 2007, 01:33 PM	#2
RocketFoot Senior Member Join Date: July 2, 2007 Location: Southwestern PA Posts: 132	I'll tell you what, I had a Tasco Red dot on my Colt Anaconda .44 mag and it preformed flawlessly! I know folks shudder when Tasco is mentioned, but I feel much better humping through the woods with an expendable scope rather than a $300 one. If Tasco can handle a .44 mag, it's good enough for me. __________________ Member: Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE

July 5, 2007, 01:40 PM	#3
john_galt Member Join Date: May 5, 2007 Location: nova Posts: 57	i have a socomII with an EOTech 512. i mainly shoot indoors at 50 yds. shoots great. easy to sight in. __________________ "So you think that money is the root of all evil?" "Have you ever asked what is the root of money?"

July 6, 2007, 07:53 AM	#7
Martyn4802 Senior Member Join Date: June 12, 2007 Location: Grayling, Michigan Posts: 737	+3 for EOTech. Martyn __________________ US Army Retired NRA Benefactor Life Member JPFO

July 11, 2007, 05:54 AM	#10
Martyn4802 Senior Member Join Date: June 12, 2007 Location: Grayling, Michigan Posts: 737	+1 on battery life with EOTech's that use the "AA" batteries. The ones that use the "N" cells may have a battery life issue, but not the 512 and 552 which are powered by "AA's". Martyn __________________ US Army Retired NRA Benefactor Life Member JPFO

July 5, 2007, 02:09 PM	#4
hoytinak Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 5,721	EOtech

July 5, 2007, 02:15 PM	#5
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	I just went through the same search (except for a .44 SBH). The only "value priced" sight I could find that had no reports of being shaken apart from the magnum recoil was the Millett. I bought one and am now waiting on delivery of a Weaver mount.

July 5, 2007, 09:59 PM	#6
FJR1300 Member Join Date: June 6, 2007 Location: SoCal Posts: 63	another +1 on the EOTech. Some red dots use big, easy-to-see dots which cover up a good piece of target. Others use small dots for more precise shot placement, but those can be hard to find. EOTech gives you the best of both worlds by using a big ring with a small dot- very quick to acquire your target and also very precise. Parallax free, tough and really easy and fun to use.

July 11, 2007, 02:10 AM	#9
DIXIEDOG Senior Member Join Date: June 12, 2007 Location: Maine Posts: 265	My vote goes to Eotech also, as far as battery life the batteries seem to last forever on the 512 and when they do go I just go to the store and buy 2 more AA batteries for less than 3 bucks. I also have a buis on my AR-15 , even if my batteries did go dead I would still have the co-witness irons so it is a non issue for me.

July 12, 2007, 11:37 AM	#11
c4igrant Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2002 Location: OH Posts: 217	The problem with mounting an EOTech on a SOCOM is that it sits too high for proper eye relief. If it was my gun, I would most likely go with an Aimpoint in a 10818 mount or the new Micro series from Aimpoint. Just got two of these in and thought I would get some pics up. I must say that this is a really impressive optic for its size. C4 SPECS: Dot Size: 4MOA NV Capable: Y Power Settings: 12 (8 daylight/4 NV) It states in the brochure that one extra bright setting automatically adjusts. Power Source: 3V CR2032 Battery Life: Over 5 years of Continous use at position 8. Weight: 3.7 ounces with mount Waterproof: 80ft MAP: $585 __________________ G&R Tactical www.GRTactical.com [email protected] Facebook

July 17, 2007, 07:42 PM	#12
spctim11 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2006 Location: SE Louisiana Posts: 210	An ACOG 4x so you can reach out and touch something