The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Hide > The Art of the Rifle: Semi-automatics

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old February 4, 2013, 01:27 PM   #1
new_scopeshooter
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 12, 2011
Location: central ohio
Posts: 391
AR 15 sight options

Hello! I was wonder what an inexpensive red dot and magifier set up would be for an ar15 with 20in barrel. I really don't have any experience with red dots and don't want to spend a tone till I decide if I like them. But I will would like one the has a good reputation and a good price
new_scopeshooter is offline  
Old February 4, 2013, 01:32 PM   #2
loose_holster_dan
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 5, 2011
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 2,461
red dots are better suited to carbine length. in my experience, the magnifiers add a lot of weight. you will be better off with a nice low power, fixed magnification scope. put it on a quick detach mount with some mbus gen 2 underneath, and youre all set on back up irons too.

another alternative, albeit an expensive one, is just to go with a nice trijicon acog. they are good for cqb and decent mid-range shooting.
__________________
Favorite range gun for the money - CZ 75B or STI Spartan V 9mm
Go-to carry setup - Walther PPS or PPQ in FIST kydex holster 1AK
Favorite semi-auto design - HK P7
"A Sig is like a lightsaber - not as clumsy or random as a Glock."
loose_holster_dan is offline  
Old February 4, 2013, 01:53 PM   #3
Dr Big Bird PhD
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 26, 2012
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 779
Look at 1-4x32 scopes.
__________________
I told the new me,
"Meet me at the bus station and hold a sign that reads: 'Today is the first day of the rest of your life.'"
But the old me met me with a sign that read: "Welcome back."
Who you are is not a function of where you are. -Off Minor
Dr Big Bird PhD is offline  
Old February 4, 2013, 02:00 PM   #4
Cavitation
Member
 
Join Date: February 3, 2013
Posts: 50
Here is a couple. They get good reviews for what there prices are. "good bang for your buck"

https://www.primaryarms.com/Primary_Arms_s/586.htm

and here

https://www.primaryarms.com/Red_Dot_Sights_s/190.htm
Cavitation is offline  
Old February 4, 2013, 02:13 PM   #5
TacticalDefense1911
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 4, 2006
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,277
The Vortex SPARC and Strikefire seem to get good reviews even after hard use. You can usually find them on ebay for around $200. They aren't built or designed as well as an Aimpoint but they do have a lifetime warranty and you can buy 3 of them for the price of an Aimpoint T1 or H1. The Vortex RDS's use some goofy battery sizes but they are available.

If its just going to be a range toy then the Bushnell TRS gets ok reviews. I doubt that it will hold up to the type of abuse the Vortex optics can but again they sell for around $100. Mission drives the gear.
TacticalDefense1911 is offline  
Old February 4, 2013, 03:07 PM   #6
new_scopeshooter
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 12, 2011
Location: central ohio
Posts: 391
Thanks for the input! I will let all know what I end up doing and I will post pics when its done
new_scopeshooter is offline  
Old February 5, 2013, 12:45 AM   #7
BillyJack3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2, 2012
Posts: 423
What kind of distance will you be shooting and are you punching steel or looking for tight groups? For shooting groups, I agree with the suggestion of a 1-4 scope.
BillyJack3 is offline  
Old February 5, 2013, 11:14 AM   #8
new_scopeshooter
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 12, 2011
Location: central ohio
Posts: 391
Well I think the furthest distance would be 200 yards and that would be rare. It is going to be a coyote rifle. Where I am the tend to come in quick and in less the 200 yards. So that's kinda why I was thinking a red dot was the option
new_scopeshooter is offline  
Old February 5, 2013, 11:34 AM   #9
loose_holster_dan
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 5, 2011
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 2,461
a red dot wouldn't be a bad option for quick acquisition. it's just not best suited for magnification. yes they are available, but i sure didn't like having that much extra stuff lagged to the top of my rifle. with a 20 inch rifle, you usually aren't looking at a quick acquisition scenario. that's more for a "sniping" scenario.
__________________
Favorite range gun for the money - CZ 75B or STI Spartan V 9mm
Go-to carry setup - Walther PPS or PPQ in FIST kydex holster 1AK
Favorite semi-auto design - HK P7
"A Sig is like a lightsaber - not as clumsy or random as a Glock."
loose_holster_dan is offline  
Old February 5, 2013, 08:20 PM   #10
Cavitation
Member
 
Join Date: February 3, 2013
Posts: 50
You might think about a low power illuminated scope 1x close up and 4x for out as far as 350 400 yards. The Millet DMS is a cheap and very functional optic. It has a circle and dot.

This one sounds like a good fit for you unless your budget is bigger than mine.
http://swfa.com/Millett-1-4x24-DMS-S...bo-P42148.aspx
Cavitation is offline  
Old February 5, 2013, 11:10 PM   #11
Revoliver
Member
 
Join Date: September 4, 2012
Location: USofA
Posts: 80
I have and am pleased with my Primary Arms 3x compact scope.

https://www.primaryarms.com/Primary_...3X_p/pac3x.htm


Or, if you want to spend more for the same scope, there's the Burris ar332.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/525...-reticle-matte

The great thing about them IMO is that they are etched reticles, so if the battery dies, they're still 3x scopes no matter.

I also had the Lucid HD7, it too is also a great scope IMO.

Hope you find something you like whichever scope you decide to get.
Revoliver is offline  
Old February 5, 2013, 11:20 PM   #12
mehavey
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 17, 2010
Location: Virginia
Posts: 6,867
Even though I've got it on a Guide Gun now, I'd put something like this on it for what you describe:

Leupold's Mark AR series. *


Minimal weight/dimensions
1X is de rigueur for close-in/wide-scan/fast-reaction work.
4X is about optimal for 200yd max work



*(postscript: $299)
mehavey is offline  
Old February 7, 2013, 03:11 PM   #13
RC20
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 10, 2008
Location: Alaska
Posts: 7,014
I would say a red dot for Coyote out past 100 yds is not a good choice (dot size issue and the size of a coyote). Magnifier makes it awkward setup.

Illuminate scope would be better.

Also, inexpensive red dots to fail a lot. Even my EoTech dimmed out. The good news is while it was well outside warranty they fixed it for nothing and sent it back in their special case that I did not get when I bought it originally.
RC20 is offline  
Old February 7, 2013, 03:16 PM   #14
allaroundhunter
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 6, 2012
Location: Southeast Texas
Posts: 1,670
My 18" AR wears a Burris MTAC. It is a 1-4x optic that works great. I make quick hits at targets as close as 5 yards while on 1x, as well as hits out to 600 yards on 4x. It is a great scope, and it's little brother, the Tac-30 can be had for about $300....well worth the money.

Sent from my HTC One X
allaroundhunter is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:38 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.25785 seconds with 9 queries