AR Optics

[Rem700]

School me on some optics for under $200. Looking for some magnification, maybe the option of adding a flip in magnifier later. I am a noob to the AR so tell me whats out there and what you like and dont like.

[Rem700]

Anyone?

[KYgundude]

No magnification but I love the Primary Arms Microdot

<Insert witty Tapatalk signature here>

[gundoc]

Just might be me but I am getting older and need a little help farther down range. I picked up a Nikon M223 scope that is a 1-4X scope. I can put it on 1x and use it like a dot scope or turn it to 4x to shoot farther. Best of both worlds with out having a dot and a scope. No batteries needed.

[Niceguy]

I'm a total noob to the AR but I really like the PA 1x4 on mine the few round I've had a chance to put through it.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1366906925.021752.jpg (79.02 KiB) Viewed 1423 times

[Rem700]

One of my possibilities is the vortex strikefire. Any feedback?

[Rem700]

So only 3 people with AR optics huh? I thought this was a forum full of black rifle lovers? You LIARS!!!!!!!!!

[GlockRacer]

I paid more than $200 for mine.

Sent from up range, at about 3100 fps

[Dave1965]

I have a couple different ones but the Vortex Strikefire is the cheapest one. Good red dot sight, haven't had any problems with either one of them I have.

[son of liberty]

Red dots, by far the fastest sight to use 0-70 yards. They are very forgiving when it comes to poistion of the eye, a huge plus when shooting from messed up positions. shooting with both eyes open is pretty easy and when useing at night. They are not slow at ranges greater then 70 yards either, but lack some of the fine precision magnified optic have.

1-4x scopes, super fast at 70-400. They have a tight eyebox so head position , needs to be pretty true. They can be run at 0-70 yards but you will not be as easy on the user. Not as forgiving as the red dot but not as poor a choice as a fixed magnified optic.

Fixed magnified optic, or high power optics. best suited to special task driven rifles such as marksman or sniper. they are fast at 200-600 and capable of going as far as the user can push the round, but they are by far the slowest at close range and often the iron sights are better suited.

Magnifiers , I have yet to use one I like, I have yet to see them do anything well.


run a rifle hard and fast from cover and on the move, in the house , in the car, and you will see the value of the red dot.

Run a rifle in the woods, hunting, LRRP, and you will see the value of a 1-4x

Run a rifle at 500+ and you will see the value of a high power optic.

[KYgundude]

Red dots, by far the fastest sight to use 0-70 yards. They are very forgiving when it comes to poistion of the eye, a huge plus when shooting from messed up positions. shooting with both eyes open is pretty easy and when useing at night. They are not slow at ranges greater then 70 yards either, but lack some of the fine precision magnified optic have.

1-4x scopes, super fast at 70-400. They have a tight eyebox so head position , needs to be pretty true. They can be run at 0-70 yards but you will not be as easy on the user. Not as forgiving as the red dot but not as poor a choice as a fixed magnified optic.

Fixed magnified optic, or high power optics. best suited to special task driven rifles such as marksman or sniper. they are fast at 200-600 and capable of going as far as the user can push the round, but they are by far the slowest at close range and often the iron sights are better suited.

Magnifiers , I have yet to use one I like, I have yet to see them do anything well.


run a rifle hard and fast from cover and on the move, in the house , in the car, and you will see the value of the red dot.

Run a rifle in the woods, hunting, LRRP, and you will see the value of a 1-4x

Run a rifle at 500+ and you will see the value of a high power optic.

This is a great reply. It should be broken off into its own thread and stickied!

<Insert witty Tapatalk signature here>

[Rem700]

Red dots, by far the fastest sight to use 0-70 yards. They are very forgiving when it comes to poistion of the eye, a huge plus when shooting from messed up positions. shooting with both eyes open is pretty easy and when useing at night. They are not slow at ranges greater then 70 yards either, but lack some of the fine precision magnified optic have.

1-4x scopes, super fast at 70-400. They have a tight eyebox so head position , needs to be pretty true. They can be run at 0-70 yards but you will not be as easy on the user. Not as forgiving as the red dot but not as poor a choice as a fixed magnified optic.

Fixed magnified optic, or high power optics. best suited to special task driven rifles such as marksman or sniper. they are fast at 200-600 and capable of going as far as the user can push the round, but they are by far the slowest at close range and often the iron sights are better suited.

Magnifiers , I have yet to use one I like, I have yet to see them do anything well.


run a rifle hard and fast from cover and on the move, in the house , in the car, and you will see the value of the red dot.

Run a rifle in the woods, hunting, LRRP, and you will see the value of a 1-4x

Run a rifle at 500+ and you will see the value of a high power optic.

This is a great reply. It should be broken off into its own thread and stickied!

<Insert witty Tapatalk signature here>

Agreed. That was awesome SOL! Thanks

[Rem700]

14.5 in barrel some I'm going for red dot. The strike fire intrigues me because it comes with a 2x magnifier that can be removed.

[Rem700]

Seems it may be between the strikefire, bushnell trophy, and the Burris all under similar items at the link

http://www.opticsplanet.com/vortex-rifl ... 25210042:s

[richief]

Ultradot 6
http://www.ultradotwest.com/ultradot_2008_009.htm

I put one of these on an m1 carbine, scout setup (syn stock & ultimak rail) for my daughter, it's a hoot.

[Ar-Rob]

the magnifier for the strikefire is a screw in and the price is a little high,I had the Bushnell trophy and didnt like it because of the coating they put on it,it made everything look dull.I've had and still do a bunch of Primary Arms dots and scopes and they have never let me down and neither does the price.

[ken6881]

I am cheap I run a 29.99 bsa 5moa red dot. I am looking at upgrading to a 1-4x optic on mine but cant decide what I want yet.

[Toddstang]

One of my possibilities is the vortex strikefire. Any feedback?

I love mine! Great optic!

[Bama]

Bushnell trophy is on sale at PA along with a rebate from Bushnell

I am going with the Vortex Sparc, haven't seen hardly any complaints

[justang1997]

I had and liked the primary arms aimpoint type clone. I also had one that looked like this but I don't remember brand: http://www.opticsplanet.com/mueller-opt ... scope.html
It was fast, light, and cheap. I liked not having to look through a tube.

Personally I prefer the Eotech when it comes to dot type sights but I know thats out of your range.

[justang1997]

I am cheap I run a 29.99 bsa 5moa red dot. I am looking at upgrading to a 1-4x optic on mine but cant decide what I want yet.

This is what I would do. I'd buy walmarts cheapest red dot, and save for an eotech. I have had cheap $30 red dots on AR's and ruger 10/22's and never had one loose zero or break. I wouldn't abuse one too much tho.

[etownguy]

The magnifier for the strike fire and sparc is a joke I was not able to tell there was any magnification only a narrowed field of view. That being said I really liked the sparc. Not as nice as the eotech but for half the price well worth it.

I really prefer the fin cross hair of a scope though so a low power scope would be my choice. I ran the Nikon p-223 fixed 3x at one point and really liked it I could consistently hit the target at 250yards no problem. I could only hit it a few times out of a magazine with the sparc at that distance.

[son of liberty]

I would guess that what you could hit at 250 with the red dot has more to do with skill that particular day thenit dose the sight. The Spark is great, it can take a beating and its cheap. I don't like the eotech as much as the aimpoint but again that's just shooter, its a capable sight. Primary arms are great as well. The days of cheaper sights being pod and only milspec sights being worth a damn are long gone, quality sights can and do come cheap

[etownguy]

I'm not saying it isn't accurate the bullet goes where you point but at that range the dot is nearly as large as the target I was shooting at which made hold over and placement that much harder

[ChopperDoc]

The magnifier for the strike fire and sparc is a joke I was not able to tell there was any magnification only a narrowed field of view. That being said I really liked the sparc. Not as nice as the eotech but for half the price well worth it.

I really prefer the fin cross hair of a scope though so a low power scope would be my choice. I ran the Nikon p-223 fixed 3x at one point and really liked it I could consistently hit the target at 250yards no problem. I could only hit it a few times out of a magazine with the sparc at that distance.

Never tried the SPARC. Have the little mini-red dot RAZOR on my 308 on an angle mount next to the scope. Just had my first issue with it powering off under recoil for the first time the other day. Read that several people had that issue though.

Going to put new batteries in it, make sure the adjustment lock is secure and try it again to see if I can duplicate it. The sight may need to go to Vortex for a check out.

As far as hitting targets at longer distances with a red dot, SoL is right on. More about the shooter than the dot, to an extent. It certainly will not be a maximum precision shot, but that is not what a red dot / reflex sight is designed for anyway. I have used my EOTECH out to 300 yards (no magnifier) and was hitting an 8" steel plate. I have no idea how tight the group was, but if I was shooting at prey I would be hitting pretty well within a vital zone of 8 inches, maybe less.