optical sight ideas/opinions??

[M1Tommy]

A recent email from a friend is below. I told him I'd pass it along to this forum.
My only input is that I have a relatively inexpensive (think about $70) "holo-site" that came w/ a swap-deal. I will use it some when I get an upper built.... maybe, but don't think I'd buy one.
Tommy

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I need to get an optical sight (not scope) for my AR shorty. You should know my requirements as to accuracy and durability. It would be nice if it used AA batteries.

I would like it to be suitable for an 18” wide target to at least 300 meters. I like the one the U. S. Army is apparently using, the AimpointComp4, but at $750, it is more than the rifle I intend to put it on. Of course, if really needed, that won’t make any difference.


Any ideas???

[Bill D]

I have an Aimpoint that I gave about half that much for. I've had it about three years and I haven't changed batteries yet. It's a nice little scope.

[M1Tommy]

I have an Aimpoint that I gave about half that much for. I've had it about three years and I haven't changed batteries yet. It's a nice little scope.

Thanks for that reply.
Tommy

[us019255]

Go with an Aimpoint or an Eotech. Alternatively, I'll sell you a cheap red dot I bought 10 years ago. I had it installed on a bolt gun I built for Elk. I couldn't get the rifle to shoot a consistent group. One day I had the rifle in a vise and realized that the apparent point of impact would move when my head moved. A bit of fooling around and I found that the red dot, instead of being at optical infinity, was actually about 18 feet out, making it sensative to head position.

I got an Eotech. The holograph is at true optical infinity. Aimpoint has extra lenses (see their website) and also is at infinity.

[gunny]

I can vouch for the Eotech. I have one on my M4. I think you could hammer nails with it. It is THAT rugged. Very quick target aquisition.
Gunny

[bd1]

Get the best you can afford, cry once as they say. That probably means Aimpoint or Eotech. Something to avoid if you go with an aiming dot - don't get too small a dot. Bigger is better. These optical sights are all about quick, dependable target engagement at close to intermediate range.

[Mike Josephic]

I vote for the EoTec. I have one on my M4 and it's deadly accurate to 100 yards
and beyond. You also have a great field of view since it's a Holoscope and you shoot
with both eyes open. I've had an Aimpoint some years ago and didn't like it at all -- similar to a scope, you have a narrow field of view, have to hunt for that red dot and
it's not a quick aquisition like the holoscope.

My EoTech uses two AA batteries and when using the new lithium AA's they last for years.

Mike

[Andrew W. Priestley]

I have an Aimpoint Comp ML2 with a 4 MOA dot. It's mounted in an ARMS forward slanted extension mount and leverl release base. Pops on and off without losing zero. Still on the original batteries, and mounted co-planar with my iron sights so the muscle memory that snaps my irons on target get the red dot where it needs to be too.

You shoot with both eyes open and the field of view is very good.

The M3 and ML3 can be had with a 2 MOA dot which is now the Army standard. It provides a bit better precision at intermediate ranges without flaring out the target itself.

Adjusting the dot brightness to ambient light is important. You've got to turn it down when you go into darker environments.

The Aimpoint dot is the point of impact regardless of where it is in the sight picture. Put the red dot on the target, squeeze the trigger, and within battlesight zero ranges, you should hit the target.

Starting with the M3 series, they began to put exterior rubber armor on the sights.

Both the M2 and M3 series of Aimpoints are still available through SWFA for progressively better prices than the M4. The M4 is the latest and greatest, but the M2 and M3 are still darned nice, reliable, field-spec sights.

The biggest difference between the M and ML sights is that the M sights have a full range of adjustment down to nightvision compatible settings. Even the lowest setting on the ML's is too bright to be used effectively with nightvision, or so I'm told. I'm planning a field test on that in the near future using some borrowed 3rd gen nightvision gear.

[Andouille]

Another vote for the Aimpoints. I have two Comp M3's bought when I was feeling flush and an ML2 bought when I wasn't feeling quite so flush, all with 2 MOA dots. The 3's have a battery life of 50,000 hours and the 2-series are "only" 10,000 hours. I have found the 2 MOA dot very usable out to 300-yards on IPSC targets (haven't shot them further than that), and have experienced no loss of zero issues. You will have to turn the brightness down for longer ranges, but no big deal.

If you want a quick detachable mount, go with LaRue. They are not the cheapest out there but you will NOT be sorry. They absolutely return to zero. Avoid the GG&G cantilevered mount like the plague, in my opinion.

[BlitzKrieg]

Aimpoint or Eotech: pick the one that meets your vision needs. Its like shoes: size 8 is not always a size 8 to your foot

If Eotech, you might want to wait till the new series is more available: the batterys are 90 degrees from axis of the bore as the old models with batteries
in line with bore and sights tended to JUMP when firing and hard use in the sand box.

The new version eliminates this weakness.

Granted: you got to really put a weapon thru the paces to get those batteries to jump about and probably as civilians: any EOTECH will do you fine for your purposes.

However: if you want the current version that corrects this weakness: you now know what to look for.

My advice: got to a gun show and test the Eotect vs. Aimpoints and pick the right fit.

Clones: there are s ome out there with the brand names on them and sold at shows and look really good and are half the price. My advice again: avoid them as they will fail you. Its a temptation at the price but I have seen them function at the range and all sorts of dynamics pop up: mounts shoot loose, power jumps with shots to lowest setting etc etc.

Buy once and buy right. These things are too expensive to make a mistake and buy twice. Buy only if you think you need one: there is nothing wrong with iron sights if your eyes will focus with them. I am over 60 and have no issue with iron sights and figure a electronic sight will be bought when I really need one. Afterall: they are expensive.

Good Luck.