Need Opinion - Optic(s) on AR

[KonstantOne]

Lots of good stuff here, everyone. A big thank you for contributing!

I stepped away for a couple of days to think on this and reassess after having put the suggestions into a spreadsheet and weighing options and cost. I'm currently of the opinion that this will be my only rifle of its type for the time being, so I would like it to be versatile and ready for most situations/training exercises, within reason. The majority of its use will most likely be at the 50-200m distances, but also for some CQB stuff until I get something more suited for the job. I think my optic focus should really be on lower power but with best performance at the closer range. Kind of an all-arounder, as much as can be asked of a rifle of its kind.

That said and to address the recent topic here, backup irons/RMR are a must. If for nothing else, they will be good to practice with. MBUS Pro Offset flip-up sights if I go with a LPVO (irons, offset, and compact to not snag), or I have a couple sets of the regular MBUS if I go with a red dot and magnifier.

My hunt now is to find what makes a LPVO perform well at close range and find one that maximizes those characteristics, then compare pro/con to magnifier with my red dot(s). I don't have much experience with optics for firearms (i'm a camera guy, the focus has been on different aspects) so I'll have to read up on this and maybe try a few out if I can get my hands on several.
I'm assuming the larger the eye relief value the better, but that cant be all.

Whatever the case, training, courses, and trigger time are first priority...I just want to figure out where to go first with aiming the thing, hah.

Thanks again everyone!

 

[KonstantOne]

So basically what I said was that I still have no idea ... but I'm narrowing it down, hah!

 

[GAgunLAWbooklet]

For a combat-only gun, a straight up killing machine built for CQB, a non magnifying red dot is the thing.
It's fast, easy, and who cares if your groups are big, as long as you can put lead center-of-mass on a man's chest at 100 yards?

But odds are you'll NEVER be in a gun battle.
This AR carbine will be used at ranges, target shooting and doing 3-gun events, etc.
When the game or sport calls for ACCURATE shots, like a head shot or "hostage rescue" scenario at 100 yards, or like knocking over steel animal-shaped metallic silhouettes at a couple hundered meters, THEN you'll really appreciate a low power variable magnification scope, like a 1.5X - 6X.

That should be good from 25 yards to 400 yards.

A red dot or reflex sight would be better at 7 yards to 70 yards, but in the your world, the real world you live in, aren't you going to be shooting it at 100 or 200 yards more often than 25 or 50 yds.?
And won't you be hoping to get 5 MOA groups (field conditions, not from a benchrest), not 8 or 10 minute-of-angle groups?
A magnifying, crosshair-reticle scope is probably what most of us need to keep a tight, satisfying group.

 

[SirBannedAlot]

Get a 1-4 or 1-6 scope and 45 degree offset irons then.

 

[Bear44]

Lots of good stuff here, everyone. A big thank you for contributing!

I stepped away for a couple of days to think on this and reassess after having put the suggestions into a spreadsheet and weighing options and cost. I'm currently of the opinion that this will be my only rifle of its type for the time being, so I would like it to be versatile and ready for most situations/training exercises, within reason. The majority of its use will most likely be at the 50-200m distances, but also for some CQB stuff until I get something more suited for the job. I think my optic focus should really be on lower power but with best performance at the closer range. Kind of an all-arounder, as much as can be asked of a rifle of its kind.

That said and to address the recent topic here, backup irons/RMR are a must. If for nothing else, they will be good to practice with. MBUS Pro Offset flip-up sights if I go with a LPVO (irons, offset, and compact to not snag), or I have a couple sets of the regular MBUS if I go with a red dot and magnifier.

My hunt now is to find what makes a LPVO perform well at close range and find one that maximizes those characteristics, then compare pro/con to magnifier with my red dot(s). I don't have much experience with optics for firearms (i'm a camera guy, the focus has been on different aspects) so I'll have to read up on this and maybe try a few out if I can get my hands on several.
I'm assuming the larger the eye relief value the better, but that cant be all.

Whatever the case, training, courses, and trigger time are first priority...I just want to figure out where to go first with aiming the thing, hah.

Thanks again everyone!

You're definitely headed in the right direction. There are a lot of good choices for a LPVO. Another thing to consider is that a true 1x is easier to use than a higher power. I personally like my choice with 1.5x, but it does take a higher skill level to use well. Remember that just because a scope is marketed as a 1x doesn't mean it actually is. You need to look at the specs to confirm. Some form of illumination is also important.

I recommend you go someplace that you can get your hands on several of the contenders. Throw them up in front of your eye, even if they are not mounted to anything, and find the one you like.

 

[leechnilk1]

All of my buddies that went variable power felt that their speed was only effected slightly. Then everyone jumped on the PCC craze and threw their old red dots on their PCC's. Every single one of them came up to me afterward and said "holy cow I had no idea how slow I was without my red dot". That's like 5 guys, all very serious competitive shooters. Fast is relative, until you come up against REAL freakin fast!

I still stand by my original statement up thread. Get the Juliet 4x to match your Romeo and 200 yards in is dead meat.

 

[Burdy]

All of my buddies that went variable power felt that their speed was only effected slightly. Then everyone jumped on the PCC craze and threw their old red dots on their PCC's. Every single one of them came up to me afterward and said "holy cow I had no idea how slow I was without my red dot". That's like 5 guys, all very serious competitive shooters. Fast is relative, until you come up against REAL freakin fast!

I still stand by my original statement up thread. Get the Juliet 4x to match your Romeo and 200 yards in is dead meat.

PCCs are faster anyway. You want fast, put an EOTech on a PCC. We can talk pros and cons all day, nothing will be faster.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

 

[SirBannedAlot]

PCCs are faster anyway. You want fast, put an EOTech on a PCC. We can talk pros and cons all day, nothing will be faster.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

Yeah, I have the Holosun 510C, which is their version of an Eotech, on my Tavor x95 and it makes for a great little package...

 

[Quacker]

I've got both the ACOG 4x32 with RMR on top and a Primary Arms 1-6 x 30. I do love my ACOG and it is definitely battle worthy but that primary arms ia a great scope for the price. you dont get the FOV at 1x that a eotech has but it is way more versatile IMO for close quarters and hitting steel at 400M. I got a Blem on ebay for under $200 and am very happy with it.