optics advice

steveo44

steveo44

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So I am trying to decide on new optics for my 14.5 ar.Here is what I was thinking of.
Nightforce 1x4x24 with fc-2 reticle
Schmidt and Bender 1.1x4x20 short dot
Leupold mak 4 1-3 CQT
I know they aren`t cheap so I am trying to get some feed back from people who have used these.Or if anyone has others that they would recomend feel free to let me know.I am in no rush to get anything now,I want to make sure I pick the one I will be the most happy with.:D
Thanks
 
I went with an IOR 1.1 x4 x26mm, will posts pics and reviews soon. From what I gather the Leupold recticle washes out abit in bright daylight. The nightforce is different than the nightforce that is sold to military/le contracts and has different stops etc.

The SB is probably the best.. but its also the most expensive.
 
I have the Leupold CQT, It is a good scope, however, it is not worth the price brand new. Unless you can have a used one (check Wolverine, they had used one, got mine from them)

I personally have no problem for quick acquisition with it, but some people do
 
USP said:
From what I gather the Leupold recticle washes out abit in bright daylight.
Click to expand...

No, the CQ/T reticle is a black circle-dot etched into glass - in bright daylight you don't turn the illumination on, just use it as-is. You'd only use the illumination (orange) in low-light. Which means, if your batteries and/or electronics croak, you still have a useful sight.

Regarding speed, I've been using one to good effect for action shooting.
 
The serious crowd seem to love the short dot, to the point of buying them themselves or borrowing them for "work". If a guy going back into a war zone spends his own money for kit, it's probably worth it. If you're shooting weekends on the civvie plan, it's probably more than you need.
 
Skip the C/QT it is a POS -- maybe okay for the weekend 3 Gun crowd -- but IMHO not worth the $

The S&B Short Dot is the #### if your worried about your ass.


I am mighty attached to my ass so I like the S&B...
 
I am thinking I might as well save for the best and go with the S&B Short Dot.Going to be alot more but I have gone the cheap way and was dissapointed.Might as well wait a little while longer and go for the best.

Thanks for the input.
 
The Leupold 1.5-5 is not a good scope IMHO -- no visible daytime illumination (a must in a CQB scope) and the 1.5 makes it impossible to use both eyes open parallex free. I much prefer the Leupold 2.5-8 or 3-9's as your going to need a Dr Optic for CQB with one anyway and mayas well get some larger mag on the top end since the 1.5 is not less enough to use and the reticle is not bright enough.

The S&B has a zero stop -- and the GenII has locking turrets.


The Military Nightforce scopes have better illumination and a zero stop (their civilian and LE ones dont -- but as of this month all their new ones will be in the same format as the Military line as they phase the other production line out) (So Nightforce said...)

SixStar -- A magnified scope vice a 1X CCO.
The Short Dot allows you to crank up the mag and detect and descriminate targets. Some people value the light weight and battery life of the Aimpoint series (and the EO too)
The Short Dot has a brighter reticle than the Aimpoint - and if you can live with the ~80 hour battery life on full power - it is an excellent scope.
(In practicality the SD has about a 250 hour service life)


The ACOG - has troubles in CQB -- even the TA31 series has some noticeable parallex issue when used like a 1x CCO with the BAC -- its a great scope -- and a lot of people issued them have now been issued the Dr Optic for a CQB backup --

The Short Dot is avialable to a lot of the Tier1 crowds these days --

But the price tag is a kick in the nutz if your buying one (or two or three) yourself. I've used it in Afghan and Iraq -- and I am quite happy.
I lent one of my spares to Hooddie for his trip and he liked it.
 
Gotta' say that the S&B is the shizzle. I borrowed one from Kev for my stint in the 'Stan. That being siad, I cannot throw the cash down for one of my own. I have compromised with the Acog T0A1NSN model. It is a bomb proof scope. I do have a one of the mini dot sights coming to mount on top for CQB stuff. This is the only let down of the scope. The reticle pattern is okay, but I would opt for a reticle that lights up completely. Mine is only partially lighted.
Once I replace the mount and add a Doctor Optics mini dot, it will be good to go. I intend on using this combo for my work gun, not just for plinking on the weekend.
YMMV,
Hoddie.
 
KevinB said:
SixStar -- A magnified scope vice a 1X CCO.
The Short Dot allows you to crank up the mag and detect and descriminate targets. Some people value the light weight and battery life of the Aimpoint series (and the EO too)
The Short Dot has a brighter reticle than the Aimpoint - and if you can live with the ~80 hour battery life on full power - it is an excellent scope.
(In practicality the SD has about a 250 hour service life)
Click to expand...

Thanks Kevin...the ability to crank up the magnification on the unit itself is a definite plus. Have you seen the new Elcan Specter DR being used by squaddies over there yet? Have you tried one?
 
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I know some people involved in trialing the Spectre on both sides of the border -- basically major issues -- it wont see usage until they can fix it...
 
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