SR 22 Optics Feedback

Dazbog

Dazbog

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Hi all, I've got an SR22 that I just bought and need sights for. After checking out the options and prices it seems to make sense to skip iron sights and go for a red dot. Has anyone had any negative experiences with the Vortex SPARC or Strikefire and is there any reason why either these wouldnt be good for an SR22? I like the idea of the 2x option with the SPARC but dont know how practical this actual is as I haven't shot the rifle yet.

Appreciate any feedback to avoid making a noob purchase.
 
Dazbog said:
Hi all, I've got an SR22 that I just bought and need sights for. After checking out the options and prices it seems to make sense to skip iron sights and go for a red dot. Has anyone had any negative experiences with the Vortex SPARC or Strikefire and is there any reason why either these wouldnt be good for an SR22? I like the idea of the 2x option with the SPARC but dont know how practical this actual is as I haven't shot the rifle yet.

Appreciate any feedback to avoid making a noob purchase.
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I have a SPARC on my SR22 and I have to say that I like it a lot. It's small, light weight and the red dot (adjustable for brightness of course) shows up on even the brightest day. I even found a review somewhere on the web where a guy put it a freezer, dropped it, left it in bucket of water overnight and it still kept on working so it must be fairly tough.

The only thing I would say against it as a package is that the screw in 2x magnifier does not work all that great. It magnifies just fine but I find it really limits the field of view and gives it somewhat of a fish-eye effect. Thait doesn't really bother me all that much as I bought it to be a red dot, if I want magnification I'll throw one of the spare scopes I have lying around onto the rifle.
 
I have a Sparc on my SR22. It also comes with the riser mount that is important for the SR22 which has a very low profile. It works well and co-witness's with MBUS flip sights is lower 3rd which is good enough for the girls I go out with...

For the price, Sparc is a great dot...
 
Its not that Vortex makes bad stuff, I just find most everything else is better. Honestly if it cant survive the test mentioned then its not even entry-level. A lot of Chinese optics can survive that. The TRS-25 on a 3/4" riser will cost you a lot less than a sparc and doesn't come with the nearly usless doubler. Spend the extra money on a 3x magnifier and mount for a much better setup. Side by side Ill take a TRS-25 over anything Vortex makes cos IMO the performance is better and the price is lower. Just my experience. You'll get a lot of guys raving about this or that who haven't compared much side by side.
 
supernova said:
Its not that Vortex makes bad stuff, I just find most everything else is better. Honestly if it cant survive the test mentioned then its not even entry-level. A lot of Chinese optics can survive that. The TRS-25 on a 3/4" riser will cost you a lot less than a sparc and doesn't come with the nearly usless doubler. Spend the extra money on a 3x magnifier and mount for a much better setup. Side by side Ill take a TRS-25 over anything Vortex makes cos IMO the performance is better and the price is lower. Just my experience. You'll get a lot of guys raving about this or that who haven't compared much side by side.
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I own both and the Sparc is way better than the TRS-25. I find target acquisition much faster and the Bushnell "dot" is more of a "line". The Sparc is clearer in low light. This is my side by side experience. I still have both but the TRS-25 is a standby spare.
 
Weird, I find the TRS dot much crisper and the glass much clearer than Vortex.

AWOL said:
I own both and the Sparc is way better than the TRS-25. I find target acquisition much faster and the Bushnell "dot" is more of a "line". The Sparc is clearer in low light. This is my side by side experience. I still have both but the TRS-25 is a standby spare.
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supernova said:
Weird, I find the TRS dot much crisper and the glass much clearer than Vortex.
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Well my eyes are 51 years old and I wear 1.75 corrective reading glass so maybe the Vortex is just more forgiving. I cannot get a dot unless my glasses are off with the TRS but then it gets a bit fuzzy like 5MOA.
 
Thanks, this helps. Is it even worth getting something with magnification on a rifle like this? I suppose knowing that would made the decision easier.
 
Dazbog said:
Is it even worth getting something with magnification on a rifle like this? I suppose knowing that would made the decision easier.
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Not as far as I'm concerned.I only use it out to 75m. I have no magnification on my XCR-L which I shoot to 100m all the time with Eotech. I get 4" groups with no magnification.
 
It all depends on what you're trying to do. For tiny groups you need magnification, and for speed nothing beats a red dot. Except a red dot in a donut. Or ice cream. For plinking inside 100 yds I'll echo AWOL's post: red dot rules. Some people still bolt hunting and target scopes to black rifles for reasons I'll never understand. To each their own.
 
Dazbog said:
Thanks, this helps. Is it even worth getting something with magnification on a rifle like this? I suppose knowing that would made the decision easier.
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What is your locale? If you are anywhere near me, I can let you try a whole array of optics on your SR22.
 
I also have both the SPARC and the TRS. I got the TRS first for my SR22 and I liked it OK, then I got the SPARC as part of package deal and tried it out and it won.

The TRS now resides on my 870 Tactical.

"You'll get a lot of guys raving about this or that who haven't compared much side by side."

And I hardly think I was "raving" about it. As for the comparing comment, the OP asked about the SPARC and the Strikefire, so that's what I answered.
 
I like having options. I run magpul flip ups, a sightmark ultrashot pro nv, and a flip to side sightmark 7x magnifier. here is a rough picture at 1x and then with the 7x

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Red dot is a respectable 3 MOA dot, with other options for the reticle - but I prefer that one since its the smallest. Not sure if the magnifier is a "true" 7x, but it works more than well enough.
 
I was lucky enough to find the SPARC, Strikefire and the Bushnell 2MP in stock at a local store this afternoon for some side by side comparison. I liked the size and weight of the SPARC but the field of vision was small so I took that one off the list. I was pretty much sold on the Strikefire but the one in store looked like it had been to the range a few times so I didnt buy it. Both the SPARC and Strikefire 2x attachments were as mentioned above, small and gave a fish eye effect. The Bushnell, although heavy, had a good field of view and I liked the T-dot and I think my decision is to get it for the 2x and some iron sights when i dont want magnification.

Thanks for everyones help, I appreciate it. If anyone has anything bad to say about the Bushnell please let me know, Im not getting it till tomorrow or Tuesday.
 
Just wondering why people are concerned with FOV on red dots. Aren't you shooting with both eyes open anyways? Honest question. From my own experience and what others have told me, keeping both eyes open with red dots is the way to go with respect to FOV issues.
 
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