what kind of optic should I use on my AR?
- Thread starter JR Hartman
- Start date
Bushnell TRS 25 - put a WTB on the EE, and you'll probably come up with one for less than a hundred bucks.
Solid, lightweight little red dot - and the only two differences between it and a T-1 is about 500 bucks - and the prestige of having spent an insane amount of money on an unmagnified optic with a small red dot projected onto the glass (cue the fan-boys to tell you differently, though!).
Try one out - I don't think you'll be disappointed (and if you are - I'll give you 80 bucks for it!).
Solid, lightweight little red dot - and the only two differences between it and a T-1 is about 500 bucks - and the prestige of having spent an insane amount of money on an unmagnified optic with a small red dot projected onto the glass (cue the fan-boys to tell you differently, though!).
Try one out - I don't think you'll be disappointed (and if you are - I'll give you 80 bucks for it!).
- Location
- chilliwack BC.
Ok, thanx for all the awesome responses.
I will definitely work with irons for a bit. I have done this on other platforms and it works well, I can hit shotgun shells with my .22 Norinco rifle with irons at 50m fairly regularly with the factory iron sights. I can only do a bit better with a scope(3x9x32 AO)
I also get that you do get what you pay for. I just can't really justify a $400 or more sight. I will probably raise my limits to the $175ish range if that's what it takes. I was unsure about the Bushnell mentioned, but if its good, I may go with that.
I have one more question tho, by holosight, I mean one of those that looks kind like Santas sled, with a tilted piece of glass that gets a reticle projected on it, and by red dot, I mean one that looks like a mini rifle scope. Which one is better for AR style competitive shooting? IE fast target acquisition, quick movement etc. not bench rest. Wanstalls has both on sale right now, and I was just wondering if either of those is ok. They have a Browning(holo) one and a Bushnell(red dot)
I will definitely work with irons for a bit. I have done this on other platforms and it works well, I can hit shotgun shells with my .22 Norinco rifle with irons at 50m fairly regularly with the factory iron sights. I can only do a bit better with a scope(3x9x32 AO)
I also get that you do get what you pay for. I just can't really justify a $400 or more sight. I will probably raise my limits to the $175ish range if that's what it takes. I was unsure about the Bushnell mentioned, but if its good, I may go with that.
I have one more question tho, by holosight, I mean one of those that looks kind like Santas sled, with a tilted piece of glass that gets a reticle projected on it, and by red dot, I mean one that looks like a mini rifle scope. Which one is better for AR style competitive shooting? IE fast target acquisition, quick movement etc. not bench rest. Wanstalls has both on sale right now, and I was just wondering if either of those is ok. They have a Browning(holo) one and a Bushnell(red dot)
ah no but thanks
while the TRS is nice for the price it is not anywhere near a T1 I have two trs 25's and a T1 the T1 glass is much clearer/brighter and the dot is sharp and small plus the 5 years always on battery life
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I beleive that if you buy a quality item you shouldn't need warranty as it shouldn't break. but I guess if you buy cheap it's good to know you've got a great warranty. I'd rather have a great product.
Ha ha - aaaand cued!
Does the T1 have better glass than the TRS?
Undoubtedly.
Is the dot "sharper"?
The T1 I looked at had a "rounder" dot than the TRS - but when I'm using the scope, I'm looking at the my target - and the red dot is just a "suggestion" in my focus.
If it was star shaped, it wouldn't make much difference when my eyes are focused beyond the focal plane the dot is projected on (my vision is 20/10).
I actually have a $100 "Zoom Dot" which projects a 1MOA dot superior to a T1 - though they cheaped on the glass and it has an annoying blue cast to it.
Battery life?
My last TRS battery cost $7 from The Source. Having an extra in my range bag isn't too big a financial hardship - though you're right, it could become a problem 5000 hours into the zombie apocalypse if I can't find a handy Source retailer!
The TRS also doesn't have a NV setting - but I suppose thats probably not going to be a problem for the vast majority of us who don't see much time on a two-way range, hey?
It does come with a picatinny mount, though - and a very solid UTG riser (with choices for co-witness or 1/3 co-witness) can be had for less than $15, while the T1 is going to require a proprietary mount which will set you back half again the cost of the scope.
When everything is considered - is a T1 worth $500 more than a TRS?
Not in my opinion - though others mileage may vary. Just another example of "exclusivity through higher pricing" so prevalent through the industry - though this too, is my opinion.
Does the T1 have better glass than the TRS?
Undoubtedly.
Is the dot "sharper"?
The T1 I looked at had a "rounder" dot than the TRS - but when I'm using the scope, I'm looking at the my target - and the red dot is just a "suggestion" in my focus.
If it was star shaped, it wouldn't make much difference when my eyes are focused beyond the focal plane the dot is projected on (my vision is 20/10).
I actually have a $100 "Zoom Dot" which projects a 1MOA dot superior to a T1 - though they cheaped on the glass and it has an annoying blue cast to it.
Battery life?
My last TRS battery cost $7 from The Source. Having an extra in my range bag isn't too big a financial hardship - though you're right, it could become a problem 5000 hours into the zombie apocalypse if I can't find a handy Source retailer!
The TRS also doesn't have a NV setting - but I suppose thats probably not going to be a problem for the vast majority of us who don't see much time on a two-way range, hey?
It does come with a picatinny mount, though - and a very solid UTG riser (with choices for co-witness or 1/3 co-witness) can be had for less than $15, while the T1 is going to require a proprietary mount which will set you back half again the cost of the scope.
When everything is considered - is a T1 worth $500 more than a TRS?
Not in my opinion - though others mileage may vary. Just another example of "exclusivity through higher pricing" so prevalent through the industry - though this too, is my opinion.
like I said for myself it is worth the extra, but I do own two trs25's one has been flawless and the second shat the bed( O ring under the power setting stuck to body of the unit and tore off) in the cold and was replaced by bushnell ( very fast to boot)
as far as the dot vs dot at 300 meters you Will notice the difference trust me, But I also own two Nightforce scopes and even a few Vortex I do think its funny to mount a 100 RDS on a 2000+ rifle but thats just me I guess
as far as the dot vs dot at 300 meters you Will notice the difference trust me, But I also own two Nightforce scopes and even a few Vortex I do think its funny to mount a 100 RDS on a 2000+ rifle but thats just me I guess
I personally wouldn't waste my time on a cheap optic, not again at least.
I put an NCstar scope on my m14, and it was promptly rattled apart.
I put the NCstar "holo" sigh on my paintball marker and it quickly came apart.
Iron sights or save up for a quality optic is my opinion.
I put an NCstar scope on my m14, and it was promptly rattled apart.
I put the NCstar "holo" sigh on my paintball marker and it quickly came apart.
Iron sights or save up for a quality optic is my opinion.
Love my DD A1.5 rear sight....
Admittedly I have a TRS-25 on my 870, and I think it's keeping it's zero, a little tough when you're shooting bird shot, at least it's all head in the same general direction I'm pointing, lol.... That being said, I think there are 2 things that are being "confused" here when it comes to cheap optics
1) there are cheap optics out there, being made with poor materials and poor workmanship (IMO that includes NCStar, and various other no-name brand optics)
2) there are inexpensive optics that are made with decent to good materials sold for a reasonable price (IMO these includes optics like the Bushnell TRS-25 and the Vortex Strikefire)
Not saying Strikefires are cheap or poorly made, it's that they're fairly wel made, with pretty good materials, for a reasonable price. I think the Strikefire is higher quality than the TRS-25, but I like the TRS-25 physical form better, it mimics the minimalist form factor like the Aimpoint Micros.
However, when it comes to cheap optics many times you can feel it in the quality of the materials while handling them, and cheap parts used.
And if you had any business education, or sense, you'd know they wouldn't put a full replacement warranty on a product that would break easily...
Anyways, I'm not promoting or forcing you to choose a certain product, just a suggestion for something in your price range that I, and many people have been pleased with.
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- Location
- chilliwack BC.
Ok, I will obviously be putting flip up irons on it, and I think I have decided on a reflex style sight, not a tubular one.
I don't want to deal with eye relief distances, and other slow shooting scope kinda deals.
I like the idea that the one lense that sticks up is quick, both eyes open kinda target acquisition.
any reccomendations on these, beside Eotech LOL, can't afford those yet.
I don't want to deal with eye relief distances, and other slow shooting scope kinda deals.
I like the idea that the one lense that sticks up is quick, both eyes open kinda target acquisition.
any reccomendations on these, beside Eotech LOL, can't afford those yet.
Both tubed and open type dot sights are used essentially the same way. Unlike a conventional magnified optic, neither is sensitive to eye relief or parallax.
The Aimpoint PRO is good value-priced alternative to the more expensive Aimpoints. The Trijicon RMR is also worth considering:
http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?p=1567989&highlight=rmr#post1567989
If you want cheap and you're set on an optic, I have a BRS red dot I picked up off eBay for $30 and it worked great on my paintball gun, then when I got into the real things, I attached it to my 10/22 and that's where it lives now and it has been flawless and holds zero at 100yards, little more recoil on an AR but for $30 it's exceeded the very low expectation I had for it.
