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bisley
Posts: 10,815 Senior Member
Red Dot Magnifier - Alternatives
bisley
Posts: 10,815 Senior Member
I finally finished my Palmetto AR-15 and tested it with the Vortex Sparc II sight. The 1:7, 16" barrel likes my 62 grain practice hand loads OK, and the Vortex seems to be a good sight. But, my eyesight is no longer strong enough to shoot it well at 50 yards, much less at a hundred, without magnification. My grandson and my wife both managed a couple of 1" to 1-1/2" groups at 50 yards, but the orange dot just disappears when I try to focus on it, with or without my eyeglasses. I still shoot scoped rifles well enough, so I'm thinking about getting the magnifier, but I'm not crazy about the way they look. I'm really not a 'tactical' type, but I did want this rifle set up for quick target acquisition at short and medium ranges, and still be able to hit a soup can at 100 yards.
What do you folks think about the 'flip-over' magnifier? Would I be just as well off with a low power conventional scope of some kind? If so, please recommend one.
What do you folks think about the 'flip-over' magnifier? Would I be just as well off with a low power conventional scope of some kind? If so, please recommend one.
Replies
If magnification is needed, the low powered variable is the way to go. Any of the red dot magnifiers will not only increase the size of the target, but the dot as well. A 3x magnifier will make a red dot to entirely cover a can at 100 yards, most likely.
Jerm and CPJ seem to be happy with a 1-4x Leupold shotgun scope they ran this season.
http://forums.gunsandammo.com/showthread.php?22961-Red-Dot-Magnifiers-vs-Millett-DMS-1-4x-Scope-Thoughts&highlight=magnifier
http://www.millettsights.com/scopes/dms/
-Mikhail Kalashnikov
I would recommend either the Leupold scope or the Millet DMS. I have both and like the Leupold better, it is lighter and the reticle is more precise.
Dad 5-31-13
I looked at all the 1-4x scope possibilities and decided on the Leupold VX-1 shotgun scope, not illuminated. Optics Planet had one for$229, and I ordered my third Burris PEPR mount, this time in the quick-detach model. I decided on the Leupold, over the Millett illuminated reticle, because I don't know Millet products, and it was a hundred dollars more. I never thought I'd buy a Leupold because it was cheaper, but the theme of this AR was cheap, but good. The rifle pleases me just fine, and I'm sure I will be happier with a scope, because it should allow me to out-shoot my 15 yo grandson, again...and my completely inexperienced (with guns) wife.
The red dot is great, up close, but I find that I hate the idea of having an accurate rifle that I can't hit the bulls eye with at 50 yards, much less a hundred.
This is what I think.
Have a couple low power variables, love them.
AKA: Former Founding Member