I have an AR15 with a 20 inch barrel and A2 adjustable iron sights on a fixed A2 carrying handle. I am in the process of acquiring an upper with a shorter (but still legal) 5.56 barrel and no carrying handle but a rail on top of the receiver and barrel. I know nothing about all of the new (to me) red dot/optical sights. I need to buy one, but I am confronted by a multitude of choices and price points. The gun will be used for plinking and paper punching out to about 200 yards. It is just for fun and for me to try a newer sighting system. I see red dots, green dots, circles and various reticules. I see a whole bunch of people selling them. I honestly don't know where to start. I have looked thru other people guns briefly at the range and not seen any I thought were better or worse then the others. But I have never directly compared them. I don't want to spend a lot of money but want something that will not fall apart. Under $300.00 would be nice. I know this is a broad topic, but any advice or experience I could benefit from would be much appreciated.

Under $300 pretty much cuts Aimpoint and Trijicon out of the loop, not that that’s necessarily what you need anyway. I like Sig’s Romeo 4H, pretty versatile little optic and it won’t break the bank. Vortexmakes pretty solid red dots as well. You may not want to go into battle with it, but how many of us are? Good luck!

In my sample size of 3, I prefer the Strikefire II on my AR to the Romeo on my brother-in-law's (dot seemed to shift on trigger reset ) and the either Bushnell or Burris that's on my boss' AR (dot wasn't a clearly defined, though he had it dialed up for 100yds).

Only downside to me on the Vortex is its size. It's a good bit larger than the other 2 above.

I have been well pleased with the Vortex Spitfire etched reticle scopes...I have two of their 1X and one of the 3X...

The 1X is a circle/dot that can illuminated in red or green or black if no illumination is desired...the 3X is a ranging reticle with the same illumination options...

The downside is that they are scopes and do not co-witness with iron sights...also the eye relief is not as great as with a red dot...

The 1X can be used with both eyes open and the circle/dot is easy to use...

http://www.vortexoptics.com/pr...re-ar-1x-prism-scope

http://www.vortexoptics.com/pr...ebr-556b-moa-reticle

https://www.brownells.com/opti...scope-prod83618.aspx

I also have a Vortex Strikefire red dot on an AR pistol build...I have enjoyed using it (but red dots "bloom" with my old eyes and for me, I just use it for larger targets closer than 100 yards...

http://www.vortexoptics.com/ca...trikefire_II_red_dot

Get on Palmetto Arms email list, you will get several sale announcements per day.
They often feature the SPARC included in a package with ammo or Magpul magazines.
I picked up the SPARC AR with 10-30rnd. MagPul magazines and free S&H for what just the SPARC would have cost.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: armored,

If you are possibly going to be shooting out to 200 yards you will probably be better served getting a magnified optic. Primary Arms (made in China) has a 1-4x24 scope for $120 that will check the box without breaking the bank.

http://www.primaryarms.com/pri...ted-riflescope-pa14x

A lot of companies are bring variable power scopes to market now and, at a minimum, the Primary Arms scope is a low price 'starter scope' and if you outgrow it later you aren’t really out a great deal of money.

What armored said...

I bought my Strikefire with 10 Magpul 30 round magazines for $179 with free shipping from PSA last year...

They run some pretty good sales on their "Daily Deals"...they've cost me a lot of money

I am a fan of Holosun red dot optics. Lots of models to choose from.

Primary Arms 3X or 5X prismatic ACSS scope. Very nice for the price. Poor man's ACOG, I have a 2.5X and I'm very happy with it.

It's at the price point, it's tough, etched reticle so it can be used without the battery, it is of course eliminated, daytime bright.

They are $250.00 and sometimes go on sale for cheaper.

Also Primary Arms has a veritable power scope in the 1-4X range and 1-6X range, with the ACSS reticle.

I have the 1-6X ACSS reticle scope also and I love it. Mine is the Gen II, but the Gen III is lighter, shorter and has a life time warranty.

It goes for $289.00, I believe that it is a great scope for the money.

It is closer to true 1X then anything Leupold makes. The Primary Arms 1-6X scope I have has very clear glass and great color. The thing really impressed me!

I have seen scopes costing 2or 3 times as much not look as good. Really impressed me.


ARman

If we’re referring to variable power conventional scopesights, the Leupold Mark 6 1-6× sight is a true 1× (no magnification) at the bottom end to the best of my eyes’ ability to detect such things. It’s far out of the OP’s price range, but the sight does exist.

i now have 3 romeo 4's

love them.

I also have several vortex, and a trijicon MRO

primary arms for an inexpensive scope/dot,
I have several of their dots and the work great,

scopes, depends on what you want to do,

I have a Cabelas AR scope (1-4.5x)that I like, and also have a leupold MK AR that I have set up as a match gun (CMP rules on max power you can have)

I have a Vortex SparcAR that has seen a lot of honest use. It has held zero perfectly for a couple years now, takes readily available AAA batteries, and is available for under $200 if you shop around.


In general, I prefer low powered variable scopes, but red dots are serviceable.

For red dots I like the Holosun 5xx series. Ability to have the circle dot or just the dot. Can be pairs with a magnifier if you need. I also love my Primary arms 1-6 ACSS (gen 3). Optics planet usually has sales on both brands, and over on arfcom there is a member you can get a hold of a 10% off code. I got my 1-6 on sale and a $40 e-gift card. Just this past week they had a code for 13% off red dots. I know Holosun also put a primary arms reticle in one of their units.

My friend has the primary arms 1-4 and it’s a nice little scope. For budget, I like Aero precision scope mounts. On my red dots I use Geiselle. (50% off during Black Friday sales).

i have said this a dozen times on here over the years. You can find a used Aimpoint for the $300 range if you shop hard. It is going to light years better than all the Chicom stuff recommended here. Do yourself a favor and put a wtb add in the sf classifieds. It might be $325 but still a very high quality optic that has proven itself on the battlefield and is made in America. Aimpoint is the answer.

quote:

Originally posted by IndianaBoy:
I have a Vortex SparcAR that has seen a lot of honest use. It has held zero perfectly for a couple years now, takes readily available AAA batteries, and is available for under $200 if you shop around.


In general, I prefer low powered variable scopes, but red dots are serviceable.

This guy really puts anything he reviews through the wringer...plus you are not forced to endure pounding music intros with "tactical" themes...he also did a similar review on SIG Romeo and Holosun red dots...might be informative on your purchase of an optic ...




Link to original video: https://youtu.be/bat27uGFXdw

Love the Romeo 5 & Primary Arms Micro Dots

I have this red dot from Primary Arms. It's been on several rifles, been zeroed several times, abd works as well as the Aimpoint it's modeled after. I wouldn't go to war with it, but it can't be beat for range use.

http://www.primaryarms.com/pri...ovable-base-md-rb-ad

For a variable low power scope I'd look at Vortex.

I have an Aimpoint PRO that is awesome, on a good sale it’s $350 though. 8” plates at 200yrd are fairly easy to hit.

I’m looking to switch to low power scopes, but they are more money.

My budget red dots are Vortex Venoms, $200 or so. I really like them, I wish I had got a 6moa dot rather than the 3moa and that they went a little brighter for sunny days. The 6moa would probably help for brightness. Good sight on both a pistol and rifle. 6moa dot may be too large for distance though.