It comes with a 2x magnifier - it works OK. Personally I'm not into magnifiers and dots - really a *very* poor relation to a proper scope - but the one that comes with it for free will do for you on occasion.
vortex sparc on AR
- Thread starter fallout mike
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fallout mike
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Tony, plenty of people have answered the question as,asked. I know what a aimpoint is. I don't need to be told it is better. I don't always feel the need to have to buy the best, most expensive item when I purchase things. And I think that I will be speaking for most of us here when I say that it really gets old when people answer threads like this by saying that's not the best. Only buy the best. It adds nothing to the discussion. I've NEVER done that to anybody here with the exception of the absolutely hilarious Osprey thread where everybody has 1 or 2 posts.
Not really...I have one of each there are significant differences between the two. Both work well but the sparc has a better finer dot IMO, and the 6 hour auto shut off is nice. In addition the sparc comes with the mounts and magnifier, when you add it all up the gap between the PA and the Sparc lessens to more like a $50 difference not your quoted 120. Some of that you can attribute to the lifetime warranty, but the sparc does feel like a better unit as well.
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fallout mike
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To the guys that have given their personal experience with this red dot, thanks very much. For the most part it is all positive. If o decide to go with a red dot it will be the sparc thanks to you guys. If I decide to go with a low power scope I will ask the guys that only use the best what their experience with the leopold Mark 8 CQBSS has been like. Bc I'm sure that's what they use.
againstthagrane
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i wouldn't use either mount on an AR when a DD mount is only $60. $80+60=$140. So that $60 cheaper. that's about 200rounds of ammo and a range visit where i'm from. i'd say that's significant. besides the DD mount is better than the vortex and it's made in the usa instead of china.
in regards to the magnifier, you yourself said that it's not very good, so why would you even claim that it's a bonus?
btw, PA has a sort of unwritten lifetime replacement deal, where they'll replace it unless you smashed it in a vice or something egregious like that.
dont worry about the sparc mount, they work great. and they co-witness perfect with my flip up sights. get the sparc already and be done he,he
just in case you have not seen this already
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16ZB4itTusM
just in case you have not seen this already
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16ZB4itTusM
OP: I can only tell you that I've had my Sparc for 8 months, and it has maintained a zero through a couple thousand rounds of 5.56 while mounted on my Sig 556. I've also removed and re-installed it a couple of times during that period, and that has also not affected the zero. I'm still on the original battery. I've used it in bright, full sunlight, and the dot is fully visible.
Gripes (such as they are): the dot is slightly oblong - it's not a perfect circle. The 2x magnifier that comes with it makes this much more obvious than when it's unmagnified. I have considered getting a flip-in/out magnifier in 3x or 5x, but have held off because the non-circularity of the dot would probably get annoying when really magnified. But the non-circularity is hardly noticeable at 1x, and given that it is a 1-MOA dot, it allows much more accurate shooting sub-100 yards than I can deliver.
Also, as noted above, the mount is not a quick-detach rig. You do have to take an allen wrench with you if you want to pull it off. But I've found it to stay very firm when tightened, even without any loctite or other adhesive. The multiple shims made it easy to co-witness with my iron sights (mine don't flip), so that was nice.
All in all, I am extremely satisfied with the Sparc, and feel it is great value for the money. If I needed something to survive an IED blast, I'd shell out for the Aimpoint or Eotech. If I was mounting it on an airsoft gun and didn't worry about holding a zero through recoil, I would get an NcStar or something. But for recreational/weekend .223 shooting, I think it's right in the sweet spot.
Gripes (such as they are): the dot is slightly oblong - it's not a perfect circle. The 2x magnifier that comes with it makes this much more obvious than when it's unmagnified. I have considered getting a flip-in/out magnifier in 3x or 5x, but have held off because the non-circularity of the dot would probably get annoying when really magnified. But the non-circularity is hardly noticeable at 1x, and given that it is a 1-MOA dot, it allows much more accurate shooting sub-100 yards than I can deliver.
Also, as noted above, the mount is not a quick-detach rig. You do have to take an allen wrench with you if you want to pull it off. But I've found it to stay very firm when tightened, even without any loctite or other adhesive. The multiple shims made it easy to co-witness with my iron sights (mine don't flip), so that was nice.
All in all, I am extremely satisfied with the Sparc, and feel it is great value for the money. If I needed something to survive an IED blast, I'd shell out for the Aimpoint or Eotech. If I was mounting it on an airsoft gun and didn't worry about holding a zero through recoil, I would get an NcStar or something. But for recreational/weekend .223 shooting, I think it's right in the sweet spot.
ghostman1960
Member
Save 200 more and you can buy an Aimpoint Pro. Resist the temptation to have it now. It will be well worth it in the long run.
I have had a Sparc on my AR for over a year. Great little red dot. I has been knocked around, snowed on, rained on and muddied up. Never failed, never lost zero. The dot itself is a bit fuzzy for me, but that is my bad eyes. The mount is solid, the 2x magnifier is ok, not great. For the money, I would buy one again, and am just about to for my next build. Get one.
ghostman1960
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Never mind
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