AR scope

[marineman]

Which scope do you recommend for my AR? EoTech, Aimpoint, ACOG, or other? Right now, I am kind of leaning towards the ACOG. They are not as expensive as the ACOG, plus they are more practical for CQB shooting. Also, I could buy a magnifier if I wanted to extend my range. Do you need to cowitness with the EoTech or Aimpoint? From my understanding, where ever the dot is, regardless of where your eye is looking at it is where the bullet will impact, correct? Please let me know of your experiences, which scope you recommend, and which specific model. Also, what is the deal with throw levers and QD mounts, specifically ARMS and LaRue? Most of my shooting is done within 300 yards. Thanks.

 

[green country shooter]

Wow, what a lot of questions.

What are going to use the gun for? 3 gun matches, marksmanship, plinking, self defense, prairie dogs?

for some you want magnification, for some you don't, for some you want a scope that doesn't need batteries, for some it doesn't matter.

 

[Cannonball888]

I am kind of leaning towards the ACOG. They are not as expensive as the ACOG

If the ACOG is not as expensive as the ACOG then I would definitely get the ACOG.

 

[Carne Frio]

Seems logical to me, mr Cannonball !

 

[marineman]

I meant that I was leaning towards the EoTech.

 

[JWarren]

Which scope do you recommend for my AR? EoTech, Aimpoint, ACOG, or other?

Depends on a lot of things. What range will you be shooting? Do you NEED magnification? What is the role of the firearm?

Of the ones you mentioned, the ACOG is the only one what comes with magnification.

Aimpoints and EOTechs' can have a magnifier, but unless you get a chinese knock-off or the Larue Po-Boy special, those will add $500 to the cost of the Aimpoint or EOTech-- putting you in the realm of an ACOG.

Right now, I am kind of leaning towards the ACOG. They are not as expensive as the ACOG, plus they are more practical for CQB shooting. Also, I could buy a magnifier if I wanted to extend my range.

Me confused.

But I did get out of this that you see a need for a CQB site. For me, that knocks out the ACOG. I dislike magnification on anything I'll need to take close, rapidly-aimed shots with.

Do you need to cowitness with the EoTech or Aimpoint?

My rifles have flip-up sights. I really don't care for co-witnessing. You do not NEED to cowitness anything if you don't want to. You do not even NEED iron sights to shoot with the opic sight-- although I think all firearms (especially combat-oriented firearms) should have Back-up Iron Sights (BUIS).

From my understanding, where ever the dot is, regardless of where your eye is looking at it is where the bullet will impact, correct?

Correct.

Please let me know of your experiences, which scope you recommend, and which specific model.

For a rifle I use for CQB, I don't care for having magnification. That knocks the ACOG out for me. In addition, I don't care for fixed-power magnification optics. Again, that knocks out the ACOG. (Don't get me wrong, the ACOG is a great optic and has a loyal following. I just don't think I'll get one.)

Like most folks, I like EOTech's recticle. However, their battery-life is ho-hum compared to the Aimpoint. I've read about a lot of problems with EOTechs draining batteries even when turned off.

One strongpoint to EOTechs is that you can get a model that uses common AA batteries at a good price.

However, because I would always worry that the thing was out of power in the middle of the night when I needed to use it, I'd not get an EOTech.


That leaves us with Aimpoint.

The Aimpoint ML2 can last 10,000 hours on one battery while being left on. That translates to about 1.25 years on a single battery.

For about $60 dollars more, you can look at the Aimpoint ML3. This one has ACET circuitry that lets it stay on for 50,000 hours on a single battery. That is over 5 years on a single battery.

The downside to the Aimpoint ML2 and ML3 is that they use a non-standard battery that you can't just run to the store and replace.

The Aimpoint M4, however, runs on AA Batteries, but is VERY expensive.

I'd go with either an Ampoint ML2 or ML3 unless you think you'd want to use a night-vision attachment at some point in the future. If you did, you want to spend a little more and get the Aimpoint M2 or M3, respectively.

I like the ML3.

Also, what is the deal with throw levers and QD mounts, specifically ARMS and LaRue?

Throw levers are a lever by which you may disengage the mount from the firearm. This allows you to remove the optic from the firearm without tools. Same basic definition for QD-- it means you can take it off.

Now, Quality QD mounts are also Return-to-Zero. This means that you can remove the optic and then re-mount it (make sure you do in the same spot) with no loss of zero-- meaning you are still sighted in.

This is what makes a mount worth $200.

I don't have experience with ADM, but I've read decent reviews of them. Larue is universally loved.

Get a Larue mount.

By the way.... if you plan on using a 3X magnifier, you will probably want to get the Larue CANTILEVER mount. This set the optic out a little further toward the front of the rifle, leaving room for the magnifier behind it. If you go Aimpoint, I think you want a LT-129 if I remember correctly.

Most of my shooting is done within 300 yards. Thanks.

While it can be done, 300 yards is a bit long for a non-magnified optic. Most of my hunting shots are under 400 yards, and I use a 3.5-10x40 on my hunting rifle.

If I went with an Aimpoint or EOTech, I'd think hard about getting a 3X magnifier.


-- John

 

[ARNETT44]

That about says it all. Aimpoint, LaRue mount. I have all three set ups and for the reliability and battery life go Aimpoint. Also please get buis because you will need them one day. The 3x Maginfier with the LaRue mount as well, can either flip over or with the throw of a lever take it off.

 

[MGD 45]

Sorry for the late reply.....

I'd like to add a few points to this discussion..........

First of all, I have an EoTech on my AR15 and it's fine with me. I have the 512 model which has the AA batteries. I got this one, since I knew I could buy batteries for it at basically any gas station or store I enter. The battery life isn't as long as an Aimpoint, so you'll have to decide for yourself but then again, I've never tested the battery life to see if they hold up to their claim or not.

If CQ stuff is what your going to be doing, then any red dot sight is fine, and since you stated that your shooting at 300 yards & under, I figured that I would throw in a few pics I took a while back........I decided to shoot my AR15 out to 300 yards with just my EoTech.......



I actually aimed at the head area of the target, figuring on 13 inches of drop
but the rounds hit high near the head!




The pictures don't do the actual images justice, because I was able to see the target just fine from 300 yards without any magnification.

I would also strongly suggest that you set your red dot sight up to co-witness with your iron sights. In the middle of a real world shoot, you don't want to have to stop to flip up sights & reaquire a target, when all you could do is simply keep looking through your red dot and pick up iron sights.

I have already experienced my EoTech red dot suddenly turning off on me right before a mission (dead batteries), but it was reassuring to simply use the iron sights already in place.......just my 2 cents.

 

[Lucky Strike]

I've got an EOTech 516....i went back and forth a lot between the 516 and an Aimpoint ML2/ML3. Reticule on the EOtech won me over (1 MOA center dot compared to 2 or 4 on the aimpoints) as well as common AA batteries.

Inferior battery life compared to the Aimpoint's (I've had mine for 6 months and am still on the original set of batteries but that's nothing compared to the new aimpoints) but I don't use my AR for home defense (i use a Remmy 870 for that) so I deemed it not that big a deal for me.

I don't have a QD mount yet but I plan on getting a LaRue. I have mine at a 1/3 cowitness (when lined up front sight is in lower 1/3 of red dot window) with a flip up rear BUIS. The 516 has a little higher base so it naturally does a 1/3 cowitness.