AR scopes and red dots

[stumpers]

I have two brand new ARs, my first personal weapons of this type. I am familiar with the platform in the SOCOM M4A1 from active duty, so I'm not a total novice.

I attached a photo of my two carbines. The tan furniture I am thinking about a Leupold 2.5x Ultralight and the black furniture I am thinking about an EoTech or an Aimpoint patrol rifle optic. here's the scope: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/99...ifle-scope-25x-20mm-wide-duplex-reticle-matte

For the tan gun, I want a general purpose utility carbine for shots up to 200 yards using 69 gr and up soft or HP rounds. Coyotes maybe, extra-small to small doe whitetails (under 100 pounds), varmints, pests, etc.

For the black gun, it's a fun gun, plinking, etc. I'll probably run the same ammo in both guns...

Any thoughts on how both of these will work in conjunction with the Midwest Industries BUIS on each? How high to mount the Leupold? Better scope than the Leupold, but in the same general fashion/utility?

The Aimpoint advertises a 3-year battery life, with constant on...how true is that?

My upper limit is $300 for a low power scope and around $500 for a 'combat'-quality red dot. I say that quality level because I only want to buy it once and be able to use it worry free, not because I'm really going to beat it up.

 

[M1key]

Leupold 2.5x scope and Aimpoint CMP2 2MOA Red Dot with 5 year battery life.

These two should serve you nicely.

I had the Eotech but didn't care for the busy reticle, or the on/off switch and replaced it w/ the CMP2.

M

 

[GCMkc]

I'm running an Aimpoint H-1 (2MOA) with a LaRue LT751 mount (absolute co-witness) on one of my rifles and I couldn't be happier. Worth the money! It's so small and light and with the LaRue mount you can take it on and off in seconds without any zero shift. Looks great too. 5-year battery life. With the LaRue mount which I bought used I think I have about $615 into it.

I also had an Aimpoint PRO and it was definitely a great optic (even better when I paid $360 shipped for it). It was considerably bigger than the H-1 but was a good optic. 3-year battery life, comes with a mount that has a removable spacer to lower the height of the optic, Night Vision compatible, and has flip-caps. Pretty darn good bargain.

I don't have much experience with any of the Eotech's. I've used them before but I find them to be too bulky and have terrible battery life when compared to the Aimpoints. As mentioned above, I'm not a fan of the Eotech reticle. I know they do have versions with just a 1MOA dot with no donut around it.

 

[benEzra]

I like my Eotech (516) for the reticle and wide field of view. The battery life can't compare to an Aimpoint, though; Eotech battery life is 1000 hours on 2xCR123, or about 3 months if left on at brightness 12 for 24/7, though longer under normal use. It turns itself off to save batteries if the buttons aren't touched for 8 hours straight, so if you pull it out of the safe you have to hit a button to turn on the optic.

The upside is that an Eotech has a wider field of view with less obstruction up high than an Aimpoint, making it a little faster at close range, and the dot is smaller (diffraction limited at least up to 4x), making it more usable with a flip-to-side magnifier than the Aimpoint if you plan on that.

 

[stumpers]

Thanks for the responses so far - one more question:

How will either the EoTech or Aimpoint PRO cowitness with a fixed rear BUIS? I'm leaning toward the Aimpoint - will that need a spacer to bring it up, or will the mount with it be fine?

I only ever used Matech BUIS in the Army with my EoTech, so I never used them cowitness, but the Matech is very small comparatively to the BUIS I have now.

 

[taliv]

i also strongly prefer the aimpoint micro. get the larue mount. (or GDI). yes, the battery will actually last years.

i don't use BUIS anymore. (but i sure as heck would if i used an eotech) i think the buis will be in your way with the scope. the front sight post won't, because you can't focus that close, but the rear one will. get one that folds down. maybe the magpul rear buis if you really think you need one.

nice rifles and sounds like a good plan

look at vortex optics before you buy the leupold (not that leupold isn't decent)

 

[briansmithwins]

I've done pretty much what the OP is asking in regards to the Aimpoints. Using a fixed rear BUIS and a LaRue lower 1/3 cowitness mount I never motive the irons while shooting.

As far as the EoTech having better field of view, that's not my experience. When actually shooting (as opposed to admiring the nifty optics) I don't notice anything except the red dot and the target. And yes, the Aimpoint batteries actually do last that long.

BSW

 

[GCMkc]

Thanks for the responses so far - one more question:

How will either the EoTech or Aimpoint PRO cowitness with a fixed rear BUIS? I'm leaning toward the Aimpoint - will that need a spacer to bring it up, or will the mount with it be fine?

I only ever used Matech BUIS in the Army with my EoTech, so I never used them cowitness, but the Matech is very small comparatively to the BUIS I have now.

If I remember correctly, the Aimpoint PRO will have lower 1/3 co-witness with the spacer installed and will have a upper 1/3 co-witness without the spacer. I'm pretty sure the PRO is to be used w/out the spacer on HK's, Shotguns and other firearms that require the optic to be lower in order to have a decent cheekweld. The spacer is included with the optic and can be removed by taking out the two set screws.

 

[LiquidTension]

If you can't find an Aimpoint Micro in your price range definitely go with the PRO over the EOTech. After my EOTech broke under light use they wanted $79 to even take a look at it. An Aimpoint would have been covered under warranty and likely wouldn't have broken in the first place. Since that EOTurd I've bought an H-1 and two PROs. They have all performed perfectly, with the H-1 seeing MUCH more use than the EOTurd ever did.

I'll echo what others have said and advise you get a folding rear sight if you feel you really need one. PSA often runs a sale with the PRO and Magpul BUIS for ~$400. Also look for used optics. The last PRO I picked up was LNIB for $300. That leaves lots of money for a LaRue mount, BUIS, or ammo.

 

[GCMkc]

I'll echo what others have said and advise you get a folding rear sight if you feel you really need one.

Agreed. Primary Arms has Troy Folding rear sights on sale right now.

https://www.primaryarms.com/Troy_Rear_Folding_Battlesight_Black_p/ssig-fbs-r0bt-00.htm

 

[Still Shooting]

I'm running an Aimpoint PRO and Magpul BUIS (folding rear) on my M&P 15 flattop. I sighted in with the BUIS before I bought the PRO, and when I mounted the PRO and sighted it in, I flipped up the rear BUIS and the co-witness was already there. I have a the standard Aimpoint mount.

 

[stumpers]

I think I agree that a conventional rifle scope on my AR will need a folding rear sight, unless it's mounted absurdly high. I have a Matech to put on once whatever scope I get arrives until I get something more solid like a Troy.

For those that use a similar low power scope on an AR, do you find it a small, medium, or big improvement on iron sights? Is there consensus on the value of a scope for my described uses? (I should say, value of a low power scope compared to irons.

 

[gotigers]

A good 1-4x scope (i like the nikons) for the 0-200 yard gun and an Eotech on the plinker. Both are within your budgets.

I like Eotechs because of sight picture and reticle. The aimpoints have better battery life, but as a civilian, i dont think it is necessary. Both are good optics.

I like a simple reticle in my low power scopes. I don't like some of the busy reticles that are out. They cover to much of the target and are to busy. The Nikons have good glass and are very affordable. The Nikon Monarch African and the Nikon M-223 are the similar scopes, except the M-223 has turrets and different reticle. The african is cheaper. Another good entry level scope is the Weaver Classic 1-3x. The weaver has good glass and is reliable, but the 3x gets tough for over 300 yards.

I also run Magpul MBUS on my 2 carbines.

Edit: I've had my Eotech XPS2-0 for over 2 years without a single issue. It has been through classes, many 3 gun matches, thousands of rounds, etc.

With that said, if i had the money, my next choice would be an Aimpoint micro.