ARs with Red Dots are Pretty Slick

[Welding Rod]

I shot in my first carbine match this afternoon. I was shooting a RRA 16" Mid-length light-weight A4 with Magpul CTR and Aimpoint T1.

I have shot plenty of matches with 20" ARs with iron sights, as well as M1As and M1s, but this was my first carbine match with a red dot sight.

This was the course of fire (all shooters shooting simultaneously):

*Come to the line with 2 magazines loaded with 10 rounds each
*At the command to fire, shoot 5 rounds offhand at 50 yards
*Then go to kneeling and fire 5 more rounds at 50 yards
*Then go to prone, do a magazine change, and fire 10 rounds prone at 100 yards
*Time limit for all this was 2 minutes.
*We repeated this course of fire twice, for a total of 40 rounds expended

So no "running", but the 5 ring on the targets was about the size of a grapefruit, and the "V" ring was maybe 2", so it was reasonably fast and fun.

The AR with Aimpoint was so fast on this course of fire. I think I shot and then poured and drank a cup of coffee by the time a few of the guys shooting other carbines with iron sights were finishing up.

Anyway the AR / optic really impressed me. Having not shot this type of event before I didn't fully appreciate the advantage this combo has. Just for fun afterwards I used up the remaining 20 rounds of ammo I loaded on a ~6" gong and 100 yards, kneeling. 20 for 20 was child's play.

Great day.

Now I think I may switch out one or two of my magnified optics for Aimpoint T1s as well.

 

[Sky]

It is a great day when everything comes together; congrats!

 

[oldpapps]

The 'shoot' sounds like a lot of fun.

But, I will babble about 'red dots'.

It is my experience that red dots aren't much good for 'nats ars' shooting. Let me explain, shooting for close precision.

That said, let me continue. I like the '0' magnification option and being able to keep both eyes looking for my target/s and imposing the little red dot on the target. Fast and does the trick.

I cringe at the price differences from bottom of the line to top. I don't know just what benefits one model that costs half again more than my first car has over what a bicycle costs would be. I have bought a number of middle of the road versions and have ended up with 4 mil red dots each time. I like each of them and have yet to have a battery die on one (I did changed one battery out just because I was expecting it to die).

So, if I'm looking for ground hogs at 250 yards or farther, I want my scopes. For deer or hogs, my red dots are my best choice for quick shots.

Now, I have no intention to set off a down pour of 'how great' this model or that one is or why brand 'X' is bad. For the time being, the 4 that I have are serving my needs well.

I like 'red dots', for many uses.

 

[wbwanzer]

I'm waiting the arrival of my first red dot to mount on my Beretta CX4. Never used a red dot before. I've order an inexpensive one for starters. I don't hunt or compete. Just shoot for fun.

 

[wally]

Never used a red dot before. I've order an inexpensive one for starters.

IMHO this is wise, not everyone likes red dots. Main thing to remember is you need to focus your vision on the target and look "thru" the dot to aim, both eyes open is best. This is different from a scope or irons where you focus on the reticle or the front sight.

All the cheap "tube" type red dots have served me very well, none of the "reflex" type than cost less than ~$200 have been worth a crap.

 

[briansmithwins]

Red dot optics get you hits

 

[briansmithwins]

Red dot optics get you hits faster at close range, out to roughly 200-250 yards for reasonable sized targets.

Magnified optics are better at longer ranges, where positive ID and and being able to decern parts of a target are a concern.

Generally speaking, nothing is faster than a red dot for very close range work, say inside of 50 yards. Shooting fast and hitting at close range is just as much a skill as long range work, just different.

BSW