Best AR Optic under $500?

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I have a question.

So you set up your ambush and wait for the game to come through.... relying on moonlight and hearing I assume. A group of pigs wander into view..or maybe you just hear them and know they are there. You then illuminate them with your surefires so you can aim.

How do they react when you turn on your flashlights?

I'm envisioning a scene with a bunch of startled pigs running around or bolting for cover. Is that about what happens?

Honestly, I think a lot of experienced hunters would find that alien. Most areas seem to have game laws barring true night hunting... so the hunter with that experience chooses optics optimized for the time (s)he's allowed to hunt. Dawn to dusk. On top of that, most hunters in the US take pains to go after stationary game simply because it increases the odds of a successful one-shot kill.

A well chosen magnified optic will allow you to use less illumination or to see farther with the light you have. OTOH, it will be harder to use on fast moving targets if the game is running around. The red dot/EOtech precludes the use of a red filter on your flashlights.... but that may or may not be of any benefit in this scenario anyway.
 
Hold out a couple months. Trijicon RMR weighs 1.2 oz.

Look at resale values of anything that's not Aimpoint. You buy it, and it becomes worthless. You might as well throw your money away. People sell used Aimpoints for almost what a new one costs. That's telling you something about quality. Trijicons likewise, but a trijicon does deteriorate over time, so used isn't as good a deal.

http://www.trijicon.com/user/parts/parts_new.cfm?categoryID=13

From $400 (+mount).
http://www.swfa.com/c-2766-trijicon-rmr-ruggedized-miniature-reflex-sights.aspx

rmr_family_sm.jpg
 
Ed Ames said:
So you set up your ambush and wait for the game to come through.... relying on moonlight and hearing I assume. A group of pigs wander into view..or maybe you just hear them and know they are there. You then illuminate them with your surefires so you can aim.

How do they react when you turn on your flashlights?

I'm envisioning a scene with a bunch of startled pigs running around or bolting for cover. Is that about what happens?

That's about the size of it. Though we've always had enough moonlight to see them but not enough to take good aim. So, you draw a bead, hit the light and fire. It's a one shot deal generally. And yes, it's completely alien but interesting. On this particular property, it's about the only way to get them as they've been hunted hard and are very cautious.

In Texas it is estimated that 1.5 million wild hogs cause an estimated $52 million in property and crop damage annually. Due to their destructive nature and increasing numbers, feral hogs are not a regulated game animal in Texas. In fact Republican Rep. Sid Miller of Stephenville has introduced a bill that would legalize hunting feral hogs from a helicopter. And while it sounds crazy, it does point out how serious the issue has become for Texas ranchers and land owners.

All this aside, I'm not married to the EOTech. And I have to admit, the Trijicon RMR looks like an improvement over the EOTech.
 
The Eotech will be fine for this sort of thing. The one thing you will want to do is get your reticle brightness set properly before the hogs show up. Aimpoints have a very fast adjustment (knob), but the Eotech has a push button adjustment that's just not as good/fast. Get that set properly and it shoudl be perfect for your uses.

I'm not sure where anyone got the idea that Eotechs and Aimpoints aren't useful in low light. Used properly, they excel in low light. They're certainly better than irons.

Mike
 
Also, most of the hog shots will be well under 50 yards-- some much closer -- and often in heavy cover so the ability to acquire the target quickly is a handy feature

I think your choice of Eotech is fine, not sure I'd agree with choice of weapon for the given task.

Your above statement screams 12 guage loaded with buckshot to me.
 
Thanks again for all your input guys.

I realized today while walking the dog that I neglected to include one very important bit of information in my OP. I invested a fair amount of money in good flip-up front and rear BUIS and want an optic that will co-witness if needed with this setup or allow me to use the BUIS if the optic fails. Probably explains my inclination toward EOTech or Trijicon. Speaking of... 1.2 oz. Wow. I don't know enough about Trijicon to compare it to EOTech but that's a mighty convincing argument.
 
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I think your choice of Eotech is fine, not sure I'd agree with choice of weapon for the given task.

Your above statement screams 12 guage loaded with buckshot to me.
I'm a shotgun fanboy at contact range, but in this scenario (feral hogs, 0-50yds), I'll take a rifle with a 30 round magazine and some good quality ammo (Hornady 75gr TAP or comparable loadings with SMKs).

As far as weight goes, lighter is always better, but if the weight is near the balance point (which a sight on an AR will be), the weight matters a lot less. When it starts to really be a PITA is when it is out on the nose in a scout-mount configuration.

Mike
 
I'm a shotgun fanboy at contact range, but in this scenario (feral hogs, 0-50yds), I'll take a rifle with a 30 round magazine and some good quality ammo (Hornady 75gr TAP or comparable loadings with SMKs).

My thought are:

1. .223 is on the small side for feral hogs
2. .223 is on the small side for thick brush

I know a .223 will kill a hog, but shot placement is more critical with the smaller round. Given the thick brush, moving target, and hunting in the dark I think a shotgun makes more sense.

I'm forced to hunt deer with shotgun, no rifles allowed where I hunt. We run deer with dogs, so most shots the deer are running full blast. We hunt in very thick brush, so 9 times out of 10 you hear the deer before you see it (just like described for the hogs). Given these circumstances, I'd continue to use a shotgun even if rifles where allowed.

Over the years I've taken +/- 100 deer this way, so I know it works.

I also hunt predators at night, mostly calling in fields. I carry a rifle for longer shots, and a shotgun for < 50 yds.
 
Aimpoint CompML3 can be had for under $500 including tax if you look in the right places. I'm assuming you don't want/need night vision compatability, otherwise you'll have to pay more for the CompM3. You can get a lot of optic for your money with a CompM3 or CompML3. If battery life is a not a concern, you can get a CompM2 or CompML2 (up to 10,000 hrs. vs. the CompM3/CompML3's 50,000 hrs.).

I am not personally a fan of EOTech's, though others love them and I'm sure they have good reason to. I have owned both, and I will stick with my Aimpoints.

I have a CompM3 on my 5.56 rifle, and an older CompM (which works great) on my 6.8 rifle. Both are set up to co-witness.
 
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As someone who use to supply LE including local ATF and DEA, the Aimpoint and EOS are both fine units. The EOS is a bit more accurate (1" MOA dot verse 3" MOA dot) and a bit easier to sight up quickly. Entry teams love the EOS. The Aimpoint has a better reputation for reliability and battery life though. EOS had some recalls for failure during the Iraq conflict. For a SHTF gun I would chose the Aimpoint or look for the new Trijicon (availability may be an issue). I run a Trijicon 3X on my M4 and love it, no on-off switch and the use of fiber optics in day time makes for a versatile piece. As far as night shooting, a forearm mounted Surefire handles those needs.

For Hunting, you are talking totally different optics requirements. AR's are very popular here for Coyotes, etc. but those are long range shots at small targets. I would go with a Leopuld or Nikon 3-10X for that application. Both are a lot cheaper then 500$ for good glass. But the requirements for a low use hunting scope verses a high use fast target acquisition optic are totally different beasts.

OTOH, I would never pursue feral hogs with a .223. The need for super critical shot placement is far to high.
 
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