Best bang for the buck scope for my AR-15?

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David007

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Best bang for the buck Optic for my AR-15?

http://search.gandermountain.com/?v...low&Ne=1000&N=1291&cname=Red-Dot-Laser-Sights

My AR-15 didnt come with iron sights. (If i knew it would cost $125 total for front + rear, i would have bought one with at least a front sight.)

Anyway, people have been recommending the TRS-25 (need to buy high mount):
http://www.gandermountain.com/modpe...25_3_MOA_Red_Dot_Scope&aID=503N8&merchID=4006

and the Vortex® Strikefire (no need to buy high mount since it comes with extra-high 30mm rings?):
http://www.gandermountain.com/modpe...h_Flat_Top_AR_15_Mount&aID=503N8&merchID=4006

And how about those $70 reflex sights?

I have a $20 off $100 coupon for the site. (can pad order w/ammo to bring it up to $100.)

The purpose of my AR-15 is (paper) target shooting at up to 100 yards.

Which one is best bang for the buck?
THX!


Edit:
Changed title from Scope to Optic since apparently Scope implies magnification
 
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Are you more concerned with the long end, or the short end of the intended use range?
 
Check out Primary Arms, http://www.primaryarms.com/category.sc?categoryId=398 , they have a nice selection of red dots and free shipping on the Vortex you have listed. They also have their own brand of Aimpoint clones that are popular with good reviews. I would get the PA micro red dot before i would get the Bushnell.

The PA micro, http://www.primaryarms.com/product.sc?productId=924&categoryId=419 , is small, light, 3 MOA and affordable.

I've ordered a bunch of stuff from PA. They have fantastic customer service.

I am not a big fan of the tube style red dots like the vortex. The vortex is a good red dot, i just get tunnel vision with the big tube red dots. With that said, if you have to select one of the 2 you listed, i would go with the vortex.

Vortex also offers the Sparc. It is a micro red dot. PA has it listed. It cost a bit more but is nice.
 
Check out a Mueller 2-7x Multi-Shot scope. Might not be the best glass, but it is durable and has a very nice illuminated reticle with a circle and a 1moa red dot, but it is etched in so you can illuminate it or leave it black.

EDIT: You can find it for $120-150
 
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Don't know your price range but I have a Redfiled 2x7-32 its very clear edge to edge, small package, I paid $129 my second choice for more power is the Burris Timberline 4x14-40 has longer eye relief cost is $219. Either is excellent scope for the AR IMO./
 
You might want to take a look at the Nikon M-223 if you are shooting 55 gr. ammo and you have a 1-9" twist..
 
If your rifle doesn't come with a front or rear sight then you wouldn't need to worry about ring size or optic height. Unless of course you are going to be putting a 50 mm objective lens on it, then you might wight to opt for some height.
 
Redfields are a fantastic scope

Very high quality, great price, AND made in the USA......

Do we REALLY need to keep a chinese family supported over an AMERICAN family?
 
I own three of the above reccomendations (trs-25, mueller 2-7 multishot w/ red dot and a 2-7 redfield). The trs-25 and Mueller 2-7 are mounted on ar-15's and the redfield is on a .22. The redfield has the best glass but the Mueller is so versatile w/ its 1moa dot and capability to add magnification for longer ranges. If I had just one AR and one optic for it, I would have the Mueller.
 
And how about those $70 reflex sights?
Click to expand...

I've had universally bad luck with reflex sights that cost less than the J-Point of FastFire (~$225).

OTOH I've had near universal good luck with the cheap tube type red dots.

At ~$150 the Vortex Strikefire is very nice and gives good co-witness with BUIS.

Another good low-ball option is the Sightmark "Aimpoint look-alike" at about $70, works very well and comes with a mount that also gives good co-witness.

I've been pretty happy with the UTG/NcStar flip up front and rear BUIS at about $30 each. The Magpul rear at about $60 I often use under a scope with a QD mount in case the scope goes south, the NcStar/UTG flip-up front works well with it and is out of the way when folded down.

The Magpul front is too short for most front gas blocks -- its made to mount on the same rail as the rear.

If you just want iron sights to use while saving for a scope, give the NcStar/UTG pair a try at ~$60 total.

As you've discovered, you can easily spend as much on a good set of irons as a decent scope would cost, which to me would only be worth it if shooting matches that required iron sights only.
 
I'll give another plug for Primary Arms. Good customer service and their knockoffs are better than most. I have one of the Bushnells. It's a neat little optic, but you have to put it on a riser to get a proper cheek weld with an AR and it looks kind of funky.
 
+1 the Millet DMS.

Its a great buy if you aren't sure what you really want -- at 1X and the dot illumination on you can use it like a red dot both eyes open, at 4X its a very nice scope.

Midway regularly has them on sale for ~$200.
 
ive got two of the vortex units and theyve been great and trouble free. Only thing they seem lack compared to my 600 dollar aimpoints is a bit of battery life. I dont know if there rugged enough for use in actuall combat but they hold up to us civilians just fine.
 
ugaarguy said:
Are you more concerned with the long end, or the short end of the intended use range?
Click to expand...
right now more like 25yards since thats the max at the indoor range. plan to goto west Virginia to shoot outdoors for 100yards, but dont know when
 
wally said:
I've had universally bad luck with reflex sights that cost less than the J-Point of FastFire (~$225).

OTOH I've had near universal good luck with the cheap tube type red dots.

At ~$150 the Vortex Strikefire is very nice and gives good co-witness with BUIS.

Another good low-ball option is the Sightmark "Aimpoint look-alike" at about $70, works very well and comes with a mount that also gives good co-witness.

I've been pretty happy with the UTG/NcStar flip up front and rear BUIS at about $30 each. The Magpul rear at about $60 I often use under a scope with a QD mount in case the scope goes south, the NcStar/UTG flip-up front works well with it and is out of the way when folded down.

The Magpul front is too short for most front gas blocks -- its made to mount on the same rail as the rear.

If you just want iron sights to use while saving for a scope, give the NcStar/UTG pair a try at ~$60 total.

As you've discovered, you can easily spend as much on a good set of irons as a decent scope would cost, which to me would only be worth it if shooting matches that required iron sights only.
Click to expand...
this is the sightmark aimpoint clone ($80)?
http://www.amazon.com/Sightmark-Tac...TS88/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1310819916&sr=8-3

41yWGwxsIQL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

How does this compare to the TRS-25 (also $80)?

any links for NcStar/UTG pair at ~$60 total?
 
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