Best Recommendation for Fast Target Acquisition.

[Howland937]

Picked up a S&W MP 15-22 for the sole purpose of using in bowling pin shoots. Pins are just the top 6" cut off, shot at 50 feet. 5 pins, all must be off the table on the ground. Fastest wins.
(I'll likely unleash the kid on some steel plates too)

Don't need benchrest accuracy. Don't even need squirrel gun accuracy. I shoot in the handgun classes and use a 3MOA RMR and was leaning toward just sticking one on the rifle since that's what I'm used to. Just curious if there's any advantage to a low magnification scope with illuminated reticle or even a no magnification dot type tube style optic.

This stuff is completely different from the type of shooting, types of guns, and types of optics I've spent the last 35 years doing...but I'm a quick learner. Budget is probably in the $350 range, so please don't recommend a $1200 optic for my $400 rifle
TIA.

 

[litework]

Holographic sights are pretty fast. The Eotech 512 is a bit more than $350 - like $500 actually. I have the similar Eotech EXPS3-2 and really like it. I have no experience with the Holosun HS510C but it's a $300 holographic and a lot of people like them. Or you could just go with a simple red dot. Lots of those around at various price points.

 

[gotboostvr]

The 1x micro prism from primary arms is worth a look.

Sturdy, light, nice reticle, works with or without illumination, plenty of mounting options in the box. Handy little optics.

I dig my 3x, but a 1x would suit your needs a little better I think.

 

[derek45]

A red dot and a lot of muscle memory practice

 

[Buzznrose]

if not getting an Aimpoint, I strongly suggest Vortex Sparc 2:

https://www.amazon.com/Vortex-Optic...s=vortex+red+dot+sight&qid=1676902917&sr=8-16

 

[jmorris]

I’d probably run an aimpoint comp2/3.

 

[entropy]

1-4 or 1-6 Strike Eagles can be found on sale in your range, and there are less expensive LPVO's that would serve your purpose, but they do add substantial weight. A red dot would be just fine for your intended purpose.

 

[Varminterror]

At the tip of the spear, open red dots/prisms are proven to be the fastest options on the market. Only slightly behind that is every other option on the market when employed with well practiced, appropriate technique.

Given the description of the game, I would not consider any sighting option than an open red dot or prism. Targets are ~10-14x34moa, and it’s a race.

I’m typically always better practiced with scopes than any other sight type, so coming cold with no prep time to that match, I’d use an LPVO, but given more than a few days worth of notice, I would practice up with an RDS/prism and exceed my performance with the scope.

 

[jak67429]

What I have on my mp 15-22 is a trs 25, 2moa dot. It is all I use for pin heads. I go with a 4 or 6 min for steel challenge. IFYI I won the last 2 out of 3 pin head matches we shot, I lost the last one to my granddaughter. We give the juniors a 5yard advantage.

 

[Howland937]

Thanks for the insight everyone. I may have been overthinking based on the newness factor. In my head I was concerned that the circle/dot reflex sight such as what I have on my pistols wouldn't translate well to rifle use. Thinking that the 3 moa dot would obscure more of the target being that the target is farther away and the optic is closer to my eye.

Then I realized I can mount the optic the same distance from my eye as my pistol optics are. Gonna try this approach and see where it gets me.

 

[Varminterror]

The dot also gets larger and smaller as you move farther and closer, so it subtends the same angle (ish) no matter where you place it relative to your eye. A 3moa dot will be a 3moa dot (ish) whether it is close or far from your eye.

 

[12Bravo20]

I find that a circle dot reticle works well with pistols, rifles and shotguns for quickly picking up the target. For me the circle gets me on target fast and then I can quickly put the dot where I want.

Most circles are 60 to 65 MOA with a 2 or 3 MOA dot depending on the manufacturer.

 

[TonyAngel]

I've gotten to an age where my eyes have started failing me and have moved to some sort of magnification on all but 1 of my rigs larger than 22lr and have done the same on my .22s.

At the distances you're talking about for the purpose you mentioned and all things otherwise being equal, the red dot will be the fastest and the most forgiving. Personally, I really like the nice and bright 2moa dot on the sig romeo5.

 

[InTheSwamp]

Romeo 5

 

[Howland937]

I ended up with one of these on it.
Don't remember what brand (UTG I think?) but it's not super nice. Circle dot with selectable color, little bigger diameter than the 22mm on the pistol. I think it measures right at 30mm. Cost right at $120. I took the protective frame/cover thing off because it was kinda bulky and just added useless weight. Seems ok so far.

 

[js8588]

Romeo4h circle plex

 

[MDoutdoors]

I have a Holosun HS510c on my marlin 1894 in 44MAG that I use as a ranch gun. Super quick target acquisition and has a ton of super cool little features like the auto shake on and off, the auto brightness adjustment, 3 different reticals to cycle through, and the quick detach/attach. Has a solar panel on it so the battery life is something ridiculous for the price of the optic. Got it for around 300$ and couldn't be happier.

 

[Space Ghost]

IMHO, a red dot sight is the single fastest sighting system you can get for a long gun.

I struggled for years being right handed, yet left eye dominant. I always had to close my left eye to engage the target, slowing down my shooting. I could still qualify, often "expert", but it just seemed to be that I was not doing it as quickly as I could have. During my first couple deployments, I was lucky not to see a lot of action, and I managed to get by. As we were training up for my last one, a young troop in my section wanted to show old sarge his new toy he had bought with his own money... an Aimpoint. I was so impressed I had to have one. Sold out, ended up with an EoTech. Almost as good. Still, I swear that on 2 separate occasions, that thing allowed me to get off the first accurate shot, allowing me to come home alive. This last deployment was a lot more sporty than any other. In fact, an IED finally retired me.

In short... I now have an Aimpoint on my go to SBR, and as I can't afford multiple of them... I have the Sig Romeo 5 on several guns. It's a great little optic for the money. They can go on ARs, lever guns, bolt guns... you name it.