Good SMALL rugged 3x scope (or less) with lighted red-dot (or similar)?

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arizonaguide

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I typically like a red-dot, but I'm thinking some slight magnification would be good for coyotes. I don't typically risk shots out past 200yds with my old eyes anymore...and this AR Coyote stuff is new to me.

I'm not looking to spend the money for an Aimpoint/Trijicon/etc, and Magnifier.
Just some type of a good (inexpensive?) magnified Red Dot or Illuminated scope of some kind...and I thought I'd heard of something like this. (say $150+/- but not a POS).


Would you folks have a good recommendation on something like a (slightly) magnified red-dot that would be good out to maybe 300yds (or likely LESS) that wouldn't break the bank, but is NOT a POS?

A "less expensive" option for a slightly magnified (likely 200-300yd range) red-dot that's NOT a POS, or perhaps an "illuminated" low power scope? Maybe.
I can't justify much more than a couple hundred bucks, tops, and LESS would be better.

Any recommendations? I'm not sure what I really want, and looking for advice.

Something that will be good out to LESS than 300yds, for my old eyes...(but would still be usable at 50yds also?). Anybody familier with something like this?
 
That's a tough combination of price and hoped-for quality.

Closest I can think of would be the Vortex Strikefire red dot, which sells for $150 including a 2x magnifier. However, field of view becomes tiny with the magnifier in place - it's like looking through a pipe. Still, it would seem to meet your criteria.

A compact ACOG would be perfect, but they are $550 on clearance at SWFA and normally over $800. However, you get what you pay for.
 
+1 for the Vortex

NC Star has some options but are a real crap shoot....some are perfectly fine, some are, uh, not.

OpticsPlanet.com is a good source for research.

This Bushnell unit is supposed to be pretty good - no magnification but good reticle.
http://www.opticsplanet.net/bushnell-trophy-1x32-riflescope-730132p.html

Another source for low priced clones that gets great reviews on RimfireCentral.com is RRages.com.

Either place gives you a 100% money back guarantee...so you'd have some protection if not satisfied.

Good luck.
 
Some great links, DRM...thank you. :cool:

Still trying to sort it all out. I like a red dot for both eyes open shooting, but this whole coyote thing is pretty new to me. Not sure what I'll really want/need...but gotta go with something for starters.
:D
 
Take a look at the Burris AR-332. 3x magnifier, solid pedigree, holdoffs for 200, 300, 400, 500m shooting, and an affordable price.
 
The AR-332 looks great on paper, but all the reviews I've read are very bad. Does anyone here have one?
 
I don't remember where, but I read several different places saying that the aiming reticle was off-center within the view you saw through the scope, and could not be corrected. I think one or two reports were in forums like this one (but not sure which, I used a google search) and one or two reports were buyer comments on store websites that let you do that (like Midway, but not sure if that was one of them). Sorry I can't be more specific, I just remember that I was excited about that option and found enough bad reviews to stop looking at it at all.
 
Yea, I've read some poor reviews about the AR-332 also. Enough of 'em to make me lose my enthusiasm for it. I was hoping it would be a solid Burris product, but it's just another off-shored piece lacking quality control from what I hear.

I just bought a Millett 1-4 illuminated reticle scope. It's a little more expensive, has a 30 mm tube, is fairly compact, kinda heavy, but I like the reticle, and it seems to work well so far. It's designed for the AR platform. I don't know how much better it is than the Burris mentioned above, but I'd read some solid reviews, so I gave it a go. Here's a link:

http://www.millettsights.com/scopes/dms/
 
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There are myriads of scopes with illuminated reticles using batteries, and other expensive ones that don't use batteries.

Do you HAVE to have a battery-less illuminator, such as tritium, etc.?

What's the ACTUAL max budget here, in US dollars? :)

And illumination or not, do you really want a Low-powered scope for coyote hunting? You may very well need and want more power on a scope for that use, something like a 3-9 or 4-12 or 5-15, etc. Maybe even a 6-18. No reason at all I can see to go to "under 3x" for that use.

The scope that probably fits your criteria best however, is the Mueller Sport Dot, 3.5-10x44mm. It's got a tiny red dot (very precise, unlike most "red dot" sights) in the center of permanent crosshairs (so it works even if your batteries die). Nice scope for the money. I use one on a Marlin .22 magnum. At least this one can be set on and left on 3.5x, for closer shots - it's not "less than 3x", but it ain't much more. AND, you have the option of cranking up to 10 if you need it.

Aimpoint does make a fixed 2x red dot for not overly much money. I wouldn't go any lower quality than an aimpoint on such a beast at this point, though - the technology ain't advanced enough and competitive enough to give you a good value on low end stuff.
 
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Ya know, you did say SMALL, and that's a valid want/need. So now I too will say (instead of the Mueller) to get the Millett DMS-1. Illuminated, small, goes up to 4 power, under $250.
 
Take a look at the Trijicon Accupoint 1-4x scope. Some mount them with a Larue lt104, but I've heard that maybe the further extended version would be better.

Then theres the Trijicon ACOG's
 
A cheap scope that I think is a great deal for a back-up scope or a low range scope is the bushnell 1.75-4. I think it's a trophy - made for shotguns with a shotgun reticle.

On low power I can use both eyes open.

I had bought this scope several years ago because it was on sale and never had it on a rifle. Last weekend, we swapped some scope around and I ended up with the bushnell on my Browning 223 abolt, the combo worked so well I left it on.

The trijicon 1-4 is pretty expensive - I have one in the box waiting for it's upper to arrive. It came from midway. A green dot with german reticle. This 33mm tube will probably eventually go on a real hunting rifle instead of a lego ar toy, but what the heck, might as well use it for the range and varmint hunting until then. The trijicon is much more expensive than the bushnell: the optics, made in USA, and little green dot account for that. But, I don't think you'l regret getting the 1.75-4 as a back up for any type of platform - 22, centerfire, shotgun, or even Han Solo pistol rig.

L.W.
 
You'll need to define small. Some of the scopes mentioned, like the millett and bushnell trophy aren't small. Well, I guess they are with their relatively small objectives, but they are around a foot long. If price was no object, the Trijicon TA33 is hard to beat. It's a 3X scope with generous eye relief that is very forgiving.
 
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