Musings on 'general purpose' optics

[SpookyPistolero]

A recent thread discussing the possibility of an upcoming 1-4x scope with a red dot and bullet drop compensator got me thinking about what I would find to be the 'best' general purpose scope. To my mind, this means something that I could see being ultimately useful in 3-gun as well as in camping/hiking/hunting or even for close quarters activities should the need arise.

I definitely agree that a 1-4x is the most versatile way to go. 1x is simply not enough at ranges up to 3-400 yards, but 4x would be very excessive when indoors or at shorter ranges. A choice has to exist if you are looking to make one scope fit all your needs. The reticle is where I find some question, however.

I like the way the EOTech is setup (and may end up buying that). If things are quite close, the large outer circle is a great quick reference. The 1 MOA cross is equally suited for longer ranges. Again, though, the problem of using a non-magnified optic becomes problematic at longer ranges.

It seems like on other common reflex sights like an Aimpoint, that a red dot of a compromised size is most common. It's big enough that you can hopefully pick it up quickly, but small enough to hopefully be able to use with some precision. This kind of compromise seems to be leaving you with the worst of both worlds (in my limited experience). You've got a dot that's not quite great at longer ranges, and a little too small to pick up super-quick when things are tight.

The inverted chevron seems to be the best solution to these problems. It's small, upper point would allow for a great deal of precision, versus a large dot covering the entire target area. The 'wings' of the chevron also make for very quick indexing to use in close quarters, negating any 'hunt' for the dot. It would also be just as easy to use a bullet drop compensator. A system that could use an illuminated chevron, or a black one when the battery fails, seems ideal.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this? A choice in reticle is certainly going to be very individualized, but this seems to solve some pretty universal problems in my eyes. I would very much like to see this sort of optic created.

So thoughts, comments, snide remarks?

 

[KaceCoyote]

My vote

In my mind, optic versatility is really dominated by the AK family of rifles. All the optics, all of them can be pulled off in mere seconds and reinstalled just as fast without tools or much bother and you retain zero! My PK-A red dot, though not telescopic has been a real eye opening experience. Optic for the closer, quicker shots and then I just adjust the cheek weld and go for iron sights for more precise work at range. I'm pondering working out a pair've pouches like those for dump mags and perhaps bringing a PK-A -and- a telescopic sight into combat.

 

[SpookyPistolero]

Actually, all of my shooting is really done from the AK platform so those are good options. I have been looking at the Kobra sight as a way to go, since there are different types of reticles to choose from, an inverted chevron among them. There isn't an magnification of course, so I'm trying to decide how much I want that.

I also really like the PSOP you posted and would love to actually have a bullet drop comp on the 7.62x39. The only problem I have with them is the fact that you just can't have any decent cheek weld with them. I don't imagine that that PSOP would be any different. It's irritating to have to pull your cheek off the rifle to see your sight.

This is a little off topic and I'm planning on asking it as a whole new thread later, but I'm also trying to decide if I would rather use an Ultimak rail and a forward mounted optic that I might even be able to coindex with the sights, or just a side mounted piece I can slide off if need be. That feature is so handy that it seems almost sinful not to take advantage of.

Anyway, have you found any good solutions to trying to get a cheek weld?

 

[Zak Smith]

Note that as you need more precision, the targets are generally further away. This is why the arguments about pinpoint precision in the TA31/11 donut vs. chevron are pretty silly. At 250 or 300 yards, you're holding well below the donut. Even the relatively coarse "top of the donut" on the TA11 can keep them within a 1" dot at 100 yards.

For a true general purpose optic, you should be able to shoot effectively with it to "rifle" distances - 300-600 yards. A good set of iron sites enables hits out to 600 yards on silhouettes; your optic should not put you at a disadvantage to those iron sights just because it has a poor reticle design.

The reticle needs to be quick to pick up at relatively close distance (think BAC effect) and have the right capabilities for longer range. Specifically, that means to have vertical demarcations down below the main reticle zero and corresponding marks for windage. It really sucks to have to hold "4 feet high and 3 feet left" when all you have is a dot.

For a single general purpose optic for a rifle, my answer is a TA11 ACOG. Super durable, compact, good eye relief, easy to pick up sight picture (large exit pupil), can be used to make hits out to 600 with practice; owns everything within 350-400. A slight speed disadvantage at less than 50 yards to a 1x red dot, but training can help to make up for that -- the 1x dot cannot reach out near as far as the ACOG can. Over the variables, it has more robustness, more compact design, simpler mounting, and simpler interface.

The USO SN4 is nice, but I'd like it a lot more in the same form factor if it went up to 6 or 8x.

FWIW. YMMV.

-z