PDA

View Full Version : Optic Selection Guide.



Paulo_Santos
28 October 2009, 11:46
Please post any comments here:
http://www.weaponevolution.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1653

INTRO:
I have put together this thread as an informative thread for the new guys or anyone else who needs help with selecting the appropriate Optic. I am not here to tell you what Optic you should use. Instead, I will provide the Pro's and Con's of different types of Optics and let you decide for yourself.

I. Combat Oriented Sights. (Speed).

A. Red Dots. Range: 0-300 Yards. Ideal Range: 0-100 Yards.

1. Uses:
a. The best CQB (Close Quarters) sight available due to rapid target acquisition.
b. Excellent all purpose Military/Law Enforcement sight. Limited only by 1X magnification.
c. Excellent for hunting where speed is desired over magnification.

2. Pro’s:
a. Generally very rugged.
b. Unlimited eye relief.
c. Parallax Free.

3. Con’s:
a. Uses batteries. (Although some have a battery life of 80,000 hrs.).
b. 1X magnification. (Although a 3x or 4x magnifier can be used for added magnification.).
c. Can fail.

4. Examples:
a. Aimpoint Scopes.
b. EOTech Holosights.
c. Trijicon Tri-Power.
d. Trijicon Reflex.

B. Micro Red Dots. Range: 0-300 Yards. Ideal Range: 0-100 Yards.

1. Uses:
a. Best when piggy backed on a scope such as an ACOG or Variable-Power Scope for close range work or as a Back-up sight.

2. Pro’s:
a. Light weight.
b. Unlimited eye relief.
c. Parallax Free

3. Con’s:
a. Uses batteries. (Although the Aimpoint Micro has a battery life of 50,000 hrs.).
b. 1X magnification.
c. Can fail.
d. Generally not very rugged.

4. Examples:
a. JPoint.
b. Docter.
c. Burris Fast-Fire.

C. Red Dot Magnifiers. Range: 25-600 Yards. Ideal Range: 25-300 Yards.

1. Uses:
a. Used in conjunction with a Red Dot to provide 3x Magnification for target identification.

2. Pro’s:
a. Generally very rugged.
b. No batteries.
c. With a QD Flip Mount, the Magnifier flips out of the way so you can use the Red Dot.

3. Con’s:
a. Adds weight.
b. Short Eye Relief.
c. Not parallax Free.

4. Examples:
a. Aimpoint 3xMagnifier.
b. EOTech 3xMagnifier.
c. Burris AR-Tripler.

D. ACOGs. Range: 25-600 Yards. Ideal Range: 25-400 Yards.

1. Uses:
a. Best when used in open areas where magnification can be used.
b. Best all purpose Military scope.
c. Excellent for hunting where speed and magnification is desired.

2. Pro’s:
a. Generally very rugged.
b. No batteries.
c. Fixed magnification for simplicity. (ACOGs: 3.5X35, 4X32, 5.5X50).
d. BDC Reticle.
e. B.A.C. concept on some ACOG's.

3. Con’s:
a. B.A.C. requires practice.
b. Short Eye Relief.
c. Not parallax Free.
d. Some have POI shift when used for CQB.
e. Caliber specific reticles.

4. Examples:
a. 1.5x Models.
b. 2x Models.
c. 3x Models.
d. 3.5x Models.
e. 4x Models.
f. 5.5x Models.
g. 6x Models. (Only Oil Tycoons and Arabian Princes can afford them.).


II. Precision Scopes: (Accuracy).

A. Fixed-Power Scopes. Range: 50-600+ Yards, depending on magnification.

1. Uses:
a. Excellent sniper/hunting/target shooting scope when simplicity is desired over variable magnification.

2. Pro’s:
a. Fixed magnification for simplicity.
b. Generally very rugged.
c. Batteries not an issue since reticle is black.

3. Con’s:
a. Not parallax Free.
b. Eye relief is critical.
c. Magnification hinders short range use. (Although a Micro Red Dot can be piggy backed for short range.).

4. Examples:
a. IOR 6X30 Tactical Illuminated 35mm Rifle Scope.
b. IOR 4X24 Tactical Illuminated 30mm Rifle Scope.
c. Leupold 10X40 Mark 4 LR/T 30mm Rifle Scope.
d. Super Sniper 10x, 16x, and 20x.

B. Low-Power Variable Scopes. Range: 0-600 Yards. Ideal Range: 0-400 Yards.

1. Uses:
a. Good CQB scope.
b. Good all purpose Military/Law Enforcement scope.
c. Good for hunting where speed and magnification is desired.

2. Pro’s:
a, Variable magnification offers options. (1-4X magnification.).
b. Batteries not an issue since reticle is black.
c. Best ones have either a BDC Reticle or a BDC Type Turrets.

3. Con’s:
a. Not parallax Free.
b. Eye relief is critical.
c. Not as fast in CQB as Red Dots.

4. Examples:
a. Swarovski Z61 1x6 illuminated 30mm Rifle Scope.
b. Schmidt & Bender 1.1-4X20 Illuminated CQB Short Dot 30mm Rifle Scope.
c. Horus Vision Model 1000 1-4X24 Illuminated 30mm Rifle Scope.
d. IOR 1.1-4X26 CRT Illuminated 30mm Rifle Scope.
e. Leupold Mark 4 1.5x5-20 Illuminated 30mm Rifle Scope.

C. Medium-Power Variable Scopes. Range: 50-600+ Yards, depending on magnification.

1. Uses:
a. Excellent sniper/hunting/target shooting scope when variable magnification is desired.

2. Pro’s:
a. Variable magnification offers options.
b. Optical glass makes identification easier.
c. Batteries not an issue since reticle is black.
d. BDC Reticle or a BDC Type Turrets.

3. Con’s:
a. Not parallax Free.
b. Eye relief is critical.
c. Magnification hinders short range use. (Although a Micro Red Dot can be piggy backed for short range.).

4. Examples:
a. Schmidt & Bender 4-16X50 Police Marksman II 34mm Rifle Scope.
b. Horus Vision Model 1000 4-16X50 Illuminated 30mm Rifle Scope.
c. Leupold Mark 4 MR/T and LR/T Illuminated 30mm Rifle Scope.
d. IOR 30mm and 35mm Tactical Rifle Scope with Metric Knobs.
e. USO Rifle Scopes.
f. Nightforce 30 mm Rifle Scopes.
g. SWFA 3x9-42 Variable Super Sniper Rifle Scope.

III. CONCLUSION:
Unless you have $4K on one of the new 1x8 scopes, there is no perfect optic from 0-1000 Yards. What you have to do is choose the one that is best for your needs. After trying a ton of different scopes, I have decided that there is no do it all scope. The best option is to have a couple of different scope on QD mounts so you can swap back and forth without loosing your zero.