SHTF AR Optics

[GR1M]

What kind of optics if any are you guys running on your rifles??

I'm looking at an eotech exps2 and aimpoints PRO. Maybe a h1/t1 if the t2 drives the prices down. I know the PRO is cheaper but with a larue mount, the price between it and the eotech are around the same price.

[Hmac]

I have an EXPS, a T-1, and a PRO with the standard OEM mount. I don't particularly care for the T-1, like the EXPS and the PRO about equally. Given the price difference, I'd get the PRO every time. I find the OEM mount on the PRO to be just fine...have never felt the desire to replace it with something different.

My rifles play no role in my self defense planning - they're locked up in the gun cabinet. If you feel the need for yours to be a bedside gun then you might prefer the battery life of the PRO over the Eotech. You could leave the Aimpoint on all the time. One less thing to worry about if the shit does indeed hit the fan where you live.

[GR1M]

Thanks for the advice...... I just checked out the larue tactical sight and they offer the PRO with there lt129 mount for $416. I like the lt129 mount because it has a battery storage built into it.

[FortTom]

Thanks for the advice...... I just checked out the larue tactical sight and they offer the PRO with there lt129 mount for $416. I like the lt129 mount because it has a battery storage built into it.
Price wise, that's a heck of a deal, if you like the PRO. I've got one, and it's great, in my opinion. I don't like Eotech's, but that's totally subjective, and irrelevant. However, back to the price, I just ordered a La Rue mount last night for a H1, and the mount alone was something like $129 plus shipping. If I were in the market for another P.R.O., I'd jump all over that deal.

FT

[Uffdaphil]

The OP specified SHTF optics, not ordinary self defense. I also currently keep the AR's in the safe and My CZ and snubbie out for anti-social encounters. But with a breakdown of public order everything is going to be at hand. I'll be bunking up with family. Someone will be standing watch 24/7. My optics would be what seems best for the shooters level of competence. Aimpoint RDs for anyone. Trijicon 1.5x, 3x or 1-4x outdoors for those with experience. The PA MD-06 is good enough for a certain panicky individual I would only allow a pellet gun.

I've picked up used Comp M2s for backup use for even less than a new Aimpoint Pro on sale.

I pray that a true SHTF scenario stays a paranoid fantasy for my lifetime. But the cost of having sufficient guns is minuscule compared to the regret of not having if needed.

[camomike]

Sad part is seeing things like Ferguson in the news makes me wonder even more about the "what if".

[Hmac]

Sad part is seeing things like Ferguson in the news makes me wonder even more about the "what if".

Lest we forget, Ferguson isn't a new concept.

1960s


Rochester 1964 race riot (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rochester_1964_race_riot)24–26 July 1964[6] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_riots#cite_note-Rochester-6)
Harlem Riot of 1964 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlem_Riot_of_1964)16-22 July 1964, New York City, New York (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City,_New_York), provoked by the NYPDs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NYPD) shooting of black teenager James Powell (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=James_Powell_%28shooting_victim%29&action=edit&redlink=1).
Philadelphia 1964 race riot (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia_1964_race_riot)28–30 August 1964, Philadelphia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia), Pennsylvania, USA, Allegations of police brutality sparked the Columbia Avenue race riots.[6] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_riots#cite_note-Rochester-6)
Watts Riots (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watts_Riots)11 August 1965, Los Angeles, California (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles,_California), USA, Hough Riots (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hough_Riots)18 July 1966, Cleveland, Ohio (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleveland,_Ohio), USA, The underlying causes of the riots may found in the social conditions that exist in the ghettos of Cleveland.[8] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_riots#cite_note-8)
Racial tension in Omaha, Nebraska (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_tension_in_Omaha,_Nebraska)5 July 1966, North Omaha, Nebraska (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Omaha,_Nebraska), USA, More than 500 black youth gathered to protest the absence of recreation programs and jobs storm a local business district, throwing rocks and bricks at Jewish-owned businesses in the area. The National Guard is called in after three days of random violence and organized raids.[9] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_riots#cite_note-9)
1967 Newark riots (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1967_Newark_riots)12 July 1967, Newark, New Jersey (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newark,_New_Jersey), USA, Factors that contributed to the Newark Riot: police brutality (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_brutality), political exclusion of blacks from city government, urban renewal, inadequate housing, unemployment, poverty, and rapid change in the racial composition of neighborhoods.[10] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_riots#cite_note-10)
1967 Plainfield riots (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1967_Plainfield_riots)14 July 1967, Plainfield, New Jersey (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plainfield,_New_Jersey), USA
12th Street riot (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12th_Street_riot)23 July 1967, Detroit, Michigan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit,_Michigan), USA, The origins of urban unrest in Detroit were rooted in a multitude of political, economic, and social factors including police abuse, lack of affordable housing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affordable_housing), urban renewal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_renewal) projects, economic inequality, black militancy, and rapid demographic change.[11] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_riots#cite_note-11)
Minneapolis-Saint Paul (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minneapolis-Saint_Paul)USA, Fall 1967. Racial tensions boil over in North Minneapolis as whites continue to leave the decaying core of the inner city bound for the suburbs.
1968 Chicago, Illinois riots (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Chicago,_Illinois_riots)4 April 1968 Violence erupted in Chicago (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago)'s black ghetto (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghetto) on the west side.
1968 Washington, D.C. riots (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Washington,_D.C._riots)4 April 1968, Washington, D.C. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington,_D.C.), USA, A report from National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Advisory_Commission_on_Civil_Disorders) identified discrimination and poverty as the root causes of the riots that erupted in cities around the nation during the late 1960s and in Washington, DC in April 1968[12] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_riots#cite_note-12)
Baltimore riot of 1968 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimore_riot_of_1968)4 April 1968, Baltimore, Maryland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimore,_Maryland), USA
Glenville Shootout (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenville_Shootout)23 July 1968, Cleveland, Ohio (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleveland,_Ohio), USA, Shootout between black militant organization led by Ahmed Evans and Cleveland Police Department attracted large and hostile black crowds that caused a four-day riot
Stonewall riots (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonewall_riots)June 1969, New York City, New York (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City,_New_York), a turning point for the modern U.S. gay rights movement (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_rights_movement).
1969 North 24th Street Riots24 June 1969, North Omaha, Nebraska (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Omaha,_Nebraska) USA, An Omaha police officer fatally shoots a teenager in the back of the head during a gathering of youth in local public housing projects. Many youth and adults from the local African American community gather in the local business district, routinely burning and otherwise destroying non-Black-owned businesses.[13] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_riots#cite_note-13)


1970s


New York City blackout of 1977 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City_blackout_of_1977)13 July 1977, New York City (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City), USA, That massive blackout was viewed by some as one symptom of the city's decline.[15] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_riots#cite_note-15)

1980s


1981 University of Puerto Rico/Rio Piedras Riots1981, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Piedras,_Puerto_Rico)

1990s


1991 Washington, D.C. riot (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991_Washington,_D.C._riot)5–7 May 1991, Washington, DC (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington,_DC)
Crown Heights Riot (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_Heights_Riot)19 August 1991, New York City (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City), USA 1992 Los Angeles riots (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_Los_Angeles_riots)29 April 1992, Los Angeles (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles), California, USA [21] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_riots#cite_note-21)


2000s


2001 Cincinnati riots (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_Cincinnati_riots)10 April 2001, Cincinnati, Ohio (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cincinnati,_Ohio), US, An Enquirer reporter, Kristina Goetz, reported that the lack of progress on perennial inner-city (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inner-city) problems such as inadequate child and health care, failing schools, and low rates of minority home ownership was a contributing factor.[24] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_riots#cite_note-24)
Benton Harbor riots (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benton_Harbor_riots)16 June 2003, Benton Harbor, Michigan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benton_Harbor,_Michigan)
[/URL][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_riots#cite_note-25"] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_riots#cite_note-25)
2005 Toledo Riot (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Toledo_Riot)15 October 2005, Toledo, Ohio (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toledo,_Ohio), USA, Residents at forum named poverty, above other causes, as the kindling for the riot.[26] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_riots#cite_note-26)


2010s


2011 Stanley Cup riot (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Stanley_Cup_riot)15 June 2011, Vancouver (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vancouver).

[Gaspipeshooter]

Thanks for the advice...... I just checked out the larue tactical sight and they offer the PRO with there lt129 mount for $416. I like the lt129 mount because it has a battery storage built into it.

The Aimpoint Pro is $416, then you have to choose the mount, which for the mount you like is an additional $148. $564 total.

[UWone77]

The Aimpoint Pro is $416, then you have to choose the mount, which for the mount you like is an additional $148. $564 total.

What's wrong with the included Mount?

The QRP2 is a useable mount.

[Eric]

The Aimpoint vs EOTech debate has been beat to death. Either one will serve you well. If you haven't had any live-fire time with them, try to borrow before you buy. Decide if you like the 65 MOA circle with the 1 MOA dot that is the common EOTech pattern, or the 2 MOA single dot used in the Aimpoint PRO. Decide if the 4/8 hour automatic shutoff works for you or if you prefer to leave it on. The PRO is about the best deal going right now and watch for places that are discounting them. I paid $360 shipped for several not too long ago. Durability wise, I think the Aimpoint has an edge over the EOTech, but I've had to send both in for repair. I recently got a PRO back from Aimpoint and it took about a month to come back from Sweden. If you take the PRO route, don't spend extra money on a different mount until you test drive the included QRP2.

[Gaspipeshooter]

What's wrong with the included Mount?

The QRP2 is a useable mount.

I was only pointing out that the $416 GR1M referred to gets you the sight with the Aimpoint mount; that price does not include the LaRue LT129 mount. You have to choose that from a drop down menu and it is an additional $148.

[rob_s]

Do we have a definition for this particular SHTFantasy, or is this just the usual paranoia and feel-good-purchase justification?

[UWone77]

What do you think a SHTF scenario is going to be for you? For me, I'm not planning for the End of the World, Mad Max type world. I just don't think that's realistic.

What I plan on doing is being prepared for a natural disaster or civil unrest that will last at a maximum a few months. During that kind of situation, of course I want to be prepared to defend myself, but running gun battles in the street or people shooting others on a regular basis isn't what I believe will happen on a regular basis.

If you're worried about some crazy long-term SHTF situtation, might want to brush up with your irons, actually just get a good pair of irons as we've seen over the years lots of broken sights.

[FortTom]

What do you think a SHTF scenario is going to be for you? For me, I'm not planning for the End of the World, Mad Max type world. I just don't think that's realistic.

What I plan on doing is being prepared for a natural disaster or civil unrest that will last at a maximum a few months. During that kind of situation, of course I want to be prepared to defend myself, but running gun battles in the street or people shooting others on a regular basis isn't what I believe will happen on a regular basis.

If you're worried about some crazy long-term SHTF situtation, might want to brush up with your irons, actually just get a good pair of irons as we've seen over the years lots of broken sights.

I don't "expect", I just try to prepare. After about 3 to 5 days of a natural or man made disaster, people will start to fold.

I suppose people do read the news? Funny, both the scientific community or the government made known a solar fare missed the earth, literally, by feet and inches, measured in scale with earth. They released the info a year later. Had it hit the earth, it was so massive that our planets magnetic field would be like stopping a bull with a wet paper towel. Didn't want people to panic?

There is at least a million ways our planet, or parts of it, could be attacked every day, from a meteor, to a mega sunami, to a new virus that hits the earth before science and doctors realize what happened.

So screw those who admonish folks about "fantasy". Let them beg for morsels, I'm going to be eating, just fine, if that "fantasy shit" ever happens.

And if nothing at all happens, I'm going to be even better.

That being said, to the OP buy what fits your needs, and what you can use. If 1 or 200 yards is about your limit, pick the style you like and buy the most quality you can afford.

And ALWAYS have backup irons, like UWone77 suggested. Think of it this way. As far as the first M16's, up until the M4's, almost all fighting with that platform was done with iron sights. Quite a few dead SE Asians, to Sand fleas killed pretty damned dead with them. Of course RDS upped the game, especially when they filtered down from the Uber Spec Op folks to the common grunt. Won't hurt to have which ever fits your skills, vision, and feels right to you.

There is no "silver bullet" when it comes to one sight being suitable for "SHTF" scenarios. You have to try several, or as many as you can, options, and decide what's right for you. Go to a Harley forum and ask; "What's the best oil?". Hell, you might start WWIII just doing that, but actually you'll start a flame war that will take decades to burn out.[:D] Same here. If you're considering an Eotech vs. Aimpoint, well Eric had it right, that debate has been beaten to death. They both have pro's and cons, and it's just a personal choice, beyond that.

Don't over think it. Try a few and buy the one you like.

FT[:)]

[GR1M]

The Aimpoint Pro is $416, then you have to choose the mount, which for the mount you like is an additional $148. $564 total.

Is that how they get you??? The puts me back at square one.

[rob_s]

I don't "expect", I just try to prepare. After about 3 to 5 days of a natural or man made disaster, people will start to fold.

I suppose people do read the news? Funny, both the scientific community or the government made known a solar fare missed the earth, literally, by feet and inches, measured in scale with earth. They released the info a year later. Had it hit the earth, it was so massive that our planets magnetic field would be like stopping a bull with a wet paper towel. Didn't want people to panic?

There is at least a million ways our planet, or parts of it, could be attacked every day, from a meteor, to a mega sunami, to a new virus that hits the earth before science and doctors realize what happened.

So screw those who admonish folks about "fantasy". Let them beg for morsels, I'm going to be eating, just fine, if that "fantasy shit" ever happens.

And if nothing at all happens, I'm going to be even better.



[crazy]

[GR1M]

Thanks....... I got the chance to try both along with a couple other well known ones and I really like the two of them. I like the eotech because of the feild of veiw and reticle but the PRO looks like its the better bang for the buck.

[Hmac]

There is at least a million ways our planet, or parts of it, could be attacked every day, from a meteor, to a mega sunami, to a new virus that hits the earth before science and doctors realize what happened.

So screw those who admonish folks about "fantasy". Let them beg for morsels, I'm going to be eating, just fine, if that "fantasy shit" ever happens.



Hooray for Hollywood.....

[FortTom]

Hooray for Hollywood.....
You're too cool..ever hear of the Spanish Flu? 1918? Traveled completely around the world including pacific islands and artic regions. Aprox 1/2 billion affected (yeah smartass that's a B) and killed about 100 million people. Happened really fast. It was over pretty much before they figured out what it was. Recent typhoons and tidal waves including Indian Ocean wave that killed an estimated minimum 250,000 people in over a dozen countries? Yeah that crap never happens, it's all Hollywood. Race riots? Not in your hometown, huh?

Look, if a new member comes on and asks a very common rookie question, and get's a cyber "bitch slap" about "fantasy SHTF" from the resident ass and you want to rah rah him, go ahead. Maybe new guys, until they learn better than to post without said asshat's blessing on the subject matter should not post at all. The only fantasy world I see, is said asshat's assessment of his relevance on earth. Maybe some folks forgot that they were "new" at one time, seems 1 or 2 folks here were born with an AR up their ass? Yep, that must be it. GR1M asked a question, and gets trashed for it after something like 8 or 9 posts?

Maybe we should get the administrator to make it a rule, that all posts, not just new guys, be personally annotated by ass hat, that it meets or exceeds his standards of a "worthy" post.

Thought you had more class than that. I see I was wrong.[:D]

FT

[Aragorn]

I run an aimpoint Comp M4. I don't think they come any tougher. I got It before PRO's were a thing and T-1's were still new. I probably would have ended up with a T-1 just due to cost, but a buddy of mine offered me the M4 with a LaRue mount for $600, taken off a safe queen. Too sweet to pass up. Now I'm glad it's what I have, I like the larger tube, it's tougher than nails, and now in a way it's almost unique as everyone who wants a 30mm tube gets the PRO. As for EOtechs, well... I've seen plenty of broken EOtechs of various models, I don't like the auto shutoff or the switch/button locations on some models. The reticle is ok but I'd like it more if it was more crisp.

If I was on the market for another RDS right now, I get a PRO and just use the mount it came with. My buddy has been running one with the factory mount since right after the PRO was released. Factory mount works fine.

[Aragorn]

Oh yeah, another thing with the 30mm aimpoints. I run mine with a killflash. Not because I'm worried I'll get spotted by the sheen of the objective lens and sniped, but because I've shot at several locations where I've been facing into the sun during early morning or late evening. Glare used to be a pain in the ass during those times, but now killflash = no glare = easier/faster target acquisition.

AND... you won't get sniped due to the sheen of your objective lens! [:D]

[UWone77]

Well, this certainly escalated quickly.

I think we can all have an adult conversation about optics. No need to make fun of each others fantasies and having the Earth be hit by a Gamma Ray Bursts..[:D]

[mustangfreek]

I have only had my PRO for under a year now after a push from a friend..to cry once..blah blah...

Anyways before that only had a primary arms Red dot for a short time, on the 556 i was having problems with it, and well just dumped it..this pro so far has been on the whole time and has been dropped or smacked around some and still holds true..

Anyways...im kinda off topic also...but...you guys started it...lol

Looking at trying out a sparc 2 one of these days..

[FortTom]

I have only had my PRO for under a year now after a push from a friend..to cry once..blah blah...

Anyways before that only had a primary arms Red dot for a short time, on the 556 i was having problems with it, and well just dumped it..this pro so far has been on the whole time and has been dropped or smacked around some and still holds true..

Anyways...im kinda off topic also...but...you guys started it...lol

Looking at trying out a sparc 2 one of these days..

I have several Aimpoints and the only problem I had was a P.R.O. that wouldn't hold zero. Changed mount and haven't had a problem with it since. Just got a H1 in the mail today, and ordered a La Rue mount for it. Can't wait for it to get here so I can really try it out.

But, back to Gr1m's dilemma, maybe he should try some other forms of optics, besides RDS's. I'm thinking 1X4 Scopes with lighted dot's or regular cross hairs? Then he can weigh the pros and cons of all types of optics?

FT

[mustangfreek]

Ya a H-1 is on my want list....I also just got a vortex 1-4 not too long ago, and am really starting to like it more and more..Nice sturdy piece , good glass and options for the price..

[GOST]

If the SHTF after I go to bed I hope one of my girls wakes me. I sleep with a CPAP and can't hear much, and since I've quit snoring my Wife sleeps heavier than I do. By the way I'm a fan of the PRO but I haven't tried a M4, M4s or a SRS.

[FortTom]

Ya a H-1 is on my want list....I also just got a vortex 1-4 not too long ago, and am really starting to like it more and more..Nice sturdy piece , good glass and options for the price..

I had a Burris MTAC 2 or 3 years back. Same thing, clear glass, good build quality. Took it off and installed a 2.5 X 10, I think it is, that has normal cross hairs with a tiny lighted dot in the center. I use that on my LMT for coyotes, long range and short range plinking. I sold that MTAC, but something like that might fit his needs better than a red dot, or like you mentioned, a Vortex.

FT

[lamarbrog]

I bought a PRO a little over a year ago. Pretty nice optic. The included mount is just fine. The battery just went dead after being left on the entire time. My only real complaint is that the adjustment knob for brightness is extremely exposed and tends to get turned to a higher brightness setting if it bounces around on my plate carrier. I think that is one reason the battery life was not any better- it kept getting turned on to the max brightness and sometimes left there fr who knows how long. (Days, weeks?)

If they could fix that issue, and make it take a CR123A battery, it would be a great optic. The little hearing aid battery is, as far as equipment I own, proprietary to AimPoint. All my lights, and the newer EOTechs, take a CR123A.

[UWone77]

I bought a PRO a little over a year ago. Pretty nice optic. The included mount is just fine. The battery just went dead after being left on the entire time. My only real complaint is that the adjustment knob for brightness is extremely exposed and tends to get turned to a higher brightness setting if it bounces around on my plate carrier. I think that is one reason the battery life was not any better- it kept getting turned on to the max brightness and sometimes left there fr who knows how long. (Days, weeks?)

If they could fix that issue, and make it take a CR123A battery, it would be a great optic. The little hearing aid battery is, as far as equipment I own, proprietary to AimPoint. All my lights, and the newer EOTechs, take a CR123A.

I've never seen any electronic device that uses CR123A's with a long battery life. I'm no electrical engineer, but I'm guessing there's a reason for that. The Aimpoint N batteries work just fine. I usually swap them out as needed on range guns, and swap them once a year on duty guns. I agree that sometimes the brightness setting can be accidentally turned up, but how often are you really wearing a plate carrier?

If you're really worried about batteries, the M4 is the way to go. 80k hour life, and AA batteries can be found anywhere.

[bzdog]

I think that is likely because engineers choose the 123A cells when they have a substantial load they are trying to power. If you used a 123A in a power application that could be reasonably handled by a coin cell you'd probably get great life.

Case in point, the original HDS clicky flashlight (1x123A) had a "locator" mode where it just flashed the LED just a little bit every second or so. Someone did a runtime test and the battery more or less lasted forever.

-john

[rob_s]

Or, if you really want your optic to use a 123 battery, get yourself an Eotech XPS.

[velocity2006]

I like the NCStar lineup of scopes, they are super durable and have green AND red light!
























In all seriousness Aimpoint or Trijicon for SHTF. Never could get used to the Eotech reticile, just prefer a simple red dot on un-magnified optics.

[FortTom]

I'm with you on that. I bought an Eotech a couple of years ago, maybe less. The reticle just seemed to be too "busy" for my eyesight, it just overwhelmed me with a big mass of red drawing all attention away from the target. I'm convinced that it has something to do with one's particular vision, but that's just a guess. I sold the sight a short time later, at a loss, and went back to Aimpoint, and the simple dot.

One thing I've noticed though, and I don't know if it's a regional thing or what, but I used to go to the range and half or more of the folks shooting tactical rifles were using Eotechs. In the last couple of years, I see fewer and fewer of them on guns. Now it's almost rare to see one, at least at the ranges around here. Go figure.

FT

[lamarbrog]

I have noticed Eotechs becoming less and less common. I think it has to do with price. Eotech used to be a fair bit cheaper than an AimPoint. Now that the PRO is out, the tables have turned. To get a good Eotech (XPS/EXPS) now costs more than a perfectly serviceable AimPoint PRO. Eotech's man advantage has been lost.

[velocity2006]

Eh a few of my buddies still use them regularly, but there are also many more alternatives now for a compact non-magnified optic than say 10 years ago.

Especially when you look at the budget price range, Primary Arms is huge for the AR market (and others), and SWFA brought back the SS scopes (talking long range optics suitable for precision long range shooting) that are 1/10th the cost of other optics suitable for the task. Vortex is also relatively low cost when it comes to value.

I see lots of PA red dots and Vortex red dots going on builds that get ran very hard.

[yamma]

Aimpoint PRO on 2 and acog on the 3rd. Also have an eotech but like the aimpoint better for battery life. And in shtf battery life > cooler reticle IMO.

[ennbee15]

Aimpoint, working on a build now that may go with a 1x4

[SINNER]

Suffering from astigmatism in my dominant eye causes issues with most illuminated optics. The Eotech's are by far the worst with the Aimpoint being better but still looks blown out and oblong. The chevron's in ACOG's are by far the best so almost all of my AR's wear ACOG's. Shooting under 50 yds I have been running irons more and more. I do run a Trijicon SRS on the forward rail of a VEPR12 that is such a pinpoint dot at that extreme eye relief it works well. Getting old sucks LOL

[VIPER 237]

I have 5 Aimpoints and one Leupold vxr-patrol 1.25-4x. I've used the trijicon reflex and various eotechs in the past but I've grown to trust the simplicity and durability of the Aimpoints over everything. Its a set it a forget it, just change your battery every years or so and you are good.


Suffering from astigmatism in my dominant eye causes issues with most illuminated optics. The Eotech's are by far the worst with the Aimpoint being better but still looks blown out and oblong. The chevron's in ACOG's are by far the best so almost all of my AR's wear ACOG's. Shooting under 50 yds I have been running irons more and more. I do run a Trijicon SRS on the forward rail of a VEPR12 that is such a pinpoint dot at that extreme eye relief it works well. Getting old sucks LOL

This wont help much with your ak, but on an AR flip up your rear sight and look through it then, it helps reduce the bloom.