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 riot24–26 July 1964[6]
• Harlem Riot of 196416-22 July 1964, New York City, New York, provoked by the NYPDs shooting of black teenager James Powell.
• Philadelphia 1964 race riot28–30 August 1964, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, Allegations of police brutality sparked the Columbia Avenue race riots.[6]
• Watts Riots11 August 1965, Los Angeles, California, USA, Hough Riots18 July 1966, Cleveland, Ohio, USA, The underlying causes of the riots may found in the social conditions that exist in the ghettos of Cleveland.[8]
• Racial tension in Omaha, Nebraska5 July 1966, 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]
• 1967 Newark riots12 July 1967, Newark, New Jersey, USA, Factors that contributed to the Newark Riot: 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]
• 1967 Plainfield riots14 July 1967, Plainfield, New Jersey, USA
• 12th Street riot23 July 1967, 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, urban renewal projects, economic inequality, black militancy, and rapid demographic change.[11]
• Minneapolis-Saint PaulUSA, 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 riots4 April 1968 Violence erupted in Chicago's black ghetto on the west side.
• 1968 Washington, D.C. riots4 April 1968, Washington, D.C., USA, A report from 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]
• Baltimore riot of 19684 April 1968, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
• Glenville Shootout23 July 1968, 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 riotsJune 1969, New York City, New York, a turning point for the modern U.S. gay rights movement.
• 1969 North 24th Street Riots24 June 1969, 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]

1970s

• New York City blackout of 197713 July 1977, New York City, USA, That massive blackout was viewed by some as one symptom of the city's decline.[15]

1980s

• 1981 University of Puerto Rico/Rio Piedras Riots1981, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico

1990s

• 1991 Washington, D.C. riot5–7 May 1991, Washington, DC
• Crown Heights Riot19 August 1991, New York City, USA 1992 Los Angeles riots29 April 1992, Los Angeles, California, USA [21]

2000s

• 2001 Cincinnati riots10 April 2001, Cincinnati, Ohio, US, An Enquirer reporter, Kristina Goetz, reported that the lack of progress on perennial inner-city problems such as inadequate child and health care, failing schools, and low rates of minority home ownership was a contributing factor.[24]
• Benton Harbor riots16 June 2003, Benton Harbor, Michigan
• 2005 Toledo Riot15 October 2005, Toledo, Ohio, USA, Residents at forum named poverty, above other causes, as the kindling for the riot.[26]

2010s

• 2011 Stanley Cup riot15 June 2011, 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. 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.