Gunfighter

dogg · Joined: 25 Oct 2007 Posts: 5 Location: houston

I would like feed back from you if you have experience with any of the red dot holographic sights on an AR type rifle. I have a new Rock River I want to outfit with a scope. My eyes have seen some years so I might consider a small amount of power. Money is a consideration.
Comments please.
All-the-way

Liam · Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 84

Available at www.bushmaster.com

Leatherwood Hi-Lux 50mm Red Dot Rifle Sight
This larger Leatherwood Red Dot Sight offers a 50mm viewing area with an 88 foot Field of View at 100 yards. It includes an integral Picatinny type rail mount makes installation/removal easy and offers excellent repeat zero. The 1 M.o.A. red dot system is powered by a readily available ECR2032 lithium battery (included). Dot brightness is controlled by a twelve step rotating switch - windage and elevation adjustments are built in as well, and covered by protective caps. Construction is of robust aluminum throughout with high quality, fully coated optical glass protected by ribbed rubber edge guards front and rear. The Leatherwood 50mm Red Dot Sight is shown here on a Bushmaster Carbon Fiber .223 flat-top rifle, but is adaptable to many other firearms as well.
Price: $105.95

Part No: LW-RD
Quantity:

Liam · Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 84

Another way to go is the shotgun type variable power scope with Circle X reticle. Bushnell and Konus make some for $60-100.

dogg · Joined: 25 Oct 2007 Posts: 5 Location: houston

Liam.
Thanks for the information. Have you personally used this Leatherwood scope and do you know how it compares to the EO Tech?

Liam · Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 84

Actually I have the 30mm model w/1 MOA dot. It has very little parallax and the small dot covers the least amount of target possible.

The EO is likely more rugged. Also, its is as parallax free as can be had. Parallax is the characteristic that interferes with a true point of impact as it relates to point of aim. A high parallax scope will interfere with your poi to poa in direct relation to how far the dot is from the dead center of the scope when the shot goes off.

In any event the EO is heavy and tall. Also, the standard dot and circle reticle blocks a lot of target. Some people have to turn the scope way up to see the reticle clearly.

The Leatherwood does not fully mask the projection of the red dot. Under some conditions a signature of the projector can be seen from the front of the scope.

Semper_Fi · Joined: 08 Jul 2007 Posts: 399 Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

Dogg,
Regarding scopes/optics for your AR-15, the first question is "For what purpose will your AR-15 serve?" Home defense, 5 - 100 yard shooting, 50 - 300 yard shooting?
AR-15's can be built to be mission specific so first determine how your AR-15 will you serve you.
Red dots are great for CQB...

dogg · Joined: 25 Oct 2007 Posts: 5 Location: houston

Good point Semper_Fi, I failed to establish usage. The optics need to be able to perform in a home defense(close tactical) type senerio with 100 yards or so max range.

More ideas or scopes to consider? There is the large gun show this weekend in Houston.

Semper_Fi · Joined: 08 Jul 2007 Posts: 399 Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

My (16" barrel) AR-15 is rigged for CQB to 200 yard work.

Optics are an EOTech red dot (with quick disconnect) and an Aimpoint 3x Magnifier mounted on a LaRue Tactical pivot mount. A collapsible ARMS rear sight co-witnesses through the EOTech.

Before investing in a red dot system, check out Trijicon's new TriPower Red Dot optic. It's a 1x red dot system that uses fiberoptic natural lighting (with lithium battery back up lighting) for reticle illumination.

The Trijicon TriPower red dot system uses an ultra-high resoulution chevron reticle which is very clean and simple. Check out the Trijicon TriPower at the gun show. www.trijicon.com

Let us know of your hardware decisions...

Hoff · Joined: 28 Jun 2007 Posts: 507 Location: Warrior Nirvana

You have brought up a very good question Dogg, and as you can see some very good answers (good job guys). This is a field of technology that is in transistion and rapidly evolving, why? Because we have very good fast qusition, CQB optics like the EOTech, and very good Low power optics like the ACOG that provide higher accuracy, but the sight that does both is not quite there yet. The Elcan may get it done with a flip of the lever from 0X to 4X, but I havent tested it yet so I cannot say, and LaRue is working hard on it with his products. I transitioned between distances Semper Fi's Larue set up and I think it does indeed have merit. Products are comming and you can bet they wont be che_p, but you get what you pay for and what price do you place on your ability and more importantly...your life?
Hoff

Tac · Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 40 Location: Arizona

My only experience had been with the Eotech and Aimpoint Comp series. Both are well made and work fantastic for CQB and out to about 200 yards on man sized targets. The Eotech is a little faster, in my opinion, and gives a more "heads up" position behind the rifle. The Aimpoint has a seriously long battery life. (in 3 years I have not needed to change the battery)

On my "work" rifle (Colt M4), I have an EOtech mounted on it. I have used this site for almost 5 years now and have no complaint, other than the batteries are sometimes hard to find, because it is the older version and uses the "N" batteries. It has never failed when I needed it and has held zero since it was new.

The Aimpoint I have is mounted on my "home" rifle and does not get anywhere near the use/abuse as the EOtech. It has never lost zero either, but again, it doesn't see alot of what I would consider hard use.

For the amount of money I spent on the Aimpoint, I very well could have saved it and bought a much less expensive "Tru-glo" or chinese made red dot and likely had the same level of performance, mostly because this rifle is not shot alot and only leaves the house about 1-2 times a year. Where as my EOtech equiped rifle is used 4-5 days a week, pulled out of the rack on calls in the neighborhood of 5-6 times a month, and placed and removed (and function checked) every day I work.

Both rifles have co-witness back up iron sights. (Batteries fail and I do not trust Mr. Murphy).

Liam · Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 84

If you want to find out what works without having some incoming rounds shoot the carbine/rifle match at Impact Zone on the 3rd Sat of each month.

dogg · Joined: 25 Oct 2007 Posts: 5 Location: houston

Liam,
Thanks for the suggestion. I will look at the web site. Can you describe the format and elaborate?

I purchased an EoTech 512 this last weekend and just today installed it and sighted it in. It is different shooting with both eyes open but it should not take too long to adjust.

Now I have to find(research) a sling that will perform like I want it too and be of good quality. When I release the rifle I want it to stay angled across my chect and not get in the way of my pistol. I have looked at some slings but the webbing and attachments were not to my liking.

Ideas, suggestions and experiences welcome.
-dogg

Semper_Fi · Joined: 08 Jul 2007 Posts: 399 Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

Dogg,
I use single point (tactical) and two point (patrol) AR-15 slings that you can test before investing. The V-Tec sling is both a single and double point sling, is highest quality and is not that expensive.
If you wish to come to Hoff's SoSu training at Top Gun on November 11th you can check out these AR-15 slings.

dogg · Joined: 25 Oct 2007 Posts: 5 Location: houston

Semper_Fi
The V-Tec sounds like one I need to look at. Thanks for the chance to try these out at SoSu. I had previous plans to attend SoSu but it is now scheduled for Veteran's Day and I am involved with the Freedom Fest celebration downtown and can not attend.
If you plan on going to the activities after SoSu I will be at a recruiting booth somewhere (no location assignment yet) near city hall. Come visit. I will give you details later if you wish.

Remember to fly your Flag!
Thanks.
-dogg

Semper_Fi · Joined: 08 Jul 2007 Posts: 399 Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

Marine Corps birthday on November 10th and Veterans Day on the 11th; we all have much to be grateful for and we are responsible to protect America's freedoms.

I will be traveling after SoSu, returning Houston that Tuesday evening and can be reached on mobile 713.309.5064 if you wish to get range time that week to check out various AR-15 optics and slings. The 3x Magnifier took some time to get used to and it is excellent.