YaGunT: Recommend an inexpensive scope for AR-15

[JEDI]

The AR-15 doesnt come w/any sights, not even irons

my local walmart sells a red dot sight for like $30.

i just want to hit the bullseye of my paper target at 100 yards

Recommendations for an inexpensive sight? (no airsoft holographic sights pls)

edit:
100yards, not 100feet

 

[coxmaster]

This thread has me interested.. Will be watching for replies that help me out.


OP, are you looking for magnified or unmagnified like me?

 

[adairusmc]

I would take a long look at Primary Arms. I have one of their aimpoint m3 clones on my BSG rifle (Beretta Cx4 carbine with BSG barrel shroud and aimpoint clone), and it has been a fantastic sight for the money. By far the best of any aimpoint knock off. They also have regular scopes and clones of other sights (they sell real-deal aimpoints and etc as well).

http://www.primaryarms.com/

 

[Demo24]

I would take a long look at Primary Arms. I have one of their aimpoint m3 clones on my BSG rifle (Beretta Cx4 carbine with BSG barrel shroud and aimpoint clone), and it has been a fantastic sight for the money. By far the best of any aimpoint knock off. They also have regular scopes and clones of other sights (they sell real-deal aimpoints and etc as well).

http://www.primaryarms.com/

I handled one of these recently and it felt decent. It gets the job done certainly, but it's no where near as bright as the aimpoint I compared it to.

 

[adairusmc]

I handled one of these recently and it felt decent. It gets the job done certainly, but it's no where near as bright as the aimpoint I compared it to.

No, there is no comparable red dot to an aimpoint, but for what the primary arms cost my m3 clone has been excellent. Primary Arms also has great customer service, so if you do have an issue with their stuff they will get it taken care of.

 

[duragezic]

Yeah I dunno I haven't used one but I generally hear Primary Arms being decent value for the money.

I was going to suggest a Bushnell TRS-25 (like a cheaper Aimpoint Micro) but if you're looking at the $30 Walmart then even the TRS-25 is too much at like $80.

I have a 4x scope that came for $10 extra on my .22. I always thought it seemed just fine and I could shoot very tight groups with it. Until I had it side by side with a Weaver V9 (like $180 scope) and even a very old 3-7x unknown scope my mom found in my grandfather's things. Looking through the glass, things were far more blurry in the $10 4x than the other two.

So while it seemed fine using it, when compared against others it's clearly not even close. I guess I'm saying if you can to get something decent as you're putting it on a AR not like a airsoft gun. The TRS-25 was only $80 at Cabelas but they raised the price a few months ago.

 

[amddude]

primary arms for cheap

one notch up, vortex strikefire

next notch up, aimpoint

more or less

 

[JEDI]

I would take a long look at Primary Arms. I have one of their aimpoint m3 clones on my BSG rifle (Beretta Cx4 carbine with BSG barrel shroud and aimpoint clone), and it has been a fantastic sight for the money. By far the best of any aimpoint knock off. They also have regular scopes and clones of other sights (they sell real-deal aimpoints and etc as well).

http://www.primaryarms.com/

this one for $70?
http://www.primaryarms.com/product.sc?productId=18&categoryId=419

they suggest: UPGRADE TO ONE OF THE HIGH MOUNTS
whats the diff in mounts?

 

[GaryJohnson]

they suggest: UPGRADE TO ONE OF THE HIGH MOUNTS
whats the diff in mounts?

A high mount sits up higher than a low mount. Flat top AR's + low mounts put your optics too low. A canted mount is slanted forward so that you would have room on a flat top AR to mount a magnifier behind the red dot.

This would be the high canted mount:
http://www.primaryarms.com/images/M3mounted.jpg

 

[Crono]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiuWS6fr0Xk

 

[nick1985]

+1 for Primary Arms

 

[KB]

I wouldn't spend $30 on any sight unless its for a .22. In sights you get what you pay for.

Do you really mean your target is at 100 yards and not 100 feet as the ' means? An AR is good for 100 - 300 yards, but most red dots aren't good past 50 - 75 yards. You will not hit the bullseye at 100 yards with a red dot unless it is magnified past 4x. I would reocmmend a 9x scope for this.

If you really mean your target is at 100 feet (30 - 35 yards) I would just put on iron sights. They never run out of batteries.

 

[pontifex]

I've been looking at several different scopes, primarily red dots, but haven't decided on one yet.

 

[boomhower]

Do you really mean your target is at 100 yards and not 100 feet as the ' means? An AR is good for 100 - 300 yards, but most red dots aren't good past 50 - 75 yards. You will not hit the bullseye at 100 yards with a red dot unless it is magnified past 4x. I would reocmmend a 9x scope for this.

An AR is good for 600, especially if your just target shooting and don't need terminal performance on impact. You can certainly bullseye with a red dot at 100 yards unless you have a very very small bulls eye. 2MOA groups are doable with the right ammo and shooter. If he is looking at $30 scopes I am betting he isn't using a sub MOA rifle and ammo.

OP I would also suggest Primary Arms. Solid stuff that holds zero for pretty cheap.

 

[Farmer]

Do you really mean your target is at 100 yards and not 100 feet as the ' means? An AR is good for 100 - 300 yards, but most red dots aren't good past 50 - 75 yards. You will not hit the bullseye at 100 yards with a red dot unless it is magnified past 4x. I would reocmmend a 9x scope for this.

If you're dialed in properly and you're prone or have a bench, it's entirely possible. A 1 MOA red dot is approximately 1" at 100 yards.

 

[JDMnAR1]

Definitely look at Primary Arms. I have several of their items (M3, M4 Multi, 3x magnifier) and am very please with them for the money spent. Service from Marshall and the gang is top-notch as well should you need it.

ETA: PA M3 in high cant mount, PA 3x magnifier in FTS mount.

 

[Bulk Beef]

I would look at this one from Primary:

http://www.primaryarms.com/product.sc?productId=205&categoryId=501

It's the same scope as the Millett DMS with a different reticle and a $100 lighter pricetag. Not what I would choose if I made a living with my rifle, but that scope and a Burris AR mount for about $60 will do what you want.

 

[olds]

I got the Primary Arms on Nick's suggestion a couple of months ago.
I have a flat top receiver with a mount for the sight. I can do a 1/3 co-witness.

 

[davmat787]

I would get a set of iron sights instead of a cheap throw away optic. IMO, you should always become proficient with iron sights before mounting optics. Iron sights can't fail like a cheap scope can/will, and you can save up for a better optic in the mean time.

Just my opinion, but I have always insisted on becoming proficient with iron sights prior to putting any glass on a rifle.

 

[Broheim]

I would get a set of iron sights instead of a cheap throw away optic. IMO, you should always become proficient with iron sights before mounting optics. Iron sights can't fail like a cheap scope can/will, and you can save up for a better optic in the mean time.

Just my opinion, but I have always insisted on becoming proficient with iron sights prior to putting any glass on a rifle.

this, why would you even need any optics at 100 yards? I had no trouble "hitting the bullseye" at 300 metres with ironsights (there was no bullseye but I used to make smileyfaces on the screen so I'd say that counts, always cracked my sergents up, the face was a lot prettier when I used optics though), I also didn't have any trouble hitting the target at 500m.

 

[Howard]

this, why would you even need any optics at 100 yards? I had no trouble "hitting the bullseye" at 300 metres with ironsights (there was no bullseye but I used to make smileyfaces on the screen so I'd say that counts, always cracked my sergents up, the face was a lot prettier when I used optics though), I also didn't have any trouble hitting the target at 500m.

You could see details 300m away? You have eye transplants?

 

[Broheim]

You could see details 300m away? You have eye transplants?

nope, but we used electronic targets so I could see where I hit on the screen next to me, then I had to aim with my "gut".

 

[Farmer]

nope, but we used electronic targets so I could see where I hit on the screen next to me, then I had to aim with my "gut".

What? You can't see it but you can hit it, that makes no sense.

 

[Texashiker]

For $30 - $40, its difficult to beat a tasco - aka trashco.

I have a tasco red dot scope on my ar-15, and it does just fine. It might be able to hit the target at 100 yards. I doubt its going to get anywhere close to the bullseye unless its really lucky.

 

[Kelvrick]

What? You can't see it but you can hit it, that makes no sense.

I think he said can't see details. Otherwise, you could see a man-sized target at 300 yards. The front site will pretty much cover it though.

For 100 yards, irons will be fine. You can get a set of cheap magpul mbus's for 80 bucks.

Optic wise, if you're up to spending a couple hundred, get a super sniper 3-9.