Optics on a Budget

a reply to: Snarl

I'm talking about being realistic and discussing optics, weapons, and equipment that is affordable to MOST people.

15,000 for FLIR enabled optics, or high end extreme long distance rifle scopes that are rated to handle the recoil of a 20mm anti-tank rifle is not a realistic measure of attainability for the folks I'm trying to reach. High end on this scale are Trijicon ACOG, or Leupold Mk4 line.

There are crap optics like NcStar, Tasco, or Barska. But there are companies out there that make excellent optics for most people that aren't top of the line, but certainly functional, quality, and affordable. Burris, Vortex, and Lucid do a very good job filling those gaps.

a reply to: projectvxn

I know. My footsteps are possibly 25 years out in front of you.

Let me ask you something that popped up behind me. I have only one session behind an ACOG and that was from the bench. If you're able to find the time to describe your personal experience and its best applications, I'd be in your debt.

a reply to: projectvxn

Yes sir. I have a micro dot on my WASR with a midwest industries rail.

Lower 1/3 all day.

a reply to: Snarl

ACOGs have various uses. Primarily, the philosophy of use is variable target distance within combat ranges.

Everything from 10 feet to 300m should be considered within this range. They are meant to do this in daylight and lowlight conditions without the use of batteries. They are also insanely tough and hardened, waterproof, and the lens are made of etched laminated corundum.

Personal experience is improved speed of target acquisition. Improved accuracy, and improved response time-on-trigger.

a reply to: projectvxnMy vote for affordable optics is a UTG 3-9x32 Compact CQB Scope.This little scope has some nice features such as adjustable OBJ. Red and Green Reticle. The cost is at $87.00 from Amazon. I like this scope so much I have two of them. One on a Ruger 10/22, another on a pellet pistol I use for shooting down pigeons and other nu sense critters.

www.leapers.com...

a reply to: Ceeker63

I suppose for pellet guns and 22 rifles they're fine. But for serious firearms I would not recommend them.

a reply to: projectvxn I would think any of the open reticle sights would fit into your list of acceptable optics.

a reply to: Ceeker63

Not really.

At the end of the day that optic needs to be able to repeatedly, and for a long period of time, be able to handle recoil forces.

Those that are in that category, Vortex, Lucid, lower end Nikon, and Burris tend to build their optics to a certain threshold. That is typically large calibers with a lot of cartridge like .458 socom. These companies will tell you what their optics are rated at.

Cheap companies make no such effort in either build quality nor do they guarantee their products.

Primary arms has a 1-6 scope that works really well for 250 ish

a reply to: circuitsports

I have been pleasantly surprised by Primary Arms. I bought an EOTech 512 from them as well as one of their in-house magnifiers. Excellent quality on the magnifier.

originally posted by: projectvxn
a reply to: SubTruth

I have and continue to run EOTech, Trijicon, and Aimpoint. Leupold, and Nikon make wonderful rifle scopes. I agree with saving for the right optics.

BUT not everyone can save for that long, nor can they justify spending as much or more on their optics than the cost of their weapon.

There are good budget optics out there. I presented two.

I have to disagree with you about your choices.....The Lucid is better than the vortex but not by much. They are made in China and the means they will fail at the range or heavy use. For a 22lr ya they are alright for a .556....NOPE.



Vortex makes good higher end scopes and they are made in Japan I believe but they are much more expensive. Right now you can by a Amimpoint patrol for 400 and it will last a lifetime. So anyone reading this save your money and buy a better optic.


You can find older made in Japan scopes on ebay that will last a lifetime for under 100us. Anything made in China will be crap.......trust me I know.

originally posted by: Ceeker63
a reply to: projectvxnMy vote for affordable optics is a UTG 3-9x32 Compact CQB Scope.This little scope has some nice features such as adjustable OBJ. Red and Green Reticle. The cost is at $87.00 from Amazon. I like this scope so much I have two of them. One on a Ruger 10/22, another on a pellet pistol I use for shooting down pigeons and other nu sense critters.

www.leapers.com...

UTG is crap.......Ncstar is crap......Anything made in China is crap. If you see a made in China label it will fail.

a reply to: SubTruth

Here's the thing man.

You have a habit of going into a thread about BUDGET items and telling people to buy the most expensive possible products.

I get it, I've actually used both aimpoint and trijicon products in their natural environments(i.e. combat), I know they are excellent products and I know that to me, it is better to simply save up and wait for the good stuff.

HOWEVER, there are also good products out there, some manufactured in China, other manufactured in places like Croatia, The ones mentioned in this post are of decent quality. They have been tested over and over again by regular folks who have no vested interest in the outcome. They just wanted something that worked. Lucid HD7 works. It's not an ACOG, and it isn't trying to be. Everyone who buys one knows it isn't but they know it works.

Vortex optics are excellent. Even their low end stuff. Primary Arms puts out some quality glass. All of this stuff is extremely popular. Why? Because it works and it stands up to the demands of the shooter without costing as much as the rifle they bought.

In my humble opinion.... If you are looking decent and quality optics then one of my favorite is deffinetly "Nikon PROSTAFF 5 BDC "
Nikon is one of the top brands on the market for making high quality rifle scopes, this particular rifle scope is one of the middle price range examples .
It comes with 3.5-14x magnification, and it is equipped with a 40 millimeter objective lens.
Not bad at all considering it costs a bit under 300$. Just my 2 cents

a reply to: projectvxn

People can make up there own minds....I talk from experience not reviews. I have owned the strikefire and found the red dot hazy and the glass really bad. Also the clicks did not feel accurate and it did not hold zero being mounted on a .556 ar.


The lucid scope is better like I said before but it is heavy and you could hammer nails with it. The glass is bad but it holds zero.



Anything made in China I am sorry to say is crap. With gun stuff cheap is not the better solution you might as well buy an airsoft or pellet gun. Companies that should be avoided......UTG.......Barska.....NCstar......Leapers.....SIghtron.......Lower end vortex,bushnell,tasco,burris. Some of these companies make better higher end scopes that will last like bushnell,burris,vortex. The higher end models are not made in China this should tell you something.....You get what you pay for. If you mount a 100 dollar scope on a 1,000 dollar rifle be ready for it to fail.

a reply to: cmdrkeenkid

lol yours looks just like mine with the double mag and all except I have an ATI folding 6 position stock, and the original wooden grip. Just a little bit in reverse. I think we have the same quads though? Ill post a pic later. I have been looking to get some good feedback on optics and this thread is certainly helping.

a reply to: SubTruth

well I have to either take your opinion for it or the ops. However shall I decide???

a reply to: DYepes

Do not take anyone's single opinion..............READ REVIEWS. It really is that simple also look at the companies history and how well they stand behind a product.



Many top tier companies offer lifetime warranties.....With optics and gun stuff in general you get what you pay for. Sadly it is becoming a rich mans sport as prices rise out of control. A average day at the gun range can cost 100s of dollars when you factor in wear and tear and ammo costs.



Also search out deals and sales.....I found a Trijicon Acog on sale for 700 new. Also found Leupold CQ/T for 500 new. Both of these deals I found at Cabelas outdoor store. The money I saved on those optics alone is a pretty penny. Take your time and read the reviews. One optic does not do it all you need to ask yourself what am I going to really use this for.....Long/short range. Only a select few scopes will do both and they are all expensive. The CQ/T and acog can both span this gap.

personally, even $300 for optics to me is quite affordable. I imagine the average price for quality optics to be around $500. I really have not had any since the first red dot I bought when I first started my collection like even year ago. I only paid like $40 for it and it just ended up lost during three moves at some point. I never really cared for it it felt cheap and not very durable. Thats when I knew it was important to pay a good price for quality when it came to optics. There really is no cheap around it IMO. Honestly I was recently looking at a $750 4x scope with a built in reticle, and I felt that was a fine price for how well it was made. It was water resistant down to like ten feet or so (you know, in the event you have to wade through a creek or something to get to your target) .

I will check out thee options at shooters world next weekend as they have the largest selection of optics in town. At least 40 feet of counter space just for them. Plenty to choose from. No reason the elections in the op will not be there.

a reply to: DYepes

Do not take my advice or the advice of others.

If you are looking for a good optic that will help you put rounds on target and you have a budget in mind work with that.

Always do your research. The options I listed are not there as a "go out and buy this" they are a suggestion for the budget minded folks who don't have a lot of scratch.