5.56 build optics [Archive] - 6.5 Grendel Forum : : For the 6.5 Grendel Aficionado (2023)

Mattw

06-22-2012, 09:50 PM

I know some of you out there have a 5.56/.223 for blasting away at the range. What I am wondering is what is the preferred optic you use? Reflex, holographic, acog, low power scope with red dot 45'ed off the side. I have my Grendel for ranged shooting and this will just be at 100 yards mostly and stretched to 200 yards on occasion. This is a good quality budget build, if that makes sense. I didn't mind spending the money on a good vortex for my Grendel but I don't want to spend near that for this short range build. I have been a scope guy all my life, just now getting into these red dot/acog/holo gizmo's so I need a little help, know nothing about them.

Thought about a Burris FastFire Reflex but is that going to be enough for around 200 yards?

I really want an eotech or acog, never had one and never used one but everyone swears by them. $1000 for either one just seems a bit high for a "good quality budget build" if you know what I mean. But if a 3.5 or 4 power acog will get me to 200 and still allow me to shoot at close range then that's what it comes to I guess.

A regular 3-9 power scope with a red dot off to the side seems the best of both worlds but looking to change it up a bit and get more tacticool!

I guess what I'm saying is how comfortable do yall feel making shots at 200 yards with these red dot/acog/holo's?

BTW I know I could go to another forum and ask this but I trust yall and I don't want 1500 opinions from people that think their way is the right way and only way. Just looking for friendly opinions and try to catch up on all this high tech stuff I've been missing out on. I've bought those cheap little BSA reflex's for 4 of my .22 and .22 mags but you get what you pay for on those I've found out, they have those reflections and star bursts but seeing pictures of eotech's it shows none of those defects. Would like to keep it under $300 but somehow I think that's unrealistic so just give me opinions and I will keep my piggy bank hanging upside-down. Thanks!

LR1955

06-22-2012, 11:16 PM

I know some of you out there have a 5.56/.223 for blasting away at the range. What I am wondering is what is the preferred optic you use? Reflex, holographic, acog, low power scope with red dot 45'ed off the side. I have my Grendel for ranged shooting and this will just be at 100 yards mostly and stretched to 200 yards on occasion. This is a good quality budget build, if that makes sense. I didn't mind spending the money on a good vortex for my Grendel but I don't want to spend near that for this short range build. I have been a scope guy all my life, just now getting into these red dot/acog/holo gizmo's so I need a little help, know nothing about them.

Thought about a Burris FastFire Reflex but is that going to be enough for around 200 yards?

I really want an eotech or acog, never had one and never used one but everyone swears by them. $1000 for either one just seems a bit high for a "good quality budget build" if you know what I mean. But if a 3.5 or 4 power acog will get me to 200 and still allow me to shoot at close range then that's what it comes to I guess.

A regular 3-9 power scope with a red dot off to the side seems the best of both worlds but looking to change it up a bit and get more tacticool!

I guess what I'm saying is how comfortable do yall feel making shots at 200 yards with these red dot/acog/holo's?

BTW I know I could go to another forum and ask this but I trust yall and I don't want 1500 opinions from people that think their way is the right way and only way. Just looking for friendly opinions and try to catch up on all this high tech stuff I've been missing out on. I've bought those cheap little BSA reflex's for 4 of my .22 and .22 mags but you get what you pay for on those I've found out, they have those reflections and star bursts but seeing pictures of eotech's it shows none of those defects. Would like to keep it under $300 but somehow I think that's unrealistic so just give me opinions and I will keep my piggy bank hanging upside-down. Thanks!

Matt:

If your target is upper torso size like an IPSC target or E-Sil, then a dot sight will do you fine. They are much faster than a magnified optic and at 200 you ought to be able to hold a pretty decent group given decent ammunition. In other words, they are precise enough for hunting types of conditions and will work to about 300. I have pushed them to 500 but that was in conditions where there was a very strong contrast between the target and the background. They are also much better for moving targets than a magnified optic given a large target and short distances.

If you do go with a dot sight, you best look at some decent money. I prefer the Aimpoint over the EOTech and others here are the opposite. Why will you end up spending decent money? Because the Aimpoints and EOTech's are made to be used in very bright lighting conditions such as snow, bright desert, etc. They give you enough power so the dot can be seen under very bright conditions. And, they are waterproof. In addition, they are relatively easy to adjust elevation and windage and have a sufficiently large dot for ease in close up work but small enough for some distance. Out to 300 easily on a man size upper torso. The cheapo's will not give you the type of flexibility and reliabiity you are after so avoid them.

If you want a decent magnified optic, expect on spending around $800.00 to $1,200.00. Run a search for the Vortex Viper line as this optic has been discussed here numerous times. Some guys like the ACOG's. I think they are grossly overpriced and lack clarity. If you do go with a magnified optic, your target acquisition time will probably triple or quadruple over a dot sight. Even if you get good at it.

Some guys put a $500.00 Doctor dot sight at the 2 oclock on the forend when using an optic. For close range shots, to about 100 with the Doctor type of mini dot sight, they cant the rifle so as to pick up the dot on the forend. It takes about as much time as acquiring the target through the optic but many guys are very uncomfortable with a magnified optic for close range stuff so are more confident canting the carbine and using the forend mounted dot sight. If you go with this set up, your head position better be perfect when you cant the rifle or you will have a damn hard time finding the dot on the small screen.

After screwing around with short range optics, optics with a dot sight on the forend, and only a dot sight with back up irons, I finally accepted the fact that nothing was ideal so just went with the set up that best suited the conditions I expected to encounter. If I only expected to need something to 200 or 300 that was about the size of an upper torso, I would go with a dot sight.

LR1955

Armored Transport

06-22-2012, 11:32 PM

Mattw

06-22-2012, 11:37 PM

kamrr4437

06-22-2012, 11:40 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAW4XEzbvFg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0zzksNwysc

My 5.56 is sighted in at 50 yards. You have to aim about 3 inches low for 100 yards. But you can hold dead on at 200 yards. I love the Eotech. As far as a red dot goes i like the 1 moa dot. Aimpoint is good as well. Only problem is the 2-4 moa dots they come with. Plus in my Eotech it takes AA batteries. Ive had my Eotech 2 years and changed the batteries twice. I generally go to the range at least 2 to 3 times a month on average. Plus you can buy a big pack of AA batteries anywhere. Its funny when you take your wife to the range and she can engage a target at 200 yards with an Eotech and you have grown men that cant hit it with scopes lol. By the way the video of my wife shooting is her first time shooting that gun. I think now teaching her to shoot was a bad idea shes kind of deadly nowadays lol.

VASCAR2

06-23-2012, 02:46 AM

I'm an EO Tech guy, I have 2 model 512's which use AA batteries with no night vision. I bought my first new EO Tech about 10 years ago and just bought a second like new used EO tech 512. I use one on my duty rifle the other is on my AR 22 training rifle set up exactly like my duty rifle. I gave my daughter a 512 and also own a 511 (N battery) which is out of production. I have a red only Vortex Strikefire which is similar to Aimpoint but cheaper. For me shooting CQB and LE type use I like the EO Tech best because of wide field of view and speed. I've used low power magnified scopes but the EO Tech are quicker.

For shooting tight groups on paper targets magnified scopes are better. For Combat/SHTF I like the EO Techs better than Aimpoints and other red dot sights.

I use Lithium batteries in my 512's because they supposedly won't leak acid and will work in very cold conditions.

Mattw

06-23-2012, 04:03 AM

Variable

06-23-2012, 04:23 AM

I agree with pretty much everythng LR1955 said. I like Aimpoints better (have 4 of them), but the Eotechs are ok too. For what you are describing a dot sight sounds fine. I have bigger scopes and tried the Dr. Optic thing, but didn't like it. My Dr. Optic sight has been laying in a desk drawer for a long time.LOL

If I want to keep bulk down and still have some magnification I use an ACOG. Everythng is a compromise, but the TA01NSN and the M150 have worked out pretty well for me. Most of the time though an Aimpoint would have done the job.
Here is a TA01NSN I put on my 6940 for slightly longer shots:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn291/Variable556/e7c9c43a.jpg

I ended up switching it over to the M150 because I want to try getting used to the chevront reticle and using bindon aiming style for closer targets. I haven't practiced it enough yet though...

icanhithimman

06-23-2012, 01:25 PM

icanhithimman

06-23-2012, 01:38 PM

Whelenon

06-23-2012, 04:28 PM

For a budget blaster I went with the Vortex StrikeFire. I like it.

http://swfa.com/Vortex-1x30-StrikeFire-Red-Dot-30mm-Sight-P11251.aspx

LRRPF52

06-23-2012, 08:26 PM

Lots of good advice here. I personally am not a huge fan of the ACOGs because of the unusually small exit pupil, and short eye relief. Both of those things combined = slow target acquisition, and difficult recovery. I've owned or used the TA01NSN, TA31 and TA11, and will never buy one again. I do like the fiber-optic powered reticles, but the human interface leaves much to be desired.

The new micro Aimpoints and Eotech XPS are great, compact red dots that do everything their predecessors did, in a much smaller profile.

Because of where I live, I lean towards variable 1-4x or 1-6x, compact scopes now. I'm in a mountainous high desert, with urbanized swaths of real estate, so I can encounter conversational to beyond effective range distances easily.

I have a GRSC 1-4x24, which is only 9.25" long, has a 30mm tube, and a reticle for the 62gr 5.56 out of an M4.
My next plans for these types of scopes are leaning towards the new Vortex 1-6x, which will be out this fall, and the Leica 1-6.3x that I just played with here in Finland.

I would suggest buying an optic that fits the area and intended uses you may have. Texas has a lot of wide open spaces in the West and North, but is more rolling terrain and densely vegetated the closer you get to the East.

Bedford

06-23-2012, 08:55 PM

I don't think you need a magnified optic for 100-200 yards.

I own 2 Eotechs and 1 Aimpoint T1 micro (which I am currently trying to sell). The Aimpoint is lighter, but otherwise I prefer the Eotech. You really can't go wrong with either one, just personal preference.

I bought the Aimpoint to put on my AK as it is so small and light. I decided to switch back to irons, as I could not get a good head position with the Aimpoint unless I built up the stock.

Mattw

06-25-2012, 12:49 AM

Went to Cabela's yesterday and tried out the Burris Fastfire, eotech 512, Vortex Strikefire and a few others. For me my opinions of them were:

Burris Fastfire, had a very blurry dot and worse star-burst effect than my cheap BSA Reflex's on my .22's but the glass was more clear with no reflections like the cheap BSA's. Very disappointed, going to have to change plans for my Ruger mk|||.

Eotech 512 = drool. Very clear, very easy to keep both eyes open and acquire an object fast. I also checked out the XPS version which the guy said is nice if you are going to set up NV with it (doubt I will ever do this) since the buttons are on the side. Which might be better since I'm thinking of getting a magnifier one day, you never know, might put it on a different gun down the road, better to have it when you need it than need it and not have it. Or he said I can set up iron sights to co-witness. He says the 512's sit too low to achieve this, which seems cool so I might give that a shot.

Vortex Strikefire, very clear all the way around, nice solid dot without streaks or star-bursts... just not for me. I want to be able to keep both eye's open and it was just a little harder to focus on an object and look through a tube optic.

Was kind of in a hurry that day, didn't get to spend as much time as I wanted, will go back again one day and spend alot of time with each one, but right now the XPS is calling my name loud and clear. I appreciate everyone's opinion, can always count on yall! Thanks!

icanhithimman

06-25-2012, 02:09 AM

Went to Cabela's yesterday and tried out the Burris Fastfire, eotech 512, Vortex Strikefire and a few others. For me my opinions of them were:

Burris Fastfire, had a very blurry dot and worse star-burst effect than my cheap BSA Reflex's on my .22's but the glass was more clear with no reflections like the cheap BSA's. Very disappointed, going to have to change plans for my Ruger mk|||.

Eotech 512 = drool. Very clear, very easy to keep both eyes open and acquire an object fast. I also checked out the XPS version which the guy said is nice if you are going to set up NV with it (doubt I will ever do this) since the buttons are on the side. Which might be better since I'm thinking of getting a magnifier one day, you never know, might put it on a different gun down the road, better to have it when you need it than need it and not have it. Or he said I can set up iron sights to co-witness. He says the 512's sit too low to achieve this, which seems cool so I might give that a shot.

Vortex Strikefire, very clear all the way around, nice solid dot without streaks or star-bursts... just not for me. I want to be able to keep both eye's open and it was just a little harder to focus on an object and look through a tube optic.

Was kind of in a hurry that day, didn't get to spend as much time as I wanted, will go back again one day and spend alot of time with each one, but right now the XPS is calling my name loud and clear. I appreciate everyone's opinion, can always count on yall! Thanks!

I can only say this so many times do not buy an eotech if its not from the xps or exps line. They are upgraded for the scar platform and due to all the issues with the battery compartments. You dont have to buy one with NV settings ie. the entire xps line.

Mattw

06-25-2012, 03:08 AM

Pbfreak199

07-21-2012, 02:53 PM

For a budget blaster I went with the Vortex StrikeFire. I like it.

http://swfa.com/Vortex-1x30-StrikeFire-Red-Dot-30mm-Sight-P11251.aspx

I agree have one on my ar-15 and I really like it zeros easy holds zero my buddy has an Aimpoint and now he wants one of these for another gun he has after he shot it. The price also can't be beat!