What Is Your Favorite Optical Sight

[Sayeret]

I was thinking about getting an ACOG for my AR-15 but I am trying to find out what is the best optical sight and why.

[colonel havok]

I was thinking about getting an ACOG for my AR-15 but I am trying to find out what is the best optical sight and why.

ACOGs are brilliant. PM me and I can help you get one.

[James]

I was thinking about getting an ACOG for my AR-15 but I am trying to find out what is the best optical sight and why.

What are you going to use your rifle for? ACOGs are terrific past 100 meters, but not so great up close. If you're able to spend more, there are additional miniature red dot sights available that can be mounted on top of ACOGs, providing you with a close in red dot in addition to long range magnification. Eotechs and Aimpoints are terrific at closer ranges, but aren't magnified like the ACOG, thus having some disadvantages at longer ranges. Any of the three are a good supplement to iron sights, but your needs will dictate which is best for you.

[Sayeret]

I don't really like how the ACOG takes away from shooting at close range. I have heard that some of the newer models have sights on top of them for shooting at close range.

[ZoneOne]

I prefer an Eotech w/ a magnifier.

Not too keen on having the red dot above the ACOG ( I love the ACOG though )

You wind up having a different sight picture by looking through the different optics.

Plus you can get an Eotech w/ a magnifier for less then just a normal ACOG w/ fiber optic illumination.

[James]

I don't really like how the ACOG takes away from shooting at close range. I have heard that some of the newer models have sights on top of them for shooting at close range.

Again, what will you be using the rifle for? I can't remember if you're in the military already - will the scope you buy be for service use? You also mentioned putting this on an AR; what kind (i.e. short? carbine? rifle length?)

Newer ACOGs are available with a mounted red dot, and older versions can be fitted with a variety of different red dots - J-Point and Docter come to mind.

[Dominique]

I've used ACOG, M-68 CC), and EOTech. The ACOG is great for 100m to about 600m, CCO's are OK, and are usually compatible w/ most standard issue US military NOD (my PVS-14 mounts neatly in front of it), but I still prefer EOTechs to them (I purchased my own, and mounted it, never had an issue).

[James]

I prefer an Eotech w/ a magnifier.

Not too keen on having the red dot above the ACOG ( I love the ACOG though )

You wind up having a different sight picture by looking through the different optics.

Plus you can get an Eotech w/ a magnifier for less then just a normal ACOG w/ fiber optic illumination.

True, but the flip side is that an Eotech and magnifier are considerably heavier and bulkier than an ACOG. Also, after a few trips to the range with an ACOG/red dot combo you won't even notice the difference anymore.

[Pappy]

I love my ACOG. Not only is it a compact 4x optic with good glass, but the stadia lines enables decent and quick range estimation as well as bullet drop compensation for quicker long range shots.

I purchased mine with the mini red dot sight, and I have to say I didn't like it on top of the ACOG. When I had proper eye relief with the ACOG, the MRD would hit my eye pro and cut me above the right eye. Same thing happened to a buddy of mine. I'm just planning on mounting the MRD at the 1-2 o' clock position on my forward rail system. A visible laser is also very effective in the 0-50 meter range. So if you have a PEQ-15, you already have that covered.

[Migs]

ah geez this is gonna turn into an Aimpoint v Eotech v ACOG thread lol.
Optics are really just a matter of personal preference. I prefer the red dot, my aiming eye is optically worse then my left one (even with my glasses), the lack of eye relief really helps.

[Dominique]

ah geez this is gonna turn into an Aimpoint v Eotech v ACOG thread lol.
Optics are really just a matter of personal preference. I prefer the red dot, my aiming eye is optically worse then my left one (even with my glasses), the lack of eye relief really helps.

When using the EOTech or Aimpoint, I shoot with booth eyes open. It takes ome gettign used to, but makes target acquisition easier.

[wildcat]

Well I shoot both eyes open with my ACOG, which is a 3x power, it works great from about 25m+ it has a bullet drop compensator, I really like it. I have it on my 308 AR, and think I might get another for my 5.56, but I will only get a 3x, it is all I need. I never had any trouble shoot close or distant.

[paracrusader]

With practice, the ACOG is absolutely effective at close range. Not as great as the EOTech, but not prohibatively so. Personally, I never liked the add-on holographic sites on the ACOG. For that matter, I'm set in my ways, and I've been using one version or another of the ACOG since 2002 or so. Under 25m, you can easily hit a man-sized target without aiming, nearly all of the time of the time. We used to put tape on our optics for CQM training, and after alot of shooting it was rare to see rounds impact outside of the target. The 68 and EOTech are great, and not nearly as expensive, but for me, the ACOGs possible shortcomings are easily mitigated by training. The ACOG is just all-around more effective for me, and at this point it would just feel ackward to use anything else.

[Pook2]

The fact of the matter is, the debate will always continue over which sight is better. Choose one for the ranges you will be shooting at, and train on that the best you can. There is no awesome jack-of-all-trades optic, or else everyone would use it. Everyone is going to have issues with one thing or another. There are optics like the ShortDot and Spectre that can be used variably with the flip of a switch, but the cost may not make it worth it. I say again, decide what ranges you will shoot at most, and pick your preferred optic and train for that. With that being said, I shoot an EOTech because I rarely shoot beyond 50m. I simply do not do enough precision rifle shooting to warrant buying a magnified optic.

[Jameten]

I like the ELCAN AG-K sight

[Pralix]

I love my ACOG. Not only is it a compact 4x optic with good glass, but the stadia lines enables decent and quick range estimation as well as bullet drop compensation for quicker long range shots.

I purchased mine with the mini red dot sight, and I have to say I didn't like it on top of the ACOG. When I had proper eye relief with the ACOG, the MRD would hit my eye pro and cut me above the right eye. Same thing happened to a buddy of mine. I'm just planning on mounting the MRD at the 1-2 o' clock position on my forward rail system. A visible laser is also very effective in the 0-50 meter range. So if you have a PEQ-15, you already have that covered.


I have an ACOG scope for my M&P15 and a Burris Fast Fire on a Burkett Offset mount. Eye relief for both the ACOG and FastFire stay the same. You simply tilt the rifle a bit to use the FastFire.

[SMGLee]

I have an ACOG scope for my M&P15 and a Burris Fast Fire on a Burkett Offset mount. Eye relief for both the ACOG and FastFire stay the same. You simply tilt the rifle a bit to use the FastFire.

That seems to be the trend nowadays....

Recently TNVC came out with what they call the MURLM, its a forward Aimpoint T1 mount with a flash light attachment point...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/Clutch99/MURLM/Bare.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/Clutch99/MURLM/TNV0708_231.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/Clutch99/MURLM/TNV0708_026.jpg



I like the ability to be able to utilize the magnified optic at range and also the capability to run a red dot close up...

But at the civilian range I run at, my engagement distance goes from 0-50 at most. and most of the classes I take rarely go beyond 30oyrds. I have find my EOTech has been sufficient at those distances. especially if I know my ballistics and know exactly how much hold over I have at various distance.

my choice has always been EOTech, but that is not saying Aimpoint are not good to go.. as far as red dot is concern, those two are on the top of the food chain..

As far as magnified optic, I like the ACOG, especially the ACOG TA31 with the BAC aiming concept. with practice, the BAC can act as a red dot in fast moving situations. like some of the poster above, it is fast but still not as fast as a red dot sight at close range..

if I run an EOtech and run it against a guy with an ACOG, you will see time difference out to 50yrds with advantages toward the red dot, as we go beyond 50yrds, you begin to see the time gap close in on the red dot and as the distance reaches 100yrds, the time is about equal and anything beyond, the magnified optics begin to gain a foothold.