Optic for a new shooter, first rifle

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07-25-22, 14:20
NIXDSG

Optic for a new shooter, first rifle

I just completed a build with my son, 16" midlength and looking for advise on an optic. He's went shooting a few times and enjoys it, good form and attention to detail. Purpose of build is to promote the sport/enjoyment of shooting. I had him check out my 1-4 Burris, Pro, Holsun 400(?), Eotec, and 1-8 accupower (which he liked but not an option, lol). He liked the Holsun.

This will be an all around firearm. Plinking mostly. He has little desire to hunt. I have long range rigs he can use, so not the purpose of this build.

Is the holsun a good start? Options, suggestions?

NIXDSG
07-25-22, 17:27
fedupflyer

A Holosun is a good low cost option.
It has now been "battle tested" in Ukraine.

Are there better optics out there? Sure, but it a descent entry level optic.
Also have a look at the Vortex offerings.
07-25-22, 18:50
.45fan

Since holosun is a Chinese company making their products in China and most forums have many threads with complaints of them breaking. I could never use or recommend them.

Vortex has some non Chinese options, eotech, trijicon, aimpoint are others I would use and recommend.
07-25-22, 19:19
Inkslinger

I’ld say go with a LPVO. It might be more versatile for a new shooter to experience every range with the rifle.
07-25-22, 20:27
grizzman

If your son is old enough to shoot an AR, then he's old enough to decide what optic he prefers.....which has been identified as the Holosun. If that's what he prefers, then that's what the carbine should receive. They're less expensive than the cost of ammo used in a few range trips.

I personally wouldn't buy one, but the optic's reliability and usefulness on a carbine intended to only be used as a casual plinker should be fully adequate.
07-26-22, 07:47
BrigandTwoFour

You might check out the Sig Romeo 4t series.

For all I know, it's probably made by Holosun anyway but at least you have Sig's warranty backing it up. Similar reticle options, too. If the 4t is out of budget, they have cheaper choices, too- like the Romeo5, 4s, 4H, etc.
07-26-22, 12:40
ndmiller

Trijicon MRO or Aimpoint Pro are also great options.
09-02-22, 17:03
davidjinks

Quote:

Originally Posted by NIXDSG

I just completed a build with my son, 16" midlength and looking for advise on an optic. He's went shooting a few times and enjoys it, good form and attention to detail. Purpose of build is to promote the sport/enjoyment of shooting. I had him check out my 1-4 Burris, Pro, Holsun 400(?), Eotec, and 1-8 accupower (which he liked but not an option, lol). He liked the Holsun.

This will be an all around firearm. Plinking mostly. He has little desire to hunt. I have long range rigs he can use, so not the purpose of this build.

Is the holsun a good start? Options, suggestions?

NIXDSG

I know you didn’t mention it but maybe look in to the Trijicon 1-4 or 1-6 Accupoint. Low cost, great glass, fairly rugged.
09-04-22, 07:00
WornOutGrunt

I think that budget will also drive the decision.
Is it His $$ or Yours...
I think that you could give him some options ( as mentioned here Holosun, EO Tech Aimprint etc) and let him decide... if you built it for him let him get some skin in the game on the optic and so he learns the value of what you built for him. The optics mention on here are solid choices... keep him away from the amazon specials

Take him to a LGS and let him look thru a few different choices to see what he likes.

This is just my opinion, but it is what I did with my son on his first build...
09-14-22, 08:04
wyn

I really enjoy mine with the leupold VX Freedom 4-12x40 rifle scope. Light, has great glass, and you can opt to get it with the cds dial to go out easier. I prefer the trimoa reticle as well. The alum caps are the "cats meow" as well, if you can muster the cost of those.
https://accurateordnance.com/ proves good suggestion for rifle you may check here.
09-15-22, 07:18
AndyLate

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidjinks

I know you didn’t mention it but maybe look in to the Trijicon 1-4 or 1-6 Accupoint. Low cost, great glass, fairly rugged.

There is a pretty good $ stretch between a Holosun and an Accupoint :)

I would suggest an LPVO, but you gave him a great range of optics to try, so why not a Holosun or equivalent? Preferably not Chinese.

Andy
09-18-22, 12:04
33XRAY

A new shooter should stay away from optics until they can be confident with hitting small targets with irons.
09-18-22, 12:43
Wake27

Quote:

Originally Posted by 33XRAY

A new shooter should stay away from optics until they can be confident with hitting small targets with irons.

Bullshit. This isn’t 2000.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
09-18-22, 17:52
Five_Point_Five_Six

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wake27

Bullshit. This isn’t 2000.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

No kidding. Where do these guys come from?
09-18-22, 19:58
Pappabear

That Holosun should be just fine. I have all the top end optics and Holosun is a great value.

PB
09-18-22, 22:26
AndyLate

Quote:

Originally Posted by 33XRAY

A new shooter should stay away from optics until they can be confident with hitting small targets with irons.

In my experience, a red dot is the best tool for teaching a new shooter. So much easier to train the mechanics of shooting when the entirety of aiming is "the bullet will hit where the dot is".

After the shooter has familiarity with everything else, learning to aim with irons, scope, etc. is a natural transition.

Andy
09-19-22, 00:58
titsonritz

Quote:

Originally Posted by 33XRAY

A new shooter should stay away from optics until they can be confident with hitting small targets with irons.

Why start with something inferior?
09-19-22, 16:52
NIXDSG

I got him a Holsun, just as he requested. Was the cheapest of those he tried so it's a win win.

When/if he wants its easy to change to a 1-4 or other later.

NIXDSG
09-20-22, 00:01
33XRAY

When I learned the fundamentals of shooting I gained a mutual respect for iron sights. Everything else was much easier. Plus I notice most people can't seem to handle iron sights, and they use way to much ammo to sight in their red dot or what not. Irons sites are the base weapon optic system. I would only call them inferior on something like call of duty.
09-20-22, 02:49
vicious_cb

Quote:

Originally Posted by 33XRAY

When I learned the fundamentals of shooting I gained a mutual respect for iron sights. Everything else was much easier. Plus I notice most people can't seem to handle iron sights, and they use way to much ammo to sight in their red dot or what not. Irons sites are the base weapon optic system. I would only call them inferior on something like call of duty.

Irons are obsolescent, anyone with a timer can tell you this and are best used a secondary or tertiary sighting system. What should a new shooter use to learn with? How about the optic he is going to be using most often, thats the right answer. Irons can be learned later as a back up the best bang for ammo spent is your primary sighting system.
09-20-22, 04:46
Wake27

Optic for a new shooter, first rifle

Quote:

Originally Posted by 33XRAY

When I learned the fundamentals of shooting I gained a mutual respect for iron sights. Everything else was much easier. Plus I notice most people can't seem to handle iron sights, and they use way to much ammo to sight in their red dot or what not. Irons sites are the base weapon optic system. I would only call them inferior on something like call of duty.

Even the Army, which is almost always well be hind the civilian shooting world, has officially labeled them Back Up Iron Sights. That’s a clue.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
09-21-22, 13:42
titsonritz

Quote:

Originally Posted by 33XRAY

When I learned the fundamentals of shooting I gained a mutual respect for iron sights.

So did the rest of the world, a quarter of a century ago. Move on to bigger and better things. Several of the instructors I train with don't even have irons on the guns at all, they back up their LPVO's with MRDS and call it a day.
09-21-22, 13:43
titsonritz

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wake27

Even the Army, which is almost always well be hind the civilian shooting world, has officially labeled them Back Up Iron Sights. That’s a clue.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Marines too I believe.

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