Originally Posted by
Gutshot John
There is very little difference between a true 1x and 1.25x when you're talking about tube optics. You still have to maintain proper alignment behind the optic. While I own true 1-4x, they're not nearly as quick or as forgiving as an RDS. I tried to disproove it, I really did, I wanted the hype to be true. Sadly it's not. A true 1x tube optic isn't that much faster than a 1.25x (we're talking maybe hundredths of a second and most Short Dots are 1.1x). So how much is that hundredths of a second worth? An RDS is going to be faster well in excess of that. Inside of 100 yards, an RDS beats the shit out of anything else for speed by whole seconds.
That said how much does a Short Dot cost and how do you quantify that cost compared to an Aimpoint? While the short dot is a fine optic, the marginal cost involved does not make the short dot an RDS killer. Sorry I know that breaks a lot of peoples' hearts, but it's not.
FWIW having taken a LAV class when there were short dots in existence, the man did say that recommend that everyone have an Aimpoint, he didn't say that everyone should have a Short-Dot.
1-4 or 1-8 are fine scopes but they're not RDS killers...especially given the weight/cost involved.
All in all the advances in variable magnification scopes aren't that much different than what came before. They are better but they aren't game changers.