Which optic would best suit my needs?

[Bcs379]

I am looking to get an optic for my current rifle (M&P 15-22), that I can use on an AR that I plan to purchase in a year. I am dead-set on an RDS and leaning towards the aimpoints.

I shoot 1x-2x a week and plan to use it for when I start taking training courses.

Weight is not an issue. I would like a mount that I will give me a 1/3 co-witness.

Here are the ones I have narrowed it down to:

-Aimpoint ML3 with American Defense Cantilever Aimpoint Mount
-Aimpoint C3 with American Defense Cantilever Mount
-Aimpoint PRO Patrol Rifle Optic (Is the stock mount good for a 1/3 co-witness)
-Aimpoint H-1 with American Defense Micro Mount(Socom)
-Aimpoint H-1 with Daniel Defense mount

Does any one have any experiences using the 2 MOA dots and the 4 MOA dots? Which one do you prefer? Why?

Any recommendations are welcomed.

[Find ManBearPig!]

I am looking to get an optic for my current rifle (M&P 15-22), that I can use on an AR that I plan to purchase in a year. I am dead-set on an RDS and leaning towards the aimpoints.

I shoot 1x-2x a week and plan to use it for when I start taking training courses.

Weight is not an issue. I would like a mount that I will give me a 1/3 co-witness.

Here are the ones I have narrowed it down to:

-Aimpoint ML3 with American Defense Cantilever Aimpoint Mount
-Aimpoint C3 with American Defense Cantilever Mount
-Aimpoint PRO Patrol Rifle Optic (Is the stock mount good for a 1/3 co-witness)
-Aimpoint H-1 with American Defense Micro Mount(Socom)
-Aimpoint H-1 with Daniel Defense mount

Does any one have any experiences using the 2 MOA dots and the 4 MOA dots? Which one do you prefer? Why?

Any recommendations are welcomed.

To quote another member of the forum:

"Wait, your primary rifle is a 15-22?"

Joking aside, get the Pro. There's all ready been a large discussion about it on the forum, and it's pretty much a updated M2 in a better mount. If the mount somehow dose not work out for you, there are tons of great replacement options, and you still have a perfectly good Aimpoint CompM2.

[Bcs379]

To quote another member of the forum:

"Wait, your primary rifle is a 15-22?"

Yea, being a college student I didn't want to spend a ton of money on ammo. I have already put about 1,700 rds through it in the past couple weeks. I cannot afford that right now in .223

Joking aside, get the Pro. There's all ready been a large discussion about it on the forum, and it's pretty much a updated M2 in a better mount. If the mount somehow dose not work out for you, there are tons of great replacement options, and you still have a perfectly good Aimpoint CompM2.

Yeah, the more I read about the pro, the more it looks like it will fill the role that I am looking for. I mean, I am not trying to shoot a fly at 700 yds while wearing night vision. I just need a reliable RDS that I can eventually switch between rifles.

[Gutshot John]

Given your specified need the Aimpoint PRO seems as good a choice as anything.

Aimpoints, in my experience, come with an absolute co-witness mount. I can't find anything that disputes that.

[SMGLee]

I am not a proponent of any cheap optics, but for a 22LR, you can literally get away with a cheaper optic than an Aimpoint. plenty of good tier two RDS on the market for that consideration. I have a friend that have a Vortex RDS mounted on her Bravo company M4, it was supposed to be a temporary solution till she gather enough cash, but so far, 18 months into this optic and about 2500 rounds of 5.56 later, it held zero and works perfectly. It was like 170 dollars with a extra tall mount so it will give you the lower 1/3 co-witness solution.

I always tell people to buy cheap you end up buying twice, but for your application on a 22LR, this might not be a bad choice, especially if you are on a budget.

[RogerinTPA]

You're better off using the Iron sights and waiting until funds become available. If you just got to have one, I'm with SGMLee. There are plenty of low cost RDS options out there to save you some coin.

[Bcs379]

Price is not the option. I had enough to buy a lower-end AR, but I chose to purchase a .22 lr because it would allow to get something of quality to allow me to practice drills, shoot, etc. with a .22lr with ammo at $20 for 500 rds. I am now saving up enough money to build an AR from scratch within the next year.

As far as optics go, I know I can get away with something cheap since it is a .22. BUT, I rather pay more and have something thats lasts and can be put on the AR when I build it. Its like gear, why buy cheap condor which works if I can save up and buy Eagle, BHI, etc. that will probably last me forever.

So far though, the Aimpoint Pro looks like the main contender since it has decent battery life, it is rugged, and it has a 2 MOA dot which is what I am leaning towards. The fact that it comes with a mount is a plus though.

I do know some people though that have put low end RDS on their .22's and I may do that once I put the aimpoint on the AR build. But for now I am looking for quality. I should have specified that though since it looks like I was leaning towards an inexpensive option. But that it is not, in this case.

[SMGLee]

I do know some people though that have put low end RDS on their .22's and I may do that once I put the aimpoint on the AR build. But for now I am looking for quality. I should have specified that though since it looks like I was leaning towards an inexpensive option. But that it is not, in this case.

If you are planning to migrate the RDS to a 5.56 AR in the future, you are correct to buy quality now. You can't beat the Aimpoint Pro. I still have three M2 running after well over 7 years of service. although one of them the diode is getting too dim, but you really can't beat the quality vs. the price and longevity.