Good optic for $200 or less

**DeltaSierra** · 01-26-12, 16:20

Originally Posted by chepo06

But because it's not a $1000 AR your telling me it's a range toy?

Nope, the reason that your new AR is a range toy is because it is made from sub-standard materials that are known industry wide for failures.

Price isn't the driving factor, but rather quality. Just so happens that you can't get a quality rifle for much under $950 in the current market.

**opmike** · 01-26-12, 16:41

Originally Posted by chepo06

But because it's not a $1000 AR your telling me it's a range toy?

I'm no moderator, but this thread will probably be heading for a lock if we start going down this road. Don't fall victim to the whole, "Are you speaking bad about MY gun?!?" line of thinking.

First and foremost, save for a few jerks and outright assholes, the majority of the comments that you will receive on this forum will be made by those who have your best interest at heart who speak from years of experience in law enforcement, military, and less than official capacities. Going along with this is the fact that this forum is skewed less towards recreational shooting and more towards serious use. As such, the responses that you get will be coming from that frame of reference.

We're not being paid by manufacturers to pimp their products, we're taking our collective experience (both failures and successes) and giving you free access so that you won't make the same mistakes. This will be a mixture of objective statement of fact and subjective opinions and preferences.

ANY rifle and ANY accessory that will be used in even the most minor of SD roles needs to be held to a pretty high standard in my opinion. This is a standard that cannot be met with some cheaper items on the market for reasons that you can find by reading some of the stickies on this site.

The stickies are often the result of discussions that come up on a frequent basis (daily) so instead of re-hashing the same debates, new users can read up for themselves.

I sincerely hope that you stick around, learn, and become an active user on this website. I was in the position of not knowing jack shit about AR's years ago myself and I still don't know jack shit compared to some users here. It just all takes time, and if you're willing to learn, you'll be a better shooter for it. A derisive comment directed towards some inanimate object that you own shouldn't be perceived as an attack on your person. If anything, we're just sick on tired of manufacturers wanting to take our money while trying to push a half-assed product that was assembled with all the care you'd find the 16 year old at McDonald's puts into your Big Mac.

This isn't about what is or isn't a $1,000 dollar AR, this isn't about what is or isn't a $400+ optic. This is about ensuring your hard earned money goes towards products deserving of your hard earned money.

A quality AR and optic combo will be with you for life. If you actually use it, you'll spend many times the initial purchase price of your rifle and optic in ammunition alone. Keep all of this in mind.

**B Cart** · 01-26-12, 16:41

OP, don’t take the criticism too harshly. Not everyone in the world is born knowing the difference between a high quality rifle and a lower tier rifle. I sure didn’t when I first joined this forum.

That being said, if you are willing to learn and use the advice given, you will learn lot of great info on this site from a lot of very knowledgeable end users. The reason some people mention going to the other forum is because occasionally people will get on and try and convince everyone how great their DPMS, Oly Arms, or other low end gun is, and they aren’t willing to learn or take good advice. The other forum is definitely better suited for those type of people. You, on the other hand, seem willing to learn and that is good.

To answer your question, I agree with the other responses that it is much better to become proficient with your irons while you save longer to get a good RDS. Aimpoint, Eotech, Trijicon, etc. are all quality sights that are proven and will last. As for the AR you got, I would shoot the heck out of it while you eventually save up for a more reliable rifle. Use what you have now to become familiar with the platform and start building your skill level, but keep saving so you can eventually get a rifle that you can trust your life to. Good luck!

**chepo06** · 01-26-12, 16:54

Sorry was away from my computer. I wasn't taking anything harshly. That's why I came to this forum. Its LE/ military aka people who know their crap. And I wanna learn. I never said I was gonna keep my rifle forever I will eventually buy something else, but for the mean time it's what I have. It was a good deal at the time and it can be upgraded.

**wahoo95** · 01-26-12, 16:59

Rather than critique your rifle I'll offer a suggestion. For a $500 range plinker, you'd be very happy with something like the Primary Arms Micro with ADM Mount.

**Smash** · 01-26-12, 17:03

Get Irons and ammo.

If you say youll eventually get something else you can take the irons off and put them on your new ones as backups for the RDS you saved up for.

And with all the ammo you bought you'll be familiar with them!

**chepo06** · 01-26-12, 17:14

Got it smash irons!!!!

**WillBrink** · 01-26-12, 18:57

Originally Posted by B Cart

OP, don’t take the criticism too harshly. Not everyone in the world is born knowing the difference between a high quality rifle and a lower tier rifle. I sure didn’t when I first joined this forum.

Include me in that group also.