Magnified optic vs RDS or reflex sight for only rifle in the house

[Big Green]

The AR9 beside my bed has a Primary Arms RDS. That’s the HD rifle.

The Aimpoint T1 is on a different rifle.

 

[CyberWolf]

Aimpoint PRO w/ killflash is the way to go in this case.

Extremely long battery life (just change them annually to be safe), virtually indestructible, lightweight, super fast acquisition, etc.

Issue you may run into with many lpvo's, particularly the cheap ones, is lack of "true" 1x or distortion at extremely close/cqb range.

For example, the Burris MTAC 1-4 is a good choice and actually much better with that (optical distortion at extreme close range) than many of the lower end (but higher on the scale than the MTAC) brand/line options - e.g. much better than a PST Gen2 1-6 as far as optical distortion at close range, but not even close to a Razor HD Gen2/E, NF ATACR, etc.

 

[AustinN4]

Extremely long battery life (just change them annually to be safe), virtually indestructible, lightweight, super fast acquisition, etc.

I have had an Aimpoint Micro on and set on the lowest brightness for over 5 years and it hasn't gone dead yet.

The Micro is also smaller and slightly less than half the weight of the Pro.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

I have had an Aimpoint Micro on and set on the lowest brightness for over 5 years and it hasn't gone dead yet.

The Micro is also smaller and slightly less than half the weight of the Pro.

Just wait until you need it....





j/k

 

[CyberWolf]

I have had an Aimpoint Micro on and set on the lowest brightness for over 5 years and it hasn't gone dead yet.

I keep my PRO about halfway up all the time (daylight visible), never had an issue but the annual battery change is just to keep Murphy at bay, and batteries are cheap as long as you're not burning through them on the regular.

 

[DyeF9]

Is the pro so highly recommended due to reliability and cost?

What do you guys think of Sig's line of red dots? The new romeo8t boasts 100k hours run time with multiple reticles to choose from

 

[oldag]

Is the pro so highly recommended due to reliability and cost?

What do you guys think of Sig's line of red dots? The new romeo8t boasts 100k hours run time with multiple reticles to choose from

Reliability and ruggedness.

Have read good things about the Sig line, but no experience with them.

 

[AustinN4]

Is the pro so highly recommended due to reliability and cost?

https://us.aimpoint.com/products/products-compare/

I believe the Pro costs more than the H1 but could be wrong. H1 is smaller and lighter. H1 has longer stated battery life.

Nope, I am wrong. Just looked it up and the Micro is more $.

 

[Dawico]

Is the pro so highly recommended due to reliability and cost?

What do you guys think of Sig's line of red dots? The new romeo8t boasts 100k hours run time with multiple reticles to choose from

Yep, reliably and cost. They are good optics.

I have heard good things about Sig's red dots but no experience with them either.

Vortex is good as well as Primary Arms for more cost effective red dots.

For a hard use red dot the PRO is tough to beat though. My Vortex Sparc AR is nice but I wouldn't trust it in battle.

 

[AustinN4]

Yep, reliably and cost.

I believe it is fair to say that all of Aimpoint's optics are reliable, so that does not differentiate one model from another. But compared to other brands, Aimpoint wins for me.

 

[Dawico]

Yeah, I would like my irons to cowitness if it's a dot, either in line or 1/3. I don't know if it works like that with lpvo, but I assume it would if it's lined up and at 1 power

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Variable optics wash out the front sight.

In my Leupold (actually 1.25-4x) the front sight is very blurry at 1.25x. It just gets worse as magnification increases.

Some of the more true 1x variables may be better on low power but will quickly blur the front sight out as you zoom them out.

A quick disconnect mount would be a good option if you are concerned about optic failure.

Magnification and cowitness iron sights will not make a good combo.

 

[toddnjoyce]

I may have missed it somewhere. You mentioned this is for home defense application.

Inside the house? Approach to house and inside?
What’s the max distance you would shoot this at?

I’m not sure I’d even put an optic on, honestly. A different way to skin the cat is a good iron battle sight and a light/laser combo.

 

[AustinN4]

I’m not sure I’d even put an optic on, honestly. A different way to skin the cat is a good iron battle sight and a light/laser combo.

Good question! I assumed it was dual purpose, but maybe not. If it will be indoor only, I wouldn't bother with a RD. Iron sights and a light are all you need.

 

[DyeF9]

I may have missed it somewhere. You mentioned this is for home defense application.

Inside the house? Approach to house and inside?
What’s the max distance you would shoot this at?

I’m not sure I’d even put an optic on, honestly. A different way to skin the cat is a good iron battle sight and a light/laser combo.

Yes, for inside the house. I think the longest indoor stretch is about 30 - 35 yards. It's pretty close range for a rifle to be sure. I have a good pistol set up for him defense with night sights, and a viridian x5 chambered in .40. It can hold 13+1, which isn't bad. I'd like to have a rifle as well though, mostly because of ammo capacity. You're probably right about the irons and a good light/laser. I did intend on getting at least a nice small form factor light with a pressure switch. I thought it might be a good idea to go with something proven for making it quick/easy to line up on a target, which is why I was thinking an RDS. I don't know that I'd be good with LPVO after quite a bit of looking, because I don't want to have to fiddle with anything before it's actually an effective product.

 

[DyeF9]

Good question! I assumed it was dual purpose, but maybe not. If it will be indoor only, I wouldn't bother with a RD. Iron sights and a light are all you need.

I would still like to enjoy it out at the range of course. In reality though I suppose I could just take off whatever optic when it's at home on "standby"

 

[toddnjoyce]

Yes, for inside the house. I think the longest indoor stretch is about 30 - 35 yards. It's pretty close range for a rifle to be sure. I have a good pistol set up for him defense with night sights, and a viridian x5 chambered in .40. It can hold 13+1, which isn't bad. I'd like to have a rifle as well though, mostly because of ammo capacity. You're probably right about the irons and a good light/laser. I did intend on getting at least a nice small form factor light with a pressure switch. I thought it might be a good idea to go with something proven for making it quick/easy to line up on a target, which is why I was thinking an RDS. I don't know that I'd be good with LPVO after quite a bit of looking, because I don't want to have to fiddle with anything before it's actually an effective product.

Here’s a thought, backed by experience in a shoot house.

Unless you’re going to routinely train to engage in a low light room clearing environment, transitioning from low ready to ready, with an optic, I would highly recommend the simplest solution available.

It’s not as easy as one thinks to do all that. Try it once on a dry fire drill. Start from your bedroom, at night, and work your way through the house with the lights off. Everything from opening the door to slicing the pie, to moving room to room.

Add to that doing it with changing your sight picture from seeing whatever your looking at wide angle to transitioning to something that requires eye-relief.

I’d really recommend the iron sight + light/laser combo for you. Truglo makes a TFO front sight post (tritium powered fiber optic), add in a ghost ring rear.

If you really want to spend the money, a small EOTech would be my recommendation for an illuminated optic. You can then add a magnifier if you want for the range.

Or, just have a QD/QR optic for the range. I’m a fan of the Primary Arms 4x or 5x ACSS as a good gp optic, but I’ve got a ton of time behind the ACOG.

 

[CyberWolf]

May just be me, but I prefer the RDS over Irons for the stated use because I find the RDS to be faster and far easier to run with both eyes open.

The laser/light is a good suggestion, but would recommend that both be configured for momentary-on only and located such that they can be easily activated with off/weak hand (either directly or with tape switch).

As for Aimpoint PRO vs Micro - I haven't tried/seen any comparative torture tests, but the PRO seems like it would take a good bit more of a beating than the Micro (just an assumption based on appearance). Also, the PRO will take a killflash, which might come in real handy in HD situations (minimize chance of reflection from an appliance/etc. giving you away while lining up a defensive ambush...)

 

[SC-Texas]

For in the house, a 1x red dot is pretty important.

Then the question is do you accomplish this with an aimpoint style red dot or a 1-6x?

A flashlight is so important.

Lasers I'm not a fan of unless running an IR laser and a pvs-14.




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[DyeF9]

I bought my Tavor SAR today, so confirmed platform for whatever load out. I'm leaning heavily toward red dot with iron cowitness. Momentary flashlight with pressure switch on off hand is a definite. Thanks for the input from everyone.

Sounds like I'll need to practice some indoor cqb drills. I'm pretty sure there's a range close by that offers training for such a thing, so I'll probably look into that.

 

[Old_Inspector]

Open or fold-down open sight with illumination would be my choice; possibly with a LASER (like a TruGlo). If you want electronic sights, use an open red-dot (or green-dot, or whatever). Since this is a house gun, you are talking about confronting someone at what are basically "bad breath" distances; with any luck, they will decide to leave, quickly. If not, you will have to kill them.