Rifle Optics

I want to start off by saying that we do not know everything about rifle optics. We are just concerned citizens who want to be prepared for anything that gets thrown our way. This article is just another piece of information to help you make some decisions when choosing from different types of optics for rifles. If you disagree with what we say then that’s okay. If you like what we say then we are glad to have given you information to help you make informed decisions. At the end of the day we believe that training will trump gear any day of the week. Understanding your abilities will allow you to do anything you need to.

Why should you buy a red dot?

Red dots are great because they tend to be small and light weight and come in at a variety of prices. Holosun makes some decent ones for relatively cheap but if you want something bomb proof Aimpoint makes some great options! Yes there are other companies but we have not had any experience with them and don’t want to lead you astray. Another huge plus of red dots is the battery life. In the constant on setting most of them last up to a year without needing to be changed. You can leave your Red Dot on and have confidence that it will be ready when you are. Lastly, they are just super easy to use. Put the dot on the target and pull the trigger. You can easily smash target out to 200 yards!

Why should you buy a Holographic sight?

Examples of some holographic sights would be like an Eotech EXPS, Vortex UH-1, Holosun and a couple of other brands make good ones. They cost a little more than red dots but offer a much crisper reticle. This comes into play if you want to add a magnifier or have some sort of astigmatism. Having the ability to have magnification is a great advantage at distance and with a crisp sight pictures those shots are made easier! You can also use a magnifier on a red dot but the dot will bloom if it is to bright. Both work but it is something to keep in mind. The biggest downside is going to be battery life (it kinda sucks). Holographic sights love to eat up batteries so make sure that you turn them off between uses and keep spare ones on hand. 

Why should you buy an LPVO?

If you want to start shooting out to distance such as 300-500yds then an LPVO is a great option. We do want to mention that you can shoot out to those distances with a red dot or holographic sight with a magnifier. However, it is much easier with an LPVO. Now there are lot of options for LPVOs but the best piece of advice that we can offer is to buy a nice piece of glass. Don’t spend thousands of dollars on your rifle and then throw a $300 LPVO on it. Vortex, Eotech, Leupold, and Sig Sauer all make great options for a wide range of prices. One thing to keep in mind when it comes to LPVOs is that they aren’t always the best on 1 power. They have come a long way and even have an illuminated dot to make it easier. A solution to this problem is running red dots either on top or canted off to the side. Now you can train a lot to become proficient but having that piggy back red dot can make it a lot easier at close range.

Other Factors:

There are a lot of different factors that come into play when it comes to picking an optic. Here are a couple of questions that we like to ask ourselves when building out a rifle. What is this rifle going to be used for? With my barrel length, what is my effective range? How much time am I going to spend learning this platform? What round am I shooting? What is my budget? These are all questions that you need to answer to figure out what is going to work for you. If you have friends with different optics, then ask if you can shoot it. You’ll find out what you like and dislike from a few hundred rounds. Ask about their experiences and ask them why they chose their optic. Even then you should be testing out different configurations to find what you like the most. The great thing about rifle optics are that you can sell them for almost what you paid for them. In the future we will be breaking down some of our builds and show casing why we went a certain route to help offer more direction. 

Like we mentioned before, we are not experts. We are just a company who wants to help others be prepared for anything. Our personal rifle builds have changed a lot over the months and years. If you have questions we are more than happy to help answer some of your questions. Again, don’t take everything we say like it’s gospel but use it to come to a conclusion for yourself! Now get out there and start training!