Hi.
I just bought an AR 15, and am interested in getting a scope for it.
It’s an Anderson Mfg, out of Kentucky.
I’ve read a couple articles about this one, and am thinking that for a first time AR owner, I’d like to keep the price under $300.
I suppose because of the searches i do online, Facebook has gotten my search terms, and loads a LOT of sites that purportedly sell optics really cheap. (I’ve never done a search on Facebook for weapons, so that they load advertising for equipment is surprising to me).
In looking further into them, i find most of them are scams. Vortex, and numerous others.
I’ll admit I’d love to get a 2000-3000 scope for a couple hundred dollars, but sometimes it’s just TOO obvious.
I recently ran across one advertisement for a scope that the real website is selling for less than the scammer.
For a inexpensive scope that the company stands behind. They will fix or replace even if you ran it over (your fault) . If I remember right. You call them print out a sheet. They give you a number. Ship it to them they ship it back… They are not complete Shiat either… Again we are not talking high end …
I have owned one … I buy all kinds, high end, low end… I just like to try things out… This approach to life did get me in to some trouble with the wife … Not sure why her sister had to say anything…
I’m not an avid rifle guy. I’ve heard many guys say it’s not uncommon to spend more on an optic than the rifle itself.
That being said, I have an sig red dot on my AR. It was less than $150. I’ve heard questionable things about sig optic compared to other brands, but I watched a guy on YouTube throw the thing around and it never lost zero. I’m more of a pistol guy though so take what I’m saying with a grain of salt… I have a feeling a vortex optic would be better than my dog optic.
No, i stated there are scams purporting to be Vortex and several other high end optics.
They were selling their wares for $100 to $300, of scopes worth $2000-3000.
P
That is eBay everyday. I have seen sellers stating in their product descriptions that even though their product says Sig or has the Vortex logo on the side that they are NOT authentic.
I believe the cheapest scope I have put on an AR(5.56) was made by Monstrum, bought it on Amazon, $99, etched reticle, held zero, no issues.
@SteveBMe My son has a STRIKEFIRE II red dot system with front and rear lens covers on his AR-15 by Vortex from Cabela’s/Bass Pro Shop also available on Amazon.com $199 You can also match it with a Vortex Optics VMX-3T 3X Red Dot Sight Magnifier with built-in Flip Mount also $199
A lot of guys run red dots and magnifiers,… my Eotech rig is quite a bit outside your listed price range…. But I also had a sightmark setup on my 15-22 that worked well. The slide to side magnifier action was clunky but worked.
If we’re talking home defense or personal defense as the most important role, personally, I’d buy a $1,500-$2,000 rifle and then $200-$300 on a Vortex or Holosun red dot sight and maybe (for not-home defense times) a flip to side magnifier
If it’s a fun gun, or hunting or varmint gun, trying to shoot moderate+ distances in real world variable not always perfect lighting conditions, I could see spending way more money on the glass.
IMO it’s generally better for an AR15 pattern rifle to start with a really good, quality rifle that’s top shelf tip to butt and then get inexpensive but serviceable accessories/optics to put on it…and upgrade those add-on items as time goes on but with the same high quality complete rifle underneath all of it.
I’d be happy to start with a Daniel Defense, ADM, BCM, etc, and a Vortex Sparc or whatever + streamlight
Sight Mark is inexpensive optic sight which uses a red dot. I have one on my AM15 and also on my Ruger carbine. No problems with either one. Easy to bore sight.
As others have alluded to, I’d start by defining the role of the rifle. How are you going to use it? If it’s just home defense, probably a non magnified red dot. If it’s for plinking or hunting a few hundred yards out, a decent magnified scope with a reticle designed for shooting at distance. If it’s a general purpose gun for close in to medium distance (say, defending against a possible intruder, or more likely a rabid coyote, depending on where you live), a 1-4 or 1-8 variable scope can be good. Some are available with a center illuminated dot, so at 1x they work much like a standard red dot optic.
Lots have given advice on different optics above. I’ll add that for value for the dollar it seems hard to beat Vortex.
I personally own this setup, paid more than $260 for it, and like everything about it for my application of going out with friends to plink at 100 to 200 yard targets. It does have a battery operated reticle highlight, but the reticle is etched into the glass - I personally don’t bother turning on the battery powered highlight as the etched reticle is very clear to see during daylight conditions.
For home self defense, I have this red dot:
It has worked great and held zero for years. The drawback is there is no etched reticle if the battery goes dead.
Not trying to tell you what to buy, just giving you some examples that you don’t have to take out a mortgage to get a sight for your application. IMHO an AR would not be my choice for a really long range rifle that would require a $2k+ scope.
