C'mon... a THOUSAND dollars for optics?

timcsaw

timcsaw

Gold Member
Joined
Sep 25, 2007
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I recently picked up a Sig-556 rifle and now I'm looking for optics for it <gasp>... It's been a while since I was in the market, and I'm shocked at the prices.

(subliminal message... "think cheap")

The factory Backup Iron Sights (BUIS) are "usable" but nothing fancy... the recommended replacements I'm seeing run $90 for a rear, $70 for the front :eek:. Gimme' a break... BACKUP iron sights $200... wow:eek::rolleyes: I may just stick with the factory sights. (think cheap).

I purchased the SIG light/laser unit which attachés to the front rail --- that should take care of close range --- (when the las. is visible) now I'm looking for a decent "reach out and touch someone" piece of glass. The recommendations from "rich people" all include things like, "Buy an ACOG!" (for a thousand bucks:rolleyes:),... or "buy the Swarovski!" (for $1400:eek::rolleyes:)... or "Buy the EoTech Halo sight with a magnifier!" ($700 and $500 :eek::rolleyes:)...

(think cheap)

What am I... MADE of money?

I have a BSA 2X42 red dot ($60) on my 10/22 which I modified into an FN-P90 and it works fine. I've had a few BSA, Tasko, and other 3-9X40's and never had a problem with them (all under $100 bucks).

So what "low cost" (read as "timcsaw is a cheap SOB") optics would YOU put on this SIG-556? I can't believe I should have to pay MORE for the optics than I paid for the rifle.

(first one who says "you get what you pay for" is gonna' get "text slapped":D).

ON EDIT: What did you put on YOUR Sig or AR? ("rich people" who bought that $1400 ACOG or Swarovski, need not reply.);)
 
The problem with the low end stuff is reliability. I used to curse at the cost of optics until I actually got some good glass. It's worth it. I have heard it said that you should spend as much or more on your glass as you do on your rifle. I'm not sure I would go that far but spending a little extra does pay off.

These scopes that your talking about were built for combat and as such are well built (overbuilt) so they will hold up to abuse. I put an EOTECH on my AR and love it. No magnifier. I doubt I'll ever be shooting much beyond 100 yds. with it and it's set up for work that needs to be done close up.

I know I probably haven't been much help but that's my .02 cents.

SDS
 
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. If you want use bailing wire as a hook or clevis, be my guest. Please don't whine about it breaking, not working well, etc. :p

For CQB, I personally like the AimPoints but the Eo-Techs are well respected too.

If you are going into combat, you better have an ACOG or S&B Short Dot or you're going to need those $200 back up iron sites when your P.O.S scope fails at an inopportune moment.

High quality optics all cost about the same amount of money for a good reason. For range plinking, you can get about any entry level hunting scope attached to your rifle.
 
SDS hits on a good point about diminishing returns. When you start talking about scopes or binoculars over a $1,000, small improvements cost a lot of money because the basics have already been done right. $200 to $500 buys a lot of improvement. $500 to a $1,000 is still very noticeable. $1,000 to ~$2,000 is generally buying improvements beyond basic optics quality.

When you start to age and your eyes start to go, you will sell the less used rifles and handguns to buy optics you can use with your primary rifle.
 
SDS said:
The problem with the low end stuff is reliability. I used to curse at the cost of optics until I actually got some good glass. It's worth it. I have heard it said that you should spend as much or more on your glass as you do on your rifle. I'm not sure I would go that far but spending a little extra does pay off.

These scopes that your talking about were built for combat and as such are well built (overbuilt) so they will hold up to abuse. I put an EOTECH on my AR and love it. No magnifier. I doubt I'll ever be shooting much beyond 100 yds. with it and it's set up for work that needs to be done close up.

I know I probably haven't been much help but that's my .02 cents.

SDS
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Sid Post said:
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. If you want use bailing wire as a hook or clevis, be my guest. Please don't whine about it breaking, not working well, etc. :p

For CQB, I personally like the AimPoints but the Eo-Techs are well respected too.

If you are going into combat, you better have an ACOG or S&B Short Dot or you're going to need those $200 back up iron sites when your P.O.S scope fails at an inopportune moment.

High quality optics all cost about the same amount of money for a good reason. For range plinking, you can get about any entry level hunting scope attached to your rifle.
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OK, OK, consider yourselves "textually slapped" (I'm just jealous):p, but I get your point(s).:D

For my expected use (out to 100yds +/- ), I'd probably be better off with an Eotec type (Holo) sight, and a magnifier later. Frankly, I'll still carry a 3-9X40 in a tube and ready to mount if need be.

Is there such a thing as a "decent, lower priced" Holo out there?

SDS, which Eotec did you put on your AR?
 
I'm not SDS but if you want an eotech get the cheapest one, which should be about 350. I doubt you need the one capable of use with night sights. http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=81248 Don't know if that website is reliable just pulled it for an example. Obviously get the AA battery model since you are cheap. :D


This one is on sale for cheap http://www.opticsplanet.net/leupold-mark-4-cqt-13x14mm-rifle-scope.html

I got mine from these guys...
http://www.opticsplanet.net/eotech-holographic-sight-510.html

I could be wrong but I thought eotech makes this one for Bushnell...it is 100 less: http://www.opticsplanet.net/bushnell-holosight.html
 
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Not saying there is anything wrong with that. Saving money on a gun that was ordered with custom graphics that someone ordered and never bought that ended up on the sale rack is OK, But trying to find custom Pink sites for it cheap is also pushing your luck. IMO LOL :D

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But mine came w/o any sights.... So I got the EoTech that uses AA's, as they are cheap and plentiful. I don't have the magnifier, but I might get it in the near future, if it has the quick-flip feature. I don't plan on using it out past 200 yards - for that, I'd hope to be using my AR-10 in .308.
I have a relatively cheap red-dot sight, I think it's called the "Firefly" I picked up cheap at a pawn shop on my AK...

The real bitch will be deciding which piece to grab in a SHTF situation... :confused::eek:
Prolly the AK and I'll snatch the EoTech and mount it on the AK when I can...:D

So far, my only gripe with SIG is the SIG Spotlite w/laser module that I picked up - the mounting tightner bolt is threaded into a small plastic locking block.... Yup, the bolt wouldn't really tighten the unit to the rail, and then all of a sudden, it just got looser - it stripped the threads out of the locking block... Simple solution would have been a nut set into the block, but they skipped that little piece of simple solution. Anyway, I did contact SIG and they've promptly sent me a return authorisation and will replace the unit at no cost even though it was a private sale at a gun show, when they get them back in stock.. So I am so far satisfied with SIG as a company... Haven't shot the gun yet, so I'm still waiting to see how that goes...

By the way, I used to shoot NRA, Collegite and International .22 bolt guns in high school and some college - I used to practice with a couple of women shooters who were then on the US Olympic team - It may look funny to see a chick with a pink gun, but it was my experience that they could shoot the balls off of a gnat at what ever range they were shooting! :eek:
 
timcsaw said:
Is there such a thing as a "decent, lower priced" Holo out there?
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The Bushnell Holosight can be had for somewhere between $220 - $240. It is manufactured in the same plant as the EOTech and uses the same technology and reticle.

It does not have the protective metal shroud that the EOTech does and it is not as waterproof. I.E. - it is not "combat durable" like the EOTech is. Another downside is that it is only available in N cell size rather than the AA availability of the EOTech. I have no idea whether or not it is compatible with magnifiers.

Still, it's great so long as you're not going into a warzone. But it's not as tacticool so....

Not knocking the EOTech at all, btw. I own both an EOTech and a Bushnell Holosight.

Also, unless you need all the NV capabilities, an EOTech 512 (the basic AA model) should serve you well and costs less than $400.
 
jeffreyliu838 said:
You modded your 10/22 into an FN p90?

Wut?
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I was bored one winter... No one made any Bull-pup stocks that would work for a "lefty" (me) so I made one that would. (it ejects the brass behind my left ear).

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More of mine here;
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5505914&postcount=23

If you shoot right handed,... and if you have a "few" :D extra dollars just laying around, you might want to talk to the folks at "Ironwood Designs". I had a few discussions with them when doing mine. They can do some "nice":D things to a 10/22... How 'bout these?;

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http://www.ironwooddesigns.com/2aprod/11022prod.html
 
joeshredd said:
But mine came w/o any sights.... So I got the EoTech that uses AA's, as they are cheap and plentiful. I don't have the magnifier, but I might get it in the near future, if it has the quick-flip feature. I don't plan on using it out past 200 yards - for that, I'd hope to be using my AR-10 in .308.
I have a relatively cheap red-dot sight, I think it's called the "Firefly" I picked up cheap at a pawn shop on my AK...

The real bitch will be deciding which piece to grab in a SHTF situation... :confused::eek:
Prolly the AK and I'll snatch the EoTech and mount it on the AK when I can...:D

So far, my only gripe with SIG is the SIG Spotlite w/laser module that I picked up - the mounting tightner bolt is threaded into a small plastic locking block.... Yup, the bolt wouldn't really tighten the unit to the rail, and then all of a sudden, it just got looser - it stripped the threads out of the locking block... Simple solution would have been a nut set into the block, but they skipped that little piece of simple solution. Anyway, I did contact SIG and they've promptly sent me a return authorisation and will replace the unit at no cost even though it was a private sale at a gun show, when they get them back in stock.. So I am so far satisfied with SIG as a company... Haven't shot the gun yet, so I'm still waiting to see how that goes...

By the way, I used to shoot NRA, Collegite and International .22 bolt guns in high school and some college - I used to practice with a couple of women shooters who were then on the US Olympic team - It may look funny to see a chick with a pink gun, but it was my experience that they could shoot the balls off of a gnat at what ever range they were shooting! :eek:
Click to expand...

Thanks for all the ideas/input folks...

oeshredd - I haven't shot mine yet either. Waiting for a wamish day (might be May?:eek::D). Good info on the Sig light/laser. I haven't taken mine out of the box yet. Plastic without a nut? Just asking for trouble! Has Sig done something about the plate stripping out? I'm wondering if they will send you something different (with the problem solved) or not. If not, I'll have to do a mod and add a nut-plate.

So far I'm leaning toward the Holo with an eventual magnifier...

Thanks for all the links... I'll be bargain hunting!
 
I know a lot of people will give me a ration of ca-ca but I am using a relatively cheap piece of glass and love it so far. I am using one of the Centurion AR-15 2-7x Tactical Scope and it is great. I currently have it on my FN/FAL for testing and have Zero complaints. I mounted it and sighted in at a 100 yards, shot a box and it returned to zero, took it off and remounted it, still held zero, walked the box again and it returned to zero. This scope will end up on my lightweight AR that I am currently building up, dropped the upper at my gunsmiths today to have the carrying handle shaved.

This scope mas the Mil-dot crosshairs, can be illuminated either green or red, holds zero when changing power, and has a lifetime warranty. The bullet drop comp seems right on and the QD mount works very well. The company ships for free and even incuded extra batteries. (it uses the very common flat CR battery that all the Aimpoints use) And the cost was $129.95 delivered.

http://www.centuriontactical.com/

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I know many think it is Chinese junk, well it is Chinese but far from junk. It is extremely racist to think the Chinese cannot make a good product, they can. And yes they can do it cheaper than they can many other places. I wish their human rights stance was a little better but that is up to the people who live there to make changes.
 
You might be able to find one of the Sig Red Dot Sight knock offs at a reasonable price.


Mitch
 
I run a Nikon Buckmaster with target turrets, 1/8 minute of angle adjustments on a Bushmaster Varminter (24 inch stainles heavy barrel, free float hand guard on an A3 [flat top upper], with olympic styled grip with palm swells and shelf, A2 Stock).

I think the scope ran me around $350.00 at Sportsman's Warehouse.


Dave
 
I found and interesting offering at http://www.centuriontactical.com/bushnell-730132p.htm (thanks Absintheur) which "advertises" a "Built in "back-up" sights over the top of the scope!" set up... It's something I've never seen before...

I've often wondered why other scopes don't offer such a simple solution... especially high powered scopes that are of little use at relatively close distances. A simple set of sights built into the top of the scope would be great for those targets which pop up at 50 feet. Parallax of course would be a problem, but it would seem that it would work fairly well for quick point and shoot.

The "hunt" continues....:thumbup:
 
I know I'm goofy, but I never had any desire to own a decent rifle until I looked through the Trijicon scope a friend had on his AR-10. Now I want to build an AR-10, and I'm pretty sure it's so I can have an excuse to buy a Trijicon scope.

LOVE that glass. :D

I had to put the whole project off, though, until the current buying frenzy dies down and I can pick up AR-10 parts. I could kick myself for delaying the purchase of LPKs and uppers until after I got my lower.
 
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