Best inexpensive optics

[darthix]

So I would love to have an ACOG but cost being an issue that mat not happen for a while. In your opinions what are good, inexpensive alternatives?

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[meak99]

Stay away from NCStar. YMMV, but I had a simple red dot from them that wouldn't hold center... no matter what adjusting I did.

On the other hand, I just put a $40 Bushnell red/green dot from Walmart on my Ruger Mk III 22/45 and it's excellent. No idea how it would hold up to higher recoil of a rifle or shotgun, but it's doing great on my .22 pistol. Again, YMMV, other have probably had the opposite experience.

[davasmith]

If you go onto ebay you can find just about any style of scope or site pretty reasonably priced. However, for an in country product I'd suggest a bushnell. I have several myself and only one gave me problems. Still they are worth the price and on heavier recoil rifles hold a good zero. IMHO

[Peel2Seal]

The best one I found are the walmart centerpoints.

They hold up to recoil extreamly well. I cant remember the exact round count before it failed but it was something like 1400 rounds or so of .50 BMG, after that the poi started to walk so I gave it to a friend who needed a red dot for a m4. It lasted another year before it started to walk on his gun. IMHO with out the abuse of the m2 it could have lived on that m4 for a very long time. It was accurate enough to hit a spray paint can at 100 yards.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIhBuBFA3mI

[gunderwood]

What's it going on and what do you want it for? I've owned ACOGs and they are great general purpose optics, but you're not going to win any accuracy contests with them.

[Peel2Seal]

What's it going on and what do you want it for? I've owned ACOGs and they are great general purpose optics, but you're not going to win any accuracy contests with them.

I can hit a golf ball at 100 yards with a acog, thats good enough..... A acog will take a zero and hold a zero after being aboused hard, its a combat scope.

If you want to talk about tack driver accuracy your rifle is going to be the limiting factor, not the acog.

[gunderwood]

What's it going on and what do you want it for? I've owned ACOGs and they are great general purpose optics, but you're not going to win any accuracy contests with them.

I can hit a golf ball at 100 yards with a acog, thats good enough..... A acog will take a zero and hold a zero after being aboused hard, its a combat scope.

If you want to talk about tack driver accuracy your rifle is going to be the limiting factor, not the acog.

Yes, I've shot 1.5" groups for 20+ rounds with mine on an AR10 on more than one occasion. However, that doesn't hold a candle to what a precision optic setup would do and 100 yards is easy because most of the reticles have a fine point at that range. Try shooting that golf ball at 200 yards, etc. The ACOG's reticle at those distances generally covers the target and doesn't allow for precision aiming until past 300 yards or so (obviously depends on the model, but most of them). You can game the system with targets/distances specifically chosen to allow for precision reticle placement, but that's cheating.

That being said ACOG's are a great compromise between a red dot and a precision optic. Yes, they are also very tough. For the price I do wish the glass was a bit better; much better than a cheap scope though.

[Kustomefeft]

I've got a utg "tactical" 4-12 scope I ordered thru cheaper than dirt for $99. I've put over a 1000 rounds downrange on my ar15 without any loss of zero. Comes with a nice set of mounts too. I'd buy another one in a heartbeat

[bryanrheem]

questions: what use? what price?

[grumpyMSG]

Without knowing what your goal is I will suggest several different optics:

In a red dot, you can't go wrong with an Aimpoint, their Aimpoint Pro is basically a Comp M2 with a Comp M4 style mount, they run about $400 that may be more than you want to pay, but it is tough,combat proven system. Used Comp 2s can be found for less and will last a long time.

In a low power, magnified optic, I'd go with a Leupold Mark AR in 1.5-4X, They can be found for less than $300 without too much effort.

In a medium magnification, I'd look at the Leupold Mark AR in 3-9X, they run around $300 another $50 if you want one with a Mil-Dot reticle.

I won't get into bashing all the less expensive optics out there. They all have there place, I just believe in saving if you have to and spending a little more to get something that will last for a while. I don't buy cheap with the intent to use for 6 months and then get something nicer. That route just seems like a waste of money to me.