best red dot for indoor/outdoor

[zzzzsleepy8]

Originally Posted by FirestormX

Some common complaints with red dots are that:
* The large dot will obscure a large MOA of the target (one of the reasons EOTech reticules have a tiny dot for a small MOA, with a larger ring around it to help draw your eye to the point of aim, without searching for that tiny dot).
* Knockoff (and even some really really crappy real steel) red dots are difficult to see in bright sunlight.
* Knockoff (and again, crappy real steel) red dots cannot be turned low enough at night, that they do not practically obscure everything in the FOV of the optic, by shining its bright light into your darkness-adjusted eye.
* When the batteries die, or the optic is damaged, then the optic is useless.
* They add a fair bit of weight and additional potential snag points to the rifle.

With the way I handle my firearm, a good optic adds way more value than it takes away with these (potential) draw backs. I can understand the appeal of sticking with irons, and I do just run irons from time to time. But a good optic is generally an asset.

Those are good points, and you're right just like everything, there are good and bad to everything. But for the most parts, a good scope outweighs irons. Irons should really be left as a backup, which is how most people have it set up.

For rifles like the carbine, the ideal setup is to have a scope and then flip up backup irons to take its place if the battery runs out or if it malfunctions or gets damaged. With say the magpul ones, they spring load, so its as easy as pressing a button and you're good to go.

With hand guns, say on a glock, you can use the trijicon RMRs. Same thing. If batteries run out or it gets damaged, then you simply go to the existing iron sights on the glock.

In this modern age, the red dot type scopes (or holoscopes) are really the only way to go because its so much easier to acquire targets. Even targets at a range, I don't buy the large MOA dot argument as the reason to stick with irons. With irons, your field of view is way worse because you essentially the irons block off a lot of the view and they themselves are actually quite big, equivalent to a big dot in terms of covering the target.

[zzzzsleepy8]

Originally Posted by Still Beating

ACOG is a great sight too.

I love these eotechs; holographic reflex is awesome for picking up moving targets WHILE you're moving, you don't get any parallax unless you have a cheap optic. I also have a Burris FastFire 3, and it has some parallax but gives you a white line to help centre your eye. I won't buy any sights that can't take recoil, and this is why these sights are all much more than $100. Dual purpose, though.

Next purchase... http://www.tacticalimports.ca/gsci-c...ght-p-260.html (640x480 + all bells and whistles)

I like EOtechs too over the aimpoints and t1 style scopes. Mainly for the look and the signature dot and circle reticule.

In the RS world, it is also better I think because its much more rugged. And even if the screen is shattered partially, it will still work in theory because its a hologram so the center stays true. You can't say that about a standard red dot that got shattered. The holoscope is basically like the ideal dot scope in the RS world (you can also get single dot reticule variants on EOtechs).

[GoSkyLine]

HS403A v.s. HS403C v.s. HS403G
differences? which one to buy?

seeing HS403C has the solar panel

[grantmac]

Originally Posted by zzzzsleepy8

I like EOtechs too over the aimpoints and t1 style scopes. Mainly for the look and the signature dot and circle reticule.

In the RS world, it is also better I think because its much more rugged. And even if the screen is shattered partially, it will still work in theory because its a hologram so the center stays true. You can't say that about a standard red dot that got shattered. The holoscope is basically like the ideal dot scope in the RS world (you can also get single dot reticule variants on EOtechs).

You've clearly never run or spoken to anyone who runs an Eotech in the real world. Short story they are unreliable fragile crap compared to an Aimpoint.
They have limited water resistance, poor battery life and many durability problems.

You take an RS Aimpoint, turn it on and drop it into a bucket of water. Come back a year later and it's still working fine. I've seen EOtech 552s fail from light spray (10m waterproof my ass).

Sure they look cool, but don't kid yourself with regards to the Eotech as a fighting optic.

-Grant

[zzzzsleepy8]

Originally Posted by grantmac

You've clearly never run or spoken to anyone who runs an Eotech in the real world. Short story they are unreliable fragile crap compared to an Aimpoint.
They have limited water resistance, poor battery life and many durability problems.

You take an RS Aimpoint, turn it on and drop it into a bucket of water. Come back a year later and it's still working fine. I've seen EOtech 552s fail from light spray (10m waterproof my ass).

Sure they look cool, but don't kid yourself with regards to the Eotech as a fighting optic.

-Grant

Good point. Because nobody runs an EOtech in the real world. *rolls eyes*

Clearly this talk about what is best is a discussion doomed to fail from the get go. You use what you prefer and what works for you. I think you will find people who like the EOtech and those that don't and prefer the aimpoint. How do you change a person's opinion on something when they've already made up their mind? You don't.

You seem to cherish the long battery life. Perhaps there is also a difference between guys who don't want to change their battery in their personal carbine they use on the range, versus the guys that are dropped off stealth helicopters and only need to have the optic work for a couple of hours for one specific op. EOtech claims that even their smaller units, the XPS3 can run 600 Hrs continuous. I think thats more than enough for one OP. In case it runs out those, you have that spare battery in your stock compartment.

[-=ArchAngel=-]

Originally Posted by zzzzsleepy8

In the RS world, it is also better I think because its much more rugged. And even if the screen is shattered partially, it will still work in theory because its a hologram so the center stays true. You can't say that about a standard red dot that got shattered. The holoscope is basically like the ideal dot scope in the RS world (you can also get single dot reticule variants on EOtechs).

Originally Posted by zzzzsleepy8

Good point. Because nobody runs an EOtech in the real world. *rolls eyes*

Clearly this talk about what is best is a discussion doomed to fail from the get go. You use what you prefer and what works for you. I think you will find people who like the EOtech and those that don't and prefer the aimpoint. How do you change a person's opinion on something when they've already made up their mind? You don't.

You seem to cherish the long battery life. Perhaps there is also a difference between guys who don't want to change their battery in their personal carbine they use on the range, versus the guys that are dropped off stealth helicopters and only need to have the optic work for a couple of hours for one specific op. EOtech claims that even their smaller units, the XPS3 can run 600 Hrs continuous. I think thats more than enough for one OP. In case it runs out those, you have that spare battery in your stock compartment.

I believe the reason why a lot of of LEO/Mil use EOtechs over Aimpoint are due to cost and thus, ease of replacement. And for some, its the awesome reticule. However, from a durability standpoint, its an industry accepted fact that Aimpoints are epitome of durability while EOtechs have been known to suffer from bad QC (roll your dice). While some EOTechs are built like tanks, there are enough out there that have failed on the range that EOtech has built a reputation of be a lower standard of quality. Aimpoint has not. Do a quick Google search on Aimpoint vs EOTech durability and you'll see whole bunch of posts that agree with that.