Bushnell AR-Optic for $67 good buy?

[LiveLife]

Bushnell is offering 25% off rebate on purchase price through June 5 - http://bushnell.com/Bushnell/files/72/72b12860-407d-459a-9109-7950d81c319e.pdf

Sportsmans Outdoor Superstore is selling 1x MP at $89.99 which brings the price down to $67.49 with rebate - https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/products2.cfm/ID/124384

Is this a good buy for casual plinking at 25-100 yards?

 

[armoredman]

I use the Bushnell AR Optic TRS-32 on my BREN 805,



It is reliable, holds zero, easy to use, decent battery life, but has a HUGE dot on it, 5 MOA. The one you're looking at looks like it might have been a better choice for longer range. I have two Bushnell red dots going, and they have been nothing but excellent.

 

[LiveLife]

Thanks for the comment.

The 1x MP has 1 MOA to 10 MOA adjustment - https://www.amazon.com/Bushnell-Optics-Illuminated-Reticle-Riflescope/dp/B0019SS8CE

 

[Dr.Rob]

I've had that optic, great for a Shotgun I didn't think it was precise enough for an AR, I sold mine to a fellow member here.

 

[Varminterror]

I concur with Dr. Rob, it's a good optic, but on top of a capable AR, unless you ONLY run at short range, it'll leave you wanting more.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I really wanted to like it, it might even be a good sight for a 9mm AR, but when you can reach out at range the zero magnification will leave you flustered.

 

[armoredman]

Dr Rob, what do you mean by "out at range"...not trying to be a smart aleck, seriously curious.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Well my eyes aren't as good as some (I wear glasses and I'm pushing 50) but at 200 yards a 12 inch plate (the kind of targets I shoot at regularly, sometimes smaller) is a dot smaller than the center dot of that sight with zero magnification.

That sight just doesn't have the precision adjustments (for me) to get a tight group at 100 yards. I'm not sure I could get consistent 'minute of pop can' with that scope at 100 yards. Minute of pie plate, sure.

A 4x or 5x fixed scope gives me a much clearer view that allows me to judge holdover or windage at range, and allow me to get close to 1 inch groups of 5 shots at 100 yards, and ring IPSC sized plate steel at 400-450.

A sight like that, to me is more of a 50 yard/point shooting sight. There is also no etched reticle so there is no crosshair if the battery is dead.

 

[armoredman]

Ah. OK. I wear bifocals and I'm a little bit older than you, just for full disclosure, and I am no great shakes as a rifleman, of course - the 5MOA dot on my rifle is about as wide as my steel target is at 200 yards. I agree - the dot does limit shooting anything much farther away, often simply by occluding the target, which is why I'll eventually get something magnified, but I do like the convenience of a red dot.
Edited to add - went to the website and looked - that's a 1 MOA dot on the sight the OP is looking at, much smaller than the one I use now.

 

[LoonWulf]

One way to help with some of the issues caused by big dots and non magnified optics is use a 6 oclock hold, i can hit pop can at 100 like that pretty easily. My groups usually run 2"s or so

 

[chicharrones]

One way to help with some of the issues caused by big dots and non magnified optics is use a 6 oclock hold, i can hit pop can at 100 like that pretty easily. My groups usually run 2"s or so

Yes, yes, yes! Adapt and sight that red dot in for a 6 o'clock hold. Just like using a front sight post shooting small targets.

I fully understand if one wants or needs magnification and a reticle focus, but a 6 o'clock hold with a red dot helps a lot when shooting smaller targets.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Like I said it's not 100 yards that's the issue. It's 200 or more.

PS when I say 'minute of pop can' I don't mean from a bench. I mean running from position (say a barricade) to position (though a loophole or construction conduit) to position (over a rickety barrel or fence) in sometimes odd body positions, (prone, rollover prone, squatting in a box left handed) the way I shoot in our local tactical rifle matches. I wouldn't want that as my sight on a 'hostage' target, or plate within a plate swinger at 200 yards. 400+ my eyes cant do without magnification.

But as an informal plinker? Absolutely.

Honestly, this thread has me thinking I might pick up one of these for my 9mm AR build, but its 4x fixed or better on my 5.56 rifles for the reasons listed above. The price and long locking axis makes it attractive.

 

[LoonWulf]

Like I said it's not 100 yards that's the issue. It's 200 or more.

PS when I say 'minute of pop can' I don't mean from a bench. I mean running from position (say a barricade) to position (though a loophole or construction conduit) to position (over a rickety barrel or fence) in sometimes odd body positions, (prone, rollover prone, squatting in a box left handed) the way I shoot in our local tactical rifle matches. I wouldn't want that as my sight on a 'hostage' target, or plate within a plate swinger at 200 yards. 400+ my eyes cant do without magnification.

But as an informal plinker? Absolutely.

Honestly, this thread has me thinking I might pick up one of these for my 9mm AR build, but its 4x fixed or better on my 5.56 rifles for the reasons listed above. The price and long locking axis makes it attractive.

Ahhhh, gotcha, that makes sense.
Ive got my dots on my PCCs, and while its possible to lob 9mm rounds out to 200-250 pretty accurately i havent tried hitting small targets with any of mine.
Picking off a 6 pack worth of cheap soda at 100 or less free hand is where i like them best, while i can do it with scopes im much slower.

I had my trs-25 on my .458 for a while and when using the rear buis to sharpen the image i would regularly be able to get bench groups in the 1.5-2" range. But i wouldnt want to try a "thread a needle" shot without some magnification, infact i prefer 3-6 as my minimum in optics now.

 

[chicharrones]

PS when I say 'minute of pop can' I don't mean from a bench. I mean running from position (say a barricade) to position (though a loophole or construction conduit) to position (over a rickety barrel or fence) in sometimes odd body positions, (prone, rollover prone, squatting in a box left handed) the way I shoot in our local tactical rifle matches. I wouldn't want that as my sight on a 'hostage' target, or plate within a plate swinger at 200 yards. 400+ my eyes cant do without magnification.

Good point, Dr. Rob.