Input on Vortex scopes for an AR

[Huskerguy]

Looking at a couple of Vortex scopes. The Vortex SPARC Red Dot Optic and the Vortex Strike Fire Red/Green Dot scope. I have not held or used either but have read quite a bit about the Strike Fire.

This will go on a AR I just completed that I expect to be very accurate. I plan on doing 100 yard shooting, maybe a little more. Small critters, dogs, punching holes, etc.

Any help would be appreciated. I would also add I like the idea of being able to co-witness with iron sights as well.

 

[Fishbed77]

I own a Vortex StrikeFire and it is a nice red dot for the price.

I also own an Aimpoint PRO, and it is MUCH better. Save up the extra $200 and you will not be dissappointed.

 

[jmr40]

The SPARC is a good optic. It isn't an Aimpoint, but is the best budget dot sight I've tried. I'd have no problems trusting mine to work. I think the Strikeforce is a quality optic, but for only $20 more the SPARC is much better.

 

[basicblur]

You'll probably get laughed at (but that never bothered me), but if you want to work your way up (or you may stick with it?), I just added a Bushnell TRS-25 HiRise to a 15-22 plinker that I turned into a poor man's 3-Gun type practice rig.
The more I read about the TRS-25, the more impressive it sounded, and a number of folks are running it on guns with much more recoil than an AR with good results (holds zero, durable).
I even managed to run across a test of cheap $100 red dots, and it passed their (admittedly limited) dunk and drop test (flung rifles with scopes attached) - many cheap red dots failed one or both tests.

I have EOTechs, ACOGs, etc on my big ARs, but so far I've been impressed with the TRS-25. I have a friend that's been piggybacking on my research for putting together a 15-22 on a budget, and also got the TRS-25. His wife has been wailing on muskrats in his pond since doing so, and he has also been impressed.

He's got his mounted on the included OEM riser, which will give you lower 1/3 co-witness. The riser doesn't look bad, but that adjustment screw is just butt ugly, and for some reason the clamp is not full length, which allows it to flop around until you get it tightened.

Cheap, and maybe something to play with until you can check other folks' setup for something later? You could always move the TRS-25 to another gun (assuming you have one).

http://www.amazon.com/Bushnell-Opti...ie=UTF8&qid=1372934145&sr=8-3&keywords=TRS-25

My friend has his mounted as it came - I have a Nikon P22 scope, with the Bushnell mounted on a Weaver Offset Mount behind the scope.

http://www.amazon.com/Weaver-99671-...372934231&sr=1-1&keywords=Weaver+offset+mount

Yeah, the little TRS-25 probably ain't Trijicon / Aimpoint / EOTech tough, but ?

 

[Mohave-Tec]

I was just looking at a SPARC a couple days ago and it was close to a go but this morning I was tormented between buying it a waiting a week or two for an Aimpoint Pro. Not having enough experience with either, I decided to sit on it until this morning a brand new Aimpoint Pro came up for sale on our local shooting web sight for $385. Saving $25 and shipping pushed me over. I now own the Aimpoint Pro. I hope like heck I get a really good look at the SPARC one day.

 

[blueskyjaunte]

Buy once, cry once. Wait for the Aimpoint. I have two SPARCs and neither have turned out to be as reliable as I'd like.

 

[Fishbed77]

FYI - PSA is running a $50 off sale on Aimpoint PROs. If you enter the coupon code 4TH PRO, you can nab a PRO for $360. It's well worth the price difference over the Vortex red dots.

 

[basicblur]

Have you checked out this one?
http://www.leupold.com/tactical/scopes/vx-r-patrol/vx-r-patrol-1-25-4x20mm-30mm/

Best price I can find:
http://www.tacticalwholesalers.com/Leupold-VXR-125-4x20mm-FireDot-Duplex-111230_p_404.html

This (or possibly it's big brother, which is a bit too pricey for me) are on my wish list - probably would give it a try now, but I'm outta stuff to put it on!

Looks like it will function as a red dot on lowest setting, and you've got a 4x scope if you need it.

I just wish it had a first focal plane reticle like it's big brother!

A bit more money than you were talking, but for the extras it offers?

 

[DougW]

Vortex scopes are outstanding. My 3 gun carbine has a 2x7 Viper, and my 6.8SPC has the 2x7 Crossfire. Don't use the red dots by Vortex, but my experience in general is that the Vortex scope is a fntastic value. My only red dot scope is a ML2 Aimpoint that bought in 2006 which still works very well.

 

[Shmackey]

I have both. The Sparc is good, but the Aimpoint clearly is in another league.

The Sparc now sits on my .22 AR Plinker. The Aimpoint sits on my 9mm AR house gun. And my .223 AR no longer has a red dot--it has a Vortex 1-4x scope with illuminated reticle. Best of both worlds.

 

[Carne Frio]

I have two of the Strikefire Red/Green dots and
like them a lot. But, an Aimpoint Pro at $360 will
be my next purchase. That is quality at a good
price.

 

[greyling22]

Are you sure you want a red dot for precision work and accuracy at 100+ yds? Sounds more like scope work to me. My personal favorite setup is a 2-7x scope on an AR.

Strikefire has a 4moa dot. (covers 4" at 100 yds. 8" at 200.) SPARC is half that, but still not exactly a precise instrument.

 

[rhinoh]

Especially with a 4MOA red dot, it is hard enough with a 1MOA red dot....

 

[Lloyd Smale]

Ive got two stirkefires and 3 aimpoints to compare them too. the aim points a defineately a better sight but should be for 3 times the money. the big dissadvantage to a vortex is battery life well pretty good is no where near what aimpoints are so you could never leave them on all the time. You couldnt anyway as they have an auto shutoff on them which is another bad feature. Who wants a combat sight that will shut off when you least expect it. If you can live with those features there a darned good sight though. I dont put them on guns id use to protect my family but for plinking ars or 22s there a great sight.

 

[OpticsPlanet]

I'm in with greyling22, at 100+ on small critters and punching holes, a red dot sounds a little coarse, depending on how close together you want your holes.

We get to take things home and play with them, and neither of the EOTech products I owned had night vision compatibility. I bought a SPARC to have something to use with the borrowed NV. My decision was based in large part on this review on ARFCOM:

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_2_277/187104_.html

Agreed that the Aimpoint PRO is on another level, but the SPARC is a lot of sight for the money.

Mark H.

 

[inkinskin]

I love the sparc. The best feature is the multi level mounts. I can use it on my AR, my 556, and my AK. Just not at once lol.


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