LPVO back to red dot

[badkarmamib]

I currently have a Leupold VX Freedom 1.5-4X on my GPR. I picked it for the low weight and clear glass. It replaced a Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8 gen1 for these reasons. I am thinking about going back to a red dot, for speed and target acquisition while shooting with both eyes open.

I have had a Vortex Strikefire and a Sig Romeo5. The Vortex was too bulky and heavy, and battery life kinda sucked. The Sig was okay, but the factory mount was an absolute instead of lower 1/3, and the screws stripped the housing rather easily.

Can't afford an Aimpoint or EoTech, possibly selling the Leupold in a FDE Aero lightweight cantilever to pay for a red dot. What would be some suggestions for a lightweight, durable, reliable red dot with good battery life?

Looking for reviews after long-term use on some newer models, which is why I am asking and not searching the internet and watching unboxing videos on YouTube TIA

 

[KYamateur]

I have the following on rifles: Vortex Strike Eagle LPVO, Vortex Strikefire red dot, Sig Romeo5 red dot, and Vortex Spitfire Prism scope. I like them all. As far as red dots go the Strikefire is easier to use because it is bigger but it is heavy (and buttons are hard to push). I don’t think you can really find better than the vortex or Sig without spending Aimpoint/ Trijicon money. My suggestion is the Spitfire Prism scope. If I could only keep one, it would be it. Lightweight, super fast acquisition, and still good if battery dies. I have the 1x and have never tried the 3x.

How much better is the Leupold than the Strike Eagle? I enjoy the Strike Eagle but I’m not sure if I want to invest in a higher grade.

 

[badkarmamib]

How much better is the Leupold than the Strike Eagle? I enjoy the Strike Eagle but I’m not sure if I want to invest in a higher grade.

The Leupold has clearer glass, and weighs just over 9 ounces. But, it lacks illumination, and only has half the magnification. My biggest gripe with the Vortex was that, as a glasses-wearer, if I went from 1x to 8x, I had to turn the focus eyepiece a full turn, I guess due to adding an extra lens with my glasses. I had some other people look through it, and all glasses-wearing people had the same issue, whereas people who did not need corrective lenses, even ones with astigmatism, did not need to refocus with magnification changes. Don't know if something like the Razor would be better, I don't have the funds to find out. Also, at ~$310, I don't know if the Leupold VX Freedom is "higher-grade", just a different set of features.

I like the Leupold, but, like everything, it is a compromise. I want to keep things as simple as possible, i.e. one rifle, one optic, not extra uppers, just trying to get ideas to figure out which "compromise" I want to settle with.

 

[FL-NC]

Mrs Fl-NC has a Vortex SPARC 2 on her AR. It seems sufficiently adequate and rugged for what that gun is for- defensive use, mostly from 0-50 yards, max engagement distances out to 100 yards or so, minute-of-bad guy. I have taken it to 300 on steel IPSC targets myself. Personally, I prefer sights like the 1-6, 1-8, etc. as a general purpose optic, because I feel I can get the most benefit from them with all applicable factors in play.

 

[shafter]

I like my Romeo 5 but this would be my next choice. Vortex Crossfire red dot.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YDN936...olid=334FHPC5L6ALO&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

 

[badkarmamib]

After thinking, reading here, and talking with some others, I think I will probably end up leaving the Leupold on this, and possibly putting a red dot on something else, possibly a non-AR PCC. Will keep these in mind for future use. Thanks.

 

[jmr40]

I am thinking about going back to a red dot, for speed and target acquisition while shooting with both eyes open.

If you're not keeping both eyes open and getting on target just as fast with the Leupold you're doing it wrong. I shoot all rifles, handguns, and shotguns with both eyes open. Optics or iron sights.

I've tried several dot sights and given up on them on long guns. I may give one a try on a handgun and see what happens. But on any long gun something with 1X or 1.5X on the low end is faster for me to use. Especially in low light. You can see the dot in low light, but the optics on all of them are so poor you can't see the target.

Another option is the same low powered scope with an illuminated center reticle. I find that MUCH easier to use than a dot, and if the batteries die you still have a conventional scope.

 

[Buzznrose]

If you're not keeping both eyes open and getting on target just as fast with the Leupold you're doing it wrong. I shoot all rifles, handguns, and shotguns with both eyes open. Optics or iron sights.

I've tried several dot sights and given up on them on long guns. I may give one a try on a handgun and see what happens. But on any long gun something with 1X or 1.5X on the low end is faster for me to use. Especially in low light. You can see the dot in low light, but the optics on all of them are so poor you can't see the target.

Another option is the same low powered scope with an illuminated center reticle. I find that MUCH easier to use than a dot, and if the batteries die you still have a conventional scope.

100% agree. Practice mounting the rifle while looking at the target, both eyes open…you should never lose the target and after some practice, sights will start to align quickly.

 

[badkarmamib]

If you're not keeping both eyes open and getting on target just as fast with the Leupold you're doing it wrong.

Yeah, I agree. It is a combination of reading too much on the internet, and not enough practice. I originally settled on the Leupold as the least amount of compromise. I would have liked illumination, but couldn't find a FireDot, and no one else had anything that didn't weigh at least twice as much. I am second-guessing, and probably a little bored, trying to change things up.

I had honestly forgotten that I had once taken two rifles and a shot timer to the range. One rifle had a red dot, the other a 3-9x40 on it. I was within 1/10 of a second, sometimes even faster with the scope, with groups half the size of the red dot's, from 15-100 yards. The both-eyes-open is also probably due to lack of practice, as I find myself distracted by the "blind spot" between the scope view and what my off eye is seeing.

I started this with the intention of changing something, again because I am bored with what is "perfect for me". Kinda at a place right now where I can't afford what I would like, so trying to tweak what I have, but, like you (and many others) said, I need to focus the time, money, and energy on practicing with what I have. Sorry if I wasted everyone's time, I truly appreciate the insights, both on using what I have, and possible future additions. Thanks all!

 

[Buzznrose]

Yeah, I agree. It is a combination of reading too much on the internet, and not enough practice. I originally settled on the Leupold as the least amount of compromise. I would have liked illumination, but couldn't find a FireDot, and no one else had anything that didn't weigh at least twice as much. I am second-guessing, and probably a little bored, trying to change things up.

I had honestly forgotten that I had once taken two rifles and a shot timer to the range. One rifle had a red dot, the other a 3-9x40 on it. I was within 1/10 of a second, sometimes even faster with the scope, with groups half the size of the red dot's, from 15-100 yards. The both-eyes-open is also probably due to lack of practice, as I find myself distracted by the "blind spot" between the scope view and what my off eye is seeing.

I started this with the intention of changing something, again because I am bored with what is "perfect for me". Kinda at a place right now where I can't afford what I would like, so trying to tweak what I have, but, like you (and many others) said, I need to focus the time, money, and energy on practicing with what I have. Sorry if I wasted everyone's time, I truly appreciate the insights, both on using what I have, and possible future additions. Thanks all!

Good discussion…no waste I see

 

[citizenconn]

I really like these and the option of dot, circle & dot or circle. Primary Arms runs them on sale fairly frequently and also runs their 12% off total sale pretty often as well.

https://www.primaryarms.com/holosun-hs510c-hud-solar-powered-red-dot-sight-with-circle-dot-reticle

https://holosun.com/index/product/detail/id/124.html

 

[TonyAngel]

If we're talking general purpose, I take that to mean the rifle is for use anywhere from up close to say 300 yards at the outside. If general purpose for you means nothing farther than 100 yards or so, then stick with a red dot. If you need something for farther than 100 yards, then go with some magnification.

Optics is one place where you get what you pay for, until you reach the point of diminishing returns. My GPR is MY rifle. It's the one I grab the most and the one that I didn't skimp on anything with. Not that I went expensive, but I went with good. For optics, I have two setups that I can exchange as the need arises.

My red dot rig is a Sig Romeo 4T. This is NOT a run of the mill Romeo. Housing and mount are 7075. The housing has steel inserts for the screws and a choice of 4 different reticles. Costs about half as much as an Aimpoint. I also have a Juliet3 magnifier for it. I keep it just in case the need arises.

My other optic rig is a Steiner P4xi 1-4X. EXCELLENT glass and very daylight bright dot. I very rarely need to go beyond 300 yards unless I'm at a shooting range. I use the LPVO rig more than I do the red dot.

If the budget is tight, you might compare what you have in the Leupold to the Sig MSR and the Burris RT-6. I've shot with the Sig and thought it was pretty good. I have an RT-6 and it's very nice for the price. I just went with the Steiner because it's better at resolving what I'm looking at.

 

[SP5]

I have moved away from red dots due to my astigmatism and aging eyes. The only thing left with a red dot on it, is my MP5 .22 pistol and that's only because I can't justify an optic that cost as much as the pistol itself on something like that

 

[TonyAngel]

SP5, I hear ya. Only a year or two ago, a red dot was adequate. These days I've been for magnification and the lighter the better. There's likely going to be a gen 2 pst going up for sale soon. It's a pig.