OK: What's better than an Elcan Spectre?

[Derek Zeanah]

I'm getting older, and while the EOTech holosights used to be fine with my astigmatism, now they're just not.

So I was going to look for a SpectreDR 1-4 for a rifle to replace the EOTech, but all the guntubers say it's outdated and there are better options.

So, what are the better options? Is it just the 1-x variable optics I see out there? Anything light, with a quick throw from 1x to max magnification?

What products out there on the market am I missing?

 

[FL-NC]

What's better than a DR ELCAN? Just about anything. That sight was never a big hit where I used to work. It's oversized/overweight, under magnified, and the mounts are hot garbage. And as I understand it, way overpriced. Most of the guys I worked with were so unimpressed with it that if they found a home at all, they were mounted on weapons like the M249 or MK 46 5.56 light machine guns. In my opinion, you would be much better off with one of the low power variables from Vortex (with their lifetime warranty) that zoom from 1x to as much as 6X, 8X, or even 10X.

 

[Derek Zeanah]

It's oversized/overweight, under magnified, and the mounts are hot garbage.

I've only every played with them at the SHOT show. And I've got a fetish for clear optics, so....

Thanks.

 

[Madcap_Magician]

I am personally starting to get interested in the idea of a 1x6 illuminated-reticle LPVO to replace zero-magnification dot or holo optics. And I'm pretty far behind the ball too just be thinking of this now!

 

[Old Dog]

Yeah, I don't understand the some of the hate on the Spectre DR myself. I've only shot a few mags downrange using one, but was impressed by the quality of the glass and the fact that it didn't seem heavy or unbalanced. But it did seem weird going straight from a true 1x to 4x. I didn't shoot enough to come up with an opinion on the FOV, which seems to be most of the complaints about the Spectre. (And the eye relief)

I don't know that there are better options, just different options. Seems like a lot of people are jumping onboard the LPVO bandwagon.

I T&E'd a SIG Tango 6 last year and it was pretty nice, but didn't seem significantly superior to a budget Vortex Strike Eagle.

Some guys I ran into around 2011 after I retired from the military, who'd been able to deploy with the first Spectre DRs, were huge fans of this optic. But then some Army guys I knew talked major trash about it.

I don't have enough experience with the optic to speak for or against it. It seems like a good idea to me (and not too big or heavy as a previous member suggests).

For myself, I stick to the EOTech XPS3 with a G33 magnifier or my ACOG TA-31. I do have one of the Vortex Strike Eagles and a couple Aimpoint PROs but I'm not wedded to any particular optic at this point although I'd say the EOTech would be my preferred optic.

 

[mavracer]

Way to poor to mess with one, but for my uses plenty of LPVOs that have really good glass in my price range.

 

[CraigC]

The Elcan seems really cool in theory but I've never even handled one. All the chatter I've heard about them has been positive, except for the weight and cost. I'm becoming a fan of a lightweight 3-5x prism coupled with a mini reflex in a 45° mount.

 

[Peakbagger46]

My Nightforce NX8 is nice and light and the power throw is very smooth/fast. Not cheap but worth it in my opinion. I think the older 1-4 Nightforce can be found used for a more reasonable price.

 

[TonyAngel]

Man, I really wanted to love the Elcan. I mean, I really wanted to. It's so cool. The cool factor is through the roof, but after humping around and shooting with it over a weekend, I decided to stick with my TA31 with piggy back red dot.

The Elcan is a pig. It's big, for what it is. The glass is clear, but it seems to have this tint to it. Kind of yellowish and the eye box sucked. Whether on 1x or 4x it was pretty tight.

I have an ACOG on my goto rifles because I have a knack for breaking things and I wanted something bullet proof. If you want something that is likely rugged enough and would give you a better shooting experience, the list is long.

I like the ACOGs. I have 2. A TA31 and a TA11. Love em both. Each is on one of the 2 rifles that I usually grab, when I grab an AR.

From there, in the price range you're talking ....

Primary Arms platinum series LPVO
Vortex Razor LPVOs
Vortex PST Gen II LPVO
Delta Stryker LPVO
Trijicon Credo LPVO
Nightforce LPVOs
Swarovski/Khales LPVOs (these are really nice)

Any one of these and a slew I didn't mention would give you a better shooting experience.

If you're leaning toward prisms, the ACOGs of course. If you aren't used to the short eye relief of the TA31, I'd recommend the TA11. Primary arms also has a bunch of prism sights to choose from, although none of them have even tempted me to leave my ACOGs behind.

 

[CraigC]

I'm really liking where the prism market is heading. They used to be really heavy for their size/magnification but that's changing. PA has some really good ones, as does Burris and Vortex. The one I'm baffled that came and went was the Bushnell Lil P. It's tiny, weighs nothing and has all the advantages of a red dot without the reliance on batteries.

Just got my ACOG 4x this week.

The Vortex GenII 5x.

The PA 3x.

The PA 1x.

Bushnell Lil P.

Burris RT3.

Need to send this overweight Vortex down the road.

 

[LoonWulf]

I'm really liking where the prism market is heading. They used to be really heavy for their size/magnification but that's changing. PA has some really good ones, as does Burris and Vortex. The one I'm baffled that came and went was the Bushnell Lil P. It's tiny, weighs nothing and has all the advantages of a red dot without the reliance on batteries.

Just got my ACOG 4x this week.

The Vortex GenII 5x.

The PA 3x.

The PA 1x.

Bushnell Lil P.

Burris RT3.

Need to send this overweight Vortex down the road.

I really liked my lil p except I couldn't shoot with both eyes open using it.
There was just enough magnification to cause me to see two images.

Next time I get one I think I'll try 3x. That should be enough magnification for my right eye to take over completely when I bring the gun up.

 

[Derek Zeanah]

I ended up ordering a PA 1x prism that should be here tomorrow. We'll see how usable that is, and go from there.

 

[gotboostvr]

I ended up ordering a PA 1x prism that should be here tomorrow. We'll see how usable that is, and go from there.

I really like my 3x PA micro prism. I might have to pick up a few of the rest of the line up to have around.

 

[CraigC]

The 1x is a really cool little optic.

One thing I like about the Gen II Vortex prisms is that the illumination is push button, rather than a dial.

 

[TonyAngel]

I'm really liking where the prism market is heading. They used to be really heavy for their size/magnification but that's changing. PA has some really good ones, as does Burris and Vortex. The one I'm baffled that came and went was the Bushnell Lil P. It's tiny, weighs nothing and has all the advantages of a red dot without the reliance on batteries.

Just got my ACOG 4x this week.

The Vortex GenII 5x.

The PA 3x.

The PA 1x.

Bushnell Lil P.

Burris RT3.

Need to send this overweight Vortex down the road.

If you start thinking about getting one of those cantilever risers that allows you to get the eye piece of the TA31 farther back, I'd suggest that you at least check out the cantilever q-loc mount that trijicon has for the VCOG. You can mount the ACOG to it backwards and it serves to move the eye piece farther back.

I bent one of those add on cantilever risers and I can't even tell you how I did it. I only know that I was zeroed at one location and when I got to the next, I wasn't. I guess I banged it into a tree branch or something.

 

[Mike .45]

I have never been able to get on the LPVO train. I have two 1-8's and they are meh for me. I like them for hunting but thats about it.

For fast switching from 1x to magnification I still prefer a flip to the side magnifier. Or an ACOG with RMR or offset Irons. Both options are cheaper than Elcan.

Maybe I'm stuck in 2014 but that's what works well for me. YMMV.

 

[X62503]

I like this Steiner.