Red Dot for daughter's AR

[tluxtele]

Here's the quick of things. My daughter and I just finished building her an AR. I had most of the parts laying around and the rest were budget parts. This isn't a high end rifle. It's chambered in 5.56 with a 1/9 twist, but she prefers using my conversion kit to shoot 22LR. I already had the barrel hence it being on the rifle.

For sights there's a FSB and an MBUS rear sight. I have some Amazon points and was going to pick up a Red Dot. I have a few questions when one/some of you get the chance.

Is this the Bushnell Red Dot everyone talks about being good for the money? If so, what hight riser should I get for it? Any recommendations on brand?

She will primarily be shooting 22LR, but I do want to be able to shoot 223/556 every now and then. Should I set up the MBUS for 22LR and the RD for 223/556? Or other way around? Or am I over thinking this?

Regardless of how the previous question was answered I need some advice when it comes to sighting in. I know about sighting in for 223/556... 25 vs 50 yard sight in, etc. But what do I do when sighting in this AR for 22LR? The barrel isn't optimized for 22LR. I don't expect this to super accurate. It's just something for her to take to the range with me and have some father/daughter time. Should I sight in for 22LR at 50 yards like I do for 223/556? I hope this paragraph makes sense.

Lastly, if I were to set up the RD for one and the Irons for another, should I get some sort of quick release for the RD to keep confusion down?

Thanks for your help.

 

[badkarmamib]

If you look at the drop down menu for the TRS25 you linked, it offers a riser version. That should co-witness with your irons. I would sight it in at 50 yards with .223, and see what it does at 25 yards with .22. Another option would be to sight the red dot for .22, and the irons for .223. Since the primary use would be .22, I would sight the easier-to-use red dot for that, and sight the not-dependent-on-batteries irons for .223.

 

[berettaprofessor]

Wow. I just came across this thread looking for another that recommended the Bushnell TRS25. I was going to add that I bought two today, one with riser and the other without. At what I thought were good prices too; the Bushnell outlet in KC offers a Kansas Rifle Association discount that brought the riser down to around $85 and the picatinny rail type down to $69.99. Which were as good as any prices I've seen except that the Amazon link here is for $43!!!!! Buy it. Now.

The riser version is just an added spacer for AR use....the TRS25 on it is the same, so it can be transferred to other guns if you ever feel the need.

 

[chicharrones]

Is this the Bushnell Red Dot everyone talks about being good for the money?

Yep. It might be the best entry level red dot ever made. I have two.

 

[Sistema1927]

The 0.83" UTG riser will allow you absolute co-witness.

 

[shafter]

I've had good luck with Sig Romeos. Inexpensive, compact, and battery life to rival Aimpoint.

 

[LoonWulf]

The 0.83" UTG riser will allow you absolute co-witness.

And they cost 9 bucks on the Zon, makes for a much cheaper combo than the factory riser.

 

[1911 guy]

Sample size of one: I've found on two of my rifles that when zeroed properly with M193, dialing to 600M puts me near the bull with .22 long rifle in a conversion kit.

I don't have one of the Bushnel sights. But everyone who has one seems to like them.
I do have the Vortex SPARC. Neither are "high end" optics, but both seem to work well, work as advertised and mine has held up to some minor abuse.

No problem with buying inexpensive optics as long as you don't buy "cheap" optics. Remember that this optic may well be on the rifle several parts upgrades later.

 

[bassjam]

I have 2 of the older TRS-25 from 2012 and they are still running great. I’ve heard the newer ones are slightly lower quality, but when I saw them on Amazon for $44 earlier this week I went ahead and snagged one for my daughters M&P 15-22. I paid $80 for mine 6 years ago and I was happy with that price.

OP, to answer your question I’d probably recommend ranging it in at 25 yards. Sounds like you’re using a high mount to be able to co-witness, so with the arching trajectory of the .22lr and the sights high above the bore, with a 25 yard zero you should be closer to on-target at normal .22lr distances going out to about 100 yards. Of course, if you only plan on shooting at 50 yards then by all means range it in for that distance.