Would a 1) holographic or 2) red/greed dot sight be good for my AR-15?

[rod5591]

I am assembling an AR-15 and have a 1) holographic and/or 2) red/greed dot sight available---would either of these be good for my rifle, and if so, which one?

To be honest, all I know are iron sights and telescope sights, and these are neither. What are they good for?

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

They are good for quick, close range shooting (under 100yd ideally but longer shots are possible if you do your part)
What are you going to use the gun for?

 

[tahunua001]

holographic sights are amazing. they are very low maintenance, many offer changeble colors and reticule and they have super fast target acquisition. unfortunately, many of them cost nearly as much as the rifles themselves. I prefer to just slap on a $40-80 red dot/green dot and enjoy the second best non telescopic sight you can buy. I prefer green to red but having the changeability is nice since green blends with foliage too well in high light.

 

[hawkeye10]

I shot a Vortex Strike Fire on a AR last and really like it. In fact I liked it so much I bought one for my SKS. They come with a mount a 2x multiplier and snap caps. They run $149.99 and free shipping at several places on the net. One place that has them is http://www.joeboboutfitters.com/StrikeFire_Flat_Top_AR15_Red_Dot_Red_Green_p/v-sfrd-ar15.htm They have more than one kind of mount that comes with them so look and see which you need. Joe Bobs is a good place to buy from but not the only one. Vortex regulates their prices so about $150 and free shipping is as good as it gets. I found one on Ebay and saved a few bucks, $12 to be exact. It was new the guy just wanted to sell it. Primary Arms also makes some good red dots you might check them out. Then there are the high dollar ones I want even go there. Don

 

[wally]

Then there are the high dollar ones I want even go there.

I'm really happy with my Primary Arms red dot sights, so much so that if they should die, I'd then spring for the Aimpoint they sort of copy.

It does take a bit of getting used to -- you have to focus on the target and look through the dot for alignment, unlike irons where you focus on the front sight, or a scope where you focus on the reticle.

Once you've learned to keep both eyes open you'll really appreciate the red dot sights.

 

[ugaarguy]

What specific sights are you looking at, and what is your intended use for the rifle?

 

[Frankl03]

I have 3 red dots and like them. I have an Eotech XPS on my AR which works great! I have a Vortex Strikefire on my Sig 522 and a Bushnell Trs 125 (?) on my Ruger MK III hunter pistol. We have a plate range at my club and it is serious fun dropping the plates with the Sig and MK III! The red dots provide for fast target aquitition!

I normally use the Eotech for targets 50 yards or less.

All the above Red dots can be used in bright sunshine with no problem! All of them have adjustable brightness.

 

[kfgk14]

The cheapest decent RDS's (that I know of) on the market are the Vortex models. By all reports they're very good optics.

 

[ifit]

as stated abvove the vortex optics are very well made for the price. i have a vortex sparc reddot specific for my ar15 but ended up testing it on other caliber rifles that i own, held up really well and holding zero, shooting 7.62x39/.308/.223/54r

 

[BamAlmighty]

holographic sights are amazing. they are very low maintenance, many offer changeble colors and reticule and they have super fast target acquisition. unfortunately, many of them cost nearly as much as the rifles themselves. I prefer to just slap on a $40-80 red dot/green dot and enjoy the second best non telescopic sight you can buy. I prefer green to red but having the changeability is nice since green blends with foliage too well in high light.

You are confused.

The reticle of a true "holographic" sight, an Eotech, is not changeable in either color or reticle type.

And yes they are amazing and should never be confused with cheap chinese junk.

 

[Ranger30-06]

You are confused.

The reticle of a true "holographic" sight, an Eotech, is not changeable in either color or reticle type.

And yes they are amazing and should never be confused with cheap chinese junk.

He's right there. When you look through a true holographic sight, the reticle appears to be on the target, but when you look through a cheap holographic or a normal red dot sight, the reticle is just there (but it doesn't look like its on the target.) On the side, I have seen a Vortex sight go through some serious torture by a dumb kid at the range, but his dad still managed to get respectable enough groups so it couldn't have been damaged that badly! I would buy one, but only because there's no way I can afford a Trijicon

 

[gotigers]

An Eotech has a center dot that is 1 MOA and we can easily hit 16" steel out to 300 yards. Inside 100 yards, it is great. The 65 MOA outer ring is nice for just line up and shoot. Very fast.

 

[Robert]

What type of shooting do you do most often? A red dot is great for close in work but is not well suited for long range work. That is not to say that if can not be done. I have hit a 28" tall x 8" wide, at the widest point, popper with a AR carbine using an EO tech at 425 yards multiple times. So it can be done. But for the shooting I do, varying distance over the same course of fire, I find that a 1-4x or similar low power scope offers a wider range of useability.

 

[rod5591]

What specific sights are you looking at, and what is your intended use for the rifle?

I've got a JTM XTA Tactical Red/Green dot sight. The holographic sight is in a box marked "Baizhong"

I got them both at an estate sale.

Purpose of rifle: self defense

 

[Robert]

Purpose of rifle: self defense

Then a red dot will work great.

 

[Batty67]

My Vortex SPARC somehow developed an internal crack in the rear glass by the laser projector, which does not affect the red dot or "accuracy" but it snnoying. I've only had it 2 months. So I called Vortex and they immediately said "return it" and emailed me a fed ex label, so far, great CS.

 

[Girodin]

Purpose of rifle: self defense

A RDS is very good for this application. In my experience they are much faster than irons. However, if the intended use is self defense that, IMHO, precludes the use of cheap RDS. They are cheap for a reason and not something you can count on. Buy an aimpoint and be done with it. The aimpoint pro comes with a mount and is a very good optic at a reasonable price, about $400. Buying a quality item one time is more economical than buying a cheap sight, learning why its cheap, and then getting an aimpoint.

 

[LCPor9mm]

I concur

^
I got a cheap (under $100) Mueller holographic to see if I would like using it on my M&P. After about two weeks I was done with irons. Last Christmas my wife got me an EOTech XPS2(orXPS3 I'm not sure) it has a 65 MOA outer ring with a 1 MOA aiming dot. It took a little getting used to because when compared to the Mueller the ring and dot are heavily pixel-ated (grainy) but now I love it. It is zeroed at 50yrds but I have used it out to a hundred no problem. That donut of death pulls a target in fast!

Given the purpose, I would say if finances allow get an EOTech or an Aimpoint. I think Burris has a 2x or 3x red dot for under $400. That might be of interest to you.
PS: I like the Holographics so much I am going to try and mount the Mueller on my Mark11.