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Posted: 2/27/2009 7:58:05 AM EDT
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I recently purchased a Smith & Wesson M&P15OR and have now been looking at purchasing the EOTech 557 Red Dot Sight w/ 3x Flip To Side Magnifier. This seems like the best setup for me after reading through here considering this firearm will be used for target shooting at close and midrange, hence my want for minor magnification. The flip to side seems like it would work well switching from midrange to CQB.
Anyone with this or have shot with this before have any insight? After reading the threads here on optics this seems like a good choice for me but wanted to check with the experts here first. I also had one other question–– with this type of setup one should still get iron sights, correct? What type would you recommend with this setup (if you believe it to be good) –– probably looking at Yankee Hill Flip Ups... Thanks much all. This forum is fantastic. Link to optics package: (http://www.opticsplanet.net/eotech-holographic-sight-557-w-3x-fts-magnifier-weapon-sight-system.html) |
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glad you understand the need for Iron Sights (BUIS) are a must, have carbine = have BUIS...battery's die, glass breaks, poo poo happens, iron sights have been killing folks/saving lives for century's...YH is a great choice. flip ups will stay out of your way but you can still co-witness if you want/need.
i don't own a EOTECH so cant help there. |
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I don't want to start an Aimpoint vs. Eotech debate - this comment is based purely on price and my experience. I got an Aimpoint T-1 w/ tall LaRue mount for $583 shipped from Smart Gunner and a Po' Boy Special (2.5x Hensoldt magnifier and LaRue flip-to-side mount) from LaRue for about $205 shipped. That's a savings of about $91. I'm really happy with this set up. Plus, customer service from both of these companies is awesome, and you get free stuff when you order from LaRue. Just my .02.
As far as BUIS, my S&W M&P15A came with the Troy adjustable folding rear sight which works well and fits perfectly under my magnifier (but you have to flip the magnifier down to flip up the sight.) The front sight is the standard front sight. |
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I have not decided or tried a high dollar red dot yet. Also considering the Lepuold Prismatic but has to work with my A2 and F fixed front sights.
I just got a TROY buis from LaRue. Great looking sight and is one of the lowest when folded (.46 inch I believe). Glad I went with the TROY in fde. |
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If you want a simpler, lighter weight setup than an EoTech and the magnifier - look at getting a Millet DMS-1 or similar 1-4x scope. These scopes have the lighted reticle that is decent for CQB but works great for longer range shots simply by rotating the magnification knob.
I have a DMS-1 and love it and for your stated applications - would be a lot less complex (and way less $$) setup than adding the eotech, magnifier and mounts for both. |
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My recommendation is an Aimpoint ML3 with a 3X magnifier, each in a LaRue Tactical mount. Do it in stages if you want. Buy the ML3 first, then the 3X as funds come available. I have used EVERYTHING. This is the best "do-all" set-up I've come across.
IMHO get a non folding rear BUIS. LMT, LT or YHM. My personal, favorite is the LMT. Don't get an Eotech. |
Thanks all for the great ideas and I appreciate you all leaving the debate in the debate threads 
Mountaineer - Can you link to the tall mount you were referring to in your post? I'm guessing this simply elevates the aimpoint you posted so that you can use BUIS underneath?? Randall - I will look into the Troy folding site.. I wanted something pretty low so thanks for the heads up! EagleReaper - I'm going to check out the Millet 1 the next time I'm at my local shop. Sounds and looks promising but for that price I am simply unsure of quality. To all of you - I hate to be a noob but I've mostly been reading up on the EOtech red dots so hopefully you won't mind answering what the main differences are between the T1 and ML3? Thanks again guys! |
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You'll find the differences between the T1 and ML3 rather easily just by checking out the AimPoint website. One's the full size unit and the other is the compact unit.
Also, I shoot the 557/4X combo for 3-gun on my 18" AR and while I think it's an excellent setup, I wouldn't recommend it for anything outside a competitive venue. In competition, you're going to shoot a range of stages from contact out to 400y flashers. So, for that purpose, you need something that can easily transition between the two extremes. For general plinking, I'd go with the DMS-1, AimPoint/EOTech only or the new TR24 (when it comes out). |
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Superset, thanks for the heads up. If I really wanted to dish out the money though, would you still recommend the EOtech and 3x? I was looking through some photos of folks setups and it looks real good IMHO. I'd rather buy quality now than buying cheap and upgrading later.
Appreciate the feedback. |
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Quoted:
Mountaineer - Can you link to the tall mount you were referring to in your post? I'm guessing this simply elevates the aimpoint you posted so that you can use BUIS underneath?? Here a pic of the mount straight from LaRue's site: T-1 on tall mount. The mount elevates the T-1 so that there's a 1/3 lower co-witness. The BUIS actually sit under the magnifier. If I can, I'll try to post a pic for you tonight or tomorrow evening. I'm sure if you search a little, you can find pics of this set up. The reason I went with the T-1 as opposed to other Aimpoints is its size - very short so that it doesn't take much rail space, and very light. And the LaRue mount is actually hollow, so while it looks bulky, it's light while still being extremely tough and durable. |
| For a pic of the T-1 on tall mount/Po Boy Specail set up, check out this post, and scroll a little over half way down to molardog's post. That's pretty much how mine's set up. |
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Quoted:
Superset, thanks for the heads up. If I really wanted to dish out the money though, would you still recommend the EOtech and 3x? I was looking through some photos of folks setups and it looks real good IMHO. I'd rather buy quality now than buying cheap and upgrading later. Appreciate the feedback. Please don't make a costly decision based on looks. Unless you're shooting 3-gun, it's hard to justify the weight and expense of the 557/3X combo when you could be swinging a DMS-1, dedicated RDS or Weaver 1-3X for occasional plinking. If you're shooting every weekend from contact out to 400y, then yes, definitely consider a red dot sight and magnifier. I shot a match yesterday with a shooter who just finished a MagPul Dynamics Carbine 2 class and he rocked the CQB stage. But he had trouble hitting small steel at 150y+ with a T-1. The T-1 is an excellent full-spectrum optic by itself but there's a reason you don't see them as much on the 3-gun circuit. Different venues, different optics. |
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Mountaineer- Thanks for the link to the photos, looks like a nice piece. For some reason (yes I know, again with "the looks") I like square red dots more so than the circular ones. Also looks as though you have more field of vision with the square red dots as to the circular ones... but again I'm a noob and could be completely wrong as I have yet to shoot them both.
Superset- most of my fun will be 100 yrd target practice. The 557 and 3x combo is only $900 shipped. The T1 seems around $500, add a 3x and you are up around what I was gonna pay for the 557 and 3x combo. If I'm planning on shooting quite a bit of 50-100yrd targets, what would your thoughts be? |
| DevL - Actually I do have an astigmatism. What types of sights would that impact my accuracy with? How would it impact my shooting exactly (besides the obvious)? Is there a thread that might explain this? Don't want to beat something that has already been beaten around the bush before. |
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The EOTech manual and others have reported problems with astigmatism and a blobby reticule. Depending on your degree of astigmatism, this may be a no-go.
I have slight astigmatism and the reticule is well-defined. But then again, when I'm concentrating on the target at contact distances, I move too quickly to even notice how sharp the reticule appears. It's only under magnification when I concentrate on the reticule and in that instance, it is sharp and clear. Strangely, the AimPoint is blobby to me. Go figure. |
| Check out your local 3-gun match and see who's using what... you'll see a variety of optics: 1-4X variables dominate and you'll see a collection of red dot sights too. If you ask nicely, I bet they'll let you take it for a spin through a stage or two. Get to know your fellow shooters. The Hometown forum is a good start. |
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