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Posted: 4/5/2017 1:44:59 PM EDT
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Trying to finish the build on my first AR15. Everything is done except i have no sights. I really have no experience at all with any type of optic. I would like to spend under $200 for now just to get the gun up and running. Eventually I would like to be able to use the gun for both short range and long range plinking. Not really sure how to best set that up. I have seen some folks using a scope and then having iron sights angled off to the side.
Aero precision M4E1 upper/lower/15 inch handguard/BCG Larue Tactical stealth barrel 16" 556 Larue MBT trigger Magpul CTR stock/handguard BCM charging handle How would you set this gun up? I wouldn't mind just getting some iron sights for now because i know absolutely nothing about optics. Any recommendations for iron sights and maybe a scope? |
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I like irons. So I recommend getting some. I don't really think you need both if you're going to mount a scope. What kind of irons... I don't know. You should probably do some research. Whether you want something fixed. Or fold down for when you do get a scope. I just put a DD fixed rear on my M4gery and like it. I was using a Cut Carry Handle but the DD is like 3 ounces lighter and I was shedding weight. And I didn't really feel like I needed the adjustment of an A2 rear sight for that particular gun. Heck, I don't even think a carry handle is a bad idea. But I'm old and am used to the older ways a bit more. But there again, it depends on how much weight you are OK with. A carry handle weighs 9 ounces.
There are a lot of good choices for fold downs. I'll let other people comment on that. I only have experience with leupold scopes and I like them. They make a good 1" 1-4 with lighted reticle that I think would be in your budget. Your problem is you might not have enough for a mount and a scope. Well, depending on the scope and mount. Although you could look at Primary Arms stuff. I'm guessing they have something decent in your budget. |
| This is a tough one. Always best to start with irons and for 200 it's gonna be hard to find a decent scope. My suggestion is this, if you can bump it up to 300 you can get a primary arms advanced red dot for like 170. Then get a set of irons from either magpul or any other reputable company. You will actually be under 300. The impression I'm getting is your trying to get into rifle game and the gun perhaps won't be used for self defense. This set up to me is perfect for someone starting out and the primary arms red dots are amazing for the price. As time goes on you can always upgrade but as a starter set up it's hard to be that |
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Personally, I wouldn't get a scope and irons for a plinking rifle. I would get a relatively low-power variable scope like many here have suggested. Primary Arms is a great place to start if you want a "tactical" style reticle. For a more traditional duplex style reticle, you can look at the Leupold VX-1s or Vortex Diamondback scopes, and Bushnell, Nikon, Burris, Weaver, etc will have decent scopes in that price range.
If it was me, for a more traditional setup I'd get a Leupold VX-1 2-7x33mm scope with the duplex reticle (retails at $200 or less) and put it in either an Aero Precision Ultralight mount (retails at $70 or less) or a decent set of scope rings, which you can probably get for $40-50. For a more tactical setup, I'd look at the Primary Arms offerings or the Nikon P-223 scopes, but it's hard to get an illuminated scope with a tactical reticle for under $200. If you can stretch to $300 you have a lot more options. For what it's worth, however, you've built yourself a really nice rifle - I wouldn't skimp too much on the optics. Keep in mind that the sights are the primary way you interface with the rifle - a great scope can make a mediocre rifle much more enjoyable, and a crappy scope can make a great rifle seem like a cheap POS. IMO, there are a lot more quality scope options around $300 than there are around $200, especially if you want any features like illumination or a non-standard reticle. And don't buy a bottom of the barrel set of rings or scope mount either - it's worth a little extra cash to get a decent set of rings or the $70 Aero Ultralight mount (which is awesome) so that your optic will hold zero. Just my two cents. Really depends on what you want to do. If budget is really tight, a decent red dot sight is probably a better choice than a crappy scope. The Bushnell TRS-25 is really nice for under $100, and the Primary Arms MD-ADS is also great at well at under $200. |
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Steiner P4X1 with throw lever
I would urge you to raise your limit |
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