optics vs. buis and American stuff

[revdoggy]

Hi everyone:

I don't want to annoy anyone but I need some help. I looked all over the site, but not finding any direct answers. Just purchased a 6.8 without any sights. I plan on hunting and plinking. I really can't believe that I will shoot over 200 yards. Money is an issue. Should I just get irons or go to an optic? I don't want to start a firestorm, but to me, it is important to stick with American owned and built. Things suck for us right now.

John

[zoomie]

IMHO, optics are the assumed baseline now, unless you just like the nostalgia of irons. Not to say don't get a BUIS if you like or if your carbine use is such that an optic failure could get you killed, but a red dot Aimpoint or EoTech or ACOG or Accupoint is going to be faster, more accurate, and more useful for more hours per day than old school irons.

Not to mention that you can get an Aimpoint and a 4-12x scope, both in QD mounts, and set up the rifle how you need for that day or even that stand, and have the absolute best of two extremes with the simple flip of two levers.

Here's a good read.

viewtopic.php?f=18&t=44

[ron169]

Since money is an issue, what is your price range for an optic or site?

[Equalizer_2]

With money being an issue it is a toss up over which will be cheaper. If you look at BUIS and get good quality you will quickly spend over $200. You can get a decenct optic for about the same price so the choice is yours.

As for buying an American made product, that gets harder to do each day. The cheapest BUIS are made in China as is most everything anymore. Optics are made all over the place, I have used a lot of Burris and been happy with them but the latest one I bought is made in the Phillipines. The majority of the lower cost optics are made overseas where labor costs are less.

This info probably isn't a whole lot of help but if you find a quality American made (not branded) optic I would be interested in it myself. I am not saying that the American brands are not made in the U.S. but they do have the lower priced stuff made to their specs and then import them in some cases.

[ArtFWTx]

Welcome to the group!!

What's your budget for optics and mounts and we'll throw some ideas around. Keep in mind some US Optics companies import some of their products so you're buying from an American company, but not all their products are domestically manufactured.

Also, feel free to post any question. This forum will do whatever we can to answer your questions and help out. And feel free to join in on the discussions as well.

Art

[Jamesb74]

true to what is said the cheaper stuff is made overseas. And you can be more accurate to 200 with optics. But you should have buis also just in case but if you pick up a Millet DMS or a Burris 3200 they will suffice till you can get the buis and then will fit the bill until you can afford a leupold and then it will be American. And then you can use the cheap scope for target practice to stick it to the .......who ever made it. Or sell it and recoup some cost.

[revdoggy]

Thank you every one for your advice and time, keep it coming. I would like to keep it under $400 including mount. If I can't keep U.S. made then I will buy foreign - just a fact of life.

John

[marinesg1012]

A leupold VXII 2-7 or so variable scope should fit that bill and keep you under that 400 dollar mark...

[jackfire57]

Hey I bought a Bushy 30th Ann and found my wallet had disapeared and my wifes attitude turned visious to say the least , but the boy had to buy optics , now on a zero + or - budget . So he says to himself " self we got to be cheap yet effective so after alot of research , checkin out the EBay scene , we discovered that @ ( http://www.market86.net ) had the awfull solution . This dude is located in China , Hong Con to be presice , ya I know i'd get some flac but times are hard . So I purchased a ZOS 10-40X60ESF and hoped for the best ; well it didnt take him long to ship and couldnt beat the price ( $159.00 shippin included ) . Dont get me wrong im not trying to promote but after pullin it from the box it looked not to be too shabby of workmanship . Well looks can be deceivin , as we all know , so the boy mounts the wanta be scope ,laser sights it and heads for the range . Hard to believe but @ 50meters nice group , @ 100meters the same . The boys and I have set up a range`behind the house @ 100meter increments up to 500 and we want more but dont think the neighbors will buy it , technical reasons . We're going to put this ZOS to the test and im willin to bet ,now , that the thing will hold up , im using M-193 55gr. .223 so we'll see how things go hopeing my come-ups are correct ,we'll see. :? :!:

[ArtFWTx]

$400 will get you into a scope you'll enjoy. If you're going to use your 6.8 for close range to mid range a low fixed power or a low to mid variable works well.

Burris has a new scope designed for AR's that came out this year at the SHOT Show. It's a 3x all around scope that looks pretty good. It comes with a mount for the price of $299 which would save you $100 to buy back up irons.

http://www.swfa.com/pc-14259-2734-new-b ... sight.aspx

You can get Yankee Hill Manufacturing back up iron sights at a discount through Brightflashlights in the Industry Section on AR15.com. Yankee Hill makes good gear at great prices. For back up use, they'll do just fine.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b ... 2&t=142825

The Millet DMS-1 is a popular AR scope. It's around $200 without mounts so that leaves you with $200 for mounts and sights.
http://www.swfa.com/pc-10714-1395-mille ... scope.aspx

BLACKLION and some others have found deals on Weaver, Bushnell, and other low powered variables. I'm sure they'll pitch in with some ideas for you.

I like the 3x Burris, that's new, so there's no reviews yet. The Millet DMS-1 has received good reviews from owners. Owenslee one of the other orange moderators owns DMS-1's and rates them highly for the money.

http://www.swfa.com/pc-10714-1395-mille ... scope.aspx