Which optics?

[Window_Seat]

So my new BCM upper comes in this week (which will go on a Stag lower).

This will be my first AR-15 build.

I'm looking at getting a vertical grip as well, but there are so many to choose from.

I will not "touch" the rifle until I take a basic beginner training course, and then advanced stuff after that.

Most folks I see have optics, sights, grips, and "other evil features". I'm not looking to "show off", but to "learn as I go".

Advise/input appreciated.

Erik.

[UserM4]

BUIS /thread

[Droppin Deuces]

I'd just start with irons, then decide once you figure out what kind of shooting you want to do. In my opinion, the best all around optic for carbine is a 1-4x. You can easily hit out past 400 yards with that, but you can also turn it down to 1x and play gunfighter, too.

[racky]

I'd just start with irons, then decide once you figure out what kind of shooting you want to do.

best advice right there

[RONIN.]

I'd just start with irons, then decide once you figure out what kind of shooting you want to do.

i couldn't agree more.. practice the fundamentals of shooting before you go spending money on optics.. and once you do it long enough, you will know what type of shooting you want to do.. which then will dictate what type of optic you want..

ronin

[captbilly]

If you are young then iron, if not a scope is better.

Obviously it depends on what you are planning on using the gun for but to realy learn how to shoot you need sights that are precise enough to aim as well as the gun can shoot. When I was 12 and, shooting in competition with .22 rimfire, I could hit a .22" diameter dot at 25 yards every time, with adjustable peep sights. Now that I am older, my eyes to not have the accommodation that they had, so I need a EOTech or high powered scope to shoot like that. But even with the EOTech I can only shoot perhaps 3-4moa (I have the EOTech on a 14.5" carbine so maybe that is as good as the rifle will shoot, I don't think so), but with a 16 power scope I can do 0.5MOA (on a bull barrel 18"). The point is that you need optics that will allow you to see the aimpoint well enough to ensure that you can aim to the limit of the rifle.

I was at the range the other day, next to some young guys with a Mosin Nagant with it's original iron sights. Since they could not adjust the sights they were having to aim away from the bullseye in order to hit it. It was painful to listen to them talking, trying to figure out if it was their aim or the rifle that was causing the inaccuracy. The Mosin Nagant can be quite accurate but they were chasing bullet holes over a 6 MOA circle, and they were never going to figure out whether it was their shooting or the rifle that was the issue. If you want to learn how to shoot your AR well then you need to be able to clearly tell if you are on target when you pull the trigger. With my 16 power scope I can clearly see my pulse moving the aim point a few 1/10s of MOA, but with the single power EOTech I just can't see that level of detail.

Of course if the only shooting you ever intend to do is 25 yard combat stuff then I makes little difference. You will be moving around so much that it is unlikely that you will be able to shoot sub MOA anyway (although some of the really good shooters can and do shoot that well, even when standing and moving).