Optic for hunting AR

Right now I have a 4-16x scope sitting on my AR.

My main purpose for my AR is a hunting rifle, but it's also the only gun in my collection I'd be willing to use to defend myself if need be right now.

That being said, I've been considering putting a Primary Arms Micro Dot on it, with a 3x magnifier on a swing mount. The idea was that I could use just the red dot by itself when I was expecting to be up close, and I could bring the magnifier up if something popped up further away.

Thinking about it more however, it's a 3MOA dot, which at 200 yards, probably the max distance I would be shooting with that setup, would cover a 6in area. Now for defense that's probably fine, but for hunting that almost seems like it wouldn't work out well.

I know ideally I need to have one gun for each task, or at least a upper I can swap between, but for right now I was wondering if this seemed like a decent compromise?

I was also considering a Primary Arms 3x compact scope. Figured this one might have enough magnification for decent shots while hunting, and yet not be too much magnification for defense. It also has the rails on it if I wanted to mount a reflex site to it.

Wondering what you guys think?

Depending on what you are wanting to hunt the set up you described sounds like it would work. .223 isn't a cartridge that you should be using for deer hunting over say 200yds anyways.

The 3X rocks.Good for fast shots.Good glass and nice long range reticle(300 yrds)

This is the first year I'm going to try .223, I've mostly used a 12ga shotgun in the past. The reasons for that are because I want to see first hand how it performs, currently it's the only weapon in my possession that is considered capable for the task, and it's the only weapon I have access to that I've had enough trigger time to know how it performs.

I know with the scope on it currently I can shoot a 1 inch group at 100 yards, the rifle and optic are probably capable of better. I would assume with the red dot + magnifier combo that group would open up some more due to the reticule being less precise. I would hope not too much, I'm sure within 100 yards it would be fine for deer, 100-200 is kinda one of those situational shots for deer, and honestly I'm not sure if the optic setup would be capable of grouping shots precisely enough to want to take that shot on a deer. However the .223 at 100-200 on a coyote isn't a problem, but I'm still wondering if the optic setup would make placing that shot difficult. At 200 yards the "dot" should technically cover a 6in area of the coyote, that's kind of a lot of room for less than ideal shot placement.

I may just be making a bigger deal out of it than it really is, but I'm hoping someone has the experience with a setup similar to this to say whether it is a viable option or not.



Thanks for the input on that scope since it's also another option I'm considering. Sounds like it does great for the distance shots, which I figured it would be best at, but how is it for shots closer up, say 50 yards and less? The issue I have with the 4-16x on mine currently is that even on 4x I find the optic to be a little slow at acquiring the target in the sight picture, and for anything at 25yards or less the magnification is really not necessary and honestly it's also unwanted. I figured the 3x would be a little less magnification, and it seemed like it would have a slightly larger field of view.

I'd go with an ACOG, and if you don't want to spend that much, a 1-4x variable scope.

I'm thinking you're GTG right now with the 4 X 16 scope.

If you have some cash to blow, how about a LaRue lever operated base and ring for the existing scope and another one for a red dot of your choice?

I have a 1:7" twist, 16", .223 set up like that with a Nikon Buckmaster BDC 4.5 X 14 and a Trijicon TriPower.

Home defense and close quarters hog and deer hunting I have the red dot on it and for 100+ yds the Nikon.

(Add a .22lr conversion and a cheaper red dot w/ screw driver'd knurled tighening knobs and you're getting excellent versatility out of the AR platform.)

What twist is your barrel? That may dictate what bullet you can use for deer.

For this upcoming season (on my AR) I made the opposite move that you're considering. I took off the aimpoint and put a bushnell 4-12x on there. It was set up for hogs and smaller dear. It isn't my primary deer rifle but I've wanted to take one with my AR for awhile. I have a new deer lease in east texas which is pretty thick, so I feel more comfortable using the AR in the typical under 100 yard distances.

I have owned one of Marshal's primary arms 3x magnifiers and just like the rest of his products, they are quality pieces. I think you'll be good whichever direction you choose to go, just get the practice time in and make sure you have the right shot and shot placement.

good luck!

Pimary arms 1-4x illuminated dot reticle.

If you buy it and don't like it, let Marsh know, or speak to him up front about your dilemma. He is good people and would probably make you a deal for trade in on a red dot.

https://www.primaryarms.com/Primary_Arms_14X_24_Illuminated_Scope_p/pa%201-4x.htm

Honestly a quality mount wouldn't be a bad idea, I'll admit I'm just using the rings that came with the scope right now. So with the LaRue mounts you maintain zero switching between the optics? I would assume that you would have to mount them in the same spots on the rail for that, but I'm also assuming that they don't have to be exactly where they were before, within a millimeter or two probably works?

I have a Spikes middy rifle, so 1:7" twist, 16" .223 also.

The land I hunt doesn't give a lot of opportunity for shots at 100 yards or more. The only places that do are traveling to and from my tree stand where the trees break and you can see into some pasture land, but the deer don't go out in there often anyways. That's part of the reason I considered the red dot + magnifier, figured most shots would be closer anyways, and for when they're not I'd be able to use the magnifier. I think I'm going to stick with the 4-16x for this year and maybe switch out to something else later on.

If the .223 doesn't perform well for me I've already been wanting a .308 bolt action, so I could just put the 4-16x on that and get something new for the AR then.

I shoot deer out to 400 yards with 75 grn bullets.

Forgive them. They seem to think everyone is a new hunter/shooter and give advice acordingly...

Check out the LaRue forum thread on remounting and maintaining zero...
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_2_219/171278_Damn_it__look_at_this_LaRue_mount_repeatability_test_________.html

The LaRue mounts really open things up!

ETA: You gots a great rifle for this stuff!!

Well lets be honest, 400 yards is good shooting no matter what bullet you use. Although I feel that .223 will work just fine for deer, I know some people feel different. It's about trying stuff and gaining first hand experience. I can understand the mindset that if you're going to shoot an animal, make sure that you kill it instead of wounding it, and a larger caliber round with equal or higher velocity and higher mass is going to give you better odds of killing that animal. Doesn't mean it can't be done with the smaller round.

I believe we are on the same page with this.

I'm NOT an experienced long distance shooter. That doesn't mean that I am so closed minded that I refuse to recognize that there are better shots than I.

Honestly I've never come across a shot that the variable 3-9X scope on my bolt gun wasn't more than adequate for, from 20 to 315 yards. With that said, for my .458 SOCOM AR-15 I chose a fixed 4x Weaver and it's fantastic. It's brighter than any other scope I own and lighter weight. For a gun that won't see use beyond 200 yards, it totally fits the bill.

This is a good idea, IMO. I have the PA 1-4x and it's great, although maybe a bit heavy.

I'm using an eotech 552 on my .308 AR ( bushy ORC). Longest shot will be a bit over 100 yards, with most likely shots being 35 yards away.

I use a 1-4x XTR with a switchview, it has a 1 MOA dot @ 100yds.

If most of your shots are at < 200 yds it's great, especially with a switchview.

If most of your shots are over 200, you may find the 4x to be a little weak.

I have owned nice ACOG's but prefer 1-4 variables these days.

PS: You can put your current scope and a 1-4x in QD mounts and go back and forth on both your weapons as needed.

I like 2-7x scopes for such applications.

I personally set my rifle up with a similar combination about a year ago. I have a SW M&P 15 that originally wore a cheap Simmons 3-9x50. I felt like that wasn't really making an all-around combination for my weapon so I changed to a Primary Arms M4 clone in December of last year. I find the dot to be suitable for the type of hunting that I do, and was able to take a doe at the beginning of this rifle season at about 200 yards. With that being said, it took me a while to figure out what sight picture I needed to obtain to make consistent hits (I practiced a good bit this summer). I had been used to magnified optics before and the lack of a precise cross-hair initially caused me fits. So to answer your question, I think the micro dot would be a fine choice, especially with the magnifier. I also have only great things to say about Primary Arms' products.

Here is my 2 cents.

I have 3 uppers: 22lr, 556, and 6.8SPC. All three have a micro dot (primary arms for the 22 and 6.8, and a Aimpoint for the 556). I have one Aimpoint magnifier that is switched between all three uppers.

I like the Primary arms micro dots, but you can really tell a difference between the clarity of the glass when looking threw a magnifier. Of course I could not afford to set them all up with Aimpoints so I live with it, and really its not a huge deal, but it makes me glad I bought the Aimpoint Magnifier.

I sighted in the 6.8 last week at 50 yards, and then shot at 100 yards, it was shooting about 2.5 inch groups shooting from prone.

I have a Redfield 1-4x on my AR15 for deer hunting.

If you can hit a deer with iron sights at 100 yards you should b able to hit one at 400 yards with a 4x.

But the longest shot I've ever taken on a deer was 111 yards.

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