Archived Posts » 59,859,448
My thoughts on the SPARC
7/30/2010 8:05:31 PM
First off, just so somebody else doesn't have to say it, I know Costa doesn't use one, so that means it's just some Tier 2 airsoft shit. I know this, I accept this, I'm not a 300 lb Delta door kicker elite operator ninja like you, so you can spare the theatrics about how if it isn't Aimpoint, it isn't shit. Now that we've got that established, I'll proceed.
This is my first RDS and I'm actually pretty pleased with it overall. I took it out to my bullet pit and got it zeroed this morning. All shooting was at 50 yards(max distance available) slow fire, from the bench. Ammo used was Tula 55 grain FMJ. I fored 80 rounds today. I used a 16" Spike's carbine with a DD CHF 1/7 barrel. I've currently got it set for absolute co witness, but Vortex includes a riser for lower 1/3, if you prefer.
This is with the 2x magnifier. Discounting the flier, it's 1 5/8" center to center.
This is at 1x without the magnifier. Discounting the flier, it's 1 1/8" center to center.
Host carbine without magnifier. Pay no mind to my homemade single point sling.
With magnifier.
Once it was zeroed, it was very easy to plink range debris from the standing position. I also put in my CMMG .22 conversion and had no trouble plinking trash, although I needed to aim high to compensate for drop. When shooting groups, I shot one eye closed, both magnified and not, but for plinking, I had no problem shooting both eyes open, even though I'm a right handed shooter but left eye dominant. At first, I was worried about having trouble with that, but it turned out to be almost a non issue.
It also did very well with close range drills at 10 yards, lots of clover leafs, even standing, but it hit about 3" low for a 50 yard zero. Color me surprised.
The 2x magnifier is great. It does restrict for FOV, but for longer range shots, it's great to have a little help. I'd have probably preferred it to be 3x, but 2x is good enough. I would really have liked to get a neoprene sleeve or something for it. Besides the box it ships in, there's no included safe storage for it.
The brightness is good. In the shade, I used the lowest or the second to the lowest, and I only needed to bump it up one or two when I was in the sun. Even in bright direct sun, you ought to be good. I also liked how the caps all are tethered, so you can't lose them.
One negative I found was that it would occasionally dim or flicker off after a shot. It did that a couple of times when I first started shooting, but it didn't do it again towards the middle or end, even with some fairly rapid strings. Could have just been the battery or a connection getting settled in. If it continues to happen, I'll contact Vortex, but for now, I'm not worried. The controls might be a little small, but I do have big hands, so YMMV.
Outside of the flickering, and no storage for the doubler, I'm very happy with this little optic. The glass is nice and clear with a good tint. The dot is only 2 MOA, but if you need a bigger dot, you can really crank the brightness for a bigger dot.
If you're just a hobbyist like me, who wants something small and light for range, HD, or SHTF use, you'd be well served. I wouldn't trust my life to it on a day in and day out basis, but it's not designed for that.
I'll see how it holds a zero during subsequent range trips, but I'm not expecting problems.
Overall, very nice optic for the price. I'd suggest you buy one if you're inclined.
This is my first RDS and I'm actually pretty pleased with it overall. I took it out to my bullet pit and got it zeroed this morning. All shooting was at 50 yards(max distance available) slow fire, from the bench. Ammo used was Tula 55 grain FMJ. I fored 80 rounds today. I used a 16" Spike's carbine with a DD CHF 1/7 barrel. I've currently got it set for absolute co witness, but Vortex includes a riser for lower 1/3, if you prefer.
This is with the 2x magnifier. Discounting the flier, it's 1 5/8" center to center.
This is at 1x without the magnifier. Discounting the flier, it's 1 1/8" center to center.
Host carbine without magnifier. Pay no mind to my homemade single point sling.
With magnifier.
Once it was zeroed, it was very easy to plink range debris from the standing position. I also put in my CMMG .22 conversion and had no trouble plinking trash, although I needed to aim high to compensate for drop. When shooting groups, I shot one eye closed, both magnified and not, but for plinking, I had no problem shooting both eyes open, even though I'm a right handed shooter but left eye dominant. At first, I was worried about having trouble with that, but it turned out to be almost a non issue.
It also did very well with close range drills at 10 yards, lots of clover leafs, even standing, but it hit about 3" low for a 50 yard zero. Color me surprised.
The 2x magnifier is great. It does restrict for FOV, but for longer range shots, it's great to have a little help. I'd have probably preferred it to be 3x, but 2x is good enough. I would really have liked to get a neoprene sleeve or something for it. Besides the box it ships in, there's no included safe storage for it.
The brightness is good. In the shade, I used the lowest or the second to the lowest, and I only needed to bump it up one or two when I was in the sun. Even in bright direct sun, you ought to be good. I also liked how the caps all are tethered, so you can't lose them.
One negative I found was that it would occasionally dim or flicker off after a shot. It did that a couple of times when I first started shooting, but it didn't do it again towards the middle or end, even with some fairly rapid strings. Could have just been the battery or a connection getting settled in. If it continues to happen, I'll contact Vortex, but for now, I'm not worried. The controls might be a little small, but I do have big hands, so YMMV.
Outside of the flickering, and no storage for the doubler, I'm very happy with this little optic. The glass is nice and clear with a good tint. The dot is only 2 MOA, but if you need a bigger dot, you can really crank the brightness for a bigger dot.
If you're just a hobbyist like me, who wants something small and light for range, HD, or SHTF use, you'd be well served. I wouldn't trust my life to it on a day in and day out basis, but it's not designed for that.
I'll see how it holds a zero during subsequent range trips, but I'm not expecting problems.
Overall, very nice optic for the price. I'd suggest you buy one if you're inclined.
7/30/2010 8:21:46 PM
Nice review!I dont see anything wrong with having an affordable high quality optic, as long as you have BUIS. (Hint 
)
I would love to see a long term hard use comparison of the SPARC and PA Micro.
)
I would love to see a long term hard use comparison of the SPARC and PA Micro.
7/30/2010 8:50:33 PM
Originally Posted By live-free-or-die:
as long as you have BUIS. (Hint)
as long as you have BUIS. (Hint
)
I hear you. I'm planning on adding a free float rail, shaving the FSB, and adding a set of MBUS sights to it. BRD sucks.
7/30/2010 9:42:27 PM
Short reply: +1
Not quite as short:
I also bought a SPARC recently, and am very impressed. I didn't see the flickering you're talking about. That would worry me a bit. Also my first red dot. I loved the ease at which you can shoot with both eyes open. I wear contacts that make my right (dominate) eye see better @ distance, and left close up. I was also worried this wasn't going to work, but was pleasantly surprised how well it did.
I am under the impression that there is a matching pivot mount on the way from Vortex to hold the 3x magnifier they make. This would make it a much better system. I hope that rumor is correct.
8/2/2010 9:53:32 AM
The flickering is odd. It shouldn't be doing that. Is it possible that the battery cap just wasn't on tight enough? If it continues to happen definitely let us know, because that isn't normal.
Originally Posted By Scott_R:
Yes, there is a pretty cool flip mount coming soon...I am under the impression that there is a matching pivot mount on the way from Vortex to hold the 3x magnifier they make. This would make it a much better system. I hope that rumor is correct.
-Sam
9/13/2010 10:15:54 PM
Originally Posted By Eazy_E:
First off, just so somebody else doesn't have to say it, I know Costa doesn't use one, so that means it's just some Tier 2 airsoft shit. I know this, I accept this, I'm not a 300 lb Delta door kicker elite operator ninja like you, so you can spare the theatrics about how if it isn't Aimpoint, it isn't shit. Now that we've got that established, I'll proceed.
This is my first RDS and I'm actually pretty pleased with it overall. I took it out to my bullet pit and got it zeroed this morning. All shooting was at 50 yards(max distance available) slow fire, from the bench. Ammo used was Tula 55 grain FMJ. I fored 80 rounds today. I used a 16" Spike's carbine with a DD CHF 1/7 barrel. I've currently got it set for absolute co witness, but Vortex includes a riser for lower 1/3, if you prefer.
This is with the 2x magnifier. Discounting the flier, it's 1 5/8" center to center.
http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/4448/p1010022bf.jpg
This is at 1x without the magnifier. Discounting the flier, it's 1 1/8" center to center.
http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/6224/p1010024a.jpg
Host carbine without magnifier. Pay no mind to my homemade single point sling.
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/7374/p1010025sk.jpg
With magnifier.
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/3283/p1010028we.jpg
Once it was zeroed, it was very easy to plink range debris from the standing position. I also put in my CMMG .22 conversion and had no trouble plinking trash, although I needed to aim high to compensate for drop. When shooting groups, I shot one eye closed, both magnified and not, but for plinking, I had no problem shooting both eyes open, even though I'm a right handed shooter but left eye dominant. At first, I was worried about having trouble with that, but it turned out to be almost a non issue.
It also did very well with close range drills at 10 yards, lots of clover leafs, even standing, but it hit about 3" low for a 50 yard zero. Color me surprised.
The 2x magnifier is great. It does restrict for FOV, but for longer range shots, it's great to have a little help. I'd have probably preferred it to be 3x, but 2x is good enough. I would really have liked to get a neoprene sleeve or something for it. Besides the box it ships in, there's no included safe storage for it.
The brightness is good. In the shade, I used the lowest or the second to the lowest, and I only needed to bump it up one or two when I was in the sun. Even in bright direct sun, you ought to be good. I also liked how the caps all are tethered, so you can't lose them.
One negative I found was that it would occasionally dim or flicker off after a shot. It did that a couple of times when I first started shooting, but it didn't do it again towards the middle or end, even with some fairly rapid strings. Could have just been the battery or a connection getting settled in. If it continues to happen, I'll contact Vortex, but for now, I'm not worried. The controls might be a little small, but I do have big hands, so YMMV.
Outside of the flickering, and no storage for the doubler, I'm very happy with this little optic. The glass is nice and clear with a good tint. The dot is only 2 MOA, but if you need a bigger dot, you can really crank the brightness for a bigger dot.
If you're just a hobbyist like me, who wants something small and light for range, HD, or SHTF use, you'd be well served. I wouldn't trust my life to it on a day in and day out basis, but it's not designed for that.
I'll see how it holds a zero during subsequent range trips, but I'm not expecting problems.
Overall, very nice optic for the price. I'd suggest you buy one if you're inclined.
First off, just so somebody else doesn't have to say it, I know Costa doesn't use one, so that means it's just some Tier 2 airsoft shit. I know this, I accept this, I'm not a 300 lb Delta door kicker elite operator ninja like you, so you can spare the theatrics about how if it isn't Aimpoint, it isn't shit. Now that we've got that established, I'll proceed.
This is my first RDS and I'm actually pretty pleased with it overall. I took it out to my bullet pit and got it zeroed this morning. All shooting was at 50 yards(max distance available) slow fire, from the bench. Ammo used was Tula 55 grain FMJ. I fored 80 rounds today. I used a 16" Spike's carbine with a DD CHF 1/7 barrel. I've currently got it set for absolute co witness, but Vortex includes a riser for lower 1/3, if you prefer.
This is with the 2x magnifier. Discounting the flier, it's 1 5/8" center to center.
http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/4448/p1010022bf.jpg
This is at 1x without the magnifier. Discounting the flier, it's 1 1/8" center to center.
http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/6224/p1010024a.jpg
Host carbine without magnifier. Pay no mind to my homemade single point sling.
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/7374/p1010025sk.jpg
With magnifier.
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/3283/p1010028we.jpg
Once it was zeroed, it was very easy to plink range debris from the standing position. I also put in my CMMG .22 conversion and had no trouble plinking trash, although I needed to aim high to compensate for drop. When shooting groups, I shot one eye closed, both magnified and not, but for plinking, I had no problem shooting both eyes open, even though I'm a right handed shooter but left eye dominant. At first, I was worried about having trouble with that, but it turned out to be almost a non issue.
It also did very well with close range drills at 10 yards, lots of clover leafs, even standing, but it hit about 3" low for a 50 yard zero. Color me surprised.
The 2x magnifier is great. It does restrict for FOV, but for longer range shots, it's great to have a little help. I'd have probably preferred it to be 3x, but 2x is good enough. I would really have liked to get a neoprene sleeve or something for it. Besides the box it ships in, there's no included safe storage for it.
The brightness is good. In the shade, I used the lowest or the second to the lowest, and I only needed to bump it up one or two when I was in the sun. Even in bright direct sun, you ought to be good. I also liked how the caps all are tethered, so you can't lose them.
One negative I found was that it would occasionally dim or flicker off after a shot. It did that a couple of times when I first started shooting, but it didn't do it again towards the middle or end, even with some fairly rapid strings. Could have just been the battery or a connection getting settled in. If it continues to happen, I'll contact Vortex, but for now, I'm not worried. The controls might be a little small, but I do have big hands, so YMMV.
Outside of the flickering, and no storage for the doubler, I'm very happy with this little optic. The glass is nice and clear with a good tint. The dot is only 2 MOA, but if you need a bigger dot, you can really crank the brightness for a bigger dot.
If you're just a hobbyist like me, who wants something small and light for range, HD, or SHTF use, you'd be well served. I wouldn't trust my life to it on a day in and day out basis, but it's not designed for that.
I'll see how it holds a zero during subsequent range trips, but I'm not expecting problems.
Overall, very nice optic for the price. I'd suggest you buy one if you're inclined.
Holy shit, your first paragraph nearly made me choke I was laughing so hard. Just picked one up myself, and these have to be the best kept secret in RDS going.
9/21/2010 8:44:14 AM
I just wanted to comment on the flickering. I have seen and had this happen twice now and both times including when it happened to me it was because the battery cap was not tight. Once the cap was tightened there were no issues.
Scott
Scott
