I recently had to send in my strikefire and I really liked using the open sights. I never used them before, because of the strikefire. I'm not sure I want to put the strikefire back on top. Red dots are a form of a holographic sights, right?

What are the advantages/disadvantages of each? Besides the obvious of batteries and damage that inhibits function.

Edit: to add red dot in title.

You've been here since 2009 and have over 4,000 posts and you don't know?

Iron sights: good for precision as long as your eyes are still good and light conditions are good.

Red dot: not as precise, but faster than using irons and permits decent shooting as your eyesight degrades with age and in poor light conditions.

Telescopic: good for punching paper and target identification, sucks for close-in moving targets.

For my paper-punching guns, I like irons (for as long as I can use 'em) or telescopic sights.
For my "shit just got real" long guns, I like red dots.

My FAVORITES are carryhandle guns, A2 sites.
That said, most of my rifles wear ACOG or Aimpoint.

the methods employed in a red dot and a holo-sight are different. not in any meaningful-to-end-user way, but they are not the same.

that's all i had to say.

Well, I know some stuff, but I don't know everything bro. And I've never carried an AR for a living. I've never used  open sights on an AR before either, I've always had a red dot (till recently). I have 20/20 eye sight so no problems there.

This, except mine are all over the place

 

Depends on what the AR is used for. On my carbine I have an aimpoint micro that I love. On my SPR-ish upper I have a vortex PST 2.5-10 that's awesome.

I like a true 1-4x on 16"+ ARs, and micro red dots on <16" ARs.

I only have one AR, I don't see that changing anytime soon. I have it built as a shit hit the fan gun.

I'm just curious for the discussion on this question, don't think we've done this question in a few months.

I've gone through several optics on ARs and always fall back to iron sights. I do like my ACOG on the scar 17 though.

I prefer EOTech on my long guns. I like the 65 MOA reticle, and the viewing window.

 

Depends on the use. I have two 16" rifles set up identically except for the optics (Aimpoint Pro and ACOG), a 20" with a scope, another with a red dot and magnifier, a couple with only irons, etc.

All depends on the purpose. All but the ones with irons have some form of alternative sight as well.

Throw a 3x magnifier with a swing to side mount on it and you have the best of both worlds. A fast 1x dot and a magnified optic when you need to reach out a little.

Try looking at the target with both eyes open.  The window is irrelevant.  The circle is nice, though.

( < ----- Uses AImpoints and EOTechs, but prefers Aimpoints, especially the Micro)

That is my set up.

The PA long eye relief 3x magnifier makes a great combo.

True dat.



They differ greatly in the complexity of the techniques used to display them.

That's a very meaningful distinction to the end-user, because complexity tends to be related to reliability.

Generally, simpler is better.

Lol. I've got an Aimpoint T1 and I prefer my EOTech (not that the T1 isn't a nice optic, because it really is nice.)

Personally, I've never seen much usefulness to magnification lower than 4x at the lowest.  Certainly not enough to offset the additional weight of the magnifier.  I like the concept in theory, though.

Stop liking the things that I don't like!

I like some magnification when shooting past ~50 yds. I'd want it even more if I was trying to hit more precisely then just center of man.

I chose the smallest legal package I could get. Although I could have made it lighter, helps not having a sight on top. This is another reason I don't think I want to put the red dot on top.

Right now I've got red dots on all ARs except for a scope on my first foolish AR purchase. I like them all fine. What I really want, though, is a Trijicon or Meprolight reflex with a triangle reticule. The triangle reticule looks like it lets you get the best of both worlds, precise when you want, and quick when you want.

get both.

I'd try out a chevron or triangle type reticule first.

As cool as the TA31 seems with the 'chevron of death', I personally found it it wasn't the best for me. Kinda wished I had gotten Horseshoe-dot.

No love for laser sights?  Never tried one except on a pistol (wife has a Crimson Trace) but was thinking about it.  Seems a scope and a laser would go together ok.

What about these combo things with a scope and a red dot sight?  Looks gimmicky but are they usable?

Nope.

Not unless we're talking about IR lasers and Night Vision...

Irons or medium power scope.

Red dot and zoom optics.

Nothing wrong with iron sights though IMHO.

Iron sights are what they had to use before the discovery of electricity.  

Quality 2 MOA (or even 4 MOA) red dots are more precise than standard irons.


 

I have an EOTech on one of them and ACOG on the other.  They both have their strong points and disadvantages.

Astigmatism made me sell my Aimpoint.

I've found the Trijicon Accupoint  with green triangle still works perfectly despite my eyes.  And works without batteries.

I've found some ACOG reticles like the horseshoe have a double image when I look through them, while more crosshair type reticles look fine.

Eotechs concern me a little.  Still seem to read a bit more about them having issues, though it's not as bad as it was years ago in terms of batteries draining, or losing zero.

I know what those words are, however, when placed in that order I am unable to decipher the meaning.

They are great in Battlefield 4. People leave them on all the time which makes following the beam back to a badguy rather easy.

I have the Green Dot


Boxed up the Eotech and installed a Vortex StrikeFire II.

What do you use your ar's for? Mine are for hunting= so they wear scopes.

depends

general use?  Eotech

I would like an ACOG in the worst way, but I can't afford one.

I like red dots with back by irons for 200 yards or less, Magnified optics beyond that point. EOtechs are Garbage. Stick with an aimpoint if you want a sight that will last a decade.

When I first got into ARs many moons ago, everything I had was all about SHTF or whatever you want to call it. I had 4 MOA Aimpoints on everything. I took a bunch of the various "tactical" type classes and I had a lot of fun.

Now I am middle aged and I have kinda gotten away from the whole SHTF thing. Don't get me wrong, I can and would defend myself with an AR, but I have come to appreciate the AR more as an accurate and reliable range gun that can easily be gunsmithed at home to make it whatever you want it to be. My focus has shifted to more accuracy based shooting. I like shooting from positions on paper; but again, that is just me. I like to test my skill with the rifle. Also with middle age came the declining vision. Glasses at 40................ So, I am in the process of putting good glass on at least a couple of my ARs.

I honestly believe that everyone should become proficient with shooting a rifle with iron sights. Understanding how to correctly adjust sights.......... But, in my case I did that and now I want to move on to something that enhances my ability to see. I have (this summer) become involved in shooting Appleseed classes. I think this teaches a good solid minimum level of accuracy. Last month I shot an Appleseed using an AR with a scope and easily shot a "Rifleman" score twice out of two attempts. I returned this past weekend with the same AR minus the scope to try again to score "Rifleman" using the iron sights. And I failed after spending about 15 hours on the range and firing around 400 rounds of ammo.  I don't want to make excuses, but I think it is pretty obvious that my vision isn't always up to the task. I have scored "Rifleman" running iron sights, but I can't do it consistently.

I guess the point is that the sighting system you use is a very personal thing. As has been mentioned, your intended purpose of the rifle is one of the biggest issues. But in addition, the sighting system can make up for your own personal weaknesses.

Obviously one big thing about using iron sights is that you can't see them in low light. This is not only a factor for combat type senarios but also hunting as well as target shooting on a overcast day. Not to mention shooting small/precision targets with a background that doesn't enhance the definition of the target. It is one thing to shoot a black target on a white background and it is another matter to shoot a black target with nothing but woods behind it.  In the various classes I took, this became very obvious to me just how big a deal this is. You often hear on the internet about how you as a civilian have no business engaging a target in low light because you can't positively identify the target. And this is true. But there are also situations where you CAN identify the target but still can't see your sights. I once shot an IDPA match when I lived in the southwestern US. It was so hot during the day in the summer that they held the IDPA match at night. It was much cooler and also was good practice for low light shooting. This particular match there was a bright moon and most of the stages of the match were no problem. However they had one senario where you were inside your house, heard people outside robbing your garage. So you were supposed to stay behind cover in the house and light up the targets outside at the garage. When you light them up, they turn and engage you with deadly force. So, I could see them fine. They were standing outside in the moonlight and I had a light on them. But inside the "house" I coudln't see my sights at all. This showed me the reason I needed to equip my handgun with night sites. If I had been using an AR, this would have been the time to have either a red dot, or a scope.

My Ar doesn't have iron sights, has a Leupold 4-14x on it but it's use is varmint control, coyotes, coons, badgers, prairie dogs, etc.

I prefer a TA31 w/ a doctored RMR. Not very high speed for 2014 when compared to all the new offset mounts and elcan specters out there, but it's what I know.

Careful, this looks like you might have a problem. I wouldn't be posting pictures with a fore grip mounted on a pistol. I'm no expert, but I think that is not kosher.

I live in the city where it's more likely a home invasion than a woodchuck hunt. I use irons for the sake of not stopping to tun anything on.
As much as I hear about an AR pistol being shitty for home defense I like the maneuverability and the diminished velocity won't matter when my longest room in the house is 22'. This gun I do have and EoTech on but I almost always find myself using the fixed irons I have on it to shoot.

My long gun had a PA red dot but lately I just used the flip up magpul sights. I can hit clay pigeons on the berm with reliable accuracy and that's all I need to do.

I do have a scoped 15-22 and its fun to shoot but I just don't like sitting at a bench while shooting. I like to move around and my range allows that.

If the overall length is 26" it is legal as can be.

I wouldn't be quoting the links either.

It's fine if length is 26" or more.

ACOG TR33. Pretty good all around optic.

I have a detachable carry handle on mine for now. Might go to a 1 x 4 scope.

PSA - If you think there is a window with your holographic sight or red dot, you're doing it wrong.  Or a pirate.  

For the average carbine, I prefer red dots.  I'm a bit faster.

After all, this is Arfcom, right.......