garandman - Aimpoint XD-M w/ GG&G Cantilever mount - it is QD and puts the dot on the top of the iron sights.

THE SEALS HAVE GONE EXCLUSIVELY TO THE AIMPOINT, AS HAVE THE FORCE RECON MARINES. GET AN ACOG REFLEX WET... OR SHOOT FORM A LOW LIGHT ENVIRONMENT INTO A BRIGHT ENVIRONMENT... OR TRY IT "IN THE HOUSE"... AND YOU TOO WILL SEE WHY.

ON A PAPER RANGE AT HIGH NOON, AN ACOG REFLEX SEEMS IDEAL.

A carbine just doesn't have enough range (short barrel = low velocity = short range) to make effective use of the ACOG, and the role of a carbine usually involves rapid acquisition of multiple targets.  Therefore, the AimPoint is the clear winner.

Best setup?  A1/C7/A2 upper with forward mount.  Look over the irons and the dot is centered, ready for normal use.  Dot broken/battery dead/etc.?  Drop down and use the irons, sighting through the AimPoint tube, and you're right back in the game.

Even the best flip-ups don't duplicate this functionality, and that setup costs a LOT more.

Flattops are only useful if:

- You're mounting *magnified* optics
- You're mounting a NV optic behind the AimPoint
- You have a need to change optics often

Save the magnified optics for guns that have the effective range to use them.  At minimum, a 20" .223.  .308 guns are even better.

-Troy