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AR15.COM
5/31/2012 4:24:36 AM EDT
I'm sure this has been brought up before, but I have a few minutes to kill.

I recently finished building my AR, and I already have a single shot .223 with a scope on it.

I love how lightweight my AR is, and I have peep sights on almost all of my guns, but I am really having a hard time deciding on scoping this gun or not.

For hunting a scope just can't be beat early in the morning and just before dark. Peep sights really suck in low light (I've passed on deer before because of too little light to see through the aperture)

But the flip side of the coin is this for me, I am rough on hunting gear, my rifles get dropped and banged off stuff and they fall with me, everything you would expect out of a tool that is getting lugged through the brush, and I have had scope failures in the past.

I won't say I am a fantastic marksman, but I can hold my own. I was hitting a 6" steel plate at 200 yards with the irons after some fine tuning last time, but that same shot with a scope is faster and generally easier to pull off.

What are your opinions, I am leery of scopes still because of the luck I have had with irons.
5/31/2012 4:31:35 AM EDT
[#1]
Stick with the irons.
5/31/2012 4:36:39 AM EDT
[#2]
6" at 200 yards should be easy with irons, with practice (assuming from a stable shooting position). Personally, I'd keep the irons on the AR to keep it lightweight and simple. Different rifles for different purposes, and all that.
5/31/2012 4:37:24 AM EDT
[#3]
If you hunt, I recommend a scope only to ensure target i.d.  I always check, double check and triple check before considering a shot.  I use binoculars so I don't point a loaded rifle at someone as a primary means of i.d.

Get a solid scope like a Nightforce or ACOG.  Buy once, cry once.
5/31/2012 4:38:14 AM EDT
[#4]
Anyone know a trick to help see through the aperture better in low light?
5/31/2012 5:22:31 AM EDT
[#5]
Quoted:
Anyone know a trick to help see through the aperture better in low light?


There is no trick.  A larger appeture will allow more light at the expense of depth of field.  Smaller appeture will allow a sharper target if there is enough light.  The trick is to select the best appeture for the light and target conditions.


Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile
5/31/2012 5:26:45 AM EDT
[#6]
aimpoint
durable and good for low light.
5/31/2012 5:32:59 AM EDT
[#7]
One more thing to consider about appeture sights.  You can use a rear appeture up to the size of you pupil and still maintain sight alignment.  This is why ghost rings work.  The image the back of the eye sees is only determined by the pupil size not the appeture.  Try looking through the sight with the front sight on a target and move your head to break the correct sight picture.  Notice that the front sight doesn't move from the target.

This free lesson was brought to you by the good folks at "Hit the Damn Target, LLC."

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile
5/31/2012 5:34:57 AM EDT
[#8]
I can't imagine you having too many problems with a quality (read: expensive) scope.  My hunting rifle is scoped and its been beat to hell & back, still works fine.  Is it a flattop or fixed carry handle?  You could always get one of the quick detach scope mounts & have it both ways then.
5/31/2012 5:35:06 AM EDT
[#9]



Quoted:


Anyone know a trick to help see through the aperture better in low light?




Use a quality optic with an exit pupil of 7mm or larger.



 
5/31/2012 5:42:04 AM EDT
[#10]
I use a detacheable scope mount on my favorite AR so I can have both.
5/31/2012 5:48:45 AM EDT
[#11]
Quoted:
Stick with the irons.


This