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Posted: 3/26/2011 8:26:24 PM EDT
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Has anyone ever used a "budget" magnifier for hunting? I took a hog out this ; weekend at about 100 yards with my M&P 15T + Eotech XPS 2-2. At that range, all I could really do was aim for the front half of the moving target. I got luck with a head shot. Anyway, I'm thinking about adding a magnifier to help out. I'd like to be able to pick them off at up to 150-200 yards. Anyone have experience with the budget magnifiers? I'm looking at the PA 3x and 5x, as well as the Vortex and Burris units. I don't want anything that will darken my sight picture as some of my hunting is done in low light. Thoughts? |
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I have been using a 1st Gen Mako Magnifier for several months behind a Eotech 512.
Good news is that it opens up a whole other world for your Eotech. It truly is useful for precision shots out to 300 yards. 300 is the maximum I have been able to use it, but I expect the most commonly available 3x would make a difference out to 400 yards. The first Gen Mako Magnifier had been in my Dad's safe for a couple of years unused. After about a thousand rounds it started getting "Dirty" inside and darker. I called Mako and they told me to mail it too them and they would replace it immediately as they have a life time warranty. It is my understanding that the 2nd Gen Mako's are allot better, but we will see. The bad news is it is difficult to find a decent ECONOMICAL QD mount for the economical magnifiers. The 30mm scope ring that comes with the Mako is junk and not QD. The entire utility of a magnifier is to be able to have a dual use, fast reflex as well as precision capable sight. I have nothing but respect for PA but I did not care at all for their standard FTS mount as the one I saw was very loose and did not line up properly. I had a buddy loan me Mako's pop up mount and in my opinion it was junk. Too loose, noisy, and I found the pop up vs. flip to the side was not as good an idea in practice as it was theory. The twist off mounts are an option but slower than a FTS and you have to keep up with the magnifier afterward. I have a hard enough time keeping up with my car keys  .
I have been using a FTS mount I bought from Explore. The FTS Mount is a Chi Com replica of the 1st Gen Eotech FTS (Samson?) mount. The same thing is available on Gun Broker.http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=218904174. Mine was really horrible until I replaced all of the screws with stainless steel and dimpled the the body here and there with a punch to tighten up the adjustment tolerances. I could have gotten my money back from Explore no problem, and it appears they don't carry them anymore, but I really wanted to make this work. Been working great for 2k rounds. Recently bought another on Gun Broker because I lost part of the mount when I removed it to send my Mako back. 
Without a rail extender you will not be able to mount a BUIS unless you buy the real Eotech unit or I imagine PA's Deluxe unit. Probably more info than you were looking for, but I really like the added utility I got from an already excellent sight for less that $150.00. ........Mounger |
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