Hello everyone, first I would like to thank you for all the information that I found on this website. I’ve been here for years, never actually posted anything, this is my first.
I am looking for a “perfect” optics for 16" Daniel Defense AR15. Basically, a SHTF gun, and looking for SHTF optics. I have done a lot of research, to the point my brain is overloaded with information and still having a tough time on deciding. Had two Eotechs, 551 and 557. Firts one was good, but used N-cell battery which is impossible to find, and battery life just sucks. Sold it, got 557. Batteries are common, life still not great, and could not stand side buttons, they were really hard to operate because of the hood. Sold it too. Actually liked the reticle and believe that for close distance it is the best.
This brings up the question: what kind of shooting am I going to be doing. Answer-no idea. It will stay on the gun for range/plinking, but if situation arises-need it to perform. I’ve used the search function too, still too much info and everyone likes something different.
Finally decided to go with ACOG, TA11F. Has BAC, and good for longer distances. May possibly run Docter RDS on an offset rail later on. What do you guys think? is it worth it? looking for some constructive criticism.
Looked at those too. Really see no advantage, never shot with either, just going off internet specs. Both seem to weigh about the same, objective size is a lot smaller on Accupoint, reticle lacks BDC. The only advantage that its variable 1x-4x. Not sure about eye relief however.
I don’t think it’s a bad choice, it’s certainly a quality optic. The thing about “SHTF” is that it is a very general term and subject to personal interpretation quite a bit. If you live in a major urban center and visualize bugging out through civil unrest is much different than if you live in the mountains and are thinking you might need to live off the land indefinitely. What’s perfect for one guy may be the worst choice for the other.
The TA11 is biased towards longer shots, I agree with Templar that a TR24 or Aimpoint with magnifier would be a more versatile choice without knowing exactly how you are defining your needs. For instance you mentioned the BDC feature, but for my version of SHTF the 1x close range ability far outweighs any lack of BdC. I really can’t imagine a SHTF situation where I needed a long enough shot to require BDC. But your needs may be totally different than mine.
I think the TA33 is a better choice. Put a front cap on the optic for close range use and pop the cap for longer range shots.
I keep on coming back to this optic as the best “all around” AR optic. I have a red chevron model but would buy a green horseshoe model today.
I am not a fan of the larger frame ACOGs. They are bigger, heavier, less forgiving, and more expensive, but I don’t see much improvement in exchange for all that.
I use the offset setup you describe. An ACOG with a Trijicon RMR red dot on an offset mount. One of my special forces buddies showed me this set up a few years ago which he uses every day in Afgan on a Noveske and I loved it then and still do. You give up nothing and gain everything in my opinion but I use a TAO1NSN ACOG which does not have BAC.
For CQB you simply can’t the rifle never breaking cheekweld, run the RMR way up front as far up the rail as I can get it. I have an older Matt Burkett offset mount which was not a quick release but there is a more modern quick release now with supposedly no zero loss.
This weapon is strictly a shtf weapon and not used for any type of competitions. I’m not sure if the 3 gun guys originally came up with this setup idea or not but I think it’s an awesome setup that with a little practice can be as fast as just an eotech on top.
Thanks Jarhead, do you have any pictures by any chance? There are just too many options. I feel like if i get something, I will discover unknown flaws and will be looking for something else shortly. Aimpoint with a magnifier sounds good also, but the weight must be noticable. I feel like if you run two components you have double the chance of failure, which realistically is only 50% of failure, unles the second component is a magnifier. Tr24 might be the best of both worlds. I am pretty unfamiliar with AR optics, when I was in the service we were still using irons only. Where I work now, I do not carry a rifle on patrol, and those who are, are not allowed to put any optics on it… :(. No way to shoot different types and compare.
I too will have to say that the TA33 with the Green Horse Shoe would be the way to go. I have a TA33HG on my MK18 here in the Stan and have a TA24 back in the states. Both are good optics. If you are looking for a good SHTF optic go with the TA33. It is much more durable and it is a good all around optic.
You are over-thinking this. Pick something, and go use it. There is no free lunch. The TA33 takes training to use close in and has some issues with low-light situations. The Accupoint is heavy and requires you to manually adjust power as needed. The Aimpoint lacks magnification or gets heavy (and expensive) when you add magnification. The dual optic setup is heavy, complicated, and expensive, and requires a different sort of training to use effectively.
The list goes on and on, but there ain’t no free lunch.
Get something, and get use of it in circumstances as close to your intended application. If you’re planning for home defense, go get some CQB and low-light training and shoot some CQB matches (speed, target ID and target acquisition are the keys here). If you’re preparing for a wilderness survival situation, go get some longer range training and shoot some longer range matches (unconventional positions and improvised rests are critical here). If you want to be a “sniper” then go get some long-range precision training.
I knew a guy that thought his TA31F-RMR was big-king-dingaling. He shot the hell out of his gun with that thing. From the bench. Got to a class, found out how bad it sucked. Or he sucked with it. But the end result was the same.
Also no need for any type of additional red dot; Dr Optic, JPoint, RMR, or whatever, with the TA33. You can use it with both eyes open. It works just fine, I know because I have done it on several occasions in room clearings.
I agree. No room clearings here but I’ve done low-light classes with it, and all of our matches are low-light at some point as they go from 19:00 to 22:00, and we’ve even done some lights-out work with it. From what I can tell the green donut would work better than my red chevron in these situations though, although the lens cap trick is working great for me.
I actually shot a stage like this, a CQB room-clearing stage, a couple of months ago but didn’t get video like I intended. At the end I flipped up the cap and closed my left eye to take a high percentage head shot on a target with a “hostage” in front of it. Worked great.
You can never over think your optic choice. It is a very important part of the weapons system. I would look at ordering one from Botach Tactical. Their CS suckes like a $2 whore but their prices are very good.
I know this may be unpopular, but I’m pretty happy with my Elcan 1-4’s
Edit: full disclosure, aimpoint or eotech beats the snot out of it at 1x, but even with the crummy eye relief at that setting I still feel it’s a more well thought out product than most of the other 1-4’s I see out there or a fixed power.
Thanks, i have. I researched different reticles until my eyes started bleeding. Iwanted to know why he thinks green horseshoe is better than a red chevron, i was actually goingnto go with a red chevron.
