Preferably a return to zero type. I have a Colt mt6400c m4 with a flat top. It has the standard large fixed front sight, not a fold down. So I guess the mount needs to be high enough for the scope to clear the front sight. Or, I guess I could achieve the height I need with high rings as long as the mount doesn’t have integrated rings. Or do they not make rings that high?
Looks like Bobro and JP Enterprises both have a RTZ mount but they have integrated rings. It doesn’t look like they are high enough to clear my front sight unless I’m mistaken. So it would be better if the rings weren’t integrated into the mount, but rather that the mount allow for different ring types to be installed. Then once the rings and scope are mounted and tightened, for it to return to zero when I remove and put the whole thing back on.
What optic are you putting on your stick?
As others have said, you probably don’t need to worry about the FSB with unless you try to mount the optic lower than the FSB. Trying to buy rings for that application is usually a long road with high cost, while offerings from LaRue, Bobro, ADM, and others merrily fill the bill out of the box.
I am bouncing back and forth between one of the Leupold Mark 2 AR scopes. They have several levels of those. The 50mm ones are too expensive for me right now. Especially when you consider I may have to add quite a bit to the price for a RTZ mount.
So the 3-9 40mm or the 1-4 20mm are attractive options. I know these 2 are way different from each other. I have had a couple of Leupold scopes and currently have one for my Rem 700 308 which is a Mark 4 4.5-14 40mm and had another similar to that yrs ago. So I am happy with their quality, etc. But I can’t afford another like that right now.
I am also thinking of the Millet DMS-1 in the same price range or even lower than the Mark 2 Leupolds. I found out about the Millet by looking at page 6 or 7 of one of the optics stickies. I think it was the sticky about 1-4x optics. This is a 1-4x with a red dot in a red donut reticle.
Can you guys recommend a red dot scope or maybe even not a red dot but in the $300 price range, which is widely known to be a good scope? My instinct is always to get as much power as possible, but I know for home urban defence you might want to stay at low power such as 1x. However, the main usage for the rifle will probably be target shooting. So feel free to recomend almost anything in the $300 range.
On a similar note. Let’s say I decide to stay with open sites for home defense. I would then get a RTZ mount for the scope for when I go to the range. But is there a RTZ rear iron site out there? I would like to be able to switch between open sites and scope in a minute or so and be able to be very close to zero on both options.
I suspect the stock carry handle on my Colt mt6400c is not RTZ right? I always put it on the same way. I put it on accross the notches so it lines up as expected. Then I slide it back a bit so it takes up the slack within the notches, then I tighten each knob slightly going back and forth a bit at a time till they are both very snug. But I suspect even doing it the same way everytime will not get me anywhere near zero if it’s not designed to do that.
I have a Millet 1-4x24 DMS on a Larue SPR LT-104. The LaRue mount is a little pricey but in my opinion its one of the best return to zero type mounts made.
there are 2 posts which show a different configuration that seems to have the battery and brightness wheel on the left side in the middle of the scope.
it has a picture of each of these 2 different ones. Can you explain what this is all about? Is it a redesign of the model after a certain date, and does the model you get depend on when you bought it? When did you guys buy yours and which configuration do you have?
I picked up a Millett MDS-1 about 6 months ago and use a LaRue SPR-E mount. Mine has the illumination adjust knob midway on the tube. So far it has been a good scope for the money.
For the type of optics you are looking at any of the offerings from LaRue, Bobro, and ADM will work just fine.
When it comes to the AR and its optimal performance envelope, high magnification is not always as important as some think. 6X is about the upper limit of efficient use, and a significant amount of time you will be better off with 1X, or no magnification.
The thing you will need to determine is whether you want/need a mount with standard or extended eye-relief. Most guys that shoot NTCH or near NTCH use an extended eye-relief mount with the lower cost 1-4 optics. In my experience the DMS and other optics with similar exit pupil and eye-relief need the extended eye-relief mount.
That being said, I do not recommend the DMS for anything more serious than shooting paper. There are low-powered variables that are viable for serious use, but they are well above $300. One of the problems with optics is that you get what you pay for. Now, if all you are willing to pay is $300 for the combination, and do not consider your AR the go-to emergency use gun, the DMS is probably your best value.
I will probably go with the Millet DMS-1 even though Failure2stop thinks it’s not good enough for home defense. The rifle will be used mainly for 100 yd target shooting with occasional 200 and 300 yd max. I do have some mags loaded at home in case the SHTF. I will probably go with the Burris PEPR mount. I’d like a RTZ but those are way more expensive.
