First AR optic?

AndyWest

New member
Sorry, I know this is asked all the time so I'll try to be specific to my needs.

Colt LE6920 SOCOM II 5.56 1:7 twist, shooting 62gr. Mostly paper hunting, indoor / daylight outdoor ranges from 50-200 yards. Small zoom, my eyesight is average. Budget around $300-$500 but I'm willing to go higher for quality. I'd prefer to keep my BUIS fixed front, flip up rear in place.

This probably reduces my options from infinite to billions but even general advice or brands would help. Thanks, TFL!
 
I'll go with my tried and true, Vortex Strikefire, and VMX3 magnifier with swing-out mount. With the SOCOM II I belive you already have a rail all the way forward. So you can mount the Strikefire a slot or two ahead of where I can, which will let you fit the VMX3 behind it, and co-witness with your sights.
 
JimDandy: Yes, the SOCOM II has DD quad rails all the way forward, attached is a pic. As you can see, rails are slightly off-center but I didn't think this would matter for mounting primary optics. Won't a Vortex Strikefire and VMX3 mount in the space I have?

shrewd: I order most of my stuff from MidwayUSA and love it :) Have you used that Burris?

Thanks guys for the responses.
 

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^+1 on that guys suggestion.

I have a Burris Fastfire III 3 moa on my revolver and its an awesome little optic, its built with a level of quality that I know they make great optics that I would recommend to others.

From what I gather the reticle is black, and illuminated green or red so it can be used without power or with it. Can reach out to 500 yards, so at 200 it should be very good. 3X magnification, they also make a 5x but that might be a bit more magnification than you need.
 
I've never used it but its been on my midway wish list ever since I bought my stag.

I was an iron sights guy but eventually went with a red dot sight. It's been 2 years and my vortex SPARC still works great and I get hits out to 400 on steel (what a holdover!)

Burris makes good products though. Tell you what, buy it and if you don't like it I'll take it off your hands :)
 
Andy in that pic of your AR-15 it looks like your handguard is misaligned to your upper reciever. The top rails are slightly offset.

Note: I just noticed you mentioned it in your post. :o
 
I have the Burris AR-332 and highly recommend it. Very well made and rugged. Excellent optic for inside 500 yards. I have mine sitting on a LaRue QD mount.

img_5813.jpg

I removed the rails on mine.
 
Tell you what, buy it and if you don't like it I'll take it off your hands

You have yourself a deal, shrewd :) I'm waiting for Midway to re-stock stuff on my wish-list then I'll add the Burris to my order.

looks like your handguard is misaligned to your upper reciever

Teeroux it is misaligned :( I hate that minor fact on an otherwise top-quality rifle. I'd appreciate any tips on adjusting these rails, it seems complicated.
 
They will fit on yours, easily because of the handguard is railed. They fit on my 6920MP-B but not while letting me keep my BUIS mounted, to do that I'll have to change out to a DD Omega handguard, and slide everything forward about an inch, all in all a better choice anyway, as the red dot acts like the front sight. At that point, with everything set right, I'll be looking through my rear sight, through the magnifier, at the red dot on my front sight post holding on the target. In theory anyway, better shots would probably do it better than I. :p
 
Thanks all for the tips and pics. Looks like I'll go with one of those Burris models. They look short, will they clear/co-witness my fixed front sight without a riser? If not, I wouldn't mind a QD...

BTW I fixed the rail alignment. Clamped on a sling mount between the upper and front rail then screwed everything together. Took forever for such a minor adjustment but it was annoying me :)
 
I was looking for glass to put on my 18" AR and went with the Nikon M223 1x-4x in a Burris PEPR mount. Very clear glass. On 1x can shoot with both eyes open.
 
Fastfire III mount?

I'm ordering the Burris 536. If I order a Fastfire III to go with it, do I need the Picatinny mount version?
 
I would say yes

I think it would sit a little bit too low without the mount, and unless burris makes a more suitable one I think you would want the one with picatinny mount. It would make it sit high enough to not be obscured by the knobs on top of the AR-536.

I think its the most versatile mount for the Burris Fastfire III, it can be taken off and put on anything with a rail. You really only need a different mount if you plan to put it on a handgun or something without a rail.

Its something to consider, if you get one you will instantly feel like it has a place on any platform you put it on.
 
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