A couple of AR questions.

[GreenScoutII]

For your carbine, I would honestly skip the scope and go for the Aimpoint. Since you mentioned it as a SHTF gun, most of your engagements probably won't be outside of 200 yards (if they are, in most cases I'd say there is a better alternative to engaging at that distance) in which case an Aimpoint will do you just fine. Unless you are building a precision rifle, most ARs in my experience with shoot around 2MOA (2" groups at 100 yards), and an Aimpoint will do you just fine. It will also be much easier to use on moving targets, and person sized targets since the magnification (if any) isn't that strong and the width of view is much wider than a scope. Also in my experience the Aimpoints are much more strongly built (can take more abuse- I've see instructors take their Aimpoint of their rifle, throw it 100 yards down range, pick it up and replace it on their rifle and ping a man sized plate at 200 yards...I wouldn't dream of doing that with a scope.) and also can offer night vision capabilities. If you end up going with an Aimpoint, I would certainly get BUIS, just in case.

Overall, since I kinda rambled, I'd go for Aimpoint over scope, especially on a carbine style rifle. If you want a precision rifle, then build one accordingly (nice trigger, free floated barrel, good sniper style stock) and then put your scope on it.

Thank you Batteriesnare. I was thinking along the same lines.
I have a "tactical" shotgun for close in shooting, a Hella-tackdriver 30-06 for distance work, and I think this little AR is a perfect intermediary weapon in a SHTF scenario. God willing, it never comes to that..

I'll look at Aimpoints and Eotech's and get a feel for them. I think I'll end up going that direction.

Ironically, what caused the AR bug to bite me was when my brother in law bought a Bushmaster carbine. He is a hunter, but not a true "gun nut" if you understand what I mean. Anyway, he is one of those lucky guys with a fairly large toy budget. He bought the rifle and a nice Leopold 3-9 scope. He picked up some cheap, tall rings at Wally-world and mounted it up. He couldn't get it zeroed and so he left with me to see if I could get it shooting. I bore sighted it and five rounds later I had it shooting. Of course, I played with it a little bit. The trigger left a lot to be desired and proper cheek pressure on the stock was impossible, but, I found I could drill holes in clay pigeons at 100 yards all day long. So, after that, I had to have one of my own. Now I do! (not a Bushy though)

Thanks you guys, for all of your good advice! I appreciate you all taking the time to help me sort my way through this.

[OgenRwot]

Well...for SHTF go EOTech or AimPoint. I prefer the EOTech, a quick google search will show you this is the same as Glock vs XD, 9mm vs .45 etc. PERSONAL PREFERENCE IS KEY! However, if you throw a scope on there you will not see the front sight post. Any mount will put the center of your scope just above the FSP and therefore it won't be in your sight picture. You don't need to get all crazy with a huge riser.

[MichiganMilitia]

Well...for SHTF go EOTech or AimPoint. I prefer the EOTech, a quick google search will show you this is the same as Glock vs XD, 9mm vs .45 etc. PERSONAL PREFERENCE IS KEY!

So true... it's all about personal preference. I have a Bushnell HOLOsight (licensed by EOTech) and it gives me a 1MOA dot with a 65MOA ring, just like a standard EOTech, but it is much cheaper and lighter. I love it and I will be buying another one in about 2 weeks for a new 5.56 upper that I'm getting.

[Ridge]

For closer range shooting, I have an EOTech. I just prefer the reticle to the Aimpoint.
For longer out stuff, I have a Leupold 3-9x scope in a LaRue Tactical mount. Can remove and install it as many times as you want, and its guaranteed to hold zero.

[Hannu]

Aiming dot in Aimpoint or Eotech is never really precise. I need to use corrective glasses to be able to shoot those or other red dot sights effectively.
Luckily, scopes usually have diopter correction. In good quality scope, aiming dot is very precise which makes aiming easier.

To make it even more difficult, below a photo from the king of the hill in sights for shooting 3-300 yards
I am little sad, as capturing illuminated reticle on "film" is too much to me Also the black ring around FOV is almost unnoticeable in real life, it looks much better in reality. Dot is 7 moa with low magnification and 1,2 moa with high. Works perfectly in close range work. But, it is also easy to drop 8" plates at 300 yards as aiming dot is little less than 4" in diameter and you have 6x magnification.

Target in the photo is ~10 yards away.

Yes, you get couple of both Aimpoints and Eotech:s for the same price. But if you have only one rifle, what are you gonna do with more than one sight

[Bailey Guns]

To make it even more difficult, below a photo from the king of the hill in sights for shooting 3-300 yards

So, are you gonna tell us what it is??? Please...

[Hannu]

Sorry here is a link :
http://www.authorizedoptics.com/swar...inated-cd.html
But not with that horrible CD-I or #4 reticle. Reticle in the photo is LD-I which is the only one I prefer = thin enough lines so you won't notice them at all in fast close range work, but you can use lines for long range or lead.
However, it is little cheaper than I thought.

[GreenScoutII]

Hannau,

Wow! That is cool as heck! Unfortunately, with a $2200.00 price tag, its more than a little beyond my price range. I get the whole concept of "you get what you pay for", but that just might cause my wife to divorce me!

[Hannu]

I can show my own Z6i to you. You can then decide if you want to sell your car or something else just to get one as soon as possible, as some people in Europe have done

[Bailey Guns]

Yikes! I think I'll stick to an EoTech or a CQT.