Hello all. Getting ready to purchase an AK. I'm going to put an optic on it and I was wondering which one you think is the best for under two hundred dollars. Durability in the field is a must. Weather proof.

Kobra

uhhhhhhhhhhh

And just where can you get a Kobra for under $200? The ones Kalinka have are $279.99/$259.99

Thanks so far, anybody else?

I got a Vortex Strikefire from Liberty Optics for $129 shipped. Got very high marks from those on AR15.com too.

Don't know if these are still for that price (I think they are), but they're a very good deal. Includes either the tall rings or short rings. I couldn't tell you which you would need but I got the tall ones for my AR rifle.



http://www.libertyoptics.com/index1.html is his page.

hth
Paul

Ooops...sorry about that. I have two that I bought used from fellow forum members in perfect condition. I think one was $150 and the other was worked into a trade at about $180 value. I'm a firm believer in letting someone else take the hit and settling for a perfect used part instead of buying new. You can find about anything you want if you comb all the gun boards classifieds. Something like a Kobra is just as good for the second owner. Those things can take a lot of abuse.

Thanks cobra, that's good advice. I do have my eye on a couple of pre owned Eo-Tech's. Might be able to get a decent deal on those. Although probably a little more than two hundred. Now if I could just make up my mind between converting it myself or going with Red Jacket!!!

Oh yea, Kobra's are awesome but I wish they were >$200 straight from the factory! I plan on getting one of those eventually.

There are some Bushnell Holo sights going for under $200 over on AR15 Equipment Exchange. A guy was selling them for $99, i don't know if he has any left. Look under Optics Budget.

will the vortex strikefire work inline with an aimpoint magnifier? ie: is it around the same size as the clonepoints and comp m2s?

Hey Jailbait keep your questions to your own topic!!!!! Just kidding of course.

I've been looking into the Strikefire for my new 9mm AR. But I keep reading about an annoying reflection in the glass. I'm not sure I could deal with that. Vortex is supposed to be working on the problem, but I'm not sure how far along they are with that. By the way, it comes with a 2X "doubler". Which would be plenty enough for my 9mm.

What is a 2x doubler?

It's a magnifier that threads into the rear of the sight, to give you 2x magnification.

Thanks to everyone so far. What kind of 100 yard groups are you guys getting using these optics? Thanks.

I got my Vortex Strikefire in the mail last week (took a month to get it). It looks solidly built and the dot is plenty bright.

When I finally mounted it on my GSG and took it outside, I found that it has the worst optics I have ever seen - the reflection is so bad it is kind of hard to discern the target from the reflection. This is a dangerous optic to use. They must cut costs by not coating the lenses.

I've been checking their barfcom "Industry Forum", but they haven't really updated with any new info on a fix. But they have said that anyone with a problem sight would be offered an exchange if/when a fix is made.

I use a Burris Fastfire, $170. I just used it at a 3gun Sunday and smoked the 100 yard course of 5" round plates, 4"x8" rectangular plates and 2 foot high poppers. Some were first round hits. Set one of the fastest times.

IMHO, this is the best red dot for under $200. Its hard to believe, but this sucker has been on my 870 through about 1500 rounds of full power buck and slugs and has not even lost zero. The guy who recommended it to me uses his even harder. Another friend of mine uses one on his 44 mag. A lot of the paint is off of it and it still works good. The optics are honestly just as clear as the aimpoints and the dot is probably better IMO. Even if its not as rugged or cool looking as an aimpoint, its got a warranty and only costs $60. Check out the reviews on it.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/...&t=11082005

After reading your post, and digging online for more reviews, I just put an order in at Midway for one of these.

I didn't find any bad reviews on it. I'm gonna throw it on my 9mm AR when it arrives. I'm thinking the 3MOA dot will be more than sufficient for the distance I will be shooting at, being that it's 9mm.

Thanks for all the replies. That millet does look tempting, it does look a little narrow though. How does it preform in low light and is it easy to use with both eyes open? Thanks.

SuperA,

The Millet is made to use with both eyes open or one eye as you see fit - no magnification. Because of the thin diameter of the tube, it kind of disappears from view like a ghost ring. It is very low profile and light due to the small 1" tube, but at the cost of less FOV than bigger red dots. Millet does make a 30mm tube version with greater FOV, but I have not tried it. Even with the reduced FOV, you still get on target twice as fast as iron sights. This is perfect for someone looking for a small unobtrusive optic.

Reduced light performance is not on par with high dollar red-dots, but better than the other under $200 offerings I have seen. The shotgun slug-hunting and magnum pistol crowds love this model Millet and have used it through years of abuse. I have dropped mine and hit it on obstacles during shoots and it still functions like the day I bought it. I bought a 2nd one and put it on my .22 target pistol and love it. They are supposed to be waterproof and fog-proof too.

Don't get me wrong, I have aimpoints, PKAS red/black dots, and ACOGS and they are better built. But that little Millet is worth far more than the price. You can find hundreds of reviews from dissatisfied Aimpoint and Eotec owners, but everyone likes these. Still, if I invested in a $1,500 gun that my life depends on - I would go Aimpoint.

PS: The dot selector dial seems hard to move (stiff) when you first get the optic. But after some use, it loosens up nicely.

Thanks Desert dog, I think I'll give it a shot. Hell at that price it's hard not to. If I end up wanting something else for my rifle I'll just save up for it and put that one on my shotgun, or maybe my next rifle!

That's what I was thinking when I ordered it. If I don't like it, it's going on my .22.

Mine should be here in the next few days, I'll post some pics.

I'd snap up one of those Bushnell's. Eotech makes them. I have one and a regular Eotech 551 and love'm both.

I got my Millet SP-1 in the mail yesterday. It looks good. The dot isn't as defined as my Eotech's "donut of death", but it's more than sufficient for my purposes. Plus, I haven't really played with the brightness settings yet, to see how clear I can get it. The glass is crystal clear though.

I'll mount it later today, and see how I like it.

(It comes with Weaver rings. Am I remembering right, that Weaver rings will mount on a picatinny rail? I hope so )

22 Shooter, would you mind posting pics of it mounted on your rifle? Thanks.

Well the rings lock up nice and tight. The only problem is that they're WAY too low to mount the sight directly to a flat top AR. With the straight-line stock design of all AR's, you have to mash your cheek into the stock, to even see the dot .

So it looks like I'll be ordering some rings for it soon.

But I did manage to get the dot nice and crisp, by messing with the brightness levels.

superA, I'll get some pics soon and post 'em up.

Sorry it took so long, my memory card went missing.

Here's the pics:







The last picture came out blurry, so it makes the dot look fuzzy. But it's nothing like that, once you play with the brightness, it's very crisp and actually a dot, not a blob.

Thanks for the pics. I like that, looks nice and compact. I guess you are having no problems with it pushed up that far on your rifle? Thanks.

No problem.

Like I said in my post before last, I'll need to get some rings that bring it up about 1" or so. Because an AR stock doesn't drop down like most rifle stocks. So the rings that it comes with are too low. I put the sight where it is now, because I can see the dot a little better with it sitting so low. Once I get the rings I need, I'll probably move it back some.

Once I actually get to use it, I'll post back with a report.

Thanks man. That looks great, I think that made my decision for me. Until I can save up enough for an Aimpoint that is.

i was curious.. on iron sites you have range adjustment.. via the rear site.. do you ahev any multiple settings on red dot style sites..

Yes. There is windage and elevation adjustments for red dot sights. I actually find it easier to sight in with red dots, than iron sights.

I've had good luck with the Bushnell Holosight. Shot 5" standing groups with wolf today at 100 meters. 3" at 50 meters. I have a railway C-MORE on my Siaga 12 and i'd highly recommend those also. You can get them used for under 200, and new they might be over, not sure. They are bullet proof sights - have them on 4 different platforms now and 1000s of rounds through each without a blip. Nice optic.