Does durability factor into the equation? Quality the glass becomes more important as the magnification increases

 

Durability is a factor, I like the ACOG but it seems like the PA is 70% the optic for 25% the cost

 

End of the world! Aimpoint T2

 

💯

 

If you're talking end of the world, it won't matter which you pick because you'll be dead. Now, Zombie Apocalypse is a different story.

 

Trijicon TA01 NSN

1. Not made in China
2. Rugged
3. 4X
4. Superb glass
5. Easy to read reticle
6. Perfect for my 14.5 inch, 5.56, Colt M4 w/SOCOM barrel
7. Not made in China

 

Iron sights are pretty damned durable

 

agreed!

 

How much are the PA optics? I got a TA31RCO for $600 a few months back. You can find the NSN models for $5-700 if you keep an eye out. Acogs are expensive, but through ten years in the infantry, I, and all of my buddies, beat the ever loving crap out of them and rarely broke one. Spent three years as an instructor watching students smash them into concrete, trucks, rocks, etc. I’ll bet my life on them any day.

 

Where? The PA optics are 250-350 so I’d be willing to shill out the extra few hundred.

 

End of the world:

Aimpoint T2

ACOG

Elcan Specter

PA brands a good optic but is not in the league of 'end of the world'

 

Good Glass
No Batteries
Reliable
Can still use Irons also.

Finestkind

 

+1 on the ACOGs
Aimpoint if you don't mind batteries

 

I went with the aimpoint h2 since I'll never invest in night vision. I'm saving up for a ta33 acog and rmr. I have the battery cap that carries and extra battery as well.

I heard eye box on the pa prisms are kind of rough. Their return policy on optics is awesome though, so I would buy both and send the one you like least back.

 

I heard eye box on the pa prisms are kind of rough. Their return policy on optics is awesome though, so I would buy both and send the one you like least back.

A decent plan. However, it's very easy to have an excellent return policy if the $250-$300 retail price product you sell costs about $36-$46 to produce.

 

Acog t44 with acss reticle

 

EOW? Iron sights!

 

Sent you a pm.

 

Also, re the iron sight fans, I have backup irons on all my rifles. This is a non-issue.

 

Buy once cry once... I hunted down a deal some years ago for my Trijicon Acog Ecos model and won't complain one bit! I actually had 3 Acogs at one point due to loving them that much. Sold off 2 to friends and kept the Ecos model.
To be fair, I do have various setups on my rifles (x2 MRO, Acog, Credo 1-8 LPVO) all have Troy back up iron sights

 

Razor 1-6. Versatile magnification range unlike almost every single other optic mentioned here, quality glass that is clear through the mag range and performs fairly well in low light, and completely usable reticle if you're completely out of batteries (which is why any red dot is out for true end of the world). And its reasonably durable.

Fixed prisms suck for close and fast targets. Dots suck for low percentage or distance shots/observation. Dots also suck for needing batteries, even if one lasts for a while.

 

I have a different rifle set up as my LPVO gun

 

If you aren't averse to batteries, a Sig Romeo 4 XT pro and have the means to figure out your dope with the BDC reticle, then my choice is that and throw a 6x magnifier on a unity mount behind it. Second place is a FFP 1-8x (NX8 or March 1-10x or 1.5-15x) with a T2 or acro mounted up top.

This is really gonna depend on caliber and barrel length, however.

 

I had a TA-31 green chevron reticle. Extremely clear glass, but very short eye relief. Bought a PA slx 3X micro prism and clarity was almost as good and it has an adjustable occular lense which makes a huge difference for someone that is not 21 years old with 20/20 vision as ACOG's are made military spec for young eyes. Sold the ACOG and bought two more PA's for other rifles. Less narrow eye box too. Rarely use the illumination so battery or not, it always works.

 

NF ATACR 1-8. DMx reticle.

Not the greatest glass, but very durable and versatile. The reticle is well done for ranging, sizing, speed drops, and movers at 5-10mph.

 

Meprolight T21

 

Probably my Trijicon TR25 1-6 with green triangle post reticle. Fast, clear glass, dead holds to 300, no batteries (tritium/fiber optic). That or an Aimpoint CompM4s.

 

VCOG, buy once, cry once.

 

1-6 or 1-8? I’ve been looking at both, but nobody local stocks them.

 

ACOG, red Chevron reticle, QD mount, backup irons.

 

Same but green chevron on all ar15s

 

Don’t know if mentioned, the illumination in Acogs is only good for 10-15 years before it dims out.

 

yeah true. thats about all the tritium is good for. That fiber rod still plumbs in a ton of light, though.

 

Another vote for acog if you want fixed magnification. I love mine.