All posts tagged Hunting Optics

If you want an ACOG, he’s what you should be thinking about

Trijicon TA01NSN for saleThere are plenty of options to think about when you are putting an optic on  your AR15, and i’m going to assume that this is why you are hear reading about this blog.   There are Eotech sights like the 512 which are combat reliable and not very expensive, and if you shop around, you might be able to pick one up for under $400.   The Aimpoint optics are also extremely durable and the Aimpoint Pro are under $400.   Magnification is the biggest thing you really want to think about from the start.  If you think you will be able to cough up the money for an RMR sight in the future, then a TA01NSN might be a nice starting point because you atleast get 2 sights in one.  Iron sights for close up fighting and a 4x fixed optic with bullet calibration.

I know a lot of guys that run the TA01NSN because they don’t like the fiber optic strands that run across the top, those are considered to be high profile and not low profile optics.    I would probable say that the Trijicon TA01NSN for sale is the most verstatile ACOG because you get the 2 sights in one, plus you have the illuminated reticle in low light.   Some people, or should i say many people, prefer the crosshairs of this reticle type over the Chevron or the donut styles.  All reticles have a primary job and some are more versatile than others.  The thin lines of the TA01NSN make it a very precise optic.   The ones we sell all come with a thumb screw mount and if you want to later on, do some research into which type of RMR sights you might want to run on your gun.  The red dot and reticles are very different so  do your research and read reviews on the product.

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Time to change the way you view optics?

Ever since I picked up my crossbow from Horton and it came  with the illuminated red and green reticle, i have changed my mind about the types of optics that I am going to be using.  I had a lot of trouble going from standard duplex reticles to all of those circle, triangles and hash marks that you see on many combat optics.  I’ve learned in the past that it’s best to pick a bullet weight that is flat shooting and then give yourself a better chance at getting a hit rather than knowing all of your bullet drops at various distances and having to bring a range finder with you.   For 556 I tend to stick to 62gr bullets and the 150gr for .308 if I want that flat shooting trajectory.

When i first looked through the Trijicon Accupoint scopes that looked very odd to me.  I had trouble understanding why I need to have a pole reticle but the Trijicon Accupoint rifle scopes have a very clear and pin point aiming system that can actually help many shooters see their target instead of covering it with crosshairs.  There are different reticles you can get and background can make a difference.   There are certain wooded areas where amber or yellow reticles might do better for  your eyes than the green or red, but it’s really all about preference.   There are many Trijicon Optics out there to choose from and their hunting optics are superb.

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Leupold AR optics

Along with defensive ammunition improvements, one of the largest improvements we have seen in the industry is with combat optics. 20yrs ago there were only a handful of optics that could hold up to the abuse that real hunting and shooting gave them. With the advent of military rifles being issue with scope rails, more and more of our soldiers are getting the most out of the M16 and with the re introduction of the designated marksmen, Leupold rifle scopes are even today being used for combat duty. We are seeing M16A4 being used with Leupold 3-9×40 optics just because the troops are familiar with their hunting skills in America and know that Leupold scopes are dependable. For long range and medium range shooting, there are a great many options on the table.

Our favorite things to come from Leupold are with their close quarters. medium range and extended range rifle scopes. These aren’t your fathers hunting scopes, the compact  Leupold rifle scopes aren’t the high profile optics that will force you to adjust your cheek weld and the close quarters CQT won’t have a disappearing reticle if the batteries go out. With the now growing number of .308 AR showing up, Leupold medium range optics with Mil-dot and medium magnifications won’t slow down your designated marksmen. The Leupold AR riflescopes are specifically designed for the AR15 owner that may be doing varmint work in his backyard. While the .223 seems to be over looked by many in the varmint community for the 22-250, with the correct platform, the AR15 can be a DMR or Varmint option.

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Understanding optics and reticles

There is so much back and forth behavior when it comes to accessorizing AR15 guns and and the optics that go on them.  Luckily I was not in the category of people that spent $1000 on optics and then switched to something else later.  I was smart enough and had enough life experience and also a very small amount of money in a bank account so I started off with an AR15A2.   I still believe that after starting a new shooter out on a 22lr rifle preferable a  bolt action, once a shooter can handle a 22lr gun, the AR15A2 is the next best step.

When it comes to not having a  lot of money to spend but you know you want serious equipment, it really comes down to Trijicon, Aimpoint and Eotech.   There are pros and cons of each but none of them will do everything.  Trijicon Rifle Scopes and give you a very wide range of optics for hunting and combat but to this day the Eotech still holds its own for close up fighting and fast shooting.   In close range fighting zero magnification is the best but there are some options like the TA26 which is 1.5x magnification and gives you a light edge over zero mag.   This may mean the difference between identifying a weapon from a cell phone at reasonable close ranges.

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Hottest Seller for the M4 Carbine from Trijicon

Sometimes we get a new product from a company that just flat out blows away the previous production line, but recently we have noticed that our most consistent selling M4 Optic is the Trijicon TA01NSN ACOG.   This is probable the most practical setup without over complicating the system and putting higher mounted parts on the already high sitting combat optic.   The Trijicon TA01NSN has backup iron sights for close up fighting.   For those trained with iron sights, nothing gets you back to the basics and away from glass optics that those metal or composite posts.

One of the best things about the ACOG system is the optics come already mounted.  We have all witness some shooters have a really difficult time with long range shooting because the optics they are deploying are not leveled properly.  The Trijicon TA01NSN like it’s fellow ACOGS can come on a carry handle or it’s only mount.  Nothing to adjust with the optic like you have to with scope rings, these optics are already leveled and once they are sighted in they can be removed and should remained zeroed.

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backup options for combat optics

rifle scopesIt’s always up to the operator to determine which configuration works best for him, but with the reliance on battery operatored optics and high mounted optics, it’s really a good idea for a user to consider the what ifs.   What do you do with your Eotech if the batteries die?   What happens if the optics come loose ?   Scope mounts can come loose and even break,  I’ve seen this happen on M1A rifles, AK, FAL and AR15s on several ocassions.   Sometimes its a good idea to train  yourself to be able to  hit a target without even a rear sight.   There have been several times where I actually forgot to flip up my rear sights on my co-witness configuration and just used the sight picture from my Eotech optic and the front sight post.   I never missed what I was aiming at and it was actually good practice for me.

If you can get a good cheek weld, and you know approx. where your poi is, you should be able to hit a man size target out several hundred yards with just a front sight post.   I’m sure you’ll burn through a few more rounds to hit your target, but it is possible.    Many Trijicon ACOG rifle scopes are being used with red dots mounted on the top or have iron sights mounted on the top of the scope.   The TA01 NSN seems to be the popular configuration I am seeing around.  This will give you fast transition from CQB or long range engagements,   It also gives you more than one targeting system incase one goes down.

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Use and purposes for rifle optics

Rifle ScopesOptics have multiple purposes.  They can be used for Astronomy, Scouting, birdwatching, target shooting, hunting and military purposes.   With the emergency of combat optics for close quarter combat, scopes used on rifles have gotten smaller, more compact and sometimes have zero magnification.   The point is to give you a good sight pictures and a reticle that is easy to follow.

Many combat optics like Trijicon and Eotech are 4X or less.   DMR or Designated Marksmen are using optics made from Trijicon, Zeiss and Leupold that are combat worth but higher magnification since shooting 300-600 meters is becoming the norm in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.  Rifle Scopes are no longer made with the standard crosshair reticles and may even come in range finding or illuminated reticles.

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Top Tier Rifle Optics

Nikon Rifle ScopesAnother thing to think about whenever looking for a good optic is clarity.  Some people seem to think that high magnification is  better for long distances, but it’s not true.   There is something to be said for too high of magnification and even on dark rainy days, you may notice the difference between a cheap scopes ability to see in low light in comparison to higher end scopes.   A good 3-9×40 scope can be better than a cheap 6.5-20×40 in low light.

In my many years of being on the firing line, one of the top tier rifle optics I see at the long distance ranges are Nikon Rifle scopes.  Nikon has had a tried and tested line of optics that can be used for long distance accuracy, clarity and adjustability.  Nikon rifle optics are reliable tools that I have first hand witnessed tack drive whenever the operator was up to it.   Rifle scopes need to be clear and reliable when shooting long distances.   The ability to hold zero becomes obvious when shooting beyond 100yds because those flingers at 100yds will be misses at 600yds if you don’t have a good scope.

 

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Ranch Rifles and Ranch Rifle Optics

Bushnell Rifle ScopesI’ve spent enough time on the internet gun boards to hear all of the squabbling about the Mini 14 Ranch rifles.   The short answer on Mini 14 accuracy is this, they are good for what they were originally intended to be used for, and that was to be used for “a few quick shots”.   The Mini 14 Ranch rifle is highly recommended for those in Coyote Country or for varmint hunting.   They are light and can easily accomodate 30-40mm rifle optics.   While we are aware that the .223 has long range capablilities, I highly recommend something in the 3-9×40 power.   You can the wider objective and some amount of magnification.
Bushnell rifle scopes options can vary from 1.5-4.5×32 to 4.5-30x50mm.   The smaller the objective the darker your view will be, but we also acknowlege that you pay for what you get.   Bushnell optics have been around for a long time and are defanitely rugged enough for most hunting and target shooting purposes.

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Armed with 91yrs of Experience

Nikon RiflescopeChoosing the right riflescope is as important as choosing the right rifle – many experts agree that it can be even more critical to the success of a hunt. The fact that most rifles today no longer come equipped with iron sights is testament alone to the need for a telescopic sight, but it is the quality of the sight that can make the difference between getting your riflescope’s crosshairs on a trophy or going home empty handed.

Armed with 91 years of experience and a clean sheet of paper, our engineers created a flagship Nikon riflescope that shattered the limits of what a riflescope should be. Hunters lined up to get their hands on the new Nikon Monarch scope and experience this pioneering technology.

 

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