Looking for a general duty red dot

[JdePietro]

I've had an Aimpoint ML2 and a Trijicon ACOG as far as dot type optics are concerned. The ML2 was probably my favorite due to its use on a WASR-10 I really love the Dot style on a carbine short use rifle. The Trijicon was far and above the best scope I have ever had but I sold and put a Trijicon TRS on my M1A and for a while and that became my favorite scope but it put me in a 3 gun class that I just could not compete in. As far as the ACOG goes it was a great scope but on 16" DPMS AR it was just too much and I like a 1x dot for short rifles. I had always felt that if I was going to do something that I might as well do it right. Drank the cool aid, paid my bills and got what I thought was the best money could buy. Much of this was vindicated as my best bud at the time would venture to the range and compete with me on a daily basis. He tried a BSA red dot, a Sightmark hollow graphic site, a Bushnell Dot Sight and I think he had a True Glow a time or to. All worked for a range day or two before loosing a zero or breaking in one manner of another on his Frankin AR. He finally ended up getting a Eotech and has since had a great optic for his gun. 

Life goes, he moved a distance away and I bought and sold as things go. I recently acquired a Vortex StrikeFire dot sight. If I did have some left over Christmas money and gift cards I wouldn't have bothered but seeing as the Ammo situation is what it is I figured that if I didn't like it I could always take it back...

No way buster! What a genius little scope! The controls are on the left hand side and kinda mimic the Eotech style except for the on button which is directly on the side. Once you get a good feel for where it is you can turn it on with just a lite tap of the optic. The buttons are all very tactile and the dot is bright enough to be seen in any sunlight or snow condition. The glass is clear, it holds zero on the M1A so I imagine the AR scene would be fine and the battery life is outstanding.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oQg1p1UPFY

^ kinda a tool bag but a good review of the features...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDp-EvgnC94

^ Not so much a tool and he gets mean on it.

http://www.vortexoptics.com/category/strikefire_red_dots

If you don't plan on diving to 150 Meters or jumping out of a plane, or dropping your rifle from a 3 story building and you just want an affordable option. I would give this a good hard look. I think the Aimpoint is more stout but I like the controls on the Vortex a lot more.

Good luck!