Types of sites for ARs

For close quarters a holographic sight like an eotech is unbeatable in my opinion. For a more do it all configuration most people are going to recommend a low powered variable optic like a vortex razor. I prefer an eotech with a magnifier though.

I personally don't get the point of a magnifier unless you're just forced to have one gun for home defense that you also need to shoot at distance. They're heavy and do nothing for a home defense setup.

I prefer the Eotech but you have lots of good choices. The biggest weakness of a typical reflex sight doesn't apply indoors, so that's a good choice especially if you're trying to keep the weight down.

www.ar15.com is my favorite site for AR's.

:)

Holographic sights on the .300BLK shorty. It is unbeatable for quick acquisition in a CQB/PDW role. Put doughnut of death on target. Deliver. It's also pricey, so it might not be an option, but goddamn is it a nice piece of equipment. The one drawback to them, at least on the EOTechs is that they're designed for soldiers on the go and they're power pigs. There is no shake to wake feature on them so they don't constantly drain as a soldier moves around with his rifle all day. They're pushbutton on with a timed shutoff so all the soldier has to do if shite gets real is hit that button and they're in the fight. As far as I know, EOTech and Vortex make the only holographic sights on the market.

A close second for that kind of weapon is a red dot. Their battery lives are measured in the tens of thousands of hours, so they almost all come with shake to wake ability, but their acquisition speed isn't the same as a holographic sight. They're close, though. The shake to wake feature may put these slightly above a holographic sight if you consider that there's one less thing to do at 3 am if someone kicks in your door. Either the RDS or the holographic is going to reliably let you hit minute-of-man accuracy out to 100-200 yards if you do your part correctly. That reticle on the holographics, though... (does the French chef finger kiss thing)

I would 100% skip any sort of flip up magnifier. I have one and have used it once. I find them heavy, all that weight is up high and they unbalance the rifle when they're flipped out of the way, and I think they present no real benefit paired with the types of sights they're sold to work with. Those magnifiers are marketing bullshite to convince you that the red dot or holographic can let you hit targets 3-400 yards out just as well as a scope can, but that's 100% not what those types of optics were designed from the ground up to do. Magnifiers make the weapon system perform worse on the whole while making it perform mediocre at best in the additional role.

Instead, if you want magnification for an all around SHTF weapon, I'd go with a 1-6x Low Power Variable Optic on a rifle or carbine length 5.56. You can adjust the magnification so it's still useful close in (but not as useful as an RDS or holographic on a shorty) but can still get you out to 3-400 yards when you dial the magnification in, MUCH farther than a holographic or RDS will reliably get you. Plus, a modern scope is likely going to have a bullet drop compensator reticle (versus your grandpa's crosshairs) that are going to let you deal with windage and range estimation MUCH better than a ring and a dot can.

So, those are my free thoughts and they're worth every penny. I run a .300BLK shorty with an EOTech as my "shite gets squirrelly at 3am" weapon and have a 5.56 carbine with a LPVO in case the zombie apocalypse comes. Two very different calibers, two very different optics systems, and two very different roles.

I like prism sights and LVPO's. Full disclosure, I have an astigmatism and MOST red dots give me fits under at least some conditions. I can see an aimpoint fine out in the sun, cloudy, shady or indoors I see 5 dots. I can see trijicon fine in any condition, they are just pricy but VERY good.

The Swamp Fox arrowhead is an amazing LVPO for the price, street use to be under $400, I imagine it is probably a little more due to covid. It easily is as clear as optics 2-3X the price.

BTW, you're giving mixed indications on what you want it to do.

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If someone breaks in Im grabbing my 300BO because it’s way more maneuverable with an 8” barrel than my other rifles.

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would like to be able to reach out further or more accurately than with my iron sites

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Technically I guess any good optic can make you more accurate, but the best solution for home defense isn't going to be the best solution for reaching out further. If you'll decide what your priority is you'll get a better solution.

Sig Romeo 5. Just over $100. Shake awake and good optics. Love it on my 300BO

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Sig Romeo 5. Just over $100. Shake awake and good optics.

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This. I'm not sure why someone would spend more on a red dot

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I wouldn’t spend more unless I was looking to shoot further out for hunting purposes hogs, but our hog hole is deep in the woods. 25 yard shot max.

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I ended up going with the MSR and out to 100 that thing is money

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Sig Romeo 5

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Alternatively the holosun HS403B, pretty much the same sight as the sig romeo 5

for home defense your longest shot may be 300 ft-ish? i'd go with a micro red dot and a good flashlight