Optics

Let’s be honest. Gun owners got the only Christmas present they really needed on November 9 when Hillary Clinton gave her concession speech. Donald Trump’s victory likely saves us from another two years of ammo shortages and, more importantly, another four years of “assault weapon” ban threats. Still, AR-15s have been on my mind ever since the primaries. I started purchasing AR parts when the first election polls showed Trump losing by double-digits, and I went into full prepper mode in the days before the election.

We recently had the opportunity to attend an event where we received hands-on training from no less than Springfield Armory’s Rob Leatham. Set up as part of a writer’s event for the introduction of the Springfield Saint rifle, we had the chance to have Leatham give us all a quick introduction to the ins and outs of optics-equipped pistols.

So, how do you get a good grasp of the world of optics? Well, we have you covered right here at GunsAmerica.com. By reading this exhaustively researched and detailed 12-part series on optics, you will get the info you need to not only make an informed purchase.

When it comes down to it, not many of us have an unlimited budget when it comes to survival gear. So, while we might want the latest 10k night vision optic, most of us are on a tighter budget. But, thanks to Midsouth Shooters Supply, we have the $499.97 Photon XT.

Purchase the product reviewed in this piece by clicking this link: To enter the Midsouth Shooters’ GunsAmerica Giveaway contest, click this link: https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/landingpages/gunsamericagiveaway.aspx There are few things on this earth as satisfying as successfully completing a project with your own two hands.  Little gunsmithing projects invoke some of the same feelings and one of the [...]

There are some common rules of thumb about matching rifle and scope quality, but the 1:1 ratio is close enough. Hey, it’s even OK to drop down to 50% of the rifle price if you need to. The point is this: don’t buy a nice rifle and stick a cheap gun show scope on it.

So why would you want or need a very high magnification scope? There are two related reasons. You might need to see and hit a reasonably-sized target at very long range, or you might need to be able to see and hit a much smaller target at shorter ranges.

With the right instruction and practice, these bad boys could be a great addition to any concealed carry or home defense handgun.

Matching the seemingly infinite number of AR rifles on the market is a multitude of suitable optics. Red dots, holographic sights, fixed-power scopes and variable-power scopes fill the shelves, so how do you choose? Let’s take a look at some factors to consider, then we’ll discuss some pros and cons of some of the common categories of AR-15 optics.