I Find Halo Sights Useful... Just Not for Me

I guess I need to learn to keep my thoughts to myself on forums. I'm apparently far too simple and old school for these people. What the hell would they do if they found out I bore sighted my .308 the old school way (looking through the barrel from the back with the bolt removed) instead of sighting it in with a laser?! I had an audience the day I actually did it, so I can only imagine! LOL!

Someone posted up on a forum about optics for AR15 rifles. Which is all well and good. But what most people want for an AR15 isn't something to make it easier to see the target at the distances those rifles are accurate out to (and being a local forum, I know there isn't any place to go to shoot them at those distances, either). They want a fancy halo sight like an Eotech or an ACOG, whatever they were recently told the Navy SEALs or the Marine Snipers are using by some asshole in a gun shop who just wants to ass rape them for $700 or more of their money. There is nothing wrong with an Eotech or ACOG sight... if you are a Navy SEAL (a sniper probably wants more than 1X magnification, so if you believe Marine Snipers are using them, then I have a bridge to sell you). They're also great if you are shooting matches with your AR15 or using them as a home defense weapon system. But for throwing lead down range? Waste of money.

Sights like the Eotech and the ACOG are great for "quick acquisition of targets." Meaning... if you are currently in a combat situation, it is extremely helpful to be able to acquire the enemy in your sights quickly before he sprays your ass down with his Kalashnikov. A standard scope isn't "quick acquisition" and not really suited for close quarters combat. These halo sights are also useful in matches like three gun, where time wins the game and targets are fairly close. And in home defense, same thing. You don't have time to try to get your scope in place and you don't need to see into the bad guy's pores to defend yourself, therefore having a low magnification quick acquisition scope is best.

Me? I went the less expensive route. I don't want to drop $700 on a scope for a rifle I just want to have fun at the range with. I'm not going to Afghanistan any time soon, nor have I chosen this rifle as my home defense weapon (that's what Shotgun Bob is for), and I've sort of stepped back from the shooting match scene. I have my .308 with a fancy scope that I'd like to master for matches someday, but I need a lot of work and learning before I even consider it. My .308 isn't really a fun gun in those standards. My AR15... fun gun.

Iron sights. They're quick acquisition and came with the gun. I'm good.

Yes, yes, my eye sight isn't what it used to be. And that's a common explanation from someone trying to justify to themselves why they are buying this really expensive piece of equipment. But a 1X magnifier isn't going to do the job in that case, and to get it up 4 or 5 X magnification is double the price for a second piece to shove behind it to do this for you. For half the price I can slap a Zeiss Conquest up there, see ten times as far, and have glass that will outlive me and possibly the rifle! Added benefit is the weight I'm adding to my gun is also cut in half.

But for a rifle I don't have access to a range longer than 100 yards for and I have no plans for other than enjoying? Do I really need to spend this money? No.

I shoot just fine with irons. I admit, I have a problem seeing the target these days and have to bring it in a little closer now. But... see two paragraphs above.

Now, I posted on the thread - like an idiot - that I chose not to put a scope on my AR15 and instead rely on the iron sights. And no, I don't have fancy Magpul flip up shits on it either. I have the standard sights that came with the rifle. Yes, the back one flips down. It's really handy for storing the gun away or shoving it in the case with another rifle. But I chose not to use a scope on it. Yeah, sure I considered a scope for it... for about five seconds. But we do just fine together with the iron sights. I've been asked twice to become a rifle instructor and have been invited to several rifle matches. So I think I'm doing alright.

Either way, this brought on the internet equivalent of roaring laughter. Apparently it is a waste of money to have the rifle if you are going to use iron sights only! What was I thinking?! Into the corn field with actual marksmanship! I need to quickly zero in on a paper bowling pin 50 yards away or the terrorists win!

But I don't have a use for a halo sight. I don't have the desire to spend a lot of ammo and time getting it zeroed in. And I don't have any batteries to replace when they die in the middle of a shoot. Sure, people are usually astounded to see my Stag is without an optic, because apparently this is a rare scene these days. I've had countless people watch me shoot - with naked eyes and spotting scopes - to see if I was actually hitting anything without one. And they've all made positive comments when they realized I'm grouping center mass at 100 yards.

Like the saying goes... if it ain't broke, don't fix it.