When it comes to gear and gadgets for duty applications, many of us are drawn to the coolest, most expensive items. That's true of weapons and it's true of weapon accessories such as optics. But what's more important is to find the right optics to fit your mission. Options include red dot sights, variable focal length short scopes often used on shotguns, and of course true precision scopes meant for use on a precision rifle.
Rifle Optics
While Trijicon is best known in the tactical community for its tritium weapons sights and A.C.O.G. sight, don't overlook the Accupoint scope for your precision rifle. The 5-20X50 gives the user a dual illuminated (tritium and fiber optic) Mil-Dot reticle so you have a clear precise sight picture in any light condition. If you want a scope that will allow you to operate in day or night conditions, this is an excellent option.
At engagement distances from a few yards out to 50 yards, you cannot beat a red dot. When you are at contact distance to 10 yards, simply put the target in the tube of the sight and you will get a hit. By the way, this technique was developed by I.P.S.C. shooters, and their performance was the driving force behind the military adopting Aimpoint red dot sights.
Nikon's Monarch X has a dual illuminated Mil-Dot reticle that is sharp and clear. Much of this crispness of the crosshairs can be attributed to the reticle being etched to the glass.
Bushnell's scopes have been popular with hunters and sports shooters for many years. The scopes developed by Bushnell for law enforcement carry on the company's all-weather tradition. The lenses are coated with Rainguard and are waterproof.
What sets Truglo apart from others is the fine crosshairs in the Infinity Series of scopes. This allows for very precise shot placement at long ranges. The lenses are multi-coated to provide maximum brightness, clarity, and contrast even in the poorest of light conditions. Resettable windage and elevation drums are engraved for precise adjustment. These scopes are waterproof, fog-proof, and nitrogen gas-filled.
You can instantly tell the difference between a variety of makes of precision scopes by looking at their reticles. Each manufacturer has its own proprietary style of crosshairs. For example, Burris' features the Ballistic Plex, which gives you ballistic compensation (bullet drop) simply by using the lower leg's hash marks.
Leupold Mk IV CQT is a variable power scope that has a reticle with a lighted circle dot. When mated with an accurate rifle, this setup will easily hit a target as small as a clay pigeon at 200 yards. The scope body has Picatinny rails on it so you can mount IR designators or laser designators should your mission require it.
Vortex features Dead Hold BDC. This system is also a method of ballistic compensation. The dots are some of the smallest on the market and allow for very precise shot placement at long range. An included standard height 30mm ring puts the scope's bore center at 0.8 inches above the base height. This is commonly used for mounting with most rifles, shotguns, and handguns.
Millett Sights' Designated Marksman Scope uses a lighted circle dot, which Millett refers to as a "Donut Dot" reticle centered in a "T." The Donut can be used to accurately range out to 500 yards, yet when set at one power, this scope works like a true red dot for CQB use.