Small, lightweight optic

[LR1955]

As chance would have it, when I first began seriously thinking about buying an AR about three weeks ago, I looked at the SPARC and the Lucid HD7.

The SPARC is a neat, compact package, nice and light. Came with a screw-on 2X magnifier. Didn't get to check the reticle, though, because the battery was dead. When the clerk tried to install a new battery, he was unable to get the cap screwed back on, despite numerous attempts. That immediately ruled it out as an option for me (unless I wanted to depend upon someone else to install/change batteries).

The HD7 was about twice as big and twice as heavy as the SPARC, but kinda neat looking. Very cool reticles, IMO, although for some reason unknown to me I could only switch through three of the four; never found the crosshairs. I dunno if I was doing something wrong (which is highly likely), or if there was a malfunction in the sight. I think I'll have to pass on it, too, as I found the battery cap impossible to remove by hand, even without it being mounted on a rifle. The clerk said it's really best to use a pair of pliers to remove the cap, which I'm sure would chew up the cap in short order.

That's when I decided to look for a conventional, non-battery powered optic. An ACOG, especially a compact model, may be closest to meeting my desires, but sooooo expensive...

Stan:

Sure that SPARK thing isn't made in the same CHICOM sweat shop as the Burris. Both look identical and apparently both have the same problems. Your decision was a good one.

I caution you about getting a very low power optic of any sort. You will find optics that are less than four power to be more bothersome than of value. They magnify enough so as to distract your attention and basically screw up how your eyes are supposed to function. Yet they don't magnify enough to give any sort of advantage.

ACOGs are a grossly overpriced optic, worth far less than half of what Trijicon charges.

Not sure what you want this thing for but if you are blasting at things that are ten minutes or less, get a very good dot sight such as an Aimpoint. As you can see already, go cheap with electronic sights and you get what you stated.

One more thing if you continue to try and find a electronic sight. Test it outdoors and look at something with a bright sun shining towards you. The Aimpoints that are issued are good enough that you can still see the dot. The Burris and other cheapo dot sights won't hold up to bright sun or extremes of weather and use.

I take the word of LRP-52 on the Vortex optics which guys have written about on the optics threads before.

LR1955