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...
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...