In the world of America’s most popular rifle, the AR15, one debate is whether to top the gun with an RDS (red dot sight) or an LPVO (low power variable optic). Each has its strengths and its weaknesses.
How to choose? Use common sense: tailor the tool to the task.
Is your AR strictly for home defense? The red dot sight wins. It’s functionally parallax free, meaning the dot comes to the eye quicker than the reticle of a telescopic sight.
Is it also going to be used for coyote hunting, or deer hunting with an appropriate load? Greater distance favors the telescopic sight: the LPVO dialed down to 1X or 1.5X magnification at home, but cranked up to 4X or so when long shots are anticipated.
The LPVO and its mount will be heavier, and more dependent on a repeatable cheeking of the stock, which may be more difficult with most collapsible stocks. On the other hand, it won’t be battery-dependent like the RDS.
The individual shooter’s eyesight must also be taken into consideration. When I had cataracts, electronic dot sights were out of the question for me. Where you might have seen the bright, clear, distinct dot my own eyes could detect only a sometimes misshapen red fuzzball. After cataract surgery – which gave me the best vision of my whole life – I could use RDS again.
When in doubt, do some research and analyze the arguments for and against each. A couple of hours on YouTube will expose you to many different elements of the RDS v. LPVO debate.
And speaking of research, let me ask you to comment here: what thoughts and experiences can YOU share with us?