Optics quandary - LPVO or red dot with magnifier

NCLivingBrit

NCLivingBrit

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So I've got a 10" 300 blackout upper for my SBR that I am going to run supers out of (no can and I mostly want the extra bullet weight over 5.56 for PDW uses, because clearly I operate operationally lol).

Currently it has a Holosun 510 and their 4x magnifier on it, but I have a basic Bushnell 1-4 LPVO that I haven't played with much, but is surprisingly clear and well put together.

I stuck the LPVO on there and liked the handling, but would I be shooting myself in the foot somehow over the red dot and magnifier?

Part of me asking is it just felt weird to put a tube scope on a stubby little blaster...
 
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NCLivingBrit said:
So I've got a 10" 300 blackout upper for my SBR that I am going to run supers out of (no can and I mostly want the extra bullet weight over 5.56 for PDW uses, because clearly I operate operationally lol).

Currently it has a Holosun 510 and their 4x magnifier on it, but I have a basic Bushnell 1-4 LPVO that I haven't played with much, but is surprisingly clear and well put together.

I stuck the LPVO on there and liked the handling, but would I be shooting myself in the foot somehow over the red dot and magnifier?

Part of me asking is it just felt weird to put a tube scope on a stubby little blaster...
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LVPOs rule unless you are only using it at simple (1x) dot range.

IMNSHO
 
NCLivingBrit said:
So I've got a 10" 300 blackout upper for my SBR that I am going to run supers out of (no can and I mostly want the extra bullet weight over 5.56 for PDW uses, because clearly I operate operationally lol).

Currently it has a Holosun 510 and their 4x magnifier on it, but I have a basic Bushnell 1-4 LPVO that I haven't played with much, but is surprisingly clear and well put together.

I stuck the LPVO on there and liked the handling, but would I be shooting myself in the foot somehow over the red dot and magnifier?

Part of me asking is it just felt weird to put a tube scope on a stubby little blaster...
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Wait - so you of all people are asking whether a firearm accessory looks "weird"?
 
barf said:
LPVO with offset red dot. Always.
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So, why an offset red dot if the scope has 1x? Speed of acquisition at short range?

I actually have a Holosun 407 on a 45 degree mount in the bits box iirc, might have to try that. I had it paired with the 5x PA prism but it got swapped out for a PA 1-6 LPVO that I really need to shoot to see if I grok it lol
 
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Supermatch said:
If you feel the need for a magnified optic on a pistol/SBR, an LPVO looks no less weird than a dot/magnifier combo. Run whatever you like.
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My eyesight needs magnification to find my floor, never mind a target lol
 
NCLivingBrit said:
So, why an offset red dot if the scope has 1x? Speed of acquisition at short range?

I actually have a Holosun 407 on a 45 degree mount in the bits box iirc, might have to try that. I had it paired with the 5x PA prism but it got swapped out for a PA 1-6 LPVO that I really need to shoot to see if I grok it lol
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So you don’t have to manipulate the zoom for quick up close shots. Depends on your use for the rifle.
 
barf said:
So you don’t have to manipulate the zoom for quick up close shots. Depends on your use for the rifle.
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Figured as much. And it's definitely quicker if the targets rush me. Damn paper plates do love a banzai charge
 
Frack N Cylons said:
I like both and use both in competition.

My eotech plus magnifier starts to fall apart once holdovers come into play. About 300 yards for 5.56.

150-300 I feel like they are equalish.

Up close the eotech wins, but just so.

If I could only have one, I'd pick the LPVO.
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If I shoot this thing over 300 yards God help me lol. I mostly want it for piddling about, eventual suppression and because I'm hopelessly addicted to gun Legos.
 
NCLivingBrit said:
If I shoot this thing over 300 yards God help me lol. I mostly want it for piddling about, eventual suppression and because I'm hopelessly addicted to gun Legos.
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You've said you have poor eyesight. A magnifier would clean that up but you'd be stuck at 3x or 4x. The LPVO should clean it up at all magnifications, including 1x.
 
Personally I like lpvo's the most. I've tried a few magnifiers and never really liked them. If your going to have the weight and bulk of the added magnifier you might as well just run an lpvo.

If your ok with no magnification then running a red dot by itself can be really light and handy.

I also think a fixed magnified prism with a canted dot is a decent setup. Also way better then a magnifier imo.

At the end of the day it's really personal preference. Just gotta try a few setups and figure out what's best for you.
 
C-doodle said:
Personally I like lpvo's the most. I've tried a few magnifiers and never really liked them. If your going to have the weight and bulk of the added magnifier you might as well just run an lpvo.

If your ok with no magnification then running a red dot by itself can be really light and handy.

I also think a fixed magnified prism with a canted dot is a decent setup. Also way better then a magnifier imo.

At the end of the day it's really personal preference. Just gotta try a few setups and figure out what's best for you.
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But that means I have to get off my arse and shoot.
 
NKD said:
Unfortunately, you may find things you like about all of them for different applications.

Or fortunately, depending on how much money you have.
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I actually have more optics than stuff to put the on right now, I kept finding good deals in the BST and didn't notice I'd run out of hosts lol. Figure it's just banked against the next build.
 
I always thought a dot + magnifier would be the coolest thing until I tried it. Tried it a few times and a few different ways. Every time I came to the same conclusion. The eye box/relief on magnifiers sucks and the combo weights as much as better setups.

I sold my magnifiers and run a dot by itself on guns I consider to be short range.

The only thing I still like about magnifiers is I think they are kind of nice for zeroing. My eyes aren't great either and having a magnifier to get dialed in is nice.
 
C-doodle said:
I always thought a dot + magnifier would be the coolest thing until I tried it. Tried it a few times and a few different ways. Every time I came to the same conclusion. The eye box/relief on magnifiers sucks and the combo weights as much as better setups.

I sold my magnifiers and run a dot by itself on guns I consider to be short range.

The only thing I still like about magnifiers is I think they are kind of nice for zeroing. My eyes aren't great either and having a magnifier to get dialed in is nice.
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I had similar experiences but kept the one I had because it does one thing the LPVO can't: it can be removed when I want without having to rezero.

But yeah other than that the LPVO feels much slicker.
 
NKD said:
With a little work, perform very well at red dot distances, too!

A Razor on 1X is better than a lot of dots I have used.
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Oh I agree. The only time I don’t want an LVPO is for guns used only at ranges where a simple dot suffices (including for target id).
 
Not a fan of LPVOs, given the use case of a short 300blk, the red dot and magnifier just makes more sense to me 🤷‍♂️.

But it's really a matter of personal preference. I've taken my 300blk (8.3" barrel) out to 400 with supers pretty easily. Pic for attention and because I love this darn thing.

20231026_201350.jpg
 
I have a LPVO on my 11.5in and I am thinking about going the red dot and magnifier route. I tend to use my sbr for less than 300m so I find the red to be quicker personally.

For my 16in I love the LPVO and actually I am thinking of doing a MPVO with a red dot on top. Best recommendation would be to try out both and see what you like.

20230422_100745.jpg
 
I have a 10" and 8". The 10" has a 1.5x ACOG. The 8 has a Holosun with the PA BDC reticle and occasionally a magnifier. I don't think I'd want a LPVO on a gun I want to keep compact but that's just me.
 
RR said:
I have a 10" and 8". The 10" has a 1.5x ACOG. The 8 has a Holosun with the PA BDC reticle and occasionally a magnifier. I don't think I'd want a LPVO on a gun I want to keep compact but that's just me.
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The LPVO doesn't add any noticeable bulk over the red dot and magnifier, it's only an inch or two longer all told.
 
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RR said:
😂 I should have added I hate the magnifier on mine too and often take it off.
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And that seems to be the main plus for a dot and magnifier.

After farting around seeing how fast I could draw a bead with the lpvo I'm going with that. I usually end up one eyeing red dots anyway since both eyes open tends to not resolve properly with my buggered eyes.
 
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InertOrd13 said:
I have a LPVO on my 11.5in and I am thinking about going the red dot and magnifier route. I tend to use my sbr for less than 300m so I find the red to be quicker personally.

For my 16in I love the LPVO and actually I am thinking of doing a MPVO with a red dot on top. Best recommendation would be to try out both and see what you like.

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This. I agree 100% with all you said. Especially the part about ‘going out and trying both’. There are so many things I’ve bought, from big $1000+ optics to $40 hand stops, that seemed great around the house but when I actually got time with them, they weren’t a good fit for their purpose.
 
I dealt with this quandary myself. Tried LPVOs and dot/mags. I was set to purchase a baby ACOG until I realized they didn't have diopters and the reticle was fuzzy to me.

I ended up trying the PA GLx 2x prism in a Bobro high mount. Love it. Eye relief is insanely good and it's just the right amount of magnification for my purposes. - I'm a little hesitant to have a PA optic on one of my primary rifles, but it does the job better than anything else I've tried.
 
IrishCannon said:
I dealt with this quandary myself. Tried LPVOs and dot/mags. I was set to purchase a baby ACOG until I realized they didn't have diopters and the reticle was fuzzy to me.

I ended up trying the PA GLx 2x prism in a Bobro high mount. Love it. Eye relief is insanely good and it's just the right amount of magnification for my purposes. - I'm a little hesitant to have a PA optic on one of my primary rifles, but it does the job better than anything else I've tried.
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I've got one of those with the 9mm reticle on my 16" 9mm, haven't gotten to shoot it yet.
 
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