SHTF, Red dot or traditional scope on your carbine?

[Zet70]

Just looking for your thoughts on the subject.

Thanks guys.

[PirateSteve]

I personally like the red dot. Since you never know WHERE the shtf, a dot can take care of close up situations and still be suitable for longer range stuff.

If you want to get super fancy, you can always add a magnifier to a dot. You can't bring a 3x9 scope down to 1x no matter what you do to it (without breaking it, anyway).

Now, if I lived in wide open spaces where visibility is measured in miles, I may go with a scope, but here in the suburbs with houses and trees and hills all over, a dot is my choice for bad times.

[Punisher]

Trijicon Acog with 4x magnification and the red chevron reticle.... IMHO the best of both worlds........There's a reason the army gives them to the SDM

[Sharpshooter9x19]

+1 On the red dot. SHTF=run & gun more than precision shooting IMHO.

[CPratt]

Personally, I love the EOtech. I shoot clay birds at 200yards on my AR.
(The clay birds are laying on the backstop, Not flying through the air)

I've had other red dots and thats what I would suggest. What if you need to fire at close distances. Red Dot=Great, Traditional scope not so good.

On the other hand if you have to engage a threat at a few hundred yards a traditional scope may suit you better..

[DaveM55]

If the SHTF I hope to avoid a firefight.

But to be prepared, I think a red dot would be best for me.

If I need a scope that means the threat is not very close and hopefully I can evade detection.

[LittleRedToyota]

red dot with iron backups. (may not be able to get batteries for red dot in SHTF...and, if it breaks, prolly won't be able to replace/repair it).

i don't see SHTF engagements typically being beyond 100 yards, so i don't see a need for a scope. further, scopes can slow down target acquisition at close ranges...which, imho, is likely to cause problems in SHTF.

[ReconLdr]

Trijicon Acog with 4x magnification and the red chevron reticle.... IMHO the best of both worlds........There's a reason the army gives them to the SDM

^^^ What he said^^^

Simple, accurate and doesn't require batteries. Not cheap though. From my limited experience with these optics they are very robust as well.

[avizpls]

"not cheap" doesnt begin to describe ACOGs.

Another option for consideration is iron sights. I had an inexpensive red dot that turned out to be a pile of shit. As I look for replacments I cant find anything worth while for less than $400. To me, with my other hobbies, that is way to much to put on top of a rifle for SHTF that will probably never happen. I keep hoping for zombies, but nothing. Too much money imho. Saving money got me nothing, only a failure the 2nd time out with the gun.

I have to wonder if nothing (iron sights) are better than many options.

FWIW it was a baraska or whatever open-design red dot.

[NightRocker]

Eotech / Red dot, you can't beat the quick acquisition for close quarter combat. But you have to pratice. Magnification is good if you are keeping your distance. SHTF I'm shooting it out. I ain't running, you'll just die tired!