I have 3 ARs (including my wife's carbine), and 4 optics.
On MY carbine (16" medium contour stainless Rainier Arms barrel), I have a
Aimpoint T2 Micro, on a BOBRO mount, zeroed for 25 meters, AND I have a
4x32 BAC ACOG (TA31F Reticle), also on a BOBRO mount, zeroed to 100 yards. The BOBRO mounts are quick detachable, and lock down securely enough to allow switching back and forth between optics without any loss of zero, as long as they go back on the exact same spot on the rail.
On my DMR (18" stainless heavy contour Odin Works match barrel), I have a
1-6.5x Bushnell Elite Tactical SMRS (Mil/Mil turrets with illuminated BTR-1 bullet drop compensating reticle), on an American Defense AD-RECON 30 quick detachable mount.
On my wife's M4, I have an unmagnified EOTech 517 (same as a 512, but the buttons are on the side instead of the back), and I have an available 3X magnifier for it.
So that is a pretty wide gamut of optics for AR platform rifles. I am blessed enough that I don't need to reduce my choices to just one. But if I
did have to make that kind of decision, I would choose either the ACOG or the Bushnell. Here's why:
The ACOG has a bullet drop compensating reticle, calibrated out to 600 yards, absolutely AMAZINGLY bright glass, and uses what's called the Bindon Aiming Concept.....that's the "BAC" in the model type. Because it is a fixed power optic, you would think that it would be useless at shorter ranges, but that isn't how it works. It is designed to be shot with both eyes open. Your brain will automatically merges the near and far image as your eyes track the targets.....is the only way I know how to explain it. Here's a video demonstration:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpGSKKgWWks
The Bushnell is a
true 1X when zoomed out, and the reticle then appears more like an aiming dot, and can be shot both eyes open, behaving more like an Aimpoint. And 6.5X magnification will get you out far enough to hit at any distance you've got any business shooting a 5.56/.223 at. When zoomed up, the Reticle is a red donut, open at the bottom, with a bullet drop compensating ladder good for 600 yards. It is a First Focal Plane scope, so the reticle works at all magnifications for bullet drop.
The ACOG is much smaller and lighter than the Bushnell, so it has the slight edge. But if you don't think you'll ever shoot anything past 100 yards, I like the Aimpoint Micro better than the other two.
A lot of info, but hope it helps.
