[The Boy Scout]

If in a zpaw situation will you choose an optic with magnification or no magnification? Which one and why? My choice would be an optic with a small amount of magnification, maybe a 3 power but no more. If it did have more magnification i dont think it would be good for cqb! What do you all think?

[bandits1]

I'm gonna cheat and choose the Specter DR -- switchable 1x-4x magnification:

[Cmpunk]

How about magnification with a laser then in cqb you just need to aim the laser not the sights

[CAVU45]

I wouldn't choose any optic that required batteries. How would you recharge them consistantly?

[Bob]

Very true, things that run on batteries are going to be a liability in the Zpaw
People will be taking their expensive Eotech sights and throwing them in a ditch.


The Elcan-SpecterDR only costs $1,832.00
We should all run out and buy two, on to use and one for backup.

Here is a question for you.
Once batteries are gone and your weapon mount laser is dead, your flashlight has gone dark and your high tech bullet proof electronic sight has has quit would you want back up iron sights such as the ones made by Troy or Larue or the original AR sights as in carry handle mounted rear and tower fronts.

If you choose backups which brand and why.

[CAVU45]

I've never been a huge fan of optics to begin with so I'd forgo them altogether. If I did use them however I'd definately have BUIS mounted on my guns. Here's the set I'm definately going to buy to replace the irons on all my ARs.

http://www.xssights....store/CSAT.html

Hook these up with a tritium front post and you have a set of irons that can't be beat.

For my handguns I'm planning on replacing those sights with either the Heinie Straight 8 or the XS Express.

This post has been edited by CAVU45: 26 April 2010 - 01:05 PM

[Survivor243]

What if the optics get smashed, knocked out of alignment or are not sighted properly?
If I am shooting at something that I'd need a scope for, then I'll either run away or get closer.
But it sure would be nice to have close-ups on direct hits...
I have never used optics...except for a telescope my Dad owns

[bandits1]

Yup, we all know batteries will eventually run out, but I'll deal with that when the time comes. Would you forgo eating Twinkies and canned foods the second z-day hits because you'll eventually run out of those forever, too? Nope, you'd eat them for as long as you can and just make do after they're all gone. The ELCAN website claims a 3000 hour average lifespan for the SpecterDR - that's 125 days - so if you have a half-dozen extra batteries on hand, that gives you about two years of usefulness out of your optic. You'd be lucky to survive as long as your battery supply.

I'm not saying the SpecterDR is a great optic, it's just something that caught my eye as I was browsing. Seems like a handy feature for an optic/scope to be able to switch quickly between 1x and 4x. Anybody have any first-hand experience or hear anything good or bad?

It's clear that plain old iron, tritium, and/or fiber-optic sights are the way to go in the long run in a ZPAW environment, but if I had a battery-operated optic on my gun when z-day hit, that's fine. Like everything else we say we would(or already are) stock up on, batteries to run all your various necessary shit would also be a logical thing, too, no?

This post has been edited by bandits1: 26 April 2010 - 03:50 PM

[CAVU45]

I don't think anyone said to throw one away if you have it. But batteries have a limited shelf life and once those lithium batteries are used up they're worthless, not being able to be recharged. Also, the Spectre has a 600 hour battery life minimum. That's based on ideal conditions. Don't expect them to really last that long.

[bandits1]

CAVU45 said:

I don't think anyone said to throw one away if you have it. But batteries have a limited shelf life and once those lithium batteries are used up they're worthless, not being able to be recharged. Also, the Spectre has a 600 hour battery life minimum. That's based on ideal conditions. Don't expect them to really last that long.

Cool. All we can do is use anything battery-powered for as long as the batteries last, and be prepared and have a non-battery-powered backup: iron sights, solar-powered flashlights, a book of matches, whatever.

We're throwing this thread way off-topic. The OP wants to know if we'd want magnification and how much on our optic/scope or a 1x. If I had to choose one, I'd pick a 1x or maybe a 1.5x at most. If the zombie's sooooo far away that it requires a 5x scope to shoot, chances are you don't really have to shoot him right now.

[CAVU45]

Much depends on the weapon being used. For example, a hunting scope or sniper scope would be worthless on an M4.

[bandits1]

CAVU45 said:

Much depends on the weapon being used. For example, a hunting scope or sniper scope would be worthless on an M4.

Very true. I'm going to assume the OP meant the optic is going on a weapon that a logical person would choose as their primary weapon.

[Redneck]

I plan on goin with plain ol' iron sights.

What about solar powered optics? Thats what I would want if I had a scope. Does anyone make them yet?

[Bob]

Don't lose sight of the fact we are talking about shooting zombies.
Remember, head shots only...

[CAVU45]

bandits1 said:

Very true. I'm going to assume the OP meant the optic is going on a weapon that a logical person would choose as their primary weapon.

Ha! This is a zombie forum. What does logic have to do with anything here?:)

[Dark Gale]

I'd probably go with either 1x or 1.5x, or even something like what Bandit chose where you can change magnification whenever it's needed.

[Cmpunk]

I wouldn't really use a Laser might give you some unwanted attention but if your in CQB and you cant hit a Zombie in the head with a rifle you probably wont live too long any ways

[hotlead]

I'm not really up on optics, the only one I have is 80 years old, sitting on a 75 year old rifle. However, I'd like a very low power scope , say 1.5X-5X, with the reticle in the first focal plane, as opposed to the second focal plane where most commercial scopes have them.

If I remember right, having the reticle in the first focal plane means that any range compensating/estimating marks will be adjusted for the magnification as you increase or decrease the magnification setting.

Adjustments in second focal plane scopes will have to be accounted for by Kentucky windage after magnification adjustments in the field. Or , you can spend lots of time at different ranges and magnifications and come up with a dope book for all the different combinations, and refer to it in the field when making adjustments.

I may have it backwards, but that's how I remember it being explained to me.

[Birdman44]

Iron or hi-vis sights. I love them both, especially the hi-vis sights :shotg:

[The Boy Scout]

I see alot of good posts here! I espeacialy like the point about batterie life! Thats part of the reason why people need to think about the options. Now that i think about it I think a red dot with an adjustable magnification would be best. Though i would deffinately carry a very good set of irons. Maybe the new yankee hill models.