2x optic or red dot for outdoor airsoft?

[bradleyj]

New to airsoft, planning on playing both CQB and outdoor already have a decent quality red dot, should i buy a 2x optic ?

[Tackle]

Hi Bradley, welcome to the forum, the truth is unless you have issues with your sight, the ranges most Airsoft guns reach, a mark1 eyeball is more than ample, so your red dot would be fine, probably no need to splash out on another sight yet.

BUT

I'm not discounting that magnified sights aren't useful, obviously set up properly their a great aid to pinpoint shooting, especially if at your weapons range limits or using a sniper so you want each shot to count.

Or even looking deeper in to cover when looking for the smallest of movements by the enemy, but for now stick with the red dot until you find your Airsoft role that fits you best.

Also, we're a welcoming bunch, if your considering something in particular, discuss it here on the forum or even with players at your local site, someone may loan you something to see how you get on with it.

[Austeyr]

What kind of rifle are you using? It would help to help give a better answer. 
 

Personally I use an Acog/Elcan which only really aids in target acquisition like Tackle mentioned. That being said, using an LPVO with a true x1 is the best of both worlds and you can pick them up for a relatively cheap price!

[bradleyj]

 

21 hours ago, Austeyr said:

What kind of rifle are you using? It would help to help give a better answer. 
 

Personally I use an Acog/Elcan which only really aids in target acquisition like Tackle mentioned. That being said, using an LPVO with a true x1 is the best of both worlds and you can pick them up for a relatively cheap price!

NUPROL DELTA Pioneer Defender AEG Carbine

Edited December 18, 2024 by bradleyj

[Cannonfodder]

Welcome. I'm guessing you've not played yet. If so then I'd stick with just the red dot for the moment and see how you get on with it. As @Tackleposted with the ranges we're dealing with a red dot site will do.

 

 

[Enid_Puceflange]

Hi @bradleyj

Fwiw, I play woodland, but have tried out cqb (it’s just to far to travel to my closest site to be a regular haunt)

I have an unmagnified red dot fitted to all of my rif’s

Ive tried magnified (an Elcan Spectre clone) and whilst the magnification is great for spotting, the eye relief and reduced field of view are a drawback when actually firing.

I used it for one game, and went back to a red dot.

I prefer using both eyes open so as I am able to use peripheral vision whilst lighting up my chosen target. 

[Tackle]

3 hours ago, Enid_Puceflange said:

Hi @bradleyj

Fwiw, I play woodland, but have tried out cqb (it’s just to far to travel to my closest site to be a regular haunt)

I have an unmagnified red dot fitted to all of my rif’s

Ive tried magnified (an Elcan Spectre clone) and whilst the magnification is great for spotting, the eye relief and reduced field of view are a drawback when actually firing.

I used it for one game, and went back to a red dot.

I prefer using both eyes open so as I am able to use peripheral vision whilst lighting up my chosen target. 

I went through a stage of ditching everything & just using iron sights, but I've found myself drifting back to various sights on almost everything,  not because they work better, I just like them to look pretty ?

 

 

Like me?

[Rogerborg]

There's no objectively right answer.  I have great fun running 4x+, 2x, 1x, iron sights, and sights hacked out of pieces of EVA foam. Everything works, and whatever makes you smile the most is the best for you.

[The_Lord_Poncho]

Whilst I swap between iron sights, red dots, and LVPO's (generally set around 2-3x magnification), I do often find myself missing the magnification on the games that i use just the irons or red dot. The woodland sites that I play at are characterised by open woodland, interspersed with very dense foliage. Especially on dank days, being able to have a bit of magnification is a real godsend for me in order to spot hiding players, and sometimes, to follow the BB path and correct if necessary.

[Enid_Puceflange]

6 hours ago, Tackle said:

 I just like them to look pretty ?

 

 

Like me?

 

Yeah, they gotta look pukka too ?

[Cannonfodder]

6 hours ago, Rogerborg said:

There's no objectively right answer. 

This. There's so many things in airsoft where what works for one doesn't for others. Unfortunately the only way to be sure is to try it.

 

What red dot do you have? It might be possible to pair it with a magnifier so you can use the red dot for close range shots and flip the magnifier over for those where it's needed

 

12 hours ago, Tackle said:

Like me?

As they say beauty is in the eye of the beholder 

[MrTea]

For CQB, I stick to 1x optics that I can comfortably run with both eyes open - I've used XPS3, EXPS3 and 552 holo replicas all from different brands in totally different price brackets. When outdoors, I started to attach a 3x magnifier but found it pointless in most situations unless spotting at the longest ranges of the site which, at that point, my AEG couldn't even hit. I have a 4x ACOG + RMR on my L85A2 but even then, the 4x is super overkill and the RMR is used 90% of the time.

As you're new to airsoft you'll be surprised (even outdoors) how well your 1x red dot optic works unless you're in a site that offers long sight lines. IMO the only people who end up (really) needing any stronger optics are spotters or snipers.

[Rogerborg]

16 hours ago, MrTea said:

When outdoors, I started to attach a 3x magnifier but found it pointless in most situations unless spotting at the longest ranges of the site which, at that point, my AEG couldn't even hit.

 

True facts. On an AEG, I find that magnification is really for checking whether I'm actually shooting at a target, or just thrashing bush with my balls.

[ButcherBill]

10 hours ago, Rogerborg said:

True facts. On an AEG, I find that magnification is really for checking whether I'm actually shooting at a target, or just thrashing bush with my balls.

 

[RostokMcSpoons]

10 hours ago, Rogerborg said:

just thrashing bush with my balls.

I think that might count as a Lesser-Spotted Single Entendre

[TheFull9]

Love 4x or more for spotting peoples arm bands through the brush myself, but I don't wear my glasses in games; and you certainly don't require it anyway.  End of the day, if you're at a site and ask anyone with a scope to take a quick gander through it for a sec to see how you like it they're going to say yes.