During my career in the military I was fortunate enough to use a wide variety of optics on the M-4 weapon system. While all of these generally performed well, each was built with a specific purpose and I routinely saw optics being mounted and employed incorrectly, and improper optic use quickly became a personal pet-peeve. Consequently, I’ve put together a list of considerations, tips, and TTPs (tactics, techniques, and procedures) to help you decide what kind of optic to place on your AR, and some things to keep in mind while you are training.
Purpose is paramount when deciding what type of optic to use, and most AR15 optics can be grouped into these two categories:
For the purposes of this article I will give a quick rundown of the background, purpose, and correct employment of each optic, followed by a few tips, training TTPs (tactics, techniques, and procedures), and lessons learned from my experiences with these optics.
Many of us leave our house every day with a pistol securely stowed in a holster and a flashlight tucked in our pocket. We feel safe knowing that we’re proficient with our gun and are prepared for any encounter, even it it happens after dark. How many of us practice shooting while using a flashlight? That question is exactly what I started thinking when I saw an upcoming class for Low Light Pistol Skills 1 & 2 from MDTS training. I believe having the tools to defend yourself is only a small part of the task. Knowing how to use them plays a larger part of a situation.