I have both and have timed myself using "up drills" a 10yds. My times are equal on both of them. Out further, I am faster with my 1-6 due to the magnification.
I don't disagree per se, but, for me, the platform determines the choice. BDC is great if you're not doing PRS for tiny groups; I run FFP/fixed BDC scopes all over the place and use a ballistics calculator to figure out my drop map ahead of time. For me, speed and ranging is more important than pinpoint precision.Same, but add in a better reticle, and easier ranging and drop compensation, and it's not even close, the variable is better past 100 yards, and the lead grows the further out you go. I do like my Eotechs and RDS, but figure the large FOV, simplicity, clarity and light weight are kinda ruined once a magnifier is added. Low power magnifiers are a lot of money/bulk to maybe stretch a RDS out to 300 yards, even then, I can still hit 12" plates that far without the magnifier, as the image is a bit brighter without the extra lenses in the way. Shooting a 1-X close takes a little getting used to, but there isn't a huge difference with some of the faster reticles, especially with daylight bright illumination.
I don't disagree per se, but, for me, the platform determines the choice. BDC is great if you're not doing PRS for tiny groups; I run FFP/fixed BDC scopes all over the place and use a ballistics calculator to figure out my drop map ahead of time. For me, speed and ranging is more important than pinpoint precision.
But there are a lot of platforms - < 10.5" SBRs, pistol cals, and big bores coming to mind - where BDC does not map well, and getting much beyond 200yds is more like mortar fire than direct-fire. For stuff like that, I'd rather be able to mostly stay in reflex mode and be super-fast with the option of using that magnifier for the less-common longer shot. 3x is plenty of magnification for the realistic distances on those platforms.
LPVO for that one.Some good points from everyone. This would be geared more to a 16"-18" (5.56/7.62) general purpose rifle.
Same, but add in a better reticle, and easier ranging and drop compensation, and it's not even close, the variable is better past 100 yards, and the lead grows the further out you go. I do like my Eotechs and RDS, but figure the large FOV, simplicity, clarity and light weight are kinda ruined once a magnifier is added. Low power magnifiers are a lot of money/bulk to maybe stretch a RDS out to 300 yards, even then, I can still hit 12" plates that far without the magnifier, as the image is a bit brighter without the extra lenses in the way. Shooting a 1-X close takes a little getting used to, but there isn't a huge difference with some of the faster reticles, especially with daylight bright illumination.
I don't disagree per se, but, for me, the platform determines the choice. BDC is great if you're not doing PRS for tiny groups; I run FFP/fixed BDC scopes all over the place and use a ballistics calculator to figure out my drop map ahead of time. For me, speed and ranging is more important than pinpoint precision.
But there are a lot of platforms - < 10.5" SBRs, pistol cals, and big bores coming to mind - where BDC does not map well, and getting much beyond 200yds is more like mortar fire than direct-fire. For stuff like that, I'd rather be able to mostly stay in reflex mode and be super-fast with the option of using that magnifier for the less-common longer shot. 3x is plenty of magnification for the realistic distances on those platforms. That's not a common way of looking at magnifier usage (most people want to use their expensive magnifier all the time), but it's the model that seems to make the most sense.
I like low power variable optics better than red dots with magnifiers. I think red dots with magnifiers are a tad awkward, but they are usable. I think eotechs and other holosights work better with magnifiers than red dots.
Again, preference often depends on purpose.
If you're just shooting from a bench at a static target and you have all the in the world, yeah, you can get a lot of mileage out of a good set of irons out to ~200m. But... if you're under time pressure and/or your target is moving, they're not even remotely as good as a reflex sight. I won't even get into the level of training and practice required to use irons effectively vs a reflex sight. This is the same semi-misguided reason a lot of people hate on BDC scopes; their metric for a good reticle is how well it does shooting tiny groups from a bench with no (or a very forgiving) timer. If your metric is "hit somewhere on a large-ish target fast", BDCs are the way to go (provided you figure out your dope, which you'd have to do on a mil-mil anyways).