Sights & Optics

Optics divide by how far you intend to shoot and how fast. A red dot has no magnification and no eye-relief problem — both eyes open, put the dot on the target, done. That is the right answer for a defensive carbine, a pistol, or anything used at speed inside 100 yards.

Magnified glass earns its place further out. A low-power variable gives you 1x for close work and 6–10x when you need to identify and place a shot; a fixed higher-power scope is for a rifle that lives on a bipod. Thermal and night vision are their own category and their own budget, and they are worth handling in person first.

The mount is not an accessory. A $600 optic on a $30 mount is a $30 optic, because it will not hold zero. Match the mount to the height and rail you actually have, and torque it to spec.