Sights

Kel-Tec Sub 2000 Optic Mount head-to-head review between MCARBO and Midwest Industries

I had every intention of doing a killer head-to-head video between the Kel-Tec Sub 2000 folding optic mounts offerings from MCARBO and Midwest Industries. Then I realized that MCARBO president, Chris Nelson, already did that. In the video, the guys from MCARBO simultaneously demonstrate deploying their Sub 2000s from a backpack and presenting their rifles with each optic mount solution.

Honestly, how do I follow that up? As a disclaimer, I own a Kel-Tec Sub 2000 (Gen 2) in .40 cal and it has tons of MCARBO upgrades installed. Just because I’m an MCARBO fan doesn’t mean that I’m not open to a better solution for a known problem like having an optic on this weapon platform, so I initially took it with a grain of salt when I watched the video above. I figured the best thing for me to do was to get my hands on my own optic mounts from each company and try them out personally to see if the results were the same.

Before I get into my own experiences with these mounts, lets compare the manufacturer specifications for each product.

MCARBO Kel-Tec SUB 2000 Optic Mount

Rapid Deployment Feature
3 x Faster to Deploy your Red Dot than any other SUB 2000 Optic Mount Solution
Quickly Deploys in One Click Motion…Just Like your SUB-2000!
Picatinny Rail Top Plate to Mount Any Optic on your SUB-2000 Optic Mount!
Absolute Co-Witness
Voted Best Optic Mount Solution for the KEL-TEC SUB-2000!
Used by the KEL-TEC Shooting Team!
Holds Repeatable Accurate Zero…. Round after Round!
Rapidly Deploy your Red Dot Optic after Unfolding your SUB-2000
Functions on the Gen 2 Only – Right Handed Version for Now. (Lefty Coming Soon!)
Patent Pending!
Protected by the M*CARBO 100% Lifetime Guarantee
Made in the USA!
Fast Same Day Shipping!
CNC Machined 6061 Aircraft Grade Aluminum Optic Mount Assembly
Black Hard Coat Anodized Durable Premium Finish
Price: $149.95

Midwest Industries Gen2 SUB 2000 Mini Picatinny Rail Optic Mount

Small Piece of rail section allows the mounting of red dots like Bushnell TRS25
Made for mini red dots with out removable T1/T2 bases
Patent pending pivot design allows the gun to be folded as designed for compact storage
Constructed from 6061 aluminum hard coat anodized for a lifetime of service.
Includes all mounting hardware
Weight – 2.7 ounces
100% made in the U.S.A. with MI Lifetime Warranty
Price: $99.95

Let’s get the obvious out of the way. The price for the MCARBO offering is $50 more, so is it worth it? Yes, and here is why.

If you didn’t already gather from the video above, the Midwest Industries mount works but there are several extra steps (motions) involved with deploying it. The MCARBO mount literally requires one extra movement to push the mount into place, and a simple push of a button to move it out of the way. The action is smooth and incredibly easy. The Midwest Industries mount requires the pulling and twisting of the mount to get it out of the way so you can unfold the Sub-2000, then another pull and twist to put the optic in place for acquiring your target.

Next, let’s talk about the product quality. The Midwest Industries mount, as referenced by Chris Nelson in his video, does have some significant wiggle to it. While this weapon platform is not the exactly the most precise option out there, when you’re firing and your optic is moving around (even slightly) it isn’t going to help you.

Both mounts are made from anodized 6061 aluminum but there is a clear gap in quality betwen them. The MCARBO mount is tight and crisp in terms of functionality and quality while also being more visually pleasing. Weight is virtually identical between the two products, so that is not a factor.

At the end of the day, I’m all about paying a little extra for something that functions how I want it to. The MCARBO optic mount is exponentially more efficient to use, easy to assemble, and functional in terms of storing and deploying the optic. The contest between these two products yields a clear winner: MCARBO.

Which style of sights do you want on your EDC handgun?

Pistol sights are an interesting topic, they come in all shapes, sizes, and preferentially vary between individual needs or desires. Of course, there are a large selection of brands to choose from as well but that’s not really what I care about, if they work as intended then who really cares? What’s your gun being used for? If you answer isn’t something that revolves around combat then this is the wrong article for you because I don’t know anything about competitive shooting or hunting game. So, from that bit of context I want to discuss the benefits and drawbacks from the different sight systems available for an everyday carry (EDC) handgun.

Alright, basic iron sight plain “3-dot” sights are the most common configuration; let’s exclude the old school G.I. style unmarked sight because they suck and are way outdated. The 3-dot sights are great for what they are, and that is cheap and just effective enough for proper combat based application. The 3-dot sights are often luminescent and are not entirely invisible in low light, but they suck unless you have the godliest of natural points of aim. If you are serious about firearms proficiency (like view it as a lifestyle rather than a profession or other) then upgrade those basic 3-dot sights if that’s all your gat came with.

The next level for my own personal scale are fiber optic sights. Not too expensive compared to some of the other options and insanely effective for daytime shooting. Fiber optic sights glow from large amounts of ambient light and are picked up by the human eye easily when acquiring sight picture. One of the most effective combinations, in my opinion, is to have a blacked out rear sight with a fiber optic front sight so the lack of clutter enables a quick line up (with practice and training obviously). The major con to fiber optic sights is that they are damn near pitch black in the dark, for this reason I tend to run a weapon mounted light source on guns with fiber optic sights.

Tritium sights are the next best thing, I honestly think I prefer them above all else. Yes, they do make fiber optic/tritium combination based sights and they are badass but I’m not going to split hairs here. Tritium sights glow in the dark plain and simple, they often have luminescent white circles painted around them too. Let me tell you that being able to see your sights without giving away your position using an external light source is a beautiful thing when applicable; granted it doesn’t matter as much in close quarters given that the threat is mostly likely is tracking your position. Anyway, glow in the dark sights are rad and have an obvious benefit — albeit a bit less pronounced during the daytime — over fiber optics. Cons are that they don’t have the edge in daylight or well-lit conditions but they shine in a night fight (pun intended).

The other big one is running a small “red-dot” or holographic sight on your pistol. I’m just going to say I view this as an advanced option and that the individual better be proficient at using basic iron sights first, electronics fail and some optics struggle in adverse conditions. Most pistol mounted optics are setup in conjunction to a “backup” set of iron sights. Optics are great because of their speed and simplicity but still require training and practice. They often feature a simple reticle that when placed on the target represents a projected point of impact (in layman’s terms). These often run on batteries but there are a few fiber optic options available, they usually suck due to extremely dim reticles though. Cons are that they are bulkier than standard sights and have depletable power sources; also depending on lighting conditions, if not setup correctly for brightness they can “washout” making the reticle difficult to acquire visually.

There are other sights out there such as ghost rings etc. — but use what works for you. This who article hasn’t been entirely scientific but I hope it gives those of you who need it enough guidance to go do some research and get what best suits your lifestyle. Above all else, you need to train to be proficient and no matter what you invest in for your firearm, it’s not going to make you a better shooter but routine practice will. The person who takes their bare bones gun to the range weekly or even monthly is far more dangerous than a person with a $2000 Glock that shoots twice a year. Warriors don’t rely on equipment to succeed, they rely on a hard heart and a sharp mind paired with the endless pursuit of perfecting their craft.

Featured image: CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan – A Marine with Force Reconnaissance Company, 3rd Recon. Battalion, sights in an M45A1 close-quarters battle pistol during training June 3 at Range 15 near Camp Hansen. The Marines applied the fundamentals of marksmanship they learned in recruit training, including proper sight alignment and sight picture. 3rd Recon Bn. is a part of 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Mark W. Stroud/Released)

*Originally published on SOFREP and written by Kurt T.

How To Choose A Rifle Scope: The only guide you’ll need to read

Finding the right scope is like running through a maze, you don’t know WHERE you’re going. Couple that with the countless landmines of confusing technical jargon, specs, acronyms — and you might be in the maze for LIFE.

Not good.

That’s why I wrote this article — to help serve as a guide through the scope maze. In fact: This will be the LAST guide you’ll ever have to read to find the right scope…for YOU.

Let’s dig in!

Magnification

This is the part 99% of people screw up on. They either buy TOO much magnification or too little — ESPECIALLY when buying the best AR-15 rifle scope. Rest assured — you won’t make that mistake after reading this. So, let’s first start off by defining magnification.

Magnification is how much closer you can see the target than a naked eye.

For example, if the magnification is 2X that means you can see TWO TIMES closer than the naked eye. Easy enough?

So…

How Do You Find Magnification?

It’s usually the first number (or range of numbers) on a scope. For example: if a scope says 3×32… then the first number (‘3’) is the magnification. However, if it says 2-7×32… then the first range of numbers (2-7) is the magnification. In other words: you can choose a magnification between 2-7X. Because of this, there are actually two scope types:

Fixed power scope
Variable power scope.

Fixed power scope means there’s only 1 magnification (Ex: 3X), while variable allows you to choose from a range of magnifications (Ex: 2-7X).

Easy, right? But…which should you choose?

Fixed Power vs Variable Power

That depends on your use. If you require more than one magnification, then go for the variable. However, fixed power scopes are faster, higher quality, and cost less. So, keep that in mind when you’re choosing your scope. Don’t worry about making a decision now — we’ll touch on that in just a bit. But for now, let’s answer the lingering question that we left unanswered:

**How Much Magnification Do You Need?**

This is HIGHLY dependent on your rifle usage. If you use your rifle primarily for small game or homestead defense (>100 yards), then go for a magnification between 1 – 4x. Pro Tip: Go for a fixed power scope. It’ll make your short-range encounters faster.

However, if you use your rifle primarily for hunting large game in forests or mountains (>200 yards), then go for a magnification between 5 – 8x. Or, if you’re a sniper that hunts in fields or deserts (200+ yards), then go for a magnification between 9 – 12x. Simple enough, right? Now that you have your magnification, the next thing to find is the right…

Objective Lens

The objective lens is the lens at the end of the scope. The size of the objective lens is usually found at the END of the numbers (or after the x). For example: 3x32 means it has a 32mm objective lens. What about if it’s a variable scope? Same thing.

For example: 2-7x35 means it has a 35mm objective lens.

Understood? Cool. So…

WHY Is Objective Lens Important?

In layman’s terms: The more objective lens you have, the clearer and brighter your scope will look. However, it does come at a costly price. Larger objective lenses mean smaller scope rings, a heavier scope, and it may even give away your position due to the reflection of sunlight off the lens. So be careful.

With that said…

How Much Objective Lens Do You Need?

If you hunt in close range (>100 yards) with low recoil, go for 28mm & under.

If you hunt in medium to long range (150+ yards) with medium recoil, go for 30-44mm. (Also great for low-light hunters.)

And finally, if you’re solely a long range shooter, then go for 50mm & up objective lens.

With your magnification and objective lens in hand, now it’s time to talk…

Rifle Scope Lens Coatings

This is usually the second feature advertised. It may come packaged in fancy names, however ALL rifle coats fall under one of these criteria:

Coated: They cover at least one surface of the scope in one layer. The budget man’s package.
Fully-Coated: They cover ALL external glass surfaces in a single layer. The standard package.
Multicoated: They cover at least one surface in several layers. The upgraded package.
Fully Multicoated: They pamper ALL your scope’s external glass surfaces in several layers. The luxury package.

Which Rifle Coat Should You Choose?

Most scopes today are fully multi-coated. In fact: Over 90% of the scopes I’ve reviewed on my site so far are fully multi-coated. And if it’s not fully multi-coated, don’t sweat it — coats don’t make up for poor glass quality. However, something you DO have to sweat is…

Scope Reticles

The reticle is the crosshair (or the aiming point) you see. This will either make shooting easier or harder.

Here’s the best reticle to choose based on your use:

Duplex

If you’re a hunter or target shooter, go for a Duplex. It’s the simplest and fastest reticle to use.

Mildot

If what you’re shooting is a life and death situation (like the Military), go for a Mildot. It helps estimate target’s distance.

BDC

This is for the long-range shooter. Sure, it takes longer to use, however it helps adjust for bullet drop. Insanely useful for long distance shots.

But which to choose? If you hypothetically put a gun to my head (please don’t) and said: “Choose a reticle or die!” I’d honestly go for the Duplex. It’s easy, fast, and it plain up WORKS. But don’t take my word for it. Instead, test all these reticles and see which one you like best. The best reticle is the one YOU prefer.

With that said, it’s time to talk…

Focal Planes

This is the most common scope question I get asked: “Should I choose the First Focal Plane or Second Focal Plane?”

Here’s the straight up answer: go for second focal plane. Here’s why: For most general situations, the second focal plane works better. It’s cheaper and doesn’t obscure your view while the first focal plane does. That said, should you ever go with first focal plane? In only one condition: If you’re a long-range shooter (10X+ magnification).

The reason? It’s more accurate as the reticle size adjusts as you move up in magnification. Yet for most general situations, go for a second focal plane. It won’t disappoint. Once you’ve got your focal plane selected, it’s now time to discuss adjustment systems…

Minute of Angle (MOA) vs Milradian (MRAD)

To be completely honest, this part doesn’t matter much, but I’ll cover it anyway. So, which adjustment system is better: MOA vs MRAD? The straight up answer? Neither.

In fact, they operate interchangeably like miles per hour and kilometers per hour. Just choose an adjustment system your hunting buddies use. If you don’t know what your buddies use, just opt-in for MOA. It’s easier and more popular. Simple.

Let’s move onto…

Parallax

Parallax is bad. It happens when your scope’s reticle kind of bobs around with your head movement. Not good. If left unchecked, it can lead to bluriness, fuzziness, and missed shots. You want as LITTLE of parallax as possible for maximum accuracy.

The good news? There’s a way to…

Kill Parallax

This is dependent on the scope (and cheekweld). Scopes usually correct parallax in one of three ways:

Factory-Set. Parallax adjustment is built-in the scope by the manufacturer. This will be advertised.
Adjustable Objective (AO). This corrects parallax through a ring on the objective lens.
Third Turret. Move this knob to correct the parallax.

With that said, which option is best? They all do their job. Obviously the factory-set will be the easiest, but don’t worry about it too much. Only look at parallax adjustment as a tiebreaker between scopes. Speaking of tiebreakers, there’s one core feature that breaks all ties…

Windage and Elevation Turrets

This is by FAR the most important part. Actually, if these knobs (turrets) don’t work, you WON’T be able to zero your scope properly. In other words: You won’t be able to shoot JACK–So it matters. Here’s what you’ve got to know about windage and elevation:

First, make sure the turrets produce a loud “click” sound when they adjust. That way you know when you’ve adjusted. This is usually mentioned in the reviews.

Second, make sure the turrets are reliable. Don’t listen to the advertisers. Instead, read what people say about the turrets’ reliability.

Once you’ve done that, you’ll have found reliable windage and elevation turrets. Now, it’s time for the last important feature…

Eye Relief

Do this part wrong and you’ll look like Mad Eye Moody from Harry Potter. Do you want to look like him? I hope not. (If you do, you’ve got bigger problems than scopes).

Here’s how to save your eye (and comfort) from pain with proper eye relief. Let’s start off by defining eye relief: Eye relief is the distance between your eye and the lens you look through (ocular lens). If your weapon is higher recoil, you’ll need more eye relief. And vice versa for lower recoil.

In short: Aim for at least 3.5 – 4 inches of solid eye relief. Simple enough. With that, you now know EXACTLY what makes a good scope. But the million dollar question remains…

How Much Should You Spend On A Scope?

Here’s the ugly truth: It depends. You can be spending anywhere from $50 up to $1,000+. There’s really no ‘optimal’ amount to spend on a scope. Why? It’s HIGHLY dependent on your rifle, caliber, and usage. But you now know what makes the very best scope. The next part is easy:

Find The Scope That Calls Out To You

Yes, it’s true… you’re going to have to do a BIT of Googling before finding the right scope for you. That’s part of the process. Alternatively, if you’re having trouble finding the right scope for your rifle, visit my site: Scopes Field.

I’ve actually reviewed (and hand-tested) scopes for almost EVERY major rifle and calibers (like the Mini 14). So if you’re having problems finding a good rifle scope, then feel free to stop by for some tips.

And there you go! You’re now fully armed with EVERYTHING you need to know about choosing a rifle scope. Now go out there and buy yourself a great scope!

Feature image: U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alexis B. Betances

Author Bio:

Richard Douglas is a scopes expert with over 10 years of hands-on experience and has been featured on Burris Optics, War History Online and more. No wonder his friends call him the “James Bond of Scopes.” Richard now spends most of his time reviewing scopes and sharing his exclusive findings on his blog, Scopes Field.

Photo of the Day | Vortex UH-1 Holographic Optic

Photo of the Day – Scanning the woods of an undisclosed location in Virginia while in the middle of pre-deployment workups.

Everybody says EOTech is far superior to any optic out there. “Operators use EOTech so it must be the best” and so on and so forth. The fact of the matter is, EOTech isn’t that great. You probably are comparing me to one batshit crazy ex-girlfriend you had and that’s cool and all, but in all honesty? EOTech makes mediocre optics for the price. Plain and simple. EOTech is only “the best” because they were the first. The pictures you see of “operators” are old, and they are from when EOTech was the only company making holographs. Vortex, on the other hand, exposed EOTech’s flaws – Vortex made EOTech irrelevant with one optic release. Crazy, right? I know. That Vortex optic is named after one of the most badass helo’s ever made – the workhorse aka the UH-1 “Huey”.

Rainy Range Day with SightMark LoPro & UltraShot

Rainy Range Day with Sightmark LoPro Mini & Ultra Shot Reflex Sight

LoPro Combo Flashlight (Visible and IR) and Green Laser

This Columbus Day I celebrated in true American fashion, a Zulu Foxtrot T-Shirt, Kryptek Valhalla pants and several hundred rounds slung at the, ever terrifying, Paper Menace. For the day’s festivities, I was privileged to Test & Evaluate two optics from Sightmark. The first optic I fielded was the Sightmark LoPro Mini Combo Flashlight.

I was pretty excited when I got this guy out of the box. Reminiscent of an LA-5 (military version) only in a more compact and lighter package. The stealth jet fighter exterior heightened my interest in this sexy little package. I quickly mounted it to the front of my Seekins Precision 300 BLK OUT and was extremely pleased to see that at my preferred laser positioning, top mounted, my Sig Sauer Romeo 3 reflex sight easily cleared the LoPro.

One of the unique and highly desirable qualities I found in the design of the LoPro was that they placed a button switch for the laser and the light on either side of the body. This means from the top view that you have buttons on the left and right side to manipulate your optic. This lends itself well for alternate shooting positions and off-hand shooting.

Additionally, the LoPro comes with a pressure pad. A pressure pad is used to remove the triggers on your device, so you can manipulate it from somewhere on the gun and not necessarily on your optic. The design of the Sight Mark’s switch pad is unique in my experience. It has a long male end that gives it a lot of connectivity internal to the optic. It also has a very thick and extended base where it connects. This is good because it ensures the longevity of the pad, trust me you don’t want to switch up a pad after you’ve got your gun all dolled up, taped up and just how you want it. Then tear it all apart to switch out your pressure pad, I might have hard feelings about this from a camo wrap job I did at work. The downside is that the pressure pad is very ridged at the base, decreasing the flexibility of the cable and making it harder to place your pad.

An interesting feature of this piece of equipment is the way in which you zero. Instead of having a screw head or hex head adjustment, it has two knobs that are adjusted by hand, this gave me mixed feelings. On one hand, no tools! On the other, it wouldn’t be very difficult to bump your laser and throw your zero off. The tension of the zero adjusters is low, which on a long hike or rigorous adventure has the potential to throw your zero way off.

At the range, I was a little disappointed. On a classic overcast rainy Washington day, it was extremely difficult to make out the laser from any kind of distance. The green laser failing to show up well on any kind of organic or inorganic material I sighted on. This I disliked solely because I view all optics as a fallback, in case your primary fails.

The light failed to show up very well either, yes it was daylight so it is understandable why these features failed to make much of an impression. The design of the light was also interesting. The front of the light twists to adjust the brightness and also to turn on a strobe feature. With this strobe feature, the design of the zero adjustments and the brightness of the laser and light, my conclusion is that is a great home defense or close quarters optic. It has some limited operational spectrum but if you want a laser light combo to clear rooms or take down a home invader I think this is a solid choice for a reasonable price tag of $240.

Ultra Shot M-Spec FMS Reflex Sight

The Ultra Shot M-Spec Reflex Sight was another interesting design by Sightmark. In fact, I discovered something new about some red dot optics. For the majority of my time using any kind of reflex sight, I have used an EOTech. The EoTech uses a laser to shine the reticle onto a plane of glass. An EoTech also has a secondary plane of glass behind the laser to protect it. I had never realized that this was the way holographic optics worked. I had always assumed that the optic was simply a computer image rendered onto a screen. Once I had a close look at the M-Spec I saw the light from the laser and followed it to its source. This also leads to the discovery of the same set up on my Romeo 3 and eventually, how the EoTech’s themselves are designed. What I found unique of the M-Spec in this regard is that it has a retractable hood built into the frame. This gives a shooter the option to cover the laser from inclement weather or just give his optic a badass new look. When you are out in a wet environment this can be a lifesaver. The hood prevents excess moisture for rain falling on the glass. While it won’t keep all of the water off of it, it also won’t be drenched and completely fogged out.

With the Ultra Shot mounted on my LMT Ar-15 I found the controls to be simple and straightforward. There are four control buttons, brighter, dimmer, on/off and infrared. To my delight, they were located on the side of the body. This allowed me free access to the controls while mounting my Leupold D-EVO 6x behind the M-Spec. Unlike the LoPro, the UltraShot has flat head zero adjustment screws. Not only were they low profile, with a common head they were in my favorite design. A flat head area that has enough surface area that a shooter can adjust it with the rim of a cartridge. I prefer this design because if you are making adjustments in the field, or simply forgot your tools, a spent or even unspent cartridge makes adjustments a breeze.

The M-Spec offers a great field of view making target transitions a breeze without sacrificing accuracy. The parallax in the optic is minimal and gets better the farther out the target is. Parallax being a shift in zero when the proper sight alignment isn’t maintained. Sightmark designed the optic so that while it isn’t parallax free it does minimize the effects of parallax, the further out the target. This makes precision close quarter shots more reliable in heated engagements, while also increasing long range accuracy.

I didn’t Ranger smash or otherwise test the integrity of the Ultra Shot’s design but from what I observed, researched and observed I believe it is reliable and solid. It has an automatic off switch after 12 hours to conserve battery and while operational it has a motion sensor that will put the optic into a sleep mode. This sleep mode will automatically turn off once the M-Spec is moved. On Amazon the Ultra Shot sells for a cool $240, making this an affordable option for anyone looking for a holographic sight.

John Gobby is a member of 2nd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment. He has served with them for eight years and seven combat deployments. He has experience with both tactical direct action, tactical reconnaissance and covert operations. Recently he has started participating in competition pistol shoots and has a passion for long range shooting.

3-Gunner optics guru takes a critical look at the Trijicon MRO, is it an Aimpoint Micro killer?

SuperSetCA brings us to his range once again with his famed cinematography skills as he takes a critical look at one of Trijicon’s latest offerings, the Trijicon Miniature Rifle Optic (MRO). Trijicon has long produced excellent combat worthy optics such as the original Trijicon reflex sight, the VCOG and of-course the ACOG. Trijicon earlier released the Sealed Reflex Sight (SRS) which never took off the way it should have due to a couple issues that we’ll talk about in another article.

Trijicon came crashing back into the scene with the MRO. Aimed at dominating the micro-optic world it comes in at an attractive price point (380-400 bucks) and sports many of the features seen of optics that cost much more. How good is this optic? Many have vouched for the optic but many have also held off to see what the long-term consensus on the MRO would be. While we still may need more time to ascertain its durability and ruggedness there is no doubt that Trijicon got something right with this optic.

In the following video, SuperSetCA brings us his thoughts on the MRO based on his extensive optic experience in the high-stress 3-gun world.