this post was submitted on 21 Jan 2026
86 points (92.2% liked)

guns

1626 readers
126 users here now

Keep it civil.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

LMT Mars-L Lower, LMT 9.25" MRP upper, LMT 10.5" 300BLK Barrel, Geissele SSA-E (3.5lb), magpul furniture, EOTECH G43/EXPS3, Vltor A5 buffer, Radian Raptor Charging Handle, Bootleg adjustable BCG, Sandman-X can., POS Hexmag (need to swap this out)

This is my first post to this community. I didn't realize the community was here... but generally speaking, Lemmy needs more posts, so I'm putting this here in an attempt to do my part.

Last year, I was thinking about upgrading my Ruger 8515 to something a bit higher end and ultimately decided it would be better to build one from the ground up... did a lot of research, saved a lot of money, waited a lot of months and came out with this thing. Got the Form 1 stamp back yesterday.

It's pretty nice, but it's a slight bit heavy for an SBR @ 10lbs (loaded and with the can). I like it though. It's more difficult to shoot than the 8515, but I've only taken it out once so far (last night), so I still have some "getting used to it." There's also a light and an extension for said light on the way here now, so by this weekend I think it'll be "done done."

It's completely solid w/o the can using 150gr Federal. Once I put the can on it and switched to subsonic ammo (Hornady Black 208gr), I had failure to feed after the first round. My assumption is that my buffer weight is too heavy (currently on A5H2 that came with the Vltor kit) so I have an A5H0 on the way here now. Fingers crossed I'm right. It's whisper quiet, and if I can get it consistent, I'll be in love with this thing.

I only have a handful of friends that are into this hobby, and I don't want to send them pictures or let them know it's done. I'd rather whip it out as a surprise at the next range day.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] papalonian@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Solid color coordination. Looks good.

I'm happy to be wrong, but I'm pretty sure your magnifier is meant to be mounted after the optic, so that the dot / cross hair / whatever you've got doesn't get magnified, and so that you're not so far away from the optic when your magnifier is flipped over.

[–] Romkslrqusz@lemmy.zip 2 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

pretty sure your magnifier is meant to be mounted after the optic

Every magnifier I’ve ever interacted with went before the optic. They usually have short eye relief, putting one that far forward would make it unusable.

[–] papalonian@lemmy.world 1 points 11 hours ago (2 children)

OP has corrected me on this setup (and I embarrassed myself by linking supporting material to their claim), but the two that I've used (one is my own) has the magnifier second. I think it really just depends on the magnifier. My magnifier is long enough that, if you were to flip it to the side and rest your cheek before it, the optic would be way too far to be able to use

[–] frog_brawler@lemmy.world 1 points 2 hours ago

I think you might benefit from switching positioning, re-zeroing, and checking out how much better things will work if your magnifier is closest to your eye.

I’ve got 3 different mag/dot combos. They all need the magnifier closer to the eye vs the dot.

I may be wrong, but I’ve not personally encountered an example that makes me incorrect.

[–] setsneedtofeed@lemmy.world 2 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago) (1 children)

My magnifier is long enough that, if you were to flip it to the side and rest your cheek before it, the optic would be way too far to be able to use

I'm now genuinely curious what magnifier you have. I've never seen a sideflip long eye relief one.

I have a friend who put his magnifier on his handguard and didn't realize anything was wrong with looking through the magnified pinhole until I corrected him.

edit:

the optic would be way too far [away] to be able to use

What are you magnifying?

[–] frog_brawler@lemmy.world 1 points 2 hours ago

Concur, but I also recognize that I haven’t used everything. I’d be impressed if we’re both incorrect but I suspect we’re not.

[–] frog_brawler@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

Thanks for the feedback, and I appreciate the response.

This setup requires the magnifier to be closest to the eye, otherwise you won't be seeing anything through it. If I extend my stock on position 2, my eye is too far away. Stock stays at position 1 on the buffer tube.

One cool thing about this red dot is that it's actually a double dot, one in the middle, and one slightly below. You zero based on the middle dot, and expect the lower dot to be accurate at some other distance that I'm not fully looped in or aware of just yet.

I zero'ed to 50yards, but I haven't aimed at anything that's 100 yet. Maybe that's what the lower dot is supposed to be? Fingers crossed I'll figure that part out this weekend.

[–] Theatomictruth@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

When zeroed at 50 yds the lower dot is supposed to be 500

At 100 yards I believe you should expect to be hitting slightly above the center dot

[–] frog_brawler@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Right on, thanks!

[–] papalonian@lemmy.world 1 points 21 hours ago (2 children)

This setup requires the magnifier to be closest to the eye, otherwise you won't be seeing anything through it.

Hm. If it works it works, I won't try and say that you're doing it wrong, but pictures of the combo you have on the company's website primarily shows the magnifier after the optic, which is how these are typically mounted. You'd think it would at least be possible.

I know when setting mine up it took a lot of finagling to get the two perfectly in-line with each other. That could be why it only works in the one way. But again, I supposed if it works, no harm no foul.

[–] setsneedtofeed@lemmy.world 1 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

which is how these are typically mounted.

By whom?

[–] papalonian@lemmy.world 1 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

It took way longer to find those pictures to prove your point than it would've for you to scroll down 2 or 3 comments to see that I already said I was wrong, hours ago. Thanks, though

[–] setsneedtofeed@lemmy.world 1 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

I'm genuinely asking, since you have apparently a magnifier that does mount like this.

[–] papalonian@lemmy.world 1 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

My setup is very similar to this, but with the magnifier much closer to the optic. The one I rented at the range was the same way.

[–] setsneedtofeed@lemmy.world 1 points 5 hours ago

Monstrum makes sense. They sell a lot of prism optics, which by their nature have defined eyeboxes. They do have a magnifier with a long eye box on their storefront. This is a very uncommon setup.

Red dots or holographic sights don't have limited eyeboxes, which is why is every setup with them and magnifiers the magnifiers are in the back.

[–] frog_brawler@lemmy.world 1 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

Ehh… which picture? It wasn’t the one on EOTECH’s site.

I can assure you, if the red dot went before the magnifier you wouldn’t be able to use the magnifier at all. Eye relief.

Additionally, you cannot distinguish the second red dot without the magnifier.

[–] papalonian@lemmy.world 3 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago) (1 children)

Ehh… which picture? It wasn’t the one on EOTECH’s site.

https://www.eotechinc.com/products/eotech-holographic-hybrid-sight-vi

The photo gallery of the product page only shows it with the magnifier after the optic (the optic listed is the EXPS3-2, but they seem to largely be the same product).

Edit: ignore literally everything I wrote. Lmao. The optic is facing the opposite direction I thought it was.

[–] frog_brawler@lemmy.world 4 points 18 hours ago

The optic is facing the opposite direction I thought it was.

😀 All good