I don't think it a big deal reviving this thread. Folks are still curious about optics. Original poster may be long gone but maybe some others would find it useful. Some of you guys might laugh at me but I have one AR-15 that has a Primary Arms 3x9x40 red dot on it, came with the rifle, probably a $150 scope. I bought it used as it was my first AR three or four years ago. I initially bore sited it at 25 yards, first live fire at 25 yards was a bulls eye first shot, 1" from bulls eye at 100 yards. Zeroed in to 100 yards and has been accurate ever since with no zeroing since. I'm stunned. This rifle and scope has been on 6 hunting trips in three years and never have had to make any adjustments. Primary Arms makes a tough scope in my opinion. Yeh I have more AR's now, lot's of scopes, Leupold, Vortex, and an EoTech with the magnifier. All are good. Don't rule out the entry level scopes. Just have to do your research or get lucky like me.