I’ve posted opinions on the need for a legit MPVO battle optic. Most people would say a red dot or LPVO or both is best. I think a 1-10 LPVO might be ideal, but the optical limitations on a 10x erector limit performa CE and greatly increase prices. I think if the solution to a problem is $3500 then you haven’t really solved it.
Here’s my reasoning. I’m open to suggestion though, so you’re welcome to Change my mind.
I think when SHTF occurs, whether it is a local riot or something larger like power grid goes down, US Dollar devalues to worthlessness or a foreign invasion, the idea that you’ll have lots of run and gun 10-25 yard encounters is incorrect. This is what everyone trains for, but I think people are smarter than we give them credit for.
The will to live is the most powerful human instinct. If you put millions of people in a life or death situation, they will not be running up your sidewalk in broad daylight to break down your door.
Let’s take the big cities, where gun ownership is oppressed by “the man”, gun knowledge and training is very low. Once SHTF, there will be an initial culling of the herd where the drug addicted and starving kill each other. After that wake up call, the remaining people, well over 50% I think, have hunkered down and pooled resources. They scavenged weapons and ammo from the dead.
Hopefully these people will want to join the rest of society in the fight for survival, but if they don’t, they will likely be coming for our resources in the burbs and rural areas. Or they are foreign invaders intent on killing us. Either way, these combatants will be keeping a low profile. Even moving through suburbia, going house to house, you can expect it to be night time, they will hide behind cars, edge of buildings, privacy fences, any cover they can find. They will not be a mob walking down the middle of the street like portrayed in movies.
I read a report, sorry can’t remember where, that they examined foreign civil unrest situations of the past. Most of the shooting done inside cities and towns were at distances of 50 yards and greater.
People don’t like to get shot! They aren’t very bold when they know everyone else has a gun. So most shooting was done from cover, pop up shoot, drop down. Targets are small. An exposed shoulder, a foot under a car, top of a head behind a wall etc. Hiding in empty houses and apartments and shooting out windows down the street. People would take pot shots from 200-300 yards away hoping to get lucky and then slink in and take the gun, food, car or whatever.
I think your handgun is there for the CQB stuff if needed, but what is really needed is the ability to return fire to attackers from 50-300 yds away, shooting from behind cover. They aren’t going to knock on your front door. When they shoot, your return fire target will be a few inches in size. Quick precision will be needed in a gun that is not 20# and a red dot will be insufficient at times. I think the ideal optic will be a 1-6x, 1-8x LPVO or a 2-10x, 2-12x MPVO. I personally would prefer the latter, but there are no great candidates right now with a reticle purpose built for this kind of shooting. Exceptions are maybe the chinese made Athlon and Swampfox 2-12x’s.
So again, I’ll ask, what is the ideal SHTF optic? Does this optic even exist yet? Or do you disagree completely with everything stated above and you believe red dot is the way to go or your 3-18x will do just fine?
P.S. - I don’t think I’m alone on this. Many well regarded rifle scope reviewers have mentioned a desire for improved choices in this area. C_DOES on YT,
@Glassaholic here on the hide, Brass Facts as well as Barrel & Hatchet on YT. SupersetCA, now called Gunners Guild on Rumble has made similar statements. This purpose built MPVO, It’s not just to occupy the space in between all the other groups. In fact, I would argue, it is the most important category.
