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View Full Version : Got my package (strikefire) from Palmetto State Armory



L1A1Rocker
09-18-2013, 11:37 PM
Well, after 3 weeks I received my second order from PSA last night. I had ordered a SPARC the day before but it has yet to arrive. The guy on the phone told me that they would be receiving them today. Soooo, I'm hoping that the SPARC will arrive in the next week or so. Now on to the good stuff.

After placing an order to a Vortex Stikefire I looked around on the PSA web site and found a blemished BCG and blemished upper receiver too.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j154/L1A1Rocker/scope/HPIM1669.jpg (http://s79.photobucket.com/user/L1A1Rocker/media/scope/HPIM1669.jpg.html)

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j154/L1A1Rocker/scope/HPIM1671.jpg (http://s79.photobucket.com/user/L1A1Rocker/media/scope/HPIM1671.jpg.html)

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j154/L1A1Rocker/scope/HPIM1670.jpg (http://s79.photobucket.com/user/L1A1Rocker/media/scope/HPIM1670.jpg.html)

I'm here to tell you, the blemished stuff from PSA is GREAT! Much lower price and I cannot find any blemishes. There's no PSA logo on either of them but it was noted on the description that there may not be.

Well, on to the Strikefire. It was noted that there was a mount included with the package. But there was a problem.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j154/L1A1Rocker/scope/HPIM1672.jpg (http://s79.photobucket.com/user/L1A1Rocker/media/scope/HPIM1672.jpg.html)

Notice on the right side, where it says what is included it says 1/3 co-witness? Crap, not what I'm used to. More on that later.

I've got a couple of old military Aimpoint comp m2s so here's some side by sides:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j154/L1A1Rocker/scope/HPIM1675.jpg (http://s79.photobucket.com/user/L1A1Rocker/media/scope/HPIM1675.jpg.html)

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j154/L1A1Rocker/scope/HPIM1676.jpg (http://s79.photobucket.com/user/L1A1Rocker/media/scope/HPIM1676.jpg.html)

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j154/L1A1Rocker/scope/HPIM1677.jpg (http://s79.photobucket.com/user/L1A1Rocker/media/scope/HPIM1677.jpg.html)

The bightnes between the two is beyond comparison. The brightest setting of the Vortex is only as bright as the third brightest on the m2. I may send Vortex a note about this as I would have expected brighter from the Vortex.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j154/L1A1Rocker/scope/HPIM1694.jpg (http://s79.photobucket.com/user/L1A1Rocker/media/scope/HPIM1694.jpg.html)

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j154/L1A1Rocker/scope/HPIM1695.jpg (http://s79.photobucket.com/user/L1A1Rocker/media/scope/HPIM1695.jpg.html)

Ok, that's enough for now. I'll post again about my mounting solution soon.

Schuetzenman
09-19-2013, 05:50 AM
Color me unimpressed. If it is that dim I bet it washes out on a sunny day.

FunkyPertwee
09-19-2013, 10:07 AM
Switch to the green setting for a brighter dot!

The green setting on the vortex gets almost as bright as the highest setting on my Aimpoint.

Remember, the Strikefire comes in two models. One is called "red/green", the other is "bright red". When you get to the maximum brightness setting with the red dot on the "red/green" , just switch to green to make it brighter. The "bright red" doesn't seem to have this problem according to customer reviews and such, but I never see that one on sale.

FunkyPertwee
09-19-2013, 10:10 AM
Vortex also offers their Strikefire with different height mounts, but the "high AR" mount version is the one always on sale.

Now I'm really interested to see what you think of the SPARC, since I haven't used that one yet.

L1A1Rocker
09-19-2013, 12:33 PM
Switch to the green setting for a brighter dot!

The green setting on the vortex gets almost as bright as the highest setting on my Aimpoint.

Remember, the Strikefire comes in two models. One is called "red/green", the other is "bright red". When you get to the maximum brightness setting with the red dot on the "red/green" , just switch to green to make it brighter. The "bright red" doesn't seem to have this problem according to customer reviews and such, but I never see that one on sale.

I just fired off an e-mail to Vortex asking about it. I didn't know that they made two versions of this site. I'll try the green after lunch and get a picture of it.


Vortex also offers their Strikefire with different height mounts, but the "high AR" mount version is the one always on sale.

Now I'm really interested to see what you think of the SPARC, since I haven't used that one yet.

The "My account" section of PSA is not updated - it still says that the package I received is In Process. I did notice though that they do send out an e-mail when the item is shipped. I hope they get the SPARC shipped this week. I promise to post on it when it comes in. I'll also post on the mount I ended up using for the Strikefire after lunch, or dinner.

FunkyPertwee
09-19-2013, 12:36 PM
The "My account" section of PSA is not updated - it still says that the package I received is In Process. I did notice though that they do send out an e-mail when the item is shipped. I hope they get the SPARC shipped this week.


I got a shipping confirmation from PSA about a month and a half after I had already received my M4 Carbine, so I wouldn't count on the accuracy of their shipping confirmations.

L1A1Rocker
09-19-2013, 01:05 PM
I got a shipping confirmation from PSA about a month and a half after I had already received my M4 Carbine, so I wouldn't count on the accuracy of their shipping confirmations.

LOL, that reminded me of the service statement. We can provide Fast, good, and cheep. Pick two.

L1A1Rocker
09-19-2013, 05:52 PM
Well, I did try it on green and it is a bit brighter. I'd rate it as equal to the second highest setting on the M2.
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j154/L1A1Rocker/scope/HPIM1706.jpg (http://s79.photobucket.com/user/L1A1Rocker/media/scope/HPIM1706.jpg.html)

Here's my correspondence with Vortex about it today. They really did answer fast:

Me

I recently purchased a Strikefire red dot site. In comparing this with my Aimpoint M2 the red dot is substantially dimmer. The maximum setting of the Strikefire is apx. the same as the third brightest setting of the Aimpoint (set to brightest and turn down two clicks). Is this correct, or is this Strikefire not performing to proper standards?

Thank you,

Reply

Good afternoon James,

Thank you for reaching out to us. Regarding your question, I am not certain of the max brightness of the Aimpoint compared to the Strikefire but as far as I know, this observation is normal. When comparing the price tags, generally Aimpoint models run $400-$500 and the Strikefire costs about $170. I would definitely expect a brighter dot and longer battery life out of a red dot that costs over 2x as much as another. I hope that answers your questions but please let me know if you have any other questions. I would be happy to help. Thanks again.


All the best,

We're currently overcast and will be for the next few days. I'll post again once I have some full sun to evaluate under.

L1A1Rocker
09-19-2013, 09:09 PM
Ok, the mount. The one that came with the kit is 1/3 co-witness and I really wanted an absolute witness. So off to the parts box I went.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j154/L1A1Rocker/scope/HPIM1678.jpg (http://s79.photobucket.com/user/L1A1Rocker/media/scope/HPIM1678.jpg.html)
The bottom left is the one that came in the kit.

In the below picture you can see the original and one from the parts box are on the same "plane".
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j154/L1A1Rocker/scope/HPIM1679.jpg (http://s79.photobucket.com/user/L1A1Rocker/media/scope/HPIM1679.jpg.html)

After the spacer is removed the Strikefire sits at the right hight.
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j154/L1A1Rocker/scope/HPIM1680.jpg (http://s79.photobucket.com/user/L1A1Rocker/media/scope/HPIM1680.jpg.html)

But I ran into another problem. The site would not sit all the way down in the saddle of the ring. It hit the bottom of the mount.
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j154/L1A1Rocker/scope/HPIM1682.jpg (http://s79.photobucket.com/user/L1A1Rocker/media/scope/HPIM1682.jpg.html)

But I got lucky. I had not noticed that there were two types of these mounts in the parts box. One has a lot more clearnce.
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j154/L1A1Rocker/scope/HPIM1687.jpg (http://s79.photobucket.com/user/L1A1Rocker/media/scope/HPIM1687.jpg.html)

Ta-da!
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j154/L1A1Rocker/scope/HPIM1685.jpg (http://s79.photobucket.com/user/L1A1Rocker/media/scope/HPIM1685.jpg.html)

Next problem. The screws that hold the two halves of the rings together were too damn long without the spacer. An easy fix that took a LOT of time. Off to the scrap pile. I found a heavy peace of angle iron that I drilled and tapped for the screw. Then with a washer from a pop rivet I had the proper length set up.
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j154/L1A1Rocker/scope/HPIM1697.jpg (http://s79.photobucket.com/user/L1A1Rocker/media/scope/HPIM1697.jpg.html)

I made short work of it with a cut off disc on the dremel.
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j154/L1A1Rocker/scope/HPIM1698.jpg (http://s79.photobucket.com/user/L1A1Rocker/media/scope/HPIM1698.jpg.html)

Back the screw out a bit, re-tighten and you have some flash
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j154/L1A1Rocker/scope/HPIM1699.jpg (http://s79.photobucket.com/user/L1A1Rocker/media/scope/HPIM1699.jpg.html)

Dress that with a file.
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j154/L1A1Rocker/scope/HPIM1703.jpg (http://s79.photobucket.com/user/L1A1Rocker/media/scope/HPIM1703.jpg.html)

And the finished product.
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j154/L1A1Rocker/scope/HPIM1696.jpg (http://s79.photobucket.com/user/L1A1Rocker/media/scope/HPIM1696.jpg.html)

After repeating all that three more times I had a set of screws to go with a proper height mount, yeah:)

I haven't done the final mounting yet. I'm going to wait for a sunny day to see if the red dot will wash out. If it does I think I'll see about returning it. I can't use it if it doesn't work in sunlight.

Stay tuned. . .

Schuetzenman
09-22-2013, 07:44 PM
Seems like a product if you enjoy DIY modifications and problem solving.

FunkyPertwee
09-22-2013, 07:50 PM
Seems like a product if you enjoy DIY modifications and problem solving.

I think the DYI and trial and error done by the L1A1 was self-imposed.

My dad used the included mount with no problems or trial and error.

L1A1Rocker
09-22-2013, 08:03 PM
Seems like a product if you enjoy DIY modifications and problem solving.

That was just because I didn't like the 1/3rd co-witness mount that came with the scope. All the "make it work" stuff was just so i could use what I had laying around to get it mounted for co-witness.

Today we finally had some decent sun. I'm not real happy with how dim this is in the sunlight. It should be better than it is - no matter what the price. My SPARC is on it's way and will be here Tuesday. I'm holding off on further contact with the manufacture until I have the SPARC to compare side by side with the Strikefire.

abpt1
09-22-2013, 08:04 PM
IDK mine fit right out of the box? the first setting when you turn it on is kinda weak but if you turn it up the brightness it gets bright enough for me....maybe try a new battery?

L1A1Rocker
09-23-2013, 12:36 AM
IDK mine fit right out of the box? the first setting when you turn it on is kinda weak but if you turn it up the brightness it gets bright enough for me....maybe try a new battery?

I don't have any more of these "non-standard" batteries. I would think that the one that came with the scope was a new battery though. Does yours look brighter than the pictures I posted? You would be familiar with the Aimpoint M2 that I compared side by side with would you? My Strike on it's brightest setting is equal to the M2's third brightest.

abpt1
09-23-2013, 09:04 AM
I don't have any more of these "non-standard" batteries. I would think that the one that came with the scope was a new battery though. Does yours look brighter than the pictures I posted? You would be familiar with the Aimpoint M2 that I compared side by side with would you? My Strike on it's brightest setting is equal to the M2's third brightest.

No its still not as bright as my aimpoint or my Xps although I never need them set that high that only seems to hurt my eyes and give me a headache. But still much brighter than my TA31RCO-M4 ACOG w/ Larue LT100.

L1A1Rocker
09-27-2013, 04:16 PM
Another update. Since last we spoke there were two more variables added. The weather cleared and I had a couple of sunny days to play with the strikefire, and I also received my SPARC.

First. In bright sunlight the red dot on the strike really washed out bad. I could still see it a bit if I slowed down and looked for it. Might as well be using black cross hairs. Oh, if I put on my tinted safety glasses (IE sunglasses) I couldn't see it. The green dot was OK but blended in with the foliage background.

Second. The SPARC arrived Tuesday night. It's GREAT! Side by side with the Aimpoint M2 it is darn near as bright on the brightest setting. I mean DARN close. Me likey a LOT.

Soooo, the Strikefire is currently in possession of UPS going back to PSA. It cost me 7 bucks in shipping to get it, and 12 in shipping going back. That's a 20 dollar bill's worth of lesson. I do NOT recommend a Strikefire red/green dot scope.

ltorlo64
09-27-2013, 06:08 PM
I don't have any more of these "non-standard" batteries. I would think that the one that came with the scope was a new battery though. Does yours look brighter than the pictures I posted? You would be familiar with the Aimpoint M2 that I compared side by side with would you? My Strike on it's brightest setting is equal to the M2's third brightest.

I found the batteries without a problem. In the grocery store too, if you can believe that.

Mine seems to be fairly bright, but I have not gotten to take it out and actually shoot with it yet.