(cheaper) alternative to "Aimpoint 3x Magnifier"?

[pHr33z]

Going to be grabbing an Eotech from Bigant's groupbuy, and am interested in having the option of mounting a magnifying scope behind it in tandem for longer-ranged shooting...

....however, the only suitable optic I've been able to find so far is the Aimpoint 3x Magnifier, which is more expensive than the EoTech! I wouldn't think it'd be THAT hard to find a weapon mountable, low-magnification, reticle-less optic that doesn't cost $500 -- but no luck so far.

I've looked for 3-4x "red dot" scope on which I could just "turn off" the dot -- but haven't beeble to locate anything that fits that bill...
I'm even open to a designed-to-be handheld monocular that will squeeze into a scope ring somehow... but I haven't had any luck with that either.

Any suggestions?

[pHr33z]

Just realized that a hand-held monocular probably wouldn't work, as they probably wouldn't be designed to have any eye relief... not a good thing when firing a high powered rifle...

[brownknees]

Just a thought.
You need to be looking at mounting the magnification system in front of the red dot. Otherwise it wiil magnify the dot by the same amount as the target.
Also this will remove the eye relief problem.
Maybe the add-on tele attachments for a digital camera will work.
They do come in 3X & 4X, but I'm not at all sure how well they will stand up to the 100+ "G" pulse involved in recoil.:uhoh:

[MichonRAFW]

search back for my post on this same subject. Tried the monocular - eye relief wasn't the big problem. The big problem arose when the recoil killed the damn monocular on the 3rd shot. Never knew you could kill a monocular or something without a reticle but it happened. All the interior lenses shifted and are canted etc.

And the dot does not get magnified with a monocular behind it for what it's worth (even with an 8x monocular). If anything, the dot is more defined to increase your ability to print smaller groups (useful in sighting in).

YMMV

Ryan

[goldshlagerxx]

sounds like you wanted the Lupy CQT...

[pHr33z]

Thanks for replies everybody --

brownknees:
The digital camera zoom thingies are something to look at.... but I'm starting to get the feeling that non-gun optics just aren't going to take the punishment that recoil dishes out...

MichonRAFW:
Dug up your post re: the monocular -- thanks for pointing it out. I'm glad somebody else tried it first so I don't go ruining a perfectly good monocular.

goldshlagerxx:
I've looked at the CQT... it's a nice scope (and a good suggestion for given the way I presented what I was looking for). I guess what the EoTech does best is really more what I'm most concerned about -- the longer range stuff is kind of an added-bonus afterthought (hence not wanting to drop a ton of cash on it).