Perhaps, you are looking for the best red dot sights for the money. How do I know?
Well, you would agree that your passion or enthusiasm brought you here to read this article.
If you are tired of missing your targets or if you want to improve your split times or if the iron sights are getting a little hard to see, then a red dot sight is your ultimate solution.
The optics field is huge and full of choices with numerous sighting systems. There are different types of scopes, long-range shooting scopes, fixed power scopes, close-range shooting scopes, etc.
Let me tell you, nowadays, in the world of modern optics; nothing beats red dot!
These scopes are close to medium range optics which makes them perfect on almost any weapon platform. These optics give the shooter something more intuitive than iron sights.
Red dots allow you to react faster and also more precise rapid firing than iron sights ever could. They take very little training to learn to use.
You can easily use them on an open range or inside the home!
There are some very good red dot optics available these days. So it is quite difficult to choose one. No worries! Here is the list of the ones I like the most.
Each type of red dot works better with your type of firearm. And the review is dedicated to that.
In case you are ion a hurry, here are my top picks. But do care to read the reviews!
Best Red Dot Sights for Rifle – Our Top Picks
The rifle is an extremely versatile weapon, lightweight, and easy to control.
It is an excellent choice for both close combat and long-range shooting. Herein, a red dot optic will help you to maximize your potential in close to moderate range shooting. After all, the rifle or carbine is a perfect fit for red dot optics.
Adding a magnifier, you will have yourself an effective optic out to 500 yards. And, red dot has been largely used for rifles by military, police, and by the home defenders as well.
1. The Vortex Optics Strikefire II
The Vortex Optics Strikefire II is born to offer you an affordable, but quality red dot optic for your rifles, shotguns, and carbines.
Previously, the optics were either super high-quality with an extremely high price tag or the cheap quality that fell into junk category. Luckily, the Strikefire II came into action to fill the gap in between.[su_button url=”https://amzn.to/2AKkmc9″ target=”blank” style=”flat” background=”#fb7239″ color=”#000302″ size=”4″ center=”yes” radius=”20″ icon=”icon: hand-pointer-o”]Check Price On Amazon[/su_button]
What Does It Offer?
The Strikefire II is an ideal example of a mid-range optic. While extremely high optics come with bells and whistles, it lacks those.
Vortex Optics Strikefire II is precise, durable, and easy to use. This red dot optic comes with a 30 mm objective lens and 1x magnification.
The buyer has two options while selecting optics. The red and green reticle, selectable by the user, and the single bright red dot.
At the lowest settings, both the options are night-vision compatible.
You can also regulate the brightness levels of Strikefire II easily depending on different lighting conditions as it comes with ten levels of setting.
It holds a battery life of around 6,000 hours. Some shooters might find this battery life not as impressive as they expected.
Nevertheless, you might feel happy to know that the Strikefire II is a fully multicoated optic.
The Specification
Strikefire weighs 7.2 ounces, which is light and adds a marginal weight to the weapon. The length of this optic is slightly over five and a half inches.
It has a solid black finish likely to be strong and scratch resistant as compared to the others. Also, it hoards a 2x doubler, which is easily attachable to the optic.
The accessories include a torque wrench, two flip-up lens covers, CR2 battery, and a lens cloth. Strikefire sported waterproof facility, but not submersible. So, don’t let your Strikefire swimming.
It is also shockproof and is nitrogen purged for fog proofing. The adjustment range is 100 MOA with 0.5 MOA clicks.
The objective lens of Vortex Optics Strikefire II is 30 mm, and the reticle is 4 MOA with a red or green dot. The length of this sight is 5.6 inches.
Final Verdict
If you are after an ultimate package, the Vortex Optics Strikefire II might be one of your best choices. It comes with both magnifier and a green or red sight scope.
May you need unmagnified or magnified, the magnifier will help you as it comes with a flip mount making your user experience pleasant.
For a crisp and bright picture, the magnifier sported with a fully multi-coated lens.
2. Bushnell TRS-25 AR Optics
You might hear about (or even used) a scope that can be used with different types of weapons such as a pistol, shotgun, bolt action, and high powered hunting rifle.
Guess what? The Bushnell TRS-25 AR Optics is such a scope!
What Does It Offer?
You might be thinking off that you need to spend a lot to have that one of a kind scopes. Not at all! It is available to buy at a nice price!
Some wonderful scopes are available in these days which let not break your heart, to put simply, your bank account! And the Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 is one of them with pretty decent features.
The Bushnell TRS-25 AR Optics does offer better accuracy. With this, you might easily be able to hit the target from around 100 yards.
Talking about the lifetime of the battery, it will easily go for about a year if you buy high-quality ones. The scope seems to be rustproof.
The Specification
Its size is under 2.5” while the whole unit weighs around 3.9 ounces. That means Bushnell TRS-25 AR Optics is relatively a light and small red dot scope.
The dot is 3 MOA, which is well defined and crisp. This sight comes with 11 adjustments settings to fit with different lighting conditions.
When it comes to clarity, it is an excellent one as compared to the price you will spend on. In line with more expensive red dot scopes, you will get a sharp image with the provided glass.
The elevation and windage adjustments ask you a screwdriver or a coin to turn. Each click on the dials is equivalent to 0.5 MOA.
It sported convenient lens caps and calls for a CR2032 battery. To prolong its battery life, the dot can be switched off.
However, one of the cons of this sight is at the edge of the lens, and the red dot is likely to disappear at times. Also, the lens got the glue from the factory on some units.
The Bushnell TRS-25 is waterproof, and you can submerge this optic down to 10 feet. And in times of humid conditions, it won’t fog up!
Final Verdict
If you are lucky to get a quality unit, the Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 would be a very good sight for you. It may prove as a good red dot scope when it comes to target shooting and training especially for beginners.
It is durable, waterproof, can take a beating and won’t fog up. In a nutshell, it is a versatile optic that can be used on ARs, AKs, pistols, and even with your shotguns.
To name some of its cons would be (1) the red dot seems to switch off after each shot on some units (2) the dot gets further from the center and thus may travel off-target and (3) you may need to buy a riser if the sight mounts are too low to feel comfy.
The overall weight and size seem to be ideal in many situations. Moreover, even after heavy recoils and rough handling, the sight will remain true. For training situations, the quality and price work well.
3. Aimpoint PRO Patrol Rifle Optic: Best Red dot for ar15
Aimpoint not only serves the Army but the civilians! This brand got increasingly popular with the Army, and thus the demand for their optics grew significantly on police officers and the residents.
The red dot optic, Aimpoint Pro is one of them with a 30mm tube. In fact, the term Patrol Rifle Optic is shortly written as a Pro.
What Does It Offer?
The Aimpoint Pro comes with night vision compatibility. It has a four-night vision and six daylight settings. The daylight settings also sport one extra-bright setting, which is mainly for those who stay in the sunnier states.
The unit runs powered by a single 3-volt battery and lasts over three years for continuous use. Its three years of battery life seems quite interesting, but it is pretty familiar with Aimpoint’s red dot sights anyway.
The Pro is made out of anodized aluminum, and the build quality seems to be extremely well.
It has a super impressive battery life of around 30,000 hours. So, your battery is not gonna stop you shooting anytime soon.
You might be happy to know that the Aimpoint PRO is a fully multicoated optic.
The Specification
The Aimpoint Pro is waterproof and submersible of up to 150 feet, so it can reliably do the job for law enforcement marine patrols.
This optic can operate at -49 degrees and 160 degrees Fahrenheit, which proves an impressive temperature rating.
The QPR2 mount of the sight is fully equipped and set to be used with a spacer. The knob of the mount is easy to grip, twist, and turn.
You can nicely and tightly lock down the mount and easily remove it.
The objective lens of Aimpoint PRO is 38 mm, and the reticle is 2 MOA. The actual length and weight of this sight are 5.1 inches and 7.8 oz respectively.
Final Verdict
The Aimpoint Pro appears to be reliable and easy to use. I would say, it could be one of the better choices to meet your needs. Plus, its price is also reasonable as compared to the extremely expensive optics.
Last but not least, it is one of the great deals and nearly bomb-proof.
Best Red Dot Sight for Shotgun – Reviewed
A shotgun is the modern battle axe! It is one vicious, close-range weapon.
A weapon that everyone would not choose because of its brutality. But it is a perfect candidate for red dot optics.
In close-range shooting, being faster than being accurate is more important in many cases. And a red dot sight will help you in that regard.
As it is faster than a bead sight, faster than slug sights and faster than ghost ring sights, these make the shotgun and red dot ideally fit for each other.
1. Aimpoint Micro T2
A highly recommended product is the Aimpoint Micro T2. You may call it the legendary sight! To get to know more about this sight, keep on reading.To begin with, the Aimpoint Micro T2 is waterproof, and it is submersible up to 80 feet. You can take Micro T2 with you while scuba diving as it is actually water-resistant.
If you are not in the navy, you may not need to go that much further. But you may find yourself shooting during snowy or rainy conditions. So, without any fear, you can go out with it.
What Does It Offer?
With Aimpoint Micro T2, you will not only get long-lasting battery life but multiple brightness settings!
There are eight daylight settings, four-night vision settings, and one extra-bright setting. So, no matter what the lighting conditions are, you will be able to adjust this sight to fit the environments.
Aimpoint Micro T2 runs on CR2032 battery. One of the incredible things is that you will get 50,000 hours of battery life, which means that you can easily run this sight for about five consecutive years.
However, if you put the sight in Night Vision mode, you are likely to get an amazing battery life of 500,000 hours! It means that you can switch your shotgun on in always-on mode and use it whenever and wherever you need it! It will be ready all the time to serve you up!
This optic comes with cutting-edge lens coatings that enhance the clarity of the sight picture. Hence, your view will always be crystal clear. It also has perfectly sized 2 MOA dot reticle and seems quite crisp when looking through Micro T2.
The Specification
The Aimpoint Micro T2 might be the most rugged Micro Red Dot Sight in the world. This is because the construction of the optic is solid and it comes with some of the heavy-duty features.
For example, it has a high-strength aluminum housing, and it is vibration and shock-resistant. It also has hard-anodized surface treatment in protecting against the elements.
The adjustment turrets are protected from external damage (It is usually a weak point for some red dots). Last but not least, it weighs sensationally light, having only 3.0 ounces.
Even though this sight is pretty strong, it does not add unnecessary weight or bulk to your shotgun.
Final Verdict
Aimpoint Micro T2 has been used by police officers, military units, and civilian shooters due to its reliability for quite a long time.
It has proven as a dependable companion to any shotgun, carbine, or firearm as well as best red dot sight for ar 15.
The rugged construction and dependability are currently unmatched. It is worth its price and has a great reputation as the best red dot sight on the market!
Noteworthy to mention that you will get a high price tag while buying Aimpoint Micro T2, but some users also say you get what you pay for!
2. BSA 30mm Red Dot Scope with 5 MOA
BSA has been making dot sights for many years and is known as an optics leader in the market. Their 30mm Red Dot Scope is one of the older red dot sights in the family of BSA’s optics.
Moreover, BSA does not advertise this scope as a “shockproof” or anything like that.
What Does It Offer?
The 30mm Red Dot comes with a standard 3-volt lithium battery that will last for quite some time to keep you going without the concern of running short.
It consumes less amount of power in the night. Although the unit eats up more power during the daytime, some people find it reliable.
This optic has an adequate brightness control system. So, you have the freedom to adjust the brightness level depending on the surrounding environment.
The diversity also makes BSA 30mm Red Dot ideal for use with rifles, pistols, shotguns, as well as bows and crossbows.
Even if you have different types of guns or relevant equipment, you will always enjoy the sturdiness and comfort it offers.
The Specification
BSA 30mm comes with a 5 MOA red dot with 11 position rheostat. It allows you to make the necessary adjustments from the 11 different settings.
The BSA 30mm features a 5/8-3/8 adjustable mounting system allowing you to mount this optic to the right about all size rails thus making it reliable and convenient for you.
The scope with 5 MOA is a lightweight optic, and the design is also compact for ease of handling.
It comes with a 3-volt lithium battery and features a brightness control system to suit surrounding environment lighting.
Also, it is worth mentioning that this sight allows for use with large calibers.
Final Verdict
This 30mm Red Dot Scope with 5 MOA meets on durability and functionality with a great performance as well as a cost-effective solution.
The versatility is another selling point of this optic. So, it will keep you in a preponderant position yet you own different equipment as it can mount easily on quite a few relevant products.
Thanks to its adjustable brightness settings! Now, you can use it under diverse lighting conditions when shooting. In a nutshell, it is affordable, reliable, as well as a handy red dot scope you may consider.
To finish off, the BSA 30mm Red Dot Scope with 5 MOA is ideal for shotguns, rifles, bows, crossbows, and what not.
3. EOTech XPS3 Holographic
The XPS3-0 is lighter and smaller as compared to other holographic sights available in the market, and it is just as fast.
XPS3-0 requires a single 123 battery to run. The configuration of a single battery allows for more room for rail space, rear iron sights, magnifiers, and a night vision mount.
The weight of this optic is only eight ounces. It is waterproof and submersible up to 33 feet. It comes with 20 different daylight settings as well as ten extra settings.
What Does It Offer?
The EOTech XPS3 Holographic comes with several great things to make you consider a purchase. To name a few would be of the high-quality optic, quick target acquisition feature, and easy to use.
Moreover, you can use this optic with both eyes open, which is actually natural. It also offers a clear sight picture and equips with quality mounting hardware.
Similar to other optics available in the market, the Eotech XPS3 is not free from criticism and downfalls. The extremely high price of this sight might be the most mentionable. Plus, the lifetime of the battery is also limited to that of others.
Many officers and hunters highly prefer the Eotech XPS 3 for various reasons. It offers both the laser diode and holography feature to show the reticle in the window. This feature might be unique to its sight.
You will find no tint on the glass. As such, you will get the picture clear. This is due to the laser that can get brighter as opposed to LED variants.
The Specification
The size of EOTech XPS3 Holographic is 3.8″ x 2.1″ x 2.5″ (Length/Width/Height). Its aperture is 30mm (1.17 in) while the weight counts 255 grams (9 oz).
That means EOTech XPS3 Optics is relatively light and a small red dot scope. The dot is 1 with 68 MOA circle and has an unlimited eye relief.
This sight comes with 20 daylight adjustments settings to fit with different lighting conditions. Moreover, it is night vision-compatible and has ten additional settings for Gen I through III+ night vision devices.
It sported One 123 lithium battery, which can last up to 600 continuous hours at nominal setting 12 at room temperature.
The EOTech XPS3 is water-resistant, and you can submerge this optic down to 33 ft. (10 m) Depth without fail. It comes with Nitrogen gas anti-fog system to make you fog-proof.
Its 1-inch rail mount is Weaver or MIL-STD 1913. The matte finish and anodized coating help the optics to reduce glare and reflection.
The EOTech XPS3 sported with clear lens coatings is anti-reflective, and the sight has durable open sight tubeless construction.
It is shockproof, and the product remains precise for long-term use even when exposed to aggressive recoil. Notably, EOTech XPS3 meets the industry standards for parallax-free reflex sights.
Final Verdict
To finish off, the Eotech XPS 3 is likely to allow shooters to aim more accurately and quickly without adding extra weight to their weapon. So, it could be one of the best red dot sights and an excellent choice to aim for.
However, considering the price point, it might not worth the investment as you could get the same features and service by paying just less the amount of the Eotech XPS 3.
This optic functions well between a temperature of 20 degrees below zero and 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
A good replacement for this optic would be Burris 300234 Fastfire III, which costs you less than half as much of Eotech XPS 3.
Best Red Dot Sight for Pistol/Handgun – Reviewed
Optics on handguns is not an age-old concept. It came to being from optics maker taking small and going even smaller with it.
In the early stages, many microdots were made as a backup for rifles. But eventually, the concept moved onto pistols.
Red dot optics will allow you to easily shoot faster, you can shoot targets farther away, and it also improves your precision.
The usage of red dots on handguns is gaining more and more popularity these days.
1. Burris Fastfire 3
The popularity of the reflex scope gained the momentum in these days. This is because the reflex scope lets the users put a bullet in the bull’s eye of the target easily.
Fastfire 3 by Burris offers a top-notch quality with the auto-brightness facility. It also allows you to look through the different levels of light.
What Does It Offer?
Many satisfied customers praised this reflex scope as of its “quick mount” feature. As a knowledgeable gun enthusiast, you may expect to install this between 15 to 20 minutes.
You may find that the RMR or the Deltapoint would outshine the Burris Fastfire 3, but this reflex scope asks only half the price of one of those.
If you are a budget-conscious gun enthusiast, the fair amount of price of Burris Fastfire 3 would please you.
With Burris Fastfire 3, you can choose from four different functions by turning the sequence on as follows; Auto Bright, Low Bright, Medium Bright, and High Bright.
Although the Burris Fastfire 3 has a big sunshade, it does not include a protective cover to make the cleaning process of your weapon difficult.
With Burris Fastfire 3, you can keep your both eyes open and fire with pinpoint accuracy. Target shooters may also find it much easier in hitting the target.
Unfortunately, the red dot may interfere with hitting the bullseye in some occasions.
The Specification
The Burris Fastfire 3 has a magnification of 1.07x while its weight is only 25 grams (without mounting materials).
To talk about the dimensions, its 48.2mm in length, 25.4mm width, and 25.4mm in height. The dimension of sight Window is 21mm x 15mm.
The operating temperature range of Burris Fastfire 3 is -10° Fahrenheit to +130° Fahrenheit. A 3V battery powers the Fastfire 3.
Final Verdict
Fastfire 3 reflex scope looks quite interesting, and it does an excellent job of helping you hit the target.
Intriguingly, you will find this reflex scope as one of the budget-conscious scopes in the market with a lot of value.
Another deciding factor is that this product comes with a lifetime warranty, so you always get your back covered by the company.
2. Trijicon RMR Type 2
Followed by the success of Trijicon RMR, Trijicon came up with a 2nd generation iteration or Ruggedized Miniature Reflex with delicate changes and improvements.The Trijicon RMR Type 2 is an adjustable LED red dot sight that can be used for target practice. If you aim to use it more practically that means for self-defense purposes; the question would arise whether or not it is worth its price.
What Does It Offer?
The RMR 6.5 MOA comes with a different physical appearance as of its unique body shape. It not only grants a freakish design, but the inverted arc shape of the lens housing-unit comprises a lot of durability to the device.
With this design, any shock goes redistributed to the less fragile parts of the sight’s body thus making the lens protected.
The Trijicon RMR Type 2 6.5 MOA equips with a regular multi-coated lens and is available in 10 SKUs or models with little variances like different packages or colors that deliver with changing accessory mounts.
As compared to the previous generations, Trijicon RMR Type 2 is lighter yet more durable as stated by Trijicon.
The new generation of Trijicon RMR also sports clicks to ensure your adjustment going correctly while zeroing the optic.
Your expected lifetime of the battery can be up to 400 plus hours. Changing the battery seemed to be quite hassle some. So, you might encounter such an issue very often.
The Specification
The Trijicon RMR Type 2 has a magnification of 1.0x while its weight is only 1.2 Oz without battery.
To talk about the dimensions of Trijicon RMR Type 2, its 45mm in length. The red dot sight is powered by a CR2032 Lithium Battery that can last up to 4 years of continuous use at setting 4-8 (Temperature 21°C).
The LED is used as the illumination source of this sight. Its reticle pattern is 6.5 MOA dot, and red is the color of day/night reticle.
Trijicon RMR Type 2 is made of forged aluminum for better durability.
Final Verdict
This RMR type 2 – 6.5 MOA red dot with adjustable LED sight might be able to satisfy your expectations. It is an intuitive, easy optic to mount, zeroed easily, and essentially may find no real problems.
The MSRP for the RMR Type 2 is around seven hundred bucks, and it seems quite a high price.
However, considering the quality, limited lifetime warranty, and ease-of-use and cleaning, it may be worth to try this reflex sight.
3. Leupold Delta Point Pro
Reflex sights are the are minimalist optical sights that are open and comes without a tube housing. They are light and small optical sights.
In 2016, Leupold introduced a new red dot sight, the DeltaPoint Pro – a reflex sight.
The DeltaPoint Pro sight is designed, perfected, and assembled in the USA.
With a secure package, it arrives filled with a block of closed-cell foam for the sight itself, sight cover, battery, mounting screws, and Torx wrench.
What Does It Offer?
You do not have to detach the sight from its mount while installing or replacing the battery hence your sight’s zero will be unaffected.
The power button can be used to change the intensity of the red aiming dot. This reflex sight has eight brightness settings in changing the intensity of the red dot.
Delta Point Pro has a low battery indicator, which is unique. Once the battery power is low, the indicator flashes the red dot ten times. However, you will still leave several hours of operating time before the battery dies out completely.
This reflex sight sports a Motion Sensor Technology which conserves battery life by putting the unit to standby mode while the power is left on and the position of the gun remains true for at least five minutes.
However, if you wish to maximize the battery of Delta Point Pro, you should always turn it off while not in use.
There is no optical tube to align your eye, so the alignment of your eye would not be automatic. Therefore, in seeing the red dot, you need to keep your eye lined up with the optical axis of the sighting glass.
The Specification
The Leupold Delta Point Pro has a 1.0x magnification system while the dimension of the sight window is 1.01″ x 0.68″.
Its windage and elevation adjustment ranges 60 MOA, and the adjustment click value stands 1 MOA (40 MOA per revolution of adjustment). Nonetheless, subtension of the red dot for this sight is 2.5 MOA.
To talk about the dimensions of Delta Point Pro, its 1.82″ in length, 1.31″ width and 1.30″ in height. The dimension of sight Window is 21mm x 15mm.
Its operating temperature ranges between -20F and +120F, and the storage temperature range is -40F to +160F.
The USA origin Leupold Delta Point Pro is powered by one 3v, CR 2032 lithium cell Battery. It has a Motion Sensor Technology (MST) to conserve battery life.
Point Pro comes with diamond coat scratch resistant aspheric lens for brightness and resolution as well as extremely durable, ultra-light, aluminum housing.
This small-sized and lightweight sight can be used on handguns, rifles, and shotguns and it will entertain you with a wide field of view.
It is waterproof up to 33 feet, has blackened lens edges, and offers unlimited eye relief.
This sight comes with Leupold Gold Ring full lifetime warranty (housing and optics) and Leupold Gold Ring 2 year electronics warranty.
Final Verdict
Leupold’s Delta Point Pro appears to be one of the best reflex red dot sights you may consider to buy. It is packed with several goodnesses to make your shooting as fun and easy as possible.
Price appears to be high as compared to other reflex sights, but the service, durability, and dependability it offers may invade its price.
[su_note note_color=”#f2ddbd” text_color=”#081413″]If you are looking for something a little cheap (somehow), you can also take a look at this reflex sights review.[/su_note]Our Buying Guide for Best Red Dot Sights for the Money
The first thing you should know before spending your money on red dot sights is that these tools are designed for close range and quick shootings.
So if you are looking for something that will help you in long-range shooting, precision assistance, then red dot sights may disappoint you.
Now, before you go buying your red dot optics, there are a few things you should consider. Like, which size is best for your firearm, style of the tube depending on your preferences, kind of battery you like, reticle size, etc.
Below, we have discussed some of these factors in a little bit more detail!!
1. Look for an Ideal Size
Finding the ideal size is quite crucial if you wish to equip a weapon with a red dot optic. It might be better to know your weapons first!
It could be a shotgun, rifle, handgun, bow or arrow. This is because you will have options for all of your weapon types.
For example, a miniature red dot optic, an open or window top style sight might be a better option for your tactical handgun. However, miniature and small red dots may well-suit your shotguns and rifles.
A full-sized red dot such as the Eotech 512 or Aimpoint M4S is better when we talk about long guns.
The full-sized red dots provide a big tube or window, a longer battery life, and might come with additional accessories and versatility. As seen often, a bigger optic offers better battery life, a larger window, and more reticle options.
Most shotguns and some rifles, on the other hand, might have a small short section and a limited rail space. This small rail section is worth considering if you aim to mount an optic or want to use additional accessories.
Know the given rail space on your weapon as you would need to use that space in mounting an optic and installing additional accessories in the future.
Also, know the weight ratios of your weapons. This is because your lightweight handgun can end up being a brick if you opt for a wrong optic. And who doesn’t know that extra weight always means a pain!
2. Style of the Tube
Two basic styles can be found in red dot optics- window or open type, alongside a traditional tube-like style.
The tube style, commonly available in Aimpoint, comprises a cylinder by which the shooter can look through.
Eotech generally uses open window-based design. This company manufactures optics with is square-shaped windows, which is normally low profile and more compact as compared to the tube style.
Most shooters feel comfortable with the open or square red dots as they promise a wider field of view. The two eye aiming method often offer a less number of interfering while using your vision.
If you aim for a less bulky one, then these open sights would be the best option for you. For example, the C-More systems seem to be lighter.
Albeit the tube designed optics may not appear to be heavy, but they are usually heavier when you compare them with open sights.
However, these styled optics are better when you are concerned about more durability and a protected optic.
Tube designed red dot sights, Aimpoint for instance, are often more waterproof and have a solid built quality to suffer more abuse as compared to an open sight.
3. Know Your Weapon Better!
The small budget red dots may ache you in terms of recoil. You may end up losing zero or damaging the optic if you are using guns that have more recoil as compared to the optic.
You may also encounter an issue with the mounting method. Therefore, you should not expect to get a precise adjustment if you mount an optic to the gas tube of an AK 47, which is actually made for a flat-top upper receiver AR 15.
You would be able to swap many red dots between your weapons without losing your sweat while some optics might not be easily interchangeable, and in the worst case, they could be detrimental to precision and accuracy.
It is always worth keeping in mind that if one optic is usable to multiple rifles, it definitely saves your money and valuable time.
So, make sure what you need to adjust with your multiple guns and what you are buying!
4. The Battery Considerations
The battery life and the type of battery used with the optic is also an important issue to consider.
Always try to get an optic that comes with a commonly available battery type and has offered an extended lifetime.
Long battery life might be desirable to all, and you might not be an exception. Outstanding battery life will always keep you in a preponderant position, especially true if you are in the military or law enforcement sectors.
For example, the CR 123s batteries might not be available locally, but only online. In such a case, you should consider having an optic with a Double-A battery option.
It is quite interesting to see that some big manufacturers sell optics with multiple battery options.
5. The Reticle Sizes
The reticle size is quite an important point to consider. Most red dots measure MOA or minute angle.
An easy illustration would be that if you aim to cover 100 yards, then 1 MOA red dot is 1 inch in diameter, if 200 yards then 2 inches, if 300 yards then 3 inches, and so forth.
In placing a precise shot at longer distances, a small reticle would be better. The dot would cover less space, say 200 yards, and avoid hindering the target.
The negative side of a red dot is less ‘eye-catching’ and more difficult to see. This situation may get worse if the areas fall under extremely bright daylight.
A larger MOA red dot, on the other side, is much easier to view and much easier to swiftly get on target. However, a large reticle can vague a target at longer distances making it more difficult to have precise shots.
6. The Price of the Sight
The price is another important aspect while buying a red dot. Many people might claim that you are paying a lot to buy a well-reputed brand or name!
Well, this might not always be true, especially in the case of the red dot sight optics industry as you are likely to get what you pay for!
A hunter or competitor can get a decent optic such as Vortex Sparc spending a few hundred bucks. And the same optic could prove sufficient for home defense.
However, for military, navy, and police purposes, you should get better quality and more dependable ones as the red dot sight of Aimpoint paying seven hundred or more, for example.
How to Place Your Red Dot Sight? – Quick Know-How
You might be wondering where should you place your red dot sight. Well, you can mount it wherever you want as long as it is not on the handguard, but on the receiver.
It is quite common to see that most people do mount it somewhere in the mid of the receiver or further than forward.
I failed to find any obvious benefit to placing it mounted pretty close to the shooter’s eye. If you aim to do so, it might significantly lessen your view near the optic in close lodgings.
In case you are really unsure, you can mount it all the way forward. However, if you find that you are not getting the dot on bull’s eye quite as fast as you would like, move the red dot sight back a few spaces and try so there.
You can also try to place it in two different positions while shooting some groups and see whether you find any difference.
Eventually, many shooters prefer to come down to personal preference like many things with shooting, gear setup, and so forth.
Once you settled down with your preference or you feel comfortable with a certain position, you can make a little scratch from the mount to the receiver having a silver Sharpie.
It will help you to find the desired place back in the time of the next installation followed by that mark.
It is worth to mention that some mount or optic combos uphold their zero better as compared to others when detached and reinstalled. So, it would be better to know your system, and if you need to, do double check your zero.
When placing your red dot sight on a Picatinny receiver or rail, prior to constricting it down, you will perhaps notice a little “play” between the rail and the mount.
If so, push the red dot sight forward to remove this “play” and then tighten it down.
In case you fail to do this, the recoil impulse from the gun might cause the optic to shift your zero and slide within that section of rail.
If a high degree of accuracy is expected, this is particularly important in rifles to take care of.
[su_note note_color=”#f2ddbd” text_color=”#081413″]There are some differences between a red dot sight and reflex sight. Click the link to get details of it. You do not want to get tangled with these two![/su_note]Battery-Free Red Dot Sight vs. Electronic Red Dot Sight
Red dot sight gets accepted by many shooters since it’s inception. There are several kinds of these sights available now in the market, yet shooters often choose either the electronic dot sight or the battery-free red dot sight.
This section will portray the difference between the two of them to help you decide which one would be better to own and why.
Battery-Free Red Dot Sight
The battery-free red dot sight has no electronic parts that may make you fail or malfunction at any time soon, which is one of the advantages of a reflex sight.
If the battery of your sight dies or any parts on the battery-operated sight stops working, the sight is essentially nonfunctional until you replace or repair so.
Reflex sights could be compatible in low light conditions as to the tritium that lights them up. But battery-free sights cannot be attuned when your lighting conditions would change.
Dot intensity also remains an issue irrespective of the lighting.
However, the disadvantage of choosing these sorts of red dot sight is that cannot increase the intensity of the scope manually.
Eventually, it becomes a key disappointment when there are low lighting conditions.
If you wish to opt for a battery-free red dot sight, you need to get ready to accept such deficiencies while using your gun.
Electronic Red Dot Sight
Nowadays, the electronic red dot sights are preferred by many shooters as compared to other sorts of sights due to the reliability and efficiency is has offered.
The technology that is coming with this optic has been persistently refining in durability and longevity.
Some electronic red dot sights’ brands offer a lifetime of 8 years with continued usage for their sights. Nevertheless, this feature is subject to the models which can last from 100 to 1000 hrs.
The power of these types of scope mainly depends on two things including the capacity of the battery and the light source power consumption.
These sights usually come to you feature-rich offering a range of reticle sizes, styles, and other features.
Electronic red dot sights have started to counter battery-free red dot sights with a range of brightness settings and night vision feature.
These electronic sights are likely to come with auto-brightness adjustments as well as an “auto turn-off” option that shuts the sight off when it is not in use.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What size of dots are available?
Currently, there are two size dots available in the market such as a 3.5-minute dot, and a 7 minute Dot. The 3.5 minute Dot is more suitable for rifle and Bullseye shooters while the 7-minute dot is more suitable for a shotgun, handgun applications, speed shooting, IPSC, etc.
2. Where can I buy a red dot sight?
You can order a red dot sight directly from any online and offline stores, including Amazon. There are lots of red rot sights for sale, but make sure they are not old stock and provide a warranty. Buy from a dependable and reputed store to get the latest version with quality red dot sight!
3. Can I rebuild or bulletproof my Red Dot Sight?
Yes, you can! There are some manufacturers out there who entirely can rebuild or bulletproof your red dot sight to endure any vibration or recoil. Docter USA is one of them you may refer to.
Generally, the cost for an entire rebuild or bulletproofing your red dot sight is about USD 195 plus an additional USD 5 for return shipping.
4. How to clean the lens of my Red Dot Sight?
I suggest you to use compressed air to eliminate any large wreckage to avoid scratching the lens. Once the debris is clear, use car wax or regular glass cleaner.
In order to get rid of minor swirl type scratching, go for a mild plastic polish.
Avoid the use of any strong solvents as the bore cleaner or lacquer thinner near the lens. Otherwise, you will be damaging the lens coating.
The use of the motorized polishing device on your lens would also cause harm to the unit’s lens.
5. My red dot does not illuminate, what should I do?
If the red dot n your sight is not illuminating, the problem could be due to the battery contact, which is likely to be bent or out of place.
To fix this issue follow these steps below:
- If the reticle is not lighting up, uninstall the optic from mount to uncover the battery area. Unmount the battery and find whether the bottom contact is bent down.
- If yes, bend the lower contact upward to make contact with the battery when inserted.
- Also, you may need to replace the battery and see whether the reticle is illuminating now.
- If your problem yet resolves, do not hesitate to contact the customer service department of the manufacturer of your red dot sight.
To Sum Up
These days, the popularity of red dot sights have grown significantly. The reason could be that we have realized the need for fighting and shooting not only for our recreation but safety and defense purpose. Or, vice versa! Who knows?
Usually, most shooting and most fighting take place at a low range that is less than 300 yards. The red dot optics well-suits here to serve your purpose nicely.
More and more manufacturers are coming forward in producing red dot sights followed by the popularity of the sights in our life.
This makes our choice harder to own the right red dot sight.
So, the key step would be to know yourself and your weapon, and then understand and decide what your precise need is. Did you find your best red dot sights for the money?
Hey, leave your thought below and help us.
