The Best of the Worst Red Dots

[Scorpio64 5,156]

I've been doing some window shopping for a RDS to mount on my M4ish build.  Obviously we'd all love to have Aimpoints Triijcons and EOtechs but not everyone can afford them.  As a rule of thumb I try to buy in the top of the mid price range of brands I know and base my decision to buy on the reviews.  It is extremely rare for me to buy any type of budget brand product .

 

So here's the thing.  There are brands, pretty much all Chinese, that are notorious for their poor quality.  Flimsy, don't hold zero and fuzzy dots are just some of the common complaints.  They are rated low and honestly I don't understand how anyone would buy a product with one or two stars, but they do.  However, I did see quite a few sights well under $125 that had pretty good reviews, four stars and better.  It got me to thinking, some of the crap brands must have at least one or two models that are not total junk.

 

Here's a list of budget brands that had at least one product with four stars or better and 10 or more reviews.  If you own one of these brands and have found a super bargain, meaning you have had it for a while, put the sight through it's paces and it far exceeded your expectations, tell us about it.

 

Aim Sports

Barska

BSA

Hawke

Leapers UTG

Leatherwood

NCStar

Sightmark

Tasco

Truglo

 

 

[Krdshrk 3,877]

Add to the list:

 

Vortex Strikefire

Vortex SPARC

 

Bushnell TR-25

 

I have the Strikefire and SPARC - both are good.  I prefer the SPARC because of it's small size.

 

I have a NCStar red dot for my Beretta Neos - This one:

http://www.opticsplanet.com/ncstar-red-dot-sight-tactical-red-dot-with-4-different-reticles-silver-d4s.html

 

It works as it has to - pretty visible - it may be kind of hard to see outdoors in bright direct sunlight.  Indoors I haven't had an issue.  Holds zero just fine.  Field of view isn't that large but it's a tiny sight for a .22...

[Pizza Bob 1,488]

Add to that:

 

Lucid

 

Lucid and Vortex are available from Amazon

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

[MidwestPX 172]

I've heard good things about the Vortex offerings and even bought my FIL a Strikefire for Xmas. Primary Arms are supposed to be okay too. That being said, I'm an Aimpoint/Trijicon snob and that's all that graces MY guns

[bdhszy1 18]

I am also interested in a new red dot and try to do as much research as I can before buying. One driving factor is where it is made. I make every effort to buy American if possible. If you post up one you have please post where it was made.

[fatty 241]

Primary arms is also a good option. I've had great luck with the Bushnell Trs-25 as well.

[fatty 241]

Come to think of it I still have my Sparc. I could sell if you're interested. Shoot me a PM. Pretty much LNIB/excellent condition with all original box and accessories (w/ a magnifier). Kept it around to mount onto my wasr but never happened.

 

$120 shipped

[mark_anthony_78 0]

I've got an Ultradot 25 (1") on my Ruger Mark III pistol.   I like it, works good, battery lasts a long time.

 

http://www.ultradotusa.com

 

I bought it from http://www.ultradotwest.com/

 

It cost about $145 at the time  but prices have gone up in the past few years.   They make a variety of sights, might be something that strikes your fancy.

 

Says they are made in Japan with a lifetime warranty.  I'll have to take a look at mine when I get home.

[bhunted 887]

Good thread! Should be pinned.....

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Njbanshee 9]

Sightmark is absolute trash. I have one that never even made it on a rifle. It's terrible!

 

 

I love my vortex! Great products!

 

Great thread!

[Scorpio64 5,156]

Like I said, most of the sights made by the listed companies are pure crap.  But each company had at least one model that had enough good reviews to merit a second look. 

 

Vortex and Bushnell are not exactly in the same class as BSA.  I would consider them in the low end of mid range.  What we are aiming for here is the best of the bottom of the barrel.  For example, Tasco has a 30mm red dot selling for $35, there are 13 reviews that put it at 4.5 stars.  Sightmark has a reflex going for about $50 which 117 people felt deserved 4.1 stars.  This is what I mean by the best of the worst. 

[silverado427 10,730]

Just get a primary Arms  red dot, you will need a riser. 

[djg0770 481]

I have a TruGlo on my slug gun.  It has no problem holding zero with the recoil of a 12 ga.

[jrfly3006 42]

Another +1 for the Bushnell TRS-25..3 years of moderate use..still holds zero..great battery life and under $100...

[Oleg 8]

PrimaryArms MD-ADS and UltraDot user here. Both are great with caveat that I used both only on .22lr guns.

[Njbanshee 9]

I have the sight mark reflex... It's terrible.

 

I wouldn't put vortex in the bottom of the barrel category. I feel they are more deserving of the best deal of the best sight category.

[jm1827 284]

Just get a primary Arms  red dot, you will need a riser. 

I have their micro-red dot and no complaints.  Was around $90 and free shipping from Joe-Bobs.

[SJG 253]

A vote for TRS-25, the others i like are Vortex, Lucid and Spark

[NJSigfan 218]

I have an NC star on one AR and its a decent site. Not the best but I have not had any issues with it. I've shot maybe 200 rounds so far with it mounted and I'm happy with it. I'll eventually get a newer better site, but for now it's serving its purpose....putting holes in paper from a distance

[RU_27 0]

This is a great read. Thanks everyone.

[checko 180]

When I look for budget optics I look at vortex and primary arms. I've had very good experiences with Both and they seem to have a very good rep around the Web.

 

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

 

[DeerSlayer 241]

Redfield makes a half way decent red dot for the price.

[TheLugNutZ 21]

another +1 for Vortex SPARC

[Vlad G 345]

With Primary Arms and Vortex around there is ZERO sense in buying any of the trash brands,

 

PA and Vortex are not much more money, really work, really hold up and in the rare case were they don't the companies stand behind the product.

[MikeL 3]

Love my TRS-25, but on my last trip to the range & the very last mag, it rattled loose. Have shot just over 1k rounds with it. I didn't want to overtighten the mount, but I guess I didn't tighten it enough? Or is this something I should be checking every time?

[MartyZ 696]

Like I said, most of the sights made by the listed companies are pure crap. But each company had at least one model that had enough good reviews to merit a second look.

 

Vortex and Bushnell are not exactly in the same class as BSA. I would consider them in the low end of mid range. What we are aiming for here is the best of the bottom of the barrel. For example, Tasco has a 30mm red dot selling for $35, there are 13 reviews that put it at 4.5 stars. Sightmark has a reflex going for about $50 which 117 people felt deserved 4.1 stars. This is what I mean by the best of the worst.

I think you have it backwards, vortex is leagues above sightmark. Just because people give sightmark good reviews on amazon does not mean much. Thats why you asked here, on a gun board, not amazon. Read thru those sightmark reviews and see how much of them are being used on airsoft guns. I had 2 strikefires and sold them only because i was able to replace them with eotechs

[mipafox 438]

I have this by both Sightmark and NCStar:

 

http://ncstar.com/product/product-detail.aspx?ModelNo=D4BLQ&GroupNo=0

 

 

They are only about $40. It is not precise enough for an AR IMO, it's for cans out to 50 yards and torsos to 150. I use it on a submachinegun. They start cutting out after about 1000 rounds, but if you take the whole thing apart (including taking the mount off) you get access to the screws on top of the rheostat. After tightening them I've had 2,000 to 5,000 on each without any problems.

 

It is not a good sight. But if you are looking for a C-More Railway style sight, and don't need a lot of precision or a big charge on your debit card, these do hold zero and they will take 10,000 rounds after you tighten the screws on the rheostat.

[9thMarines 44]

Being a retired old fart on a fixed income cost is a factor.  Have owned two Tru-Glows for about five years now and both are still

working great.  Wouldn't hesitate to buy another should the need ever arise.

[raz-0 1,259]

Primary arms is pretty affordable and pretty good. If that's still out of your range, I'd wait for a clearance sale on bushnell or Simmons. That can get you down to about $60-70.