best $20ish red dot sight? for my .22lr rifles. maybe ak clone?

[bullseyebob47]

so many at amazon
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_st_...d+dot+sight&qid=1479468843&sort=relevancerank

this one has lots of reviews
https://www.amazon.com/Field-Sport-...&qid=1479469349&sr=1-4&keywords=red+dot+sight

this one look tougher for $50. i dont care to spend more that that tbh.
https://www.amazon.com/Dagger-Defen...&qid=1479470451&sr=1-5&keywords=red+dot+sight

 

[Taurus 617 CCW]

I went through the same journey last winter for my Ruger 22/45 pistol. I went with the first one, Vokul Tactical. I found out that all of that type of red dot are all the same. People just put their name on it but it is from China. It has worked fine for my purposes and has never failed (except the battery going dead). Get extra batteries on Amazon. This 20 pack of Sony's is only $8.25. You will pay about $3 each in town.

https://www.amazon.com/Sony-CR2032-...d=1479473195&sr=8-5&keywords=CR2032+batteries

 

[wally]

I've had near universal good results with cheap tube type red dots, and uniformly poor results with the "open" or "reflex" type that cost less than the Burris Fastfire ($200+)

 

[Sistema1927]

If you can up your budget just a little bit more I don't think you would be disappointed with a Bushnell TRS-25.

 

[badkarmamib]

The problem I seem to see with airsoft sights is they tend to have flat glass. IOW, the dot will move relative to how your eye is centered on the reticle.

 

[ColoradoMinuteMan]

I realize that you asked for red-dot, but if you wanted to try a magnified scope on any of them you might want to give the Bushnell Rimfire 4x32 a try. I picked one of these up shrink wrapped off the shelf for $27. I was expecting the worst but when I got home I was pleasantly surprised. I put it on top of my daughter's Ruger American Rimfire and it keeps a nice zero and has remarkably clear glass for $27. The adjustments aren't the sexiest setup and I wouldn't want to have to frequently dial it in, but for a set it and forget it rimfire scope it's a wonderful low cost option.

 

[salt&battery]

if you have 22 rifle with dovetails I have an AIM red dot under $35 that has 4 reticles and over 2000 hrs of battery life. if they do not list battery life I do not bother. they also make ones for weaver rail and one of the few that make it for 22 dovetails and can be used on air guns. had mine for years with the same battery

 

[bullseyebob47]

"The problem I seem to see with airsoft sights is they tend to have flat glass. IOW, the dot will move relative to how your eye is centered on the reticle."

how can i tell if a red dot sight has flat glass?

 

[badkarmamib]

"The problem I seem to see with airsoft sights is they tend to have flat glass. IOW, the dot will move relative to how your eye is centered on the reticle."

how can i tell if a red dot sight has flat glass?

You probably wouldn't be able to tell without holding it, and checking for parallax. The point is, grinding a correct curve on glass costs more than just slapping a flat lens in, so the cheaper offerings will have cheaper glass.

 

[Speedo66]

If you can up your budget just a little bit more I don't think you would be disappointed with a Bushnell TRS-25.

+1, works well on my Browning Buckmark. I forgot and left the sight on for several weeks and the battery was still fine.

 

[Jackal]

If you hunt around Black Friday sales, you can get a Bushnell TRS-25 for around $50. I can not recommend anything cheaper, if you want something even semi dependable.

 

[LoonWulf]

nother vote for the trs-25, had one on my 458 for a few months, till i decided the gun deserved a scope. Worked great there, and it now rides on my 10" barrel for my buckmark.

 

[CraigC]

None of the above. Having had a good many cheap optics going into the trash can, I wouldn't put anything cheaper than the Bushnell/Primary Arms red dots on anything.

 

[ms6852]

I prefer open sights on my 22 lr pistols and good scopes on 22lr rifles be cause I like to shoot 2 to 300 yds with my rifles. My experience with inexpensive red dots have not been good. But if you go the red dot way I would recommend a red dot that you do not have to remove from your gun to replace the battery when the time comes.

 

[salt&battery]

I have put $25 red dots on brutal kicking spring airgun rifles and pistols shot 100's of times never failed. I have the TRS-25 it is good site 3000 hours on a battery. the AIM site has a 22 dovetail mount 2000 hr battery life. if you have to much money buy the expensive ones