Best budget red dot?

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Blkhrt13

Blkhrt13

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I know that balance between budget and value can be dicey. But I’m looking for a red dot to co-witness with a traditional a2 style gas block on a budget carbine. I’m goin 4F76F625-373D-4745-B676-18A48C87A47D.jpeg g to buy a lower to build a budget psa rifle. I have 400 in the kit. I can’t afford to drop 4-500 on an optic right now. I will upgrade later or on the next build. This is the kit.
 
The Bushnell TRS-25 is hard to beat for the money. Others to look at are the Primary Arms Classic and the Sig Romeo MSR. Or if you prefer push buttons for brightness adjustment, there is the Swampfox Liberator I and II. I have at least one example of each optic I listed. All do the job and hold zero. Lately I prefer the Swampfox Liberator red dots since it uses up/down buttons to adjust brightness.

Any that I listed will work for you and they all have good customer service if needed.

I would personally stay away from the cheaper ones from Amazon or eBay since those won't have the customer service or warranty to back them up.
 
If you don't need Shake Awake/long battery life and want to spend as little as possible:

Bushnell TRS-25
Primary Arms Classic Series Micro Dot
Swampfox Liberator
Sig Romeo MSR

If you can spend a little more to get some extra features (which I recommend if you can):

Primary Arms Advanced Micro Dot
Sig Romeo5
Swampfox Liberator II

With Swampfox, if you qualify under their Law Enforcement/Military discount you get 30% off and free shipping which is pretty nice. Primary Arms you can get 10% if you get verified for their LE/Mil program. I qualify as a probation officer, so they aren't CRAZY picky.
 
Last month I got this Sight Mark reflex sight on sale at Midway for $200 and free shipping (the SOG knife was also on sale for $20)

E174C800-ED93-4253-A96E-1EF4B1D13A01.jpeg

I put it on my PC9 PPsh-ish carbine

58FC739B-1FBF-4C7E-8CCC-9023F3927EB3.jpeg
 
I just got a Bushnell TRS-25 and I am pretty happy with it. Some people have complained about its use in broad daylight but it worked just fine for me. If my budget was bigger I would have grabbed a Sig Sauer Romeo 5 though. Its got the shake awake and is 2moa dot whereas the TRS-25 is a 3moa dot.
 
I bought two TRS 25 with high rise mount. They had a sale on them at midway and there is a rebate going on for march. So it was 99 with no shipping and I will get 50 back each. I am going to get a dig Romeo 5 as well at some point. But I figure I can try one Bushnell and if I don’t like it I can sell the second one later. In six months I can prolly get 75 for the spare Bushnell. Or I can just keep it around for extras. I managed to get this rifle and a pistol to build. Although I have a carry handle sight for the pistol.
 
Looking for a budget red dot is like looking for a budget steak or a budget beer. You can find them but you really won’t like them.
If this is for a defense weapon it might be more like finding a budget oncologist or a budget lawyer.
 
Atavar said:
Looking for a budget red dot is like looking for a budget steak or a budget beer. You can find them but you really won’t like them.
If this is for a defense weapon it might be more like finding a budget oncologist or a budget lawyer.
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More than anything I was looking for a way to get a red dot on the carbine in the hopes I can teach my wife to shoot it. I don’t know with her eye issues if it will work or not. Yes I know it needs to be a 900 dollar aim point to be battle ready. But it’s literally going on a 450 dollar rifle build. I’m going to build it up over time. I seem to see a lot of good reviews on the trs 25. I will prolly sell one and buy a Romeo 5 next.
 
Last edited:
Atavar said:
Looking for a budget red dot is like looking for a budget steak or a budget beer. You can find them but you really won’t like them.
If this is for a defense weapon it might be more like finding a budget oncologist or a budget lawyer.
Click to expand...

Each firearm, much like a car, has its own purpose. I wouldn't drive a sedan cross country though a desert and I wouldn't bring a 10,000$ firearm with me plinking during a rainstorm. A budget optic, just like an expensive optic, has its place. Its a tool. You match the tool to the job and everything will work out fine.
 
twofewscrews said:
Each firearm, much like a car, has its own purpose. I wouldn't drive a sedan cross country though a desert and I wouldn't bring a 10,000$ firearm with me plinking during a rainstorm. A budget optic, just like an expensive optic, has its place. Its a tool. You match the tool to the job and everything will work out fine.
Click to expand...
This is the plan. I will build up the rifle over time and improve the kit with it. I’m pretty sure them 5.56 will still hurt if it ever came to it.
 
twofewscrews said:
Each firearm, much like a car, has its own purpose. I wouldn't drive a sedan cross country though a desert and I wouldn't bring a 10,000$ firearm with me plinking during a rainstorm. A budget optic, just like an expensive optic, has its place. Its a tool. You match the tool to the job and everything will work out fine.
Click to expand...
I am the type to put a lift and knobbies on a panther platform and raise all manner of ruckus as I pass folks in their 70,000 dollar Toyotas with tents and snorkels on a truck they are scared to scratch. I guess it’s an ABG thing. I get it though I do.
 
Blkhrt13 said:
I am the type to put a lift and knobbies on a panther platform and raise all manner of ruckus as I pass folks in their 70,000 dollar Toyotas with tents and snorkels on a truck they are scared to scratch. I guess it’s an ABG thing. I get it though I do.
Click to expand...
Oh, I get that. The first thing I did with a new 4x4 was head out on a wooded trail and fix the virgin paint.
 
Sig Romeo 5. It has shake awake which works really well, and it seems like well put together unit for the price. With the high mount it will co-witness the irons. Probably $125ish.
 
ericuda said:
Midway has the trs with high mount for a c note and free ship. Either one you will enjoy.
Click to expand...
I had a couple o
Space Ghost said:
Sig Romeo 5 is my choice for a budget red dot. I have 4 of them.

View attachment 1063037

View attachment 1063038

View attachment 1063039

View attachment 1063040

My boy has one on his Mosin as well... They can handle just about anything.

View attachment 1063041
Click to expand...
See, I did not like those because the adjustment knobs are just so darn small. I really wanted to like them but ended up gifting and/or selling the ones I had.
 
Blkhrt13 said:
I know that balance between budget and value can be dicey. But I’m looking for a red dot to co-witness with a traditional a2 style gas block on a budget carbine. I’m goinView attachment 1062860 g to buy a lower to build a budget psa rifle. I have 400 in the kit. I can’t afford to drop 4-500 on an optic right now. I will upgrade later or on the next build. This is the kit.
Click to expand...
For my ARs with the A2 front sight I use the Vortex Strikefire II. With the included mount it gives absolute cowitness with the front sight post and I like the way it looks with the setup. The dot is 4 moa I think, so that is a little larger than the 2 moa dots on a lot of the smaller red dots. But it works very well for CQB type shooting for me. I see it on sale frequently at PSA or Primary Arms. But, if you are looking for something really precise this might not be the best fit.
 
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