Best Reflex Sights for Under $100

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kje54

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Considering putting a reflex sight on my AR47 pistol which currently has a small, not so good Pinty red dot I had laying around. I'm currently looking at the Tacticon Predator V2 and wondering if anyone has any experience with this sight.

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I'd grab a bushnell TRS25. For the price, I don't think there's a better red dot in the market.

Simple without a lot of features, but a study little sight.

I'm contemplating picking up a TRS26 and seeing if it lives up to its older brother.
 
I'd grab a bushnell TRS25. For the price, I don't think there's a better red dot in the market.

Simple without a lot of features, but a study little sight.

I'm contemplating picking up a TRS26 and seeing if it lives up to its older brother.
I considered that but I've decided I want a reflex sight not a tube as it's a 7.5" AR pistol and tube sights are harder to reacquire targets with than the open reflex sights. Besides these aging eyes like the open reflex sights better.
 
I learned my lesson with cheap red dots. The minimum I will use a Bushnell, Primary Arms, Swampfox, or Sig red dots. That goes for the tube type and micro reflex type. Out of those that I will use the TRS25 is the only one under $100.

Step up to a brand name optic and you will not only get better quality but also better customer service/warranty if needed. I have several optic from all 4 companies I listed and they are all good to go.
 
I considered that but I've decided I want a reflex sight not a tube as it's a 7.5" AR pistol and tube sights are harder to reacquire targets with than the open reflex sights. Besides these aging eyes like the open reflex sights better.

It is strange how things work differently for different people. I find the tube sights easier to find the dot in than reflex sights and my eyes are some of the oldest on this forum.
 
Yup, use the tube like a big peep sight kind of to index and find the dot.
I have CVLIFE Hunting Rifle Scope 2.5 10x40 e Red Green Illuminated Mil dot on two of my carbines and they have the large peep sight and have held up very well. It's what I was originally considering.

CVLIFE-Hunting-Rifle-Scope-2-5-10x40-e-Red-Green-Illuminated-Mil-dot-Gun-RifleScopes-Optics.jpg
 
Being 100% honest, I don't think there's a reflex style sight under $100 that I trust on anything my life might depend on. For plinking and screwing around, I'd probably just try whatever seemed to have the best review on Amazon.

If I were forced to pick one, I'd probably try the Sightmark Ultra Shot R Spec just based on my experience with their Wraith NV scope.

Generally, the tube style red dots you tend to get better quality at the lower price point just because of the design logistics.
 
I won't buy any optics off of Amazon unless I know they are name brand and not counterfeits. I have been very pleased with the ones I mentioned earlier. No I probably would not carry any of them into combat but they serve the purpose for HD/SD use. And with the companies I mentioned earlier, you get a good warranty and excellent customer service if you should need it. Can't say that about the cheap no name optics on Amazon.
 
I won't buy any optics off of Amazon unless I know they are name brand and not counterfeits. I have been very pleased with the ones I mentioned earlier. No I probably would not carry any of them into combat but they serve the purpose for HD/SD use. And with the companies I mentioned earlier, you get a good warranty and excellent customer service if you should need it. Can't say that about the cheap no name optics on Amazon.
The two open reflex sights I first mentioned are veteran owned, US made with very good independent reviews including great customer service and lifetime warranties which is why I considered them. I never go fully with Amazon reviews because they can't always be trusted, made that mistake early on which is why I have that cheap Pinty. The CVLife ones (aside from their open reflex which is good mostly for small caliber) also have good independent reviews for budget scopes.
 
The two open reflex sights I first mentioned are veteran owned, US made with very good independent reviews including great customer service and lifetime warranties which is why I considered them. I never go fully with Amazon reviews because they can't always be trusted, made that mistake early on which is why I have that cheap Pinty. The CVLife ones (aside from their open reflex which is good mostly for small caliber) also have good independent reviews for budget scopes.

I'll preface with the fact that it's your rifle and your money, so if it makes you happy go with it.

That being said, from what I can find the Dagger Defense and Tacticon optics are made in China. The companies appear to be US owned, but they likely source the optics from a Chinese manufacturer.

That is not to say they're bad, because I don't know if they are or aren't. Really, basically any optic under $200 is very likely to be made in China with a few exceptions. The Primary Arms, Sig, Swampfox, and Bushnell mentioned so far are all Chinese-made too I believe. The Sightmark I mentioned is as well. The difference is those larger companies tend to have a longer track record as far as customer service and product quality goes and also generally are able to have more oversight on quality control.

Like I said, your dollar to spend, your rifle, and your life, so I won't tell you what to do. Just want to give you the most information possible to make your decision.

And for the record, I'm a budget optic guy. The only optic I spent more than $200 on was my night vision, which I recently traded for a Vortex Viper. That Viper is worth at least 3x more than any other optic I own.
 
I'll preface with the fact that it's your rifle and your money, so if it makes you happy go with it.

That being said, from what I can find the Dagger Defense and Tacticon optics are made in China. The companies appear to be US owned, but they likely source the optics from a Chinese manufacturer.

That is not to say they're bad, because I don't know if they are or aren't. Really, basically any optic under $200 is very likely to be made in China with a few exceptions. The Primary Arms, Sig, Swampfox, and Bushnell mentioned so far are all Chinese-made too I believe. The Sightmark I mentioned is as well. The difference is those larger companies tend to have a longer track record as far as customer service and product quality goes and also generally are able to have more oversight on quality control.

Like I said, your dollar to spend, your rifle, and your life, so I won't tell you what to do. Just want to give you the most information possible to make your decision.

And for the record, I'm a budget optic guy. The only optic I spent more than $200 on was my night vision, which I recently traded for a Vortex Viper. That Viper is worth at least 3x more than any other optic I own.
Thanks. I was just relaying what I know about the companies and yes, I suspected they were both made in China. Part of my problem is I'm on a budget so I have to find the best I can within that budget, anything over a hundred bucks is really, really stretching it.
 
Thanks. I was just relaying what I know about the companies and yes, I suspected they were both made in China. Part of my problem is I'm on a budget so I have to find the best I can within that budget, anything over a hundred bucks is really, really stretching it.

Ya, believe me I understand. I'm a budget optic guy out of necessity rather than choice, haha. My first optic was a Bushnell TRS-25 that I bought for $65 back in the day. It's a tube style not open, but hard to beat for the price. You can't get them that cheap any more but still under $100 I believe. I am intrigued by that Sightmark I mentioned, it looks like decent quality but don't have any personal experience with that specific optic. I will say that Sightmark's customer service was a good experience for me, though I dealt with the LE/Mil side of things since I ordered mine direct for a discount.
 
Ya, believe me I understand. I'm a budget optic guy out of necessity rather than choice, haha. My first optic was a Bushnell TRS-25 that I bought for $65 back in the day. It's a tube style not open, but hard to beat for the price. You can't get them that cheap any more but still under $100 I believe. I am intrigued by that Sightmark I mentioned, it looks like decent quality but don't have any personal experience with that specific optic. I will say that Sightmark's customer service was a good experience for me, though I dealt with the LE/Mil side of things since I ordered mine direct for a discount.
I've been reading some independent reviews on Sightmark and the customer service reviews are mixed at best........ Probably the difference between the pro side vs the civilian side.
Believe it or not the little $22 Pinty I have on it now is nice and has held up well but it's just too small, basically the same thing I'm afraid with the Bushnell TRS-25. Initially I considered putting a magnifier behind it but wasn't sure how well that would work.
 
I've been reading some independent reviews on Sightmark and the customer service reviews are mixed at best........ Probably the difference between the pro side vs the civilian side.
Believe it or not the little $22 Pinty I have on it now is nice and has held up well but it's just too small, basically the same thing I'm afraid with the Bushnell TRS-25. Initially I considered putting a magnifier behind it but wasn't sure how well that would work.

Ya, I would put any of the other brands mentioned by myself and others ahead of Sightmark, they just happened to be one with a reflex style where all the others are tube style.
 
The two open reflex sights I first mentioned are veteran owned, US made with very good independent reviews including great customer service and lifetime warranties which is why I considered them. I never go fully with Amazon reviews because they can't always be trusted, made that mistake early on which is why I have that cheap Pinty. The CVLife ones (aside from their open reflex which is good mostly for small caliber) also have good independent reviews for budget scopes.

I would still go with one of the big name companies that I mentioned earlier. They have a proven track record for their quality and for excellent customer service. Both are very important. And yes I get being on a tight budget. But I have been down that road before buying cheap stuff (too include the cheap TruGlo optics sold at Cabela's or cheap optics at gun shows. I am just trying to save you time and headaches.
 
704 Tactical used to do torture tests on cheap optics, like those $20 Chineseum jobs.

The Field sport branded red dot (only red dots) fared rather well.

I think they are $20.

Most of those cheap Chinese optics are all the same with different brands painted on them. It's the luck of the draw if yours will work ok.

The stock images will have distorted photos to make them look different.

But they are all the same.

I bought like 5 of them in the past. All different brands. They were all identical.

If you can swing it, the $100-150 range will get you something significantly nicer
 
Here is the Swampfox Optics Liberator with choice of red or green circle dot reticle.

https://www.swampfoxoptics.com/liberator

It comes with both a low rise mount and an absolute cowitnesss mount. List price is $129. But if you qualify for Swampfox's MIL/LEO discount, you can get it for $90.30.

Or you can step up to the Liberator II 2MOA dot with shake to wake feature for $169 or $118.30 with MIL/LEO discount.

https://www.swampfoxoptics.com/liberator-II

Both Liberator version come in a choice of red or green reticle. You have to buy directly from Swampfox to get their MIL/LEO discount.

Swampfox Optics has a no questions asked 50,000 round guarantee on all of their optics plus great customer service.
 
Here is the Swampfox Optics Liberator with choice of red or green circle dot reticle.

https://www.swampfoxoptics.com/liberator

It comes with both a low rise mount and an absolute cowitnesss mount. List price is $129. But if you qualify for Swampfox's MIL/LEO discount, you can get it for $90.30.

Or you can step up to the Liberator II 2MOA dot with shake to wake feature for $169 or $118.30 with MIL/LEO discount.

https://www.swampfoxoptics.com/liberator-II

Both Liberator version come in a choice of red or green reticle. You have to buy directly from Swampfox to get their MIL/LEO discount.

Swampfox Optics has a no questions asked 50,000 round guarantee on all of their optics plus great customer service.
Thanks but I went with the Bushnell RSX 100.
 
Ya, believe me I understand. I'm a budget optic guy out of necessity rather than choice, haha. My first optic was a Bushnell TRS-25 that I bought for $65 back in the day. It's a tube style not open, but hard to beat for the price. You can't get them that cheap any more but still under $100 I believe. I am intrigued by that Sightmark I mentioned, it looks like decent quality but don't have any personal experience with that specific optic. I will say that Sightmark's customer service was a good experience for me, though I dealt with the LE/Mil side of things since I ordered mine direct for a discount.

The TRS-25 was going for $64 shipped right before Christmas of 2021 on the Bushnell "factory" website. I snagged one. It's my third and what I'd call generation 2.5 or 3 of the Bushnell TRS-25 line. It's got some improvements over the older versions, but also has some cost cutting features compared to my older versions. All three made in China, of course.
 
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