Anyone satisfied with a cheap red dot?

Status
Not open for further replies.
The Vortex Strikefire is $150 and is quite good. I have one, I like it, it's not far off from a real Aimpoint (though it isn't quite there).

I have not seen anything below that price that I thought was good for much beyond casual plinking. I have a Tru-Glo on a .22 that isn't bad, but I don't know that I would buy it again.

Dot vs. 4x is not only a cost issue but how you want to shoot. I'd decide that first, then look at options in your price range.
 
I am happy with the Tasco ProPoint.

The battery life is many hours, but its not anything like an Aimpoint (a few days heavy use Vs. a YEAR+) . I don't like that it takes button cell batteries, and the included Tasco rings are crap.

What I like is that it uses standard 30mm scope rings, so you can get quality mounts no problem; I set mine in Millet rings. It also includes multiple extension tubes to fit various gun types and reciever lengths, as well as a tinded accessory lense for use in brite light. The ProPoint has served well on semi-auto .22s, an AR-15, and a Savage bolt action.

It runs about $90.

Bushnell makes a similar products in the "trophy" line, but it cost more, and doesnt include the tube extensions.
 
Last edited:
I have a BSA 30mm for rimfire/airguns. It was worth getting for the novelty of never having a red dot. It's just a cheap clone like all the others in its class. The dot doesn't get bright enough for full sunlight and the dot isn't exactly round, but it still works after two years.

I'm happier with aperture sights it turns out.
 
I have a Bushnell trophy, and Millet sp-1 on two .22lr plinker pistols and they are both pretty good and I got each for less than $75. I also have a tru glow on a high point carbine and it's pretty decent too.

If I were looking to go with a quality red dot that's more affordable than the Trijicon, Aimpoint, or Eotech, I would go with an Ultra Dot. They are far better than any of cheaper red dots.

http://www.ultradotwest.com/index.htm
 
The CenterPoint Red Dot is solid for only $50 and the TruGlo units work pretty good as well. But Wouldn't trust them for much more than hunting / plinking.
 
I have been thoroughly impressed with my Primary Arms M3. I'm doing another AR build, piece by piece, that's going to consist of the absolute best components I can find that make an actual difference (total price tag about $3200), and I'm still going to be going with a PA of some variation, likely either their M4 or Micro model. :)
 
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/58064-34.html

For $120, this is an amazing deal. I've had it on my WASR-10 for the last 6 months, and through about 3,000 rounds of 7.63x39mm, it hasn't lost it's zero. I havent had a problem with battery life yet, and from reading reviews, no one else has either. As reference, it is mounted on a UTG side rail system (http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/AKS006-6.html) which is a pretty sturdy sight rail.

The optic has 4 different reticles to chose from and 2 colors (red and green) with adjustable brightness. The lense hasn't given me any fogging issues, and the attached lense covers do their job.

I don't feel right putting a $500 optic on a $350 rifle, so for all my budget firearm needs, I will definitely come back to this.
 
I have tried most of the eotech clones out there, and I would say right now, all have been crap. The only 2 that seem to be any good, and be able to handle any recoil whatsoever, is the vortex, and the sightmark sites.
I do not know about the primary arms, because I was avoiding the ' round tube' types, but that does look promising. On the round tube types, I have used many of those as well, a few years back; most of these have been total crap as well. I did hwoever, have some good luck with the Bushnell clone, that ran about 150 bucks or thereabouts.
 
I have to say I had a $50 Leapers red dot, and it worked just fine for quite some time. An inexpensive red dot,(cheaper than EOTech by far), that I like better that the Leapers is the C-More.
 
Ok, since no one asked: what's the intended use? Mission determines gear selection. Is this just plinking? Or are we talking defensive use? If it is 'just' plinking (nothing wrong with that), you can pick a lot of stuff...heard good things about Vortex and Lucid. If this is a go-to gun, save your money until you can afford an Aimpoint. Period.

Mike
 
What are those ones that pistol people use?
Click to expand...

As has been pointed out by others, Bullseye shooters usually are running Ultradot scopes. IPSC Open Class shooters tend to run C-Mores, though I've seen some running JPoints. Also the Aimpoint Micro series of dot scopes are showing up more and more.

If you're looking for a budget scope, consider looking at the Burris Fastfire.

However, Coronach gives good advice on the Aimpoints. They're spendy, but worth the money.
 
A big +1 to Primary Arms.

Great optics, great quality, super fast shipping, and a pretty good product lineup at good prices.
 
another vote for the strikefire. I had one of the red/green combos and it wasnt bright enough in bright light but they took it back and sent me the red only one and its been great. I even had it on the beowulf for 300 rounds to see if it would hold up and it did fine. Its now on my ar22 smith where it will stay forever. Only thing i see my aimpoints doing better is they have better battery life and i dont care for the auto shut off on the vortex. My thoughts are that im not so stupid as to not turn it off and when i want it on i want it on and i dont want it deciding to shut off on its own about the time i really need it. But for a 150 bucks compared to 500 for an aimpoint its a real bargin. Nice thing about them compared to the clones is that they have a lifetime no bs warantee and ive delt with them on mine and they bent over backwards to help me.
 
I guess it depends on what you are putting it on. I had a Tasco on my Hi-Point 995 Carbine and loved it. A buddy of mine had the same one on his AK and never had an issue with it.
 
I have a tasco prppoint on my 44 mag pistol. It came this way to me, and it seems to hold zero pretty well. It was made in Japan. It is freakin huge though, and I want to replace it.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

T
  • Locked
Vortex SPARC Red Dot Scope
2
Replies
45
Views
2K
Litefoot
L
N
  • Locked
Cheap red dots
Replies
8
Views
585
CWL
C
G
  • Locked
AR-15 Red Dot
Replies
16
Views
873
kfgk14
K
L
  • Locked
Red-dot for M1a forward mount rail, best?
Replies
9
Views
1K
Lucky
L
S
  • Locked
Red Dot or Holographic Sight Recommendations for WASR-10?
Replies
6
Views
1K
jackdanson
J
Back
Top