Best Red Dot/Holo on a budget?

[arizona_cards_11]

Hey guys,

I've been looking for something new to throw on an AR and simply can't get a straight answer. I'm looking for a good red dot/holo that won't cost a fortune but has a clear and defined reticle.

I only want something that is 1x, and it needs to be able to be used with a 3-4x magnifier at a later date.

I've thought about going with a used Bushnell HOLOsight if I can find one at a good price. Eotechs/Aimpoints are a bit out of my budget at this time. I know the old adage always stands true "Buy once. Cry once." BUT....I really can't justify anything in the Eotech price range.

Thanks

 

[Rail Driver]

I've got a BSA 30mm red dot that was mounted on the AR I used to own, it held zero and functioned as it should. Only complaint I have is that the dot has a very slight flare to the right on the brightest settings (the dot is projected onto the lens from the right).

out of 11 brightness settings, the only ones I've found that distort any are 8-11, however 6 or 7 is just right for all but the brightest of days, and at night 2 or 3 is perfect.

I paid $20 for the sight, I'm not sure what they run new.

 

[atomd]

The Vortex Strikefire comes with a magnifier. There's also primary arms stuff which people seem to like for really low budget gear. The bushnell holosight is similar to the eotech but it doesn't have the heavier duty shroud like the eotech. The mount is going to play a huge factor in your price point. Some come with halfway decent ones, some are sort of junky and some don't come with any. A good mount will add a lot to the price. The bushnell holosight might cost $100 more than the strikefire....but if you buy a better mount for the strikefire it's gonna be the same price anyways. If you buy a $250 optic with a crappy mount or no mount....you might as well just buy the eotech or something better to begin with because you'll spend the money down the road anyways.

I think you need to decide between a red dot or a holosight first. Also decide which moa size dot you want. That will really narrow down the selection. The eotech dot in the center is about 1moa whereas some red dots can be 2-4 or so.

 

[greyling22]

I can't tell you what you MUST get, but I can tell you what I've used.

1st off, my buddy's got a 3x red dot that he hates hates hates. so I stick to 1x and don't bother trying to magnify. that way I can blame the optic when I miss. so I've stuck to 1x cheap stuff.

I've got a truglo 30mm red dot on 2 AR's and 1 sks. they've worked great, though I need to turn the dot up to 10 or 11 in bright sun. the view through it is kind of greenish, but when you use both eyes open all you see is a red dot on target. it's a 5MOA dot, but I can put 20 out of 20 rounds in a coke can at 75 yds off a sandbag without trying hard. (yes I know that is nothing special, but if I can do it anyone can!)

you might take a look at this bushnell, though it's a little more. http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t.../en/common/search/search-box.jsp.form1&Go.x=0


also, I had to use a 1" riser on my flat op AR to get the correct sight picture using a red dot with integral mounts.

I've got a cheap tasco red dot on a ruger 10/22 that wanders some.

 

[GunsAreGood]

I bought a BSA Red Dot about a week ago. The thing broke after 50 shots. I was shooting .22's none the less. My friend had the same problem with BSA but it was a rifle scope not a red dot. I do not recommend BSA. I might of just got a bad one but I will not be buying any more BSA products.

 

[Plas62]

I bought a Vortex Sparc for my AR and really like it. You may want to take a look at those. They have asubfourm on AR15.com and the Vortex rep that posts to that fourm is very good about answering any questions you may have

 

[Pate]

I recently bought 2 Bushnell Trophy red dots. Very nice scope for $150.00.

 

[Ala Dan]

I have a Bushell HOLO-sight on my Colt CAR-15; and it works
as well as an EO Tech~! However, I understand that the EO
Tech folk's stopped selling these to Bushnell, cuz they were
priced well below the EO Tech's and very affordable~!