Reflex/compact sight under 200?

I'm looking to put a secondary sight next to my 6-24 viper pst. For coyotes, they like to either be really far away or sneak up on you so I'm thinking I'll either put a 45° or side mount on my rings. Here is a good visual of what I'm thinking about.

Basically I don't need a super super sight, but I want it to be a compact sight. Needs to be open so a reflex sight like a vortex viper red dot or eotech 512. I was looking at those and decided I shouldn't spend 4-500 on something that is limited use. I just need it to perform reliably a few times a season.

 

Primary Arms offers a small reflex sight that may suit your needs. I don't have any personal experience with it, but other PA red dots I've owned have been pretty nice. Here's PA's red dot page.
https://www.primaryarms.com/Primary_Arms_s/586.htm

 

So I have to exclude primary arms. They looked promising, but I very quickly found that one reflex version will not work in low light reliably if at all. The other one is not shotgun compatible. I will very likely be using it on a shotgun loaded with slugs some times. Do I need to...no, but I want the capability.

I'm looking pretty hard at burris fast fire iii now. Seems like the only real solution. They are a little higher but if you have some thing at relatively the same quality for less, id love to hear it. It's simply cheaper to buy something that will last then several items that don't

 

Great deal! Mossberg 500. If I go sabots, then my rifled barrel has a weaver or picatinny. If I'm shooting fosters, I can get a base as the receiver is drilled and tapped

 

If you aren't stuck on the "reflex" part, the Primary Arms MD-ADS micro is under $200, has a 5 yr battery life, and is small and light enough that they (and Aimpoint micros) are mounted as secondary sights all the time.

 

Primary Arms Advanced Microdot for sure. The best RDS under $400, in my opinion. Functionally identical to my Aimpoint Micro H2.

 

The reason I want a reflex style sight is the sight picture is more open. I looked at POV through both the fastfire III and PA Micro and the micro has a pretty thick frame around the FOV. The fastfire seems like it just has a thin frame around the sight picture.

 

Were you looking through them both eyes open? The Fastfire III looks like it is $215 on Amazon, that may be the way to go, I thought they cost over $300.

 

I wont own a a sight with an external emitter or a auto-shutoff. External emitters can turn your dot into a blob in the rain/snow. Primary Arms Advanced model has the same battery life as my Aimpoint and a super low profile emitter that gives a great sight picture.

 

I'm with Jackal for rifles, the tube type red dots are much more robust, especially in the under ~$300 price range. The smaller "reflex" type are usually the way to go when mounted to the slide of a handgun, but then the FastFires are the low-end as anything that costs less has not held up in my experience.

A fellow at our club ran one of the low end tube type Primary Arms (MDS-09?) sights on a Catamont 12ga (Siaga-like) and it seemed to hold up well -- he ran several hundred rounds at the steel plates while I was shooting next to him.

 

There is a very thorough review here of the Sightmark M-Spec

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4fGYr2xFh8

I like the idea of this one because it's made of magnesium and is waterproof. I don't have one but based on this video I may get one (seen them for under $150).

 

What about the Vortex Spitfire prismatic optic? I have a Leupold Prismatic and really like the fact it functions without illumination in the daytime and find it to be very accurate at the 100 yard mark. PSA has them for $199 right now.

 

I have a Vortex Viper PST 2.5-10x32 FFP, and the FastFire II on a 45 degree mount.

The FastFire II fits your price requirement, but the FastFire III is worth the extra money - it addresses the only complaint i have about the FastFire II - the II has auto-adjust brightness only, the III has auto-adjust plus three preset brightnesses. I like my dot brighter than most folks. The battery on the III can be changed without removing the sight, as well.

FastFire II:
MPN: 300232
http://www.opticsplanet.com/burris-fastfire-w-picatinny-mount-4-moa-dot-mat-fastfire-sight.html

FastFire III:
Reticle: 3 MOA
Attachment/ Mount Type: Picatinny Mount
MPN: 300234

Reticle: 8 MOA
Attachment/ Mount Type: Picatinny Mount
MPN: 300236

http://www.opticsplanet.com/burris-fastfire-iii-red-dot-reflex-sight-w-optional-picatinny-mount.html

I use the Weaver Offset Rail Adapter:

http://www.opticsplanet.com/weaver-offset-rail-adapter.html

Perfect height for me to roll the rifle without breaking my cheek weld and have the dot come up right where the riflescope reticle was (Magpul MOE stock)

Mark H.