The Confusing World of Red Dots

[DDDWho]

I’ve been running the same Bushnell TRS 25 on various guns for the past 8 years, I’ve grown accustomed to it and it works well for me. As I acquire more guns I decided I need another red dot. This time I thought I might try a reflex. It seems you can’t find anything with a decent review for less than $200. I think I want waterproof and shockproof. Mounting these high end sights seems to be a crapshoot that I don’t understand. I continued my research this morning when I noticed Amazon lowered the price of the TRS 25 by $5. since yesterday, $65 for a waterproof/shockproof sight with outstanding reviews was hard to pass up, so I didn’t. I put the reflex off till another time

 

[Space Ghost]

I'm not a wealthy man by any means. Hell, I'm living off VA disability... but even so, I could never stand to be moving a single sight from gun to gun for years on end, having to constantly re-zero every time... I just put one on every gun I want one on. I have one "good" red dot (Aimpoint) on my SHTF gun, but the rest are what I call "good enough" red dots. These are all Sig Romeo 5. These can normally be found for around $150. ($100 when I first started getting them) I have them on an AR pistol, and SBR, a .44 mag lever gun, a custom Lee Enfield No4 Mk1 "tanker", and my son's Mosin M44.

Consider what a sight allows you to do with your firearm. Put the bullet where it needs to go. (the entire reason for having it) Add to that the fact that nothing is faster than a red dot sight, and that it is an electronic device. It increases your effectiveness, but it has to be rugged enough to withstand any abuse it may get in the field. Taking bangs, getting dropped, bounced around in a vehicle, weather swings from mid summer to the depth of winter... A sight is the very LAST thing to save money on in a weapon system. It's where you splurge. Rather a good sight on a crap weapon, than the other way around. I'm not gonna say that the Sig Romeo 5 is top of the line, but I will say I wouldn't trust anything lessor, and I sure as hell wouldn't want to be needing a weapon, and have to swap over the sight at the last minute...

Consider investing on a sight for each...


Here is a video review on the Romeo 5. I didn't see it until after I got the first one, but it helped me decide to buy the rest....
The guy even blasts it with a shotgun... and it survives.

 

[DDDWho]

I first put the TRS 25 on a Mini 14. After a period of time of killing critters in my yard and beyond I decided something with magnification would be better. I moved the TRS to a 10/22 which was also replaced with a scope. The TRS has been on a Mark III 22/45 for about 4 years now making some very good shots too I must say. In the last 2 years I’ve acquired a Mark IV Competition and a S&W 41 (both 22s) which are screaming for some sort of optics. Perhaps I’m not sensitive enough but I can find no fault with the TRS 25

 

[12Bravo20]

I'm not much on using a micro reflex sight on a rifle. I use them on quite a few pistols though. I prefer the tube type sights on shotguns and rifles.

 

[tomrkba]

Everything you need to know is here:

Sage Dynamics' white paper:
https://1312bba5-e7e7-76e8-1fca-a01...d/7dc128_65844d9baead41afab8bfabb23e912fa.pdf

Karl Renn's Red Dot study:
https://blog.krtraining.com/red-dot-study-key-points/

 

[CapnMac]

Went looking (before the THR crash) and Bushnell is selling the TRS 25 direct for $80--and that's sore tempting.

 

[DDDWho]

Went looking (before the THR crash) and Bushnell is selling the TRS 25 direct for $80--and that's sore tempting.

Amazon has it for $65 and change. https://www.amazon.com/Bushnell-Tro...hild=1&keywords=trs+25.&qid=1628185932&sr=8-3

 

[CapnMac]

Amazon has it for $65 and change

Sadly, though, not all Amazon listings are as legitimate as they appear--I'm burned one too many time with the Big A.
Your Mileage May vary.

 

[bassjam]

I've picked up three TRS-25's from Amazon back when they were below $50, and all are still running great. Two of them are 9 years old, the other I bought in 2018, so it goes without saying I think they're a great value even at $65. At $80, I might also consider the Romeo 5 if you can find one in the low $100 range. I have 2 of them, they seem to be built a little more solidly.

 

[DDDWho]

I've picked up three TRS-25's from Amazon back when they were below $50, and all are still running great. Two of them are 9 years old, the other I bought in 2018, so it goes without saying I think they're a great value even at $65. At $80, I might also consider the Romeo 5 if you can find one in the low $100 range. I have 2 of them, they seem to be built a little more solidly.

. I had a store credit built up, I ended up paying right at $50 for the one I just ordered. My first one from Amazon was in 2013. Discounts and credit card application brought that one down lower than that.