Tube or Open Style Red Dot Sights?

[Ben86]

After finally getting a flat top receiver for my AR I plan to but a red dot sight on it. However, I can't decide whether I want to go with an open type like this:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=179627

or a tube type sight such as this:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=586644

Has anyone used both? If so how do they compare?

 

[wally]

Tube type.

I've had near universal good results with cheap tube type red dots, universally bad luck with the reflex type that cost less than the ~$225 of the J-Point or Fastfire sights.

 

[SN13]

Tube Red dots.... I've owned expensive both and cheap both. the cheap tubes work ok, the cheap reflex do not.

The best VALUE Tube red-dot i have used is the Vortex Strikefire $140ish.

That'd be my suggestion for best value red-dot.

 

[AK103K]

Tube, and specifically, one of the Aimpoints.

 

[benzy2]

I'd look at Sightron for a red dot. $150 for a Japan made red dot with sunshades and kill flash if you are into them. Not an Aimpoint, but in the $150 range, I'd put it up against anything out there. The Vortex gets good reviews as well, but the difference in country of origin made the choice for me of the two. I've just tasted too many bad China made optics to trust Vortex.

 

[mc223]

Reflex is my preference. Specifically C-More.

 

[wally]

Reflex is my preference. Specifically C-More.

C-more is great but well over 3X the price of what the OP was looking at, in his price range tube type is the way to go.

The Vortex is great too, but again 2X what the OP was looking at. There are a llot of serviceable tube type sights in his price range, Truglow and Sightmark come to mind.

If you can spring for an Aimpoint or EOtech, no problem, but a lot of folks just want something that works under benign conditions so they can have money left over for ammo.

 

[TexAg]

So far, I've really liked my Fastfire II on my 336ss.

 

[CJS06]

Check out Primary Arms Aimpoint Type red dots. I got one as a fill in until I could get another Aimpoint for an AR build had just completed. Months and over 1.5k of rounds later I still have the M3 on top. I have a couple of friends that use their Aimpoint Micro type units as well. Dont get me wrong, they are not Aimpoints, but for the $$$ the OP is talking about they are fantastic. I prefer my Aimpoint PRO now on 2 other rifles, but I'm in no rush to"get rid of" the PA unit.

 

[Ben86]

I take it tube types are easier to produce more cheaply. They seem like a sturdier design. So unless I want to spend more $ I should stick with the tube type to get a decent product.

I've got a tube type Tasco Propoint I got at Walmart for $35 on my Ruger 10/22 and have been completely satisfied with it. It has red and green dots at 5 different brightness settings and keeps it's zero very well. It's also very battery efficient. I changed the battery out after 2 years just because it started to look a tiny bit dimmer than usual.

I don't plan on putting a Tasco on an AR, but I'd like to not spend more than $50-100 because I've already got to spend money to get the flat top receiver and BUIS. My wife keeps me on a tight leash. It seems like there are some decent sights out there even in my modest price range though.

 

[Sunray]

Hi. Most red dot sights have a dot that is too big for accurate rifle shooting. A 2 or 3 MOA dot will cover the entire black of a standard target at 100.

 

[madcratebuilder]

A reflex like the Primary Arms Micro Dot works for me chasing sage rats on the move. The tube style red dots didn't work for me as well. A lot is personal preference. The tube styles do have a large dot that can obscure small targets.

I have had a few of the low cost import reflex and tube style that have had the LED fail, plus battery life can be short. So far the $75 Primary arms micro has exceeded expectations.

 

[ugaarguy]

A reflex like the Primary Arms Micro Dot works for me chasing sage rats on the move. The tube style red dots didn't work for me as well. A lot is personal preference. The tube styles do have a large dot that can obscure small targets.

Ummm, the Primary Arms Micro Dot is a tube style red dot. Dot size isn't dependent upon tube or reflex: You can get various dot sizes in either.

Hi. Most red dot sights have a dot that is too big for accurate rifle shooting. A 2 or 3 MOA dot will cover the entire black of a standard target at 100.

Good quality red dots hold zero, have repeatable adjustments, and are just as accurate as the rifle & trigger puller will allow them to be, within their dot size limitation. That said, they aren't intended for precision shooting. They're intended for rapid acquisition with combat accuracy.

 

[MistWolf]

Hi. Most red dot sights have a dot that is too big for accurate rifle shooting. A 2 or 3 MOA dot will cover the entire black of a standard target at 100.

The black of a standard target is only 2-3 inches??

 

[sheepdog2]

I prefer not to do anything cheap. Expessally with a gun that i might be trusting my life one day. I have a Stag Model 2T that i picked up at Lincoln Tactical. i also got an eotech 512.A65 its not cheap but well worth the money. and i love the view its great for room clearing.
http://www.lincolntactical.net
http://www.lincolntactical.net/categories/OPTICS-&-LASERS/Holographic/