Red Dot Scope(sight)

[rodmkr]

Have never owned or used one!
Good or bad experiences with them?
Good one to try (entry level) or not?

rodmkr

 

[Rick H]

I have a holosun on one of my AR's. 2moa dot, co-witness with the irons 50,000 hour battery life. I like it. Want to use it for my night time calling rifle.
This is my first one, takes a bit getting used to it. It isn't for shooting little bitty groups but it is good enough for rapid hits on medium targets out to 300 yds or so. It takes a bit of time to convince yourself that where that dot is when the trigger breaks is where the round is going. Even when it is not centered in the window.

 

[MW65]

i have an older aimpoint m2 for rifle, and another japanese made red dot for my smith 41... they're great! Simplify the sight picture and allow for quick followup. What were you planning to use it for?

 

[Winelover]

Been using them since the mid 80's. Bow and gun. They excel in low light. Like anything in optics, you get what you pay for. My hunting arms, I use Trijicon/Armson red dots/reflexes. Don't care for batteries or manual operation/rheostats. I have a Sig Sauer Romeo 1(mini reflex) on that came equipped on a P320 compact pistol. I like it, good battery life, motion activation. Heard good things about their Romeo 5 (motion activated), which can be had for $150. Thinking about getting one for my X-bow. Holoson has a good reputation but none are fully automatic...........deal breaker for me. I'm spoiled.

I've destroyed Bushnell red dots on 44 Mags/45 LC's. YMMV.

 

[gman]

All of my red dots are UltraDots. Both the tube and reflex. I've had zero issue on any of them. Currently they are on the following. Ruger SRM 357 Maximum, Ruger SRH 44 Magnum, Ruger SBHH 44 Magnum and Ruger SBHB 480 Ruger. I do have an AR that wears a Aimpoint that the military was using at that time. Not sure the model as I have it on loan from my son. I've shot it a bit and it works very well. They are all fast to pick up the target especially like them on the handguns.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I have a few on various firearms. YES I like them. NO they are NOT AT ALL restricted to close range. A GOOD quality dot can reliably allow steel hits out past 300 + yards. Easy to shoot baseball groups at 200 yards.

They can be quite small too. Count me as a fan.

CW

 

[david s]

My complaint with red dot sights is going to sound pretty silly because it is. I cant break myself of the habit of wanting the little red dot in the center of the screen. If the dot is in the upper right corner of the screen but the dots on target every things still good to go. Except in my head. The red dot sights work fine my hard wired brain not so much.

 

[Brad]

Put a Vortex reflex sight on my wife’s 686. She shoots it much better now. Once you get used to them they are amazing.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

The better dots have much reduced and even eliminate parallax. The ones that have some paralax wont be accurate if the shooter dosent keep the dot in the same place. With a good quality dot the dot can be anywhere and you will hit the same Spot.

CW

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

 

[david s]

Mines a 20 year old JPOINT. I dont think they make these any more but the company is still around making AR parts. The problem isn't parallax or quality it's me. Nice Hogue's on your Colt.

 

[Cherokee]

What Rick H said - getting accustomed to the dot being anywhere in the window was hard for me. I have two Vortex that work fine and a CT I just bought to try out,

 

[smokeywolf]

Put a 2X-10X Sightron on Mrs. smokeywolf's relatively new 6.5 Grendel. Has a lighted red dot/reticle. Limited time on it/rounds thru it, she and boys like it very much.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

A lites reticule in a scope is one thing I never cotton to... I dont know cheapos blind ya better ines limit intencity better and also only light what needs lightin. But generally I have never seen the use and its somthing that can break.
In the airgun world is a big NO-NO as it WILL BREAK..



Love the Grendel!! I have a Bushnell Fordge 2.5-14 on a Bolt and had a 2.5-10 VX III on a MSR.
CW

 

[Winelover]

Lighted reticles also work like a conventional scope, if the light/battery fails. And yes, most red dot sights are too bright, quite a few, even at the lowest setting. I tend to seek out those that have a night vision setting, for when it's almost pitch dark. Not that I use night vision, but when conditions are just right, I'm able to pick up the dot.

I have Vortex Venom, mounted on 22/45 Lite. At times, it's way too bright, even at the lowest setting. The Sig Romeo 1 doesn't suffer from that affliction.............of course it also costs a bit more.

 

[Glaciers]

Just bought my first red dot, a Sig for the AR, but have not mounted it yet. 8 daylight settings and 2 night settings. I believe I will like it.

 

[smokeywolf]

And yes, most red dot sights are too bright, quite a few, even at the lowest setting.

Mrs. smokeywolf's Sightron has adjustable brightness on the red dot.

 

[Winelover]

All red dots, that I've ever run across, have adjustable brightness, except those that are fully automatic..........like Trijicon. The problem is that most manufacturers are going after the clients that use them in full sunlight. When you turn them down for low light, they are still too bright, affecting your normal night vision. That's the reason I gravitate to Trijicons. No batteries, no on/off switch, no rheostat to fiddle with, automatically adjust to ambient light conditions. Pick up the firearm and ready to shoot.

 

[dale2242]

I have red dots on my Ruger 22 autos.
Make sure you test it in bright daylight to see if the dot is bright enough.
I find green to work the best for me.

 

[Ian]

For non-critical tasks I prefer the affordable Bushnell TRS-25. Its lowest setting is almost invisible (but I suspect still too bright for intensifier tubes) and the highest setting is almost glowing coal bright and cuts through broad daylight easily.

Leupold's Delta Point reflex optic is okay but I like neither the reticle shape, color, or intensity. So far Holosun and Trijicon are my favirites, but for different reasons (John explained the high points of Trijicon). For handgun benchrest target shooting and ambush-type hunting I prefer an Ultradot.