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Posted: 6/22/2016 1:50:53 AM EDT
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Hey guys,
I just bought an AR15 and would like some recommendations for red dot sights under $400? Thank you. |
| Primary Arms ADS, Holosun in whatever flavor interests you, or Bushnell TRS-25. Assuming you are looking for a Micro Red Dot and not something the size of an Aimpoint M2 or M4. If you are looking for one that size I think Primary Arms carries one that size also. |
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I'm very happy with my Holosuns.
I like the "circle-dot" reticle, which is similar to the Eotech 512/552 reticle, only sharp, not grainy. The various Holosun HS 5xx have this type of reticle, and all can switch the circle off if you prefer the dot-only. I have the HS 515C on my AR-15's. Check out the features. The 503C and 515C have solar cells on top which give automatic brightness adjustment of the reticle. If you don't like the auto, these sights can be set to manual brightness adjustment. I have a HS 503FL on my Mini-14. It lacks the auto brightness feature, no solar cell. These all have very long battery life... 2-5 YEARS. Common CR2035 "coin" battery. |
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For $424 shipped you can get the Trijicon MRO w/your choice of factory mounts at ArmsUnlimited.com: https://www.armsunlimited.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=trijicon+mro&Submit=Go
Tomac |
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For that price, primary arms MD-ADS, Holosun, or Vortex.
Pick the one you like the features of the best. P.A. MD-ADS will be the cheapest, it's also the most tested. Vortex is also a good choice, a little more spendy.....a little more refined looking in general. The P.A. is more basic, but like I said...the MD-ADS has been put through the ringer and came out working at the end. It also has a longer battery life than Vortex's products. Vortex has some sights that use AAA batteries, which some find preferable....even given the battery life being shorter issue. Just depends. I've got both P.A. and vortex, and they both are good, well made, and reliable so far. I'd buy another of either if given the chance. |
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The highest quality red dot in that price range is the proven duty grade Aimpoint PRO.
But, it is relatively heavy and bulky. If you want smaller and lighter, and don't need constant use reliability duty grade there are the various microdots listed above and also mini reflex sights that are even smaller and lighter. Of the micro dots, it is hard to beat the Bushnell TRS-25 in that price range. Be sure the one you buy has the emitter diode off to the side at the 4 o'clock location. The original was that way, then they moved it down to 6 o'clock for a while. Those have a "disappearing dot" phenomenon in which the dot is not visible at the top of the ocular at extreme angles. That has since been fixed with the emitter back in the 4 o'clock position. This is a very good, inexpensive general purpose red dot at barely $100. Of the even smaller mini reflexes, the tried and true Burris Fastfire 3 is my favorite in that price range.. with a Picatinney mount and riser it will come in at about $225. They are commonly used mounted low on shotguns, and have been for years, handling heavy recoil reliably. I used one for some time on my AR carbine until I went with a duty grade motion activated Leupold DP Pro mini reflex and moved the Fastfire to my tactical shotgun. Seriously consider a mini reflex as your primary sight on your AR with the appropriate riser. They provide an unobstructed view around the optic and are fast, light and unlucky keeping your rifle's center of gravity low. They weigh less than two ounces. You can QD mount these (ADM makes several mounts for such optics) and still stay under $400. |
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I too am seeking a red dot in the 3-500 range. I guess I could go cheaper too if I needed to. I do plan to purchase 2-3 of them.
All I have is a list of stuff I have ruled out so far: MRO - the minor bit of magnification is a recipe for instant migraine if I look at it with both eyes open. Aimpoint PRO, no confidence in that clamp mount. Any other recommends out there? |
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I too am seeking a red dot in the 3-500 range. I guess I could go cheaper too if I needed to. I do plan to purchase 2-3 of them. All I have is a list of stuff I have ruled out so far: MRO - the minor bit of magnification is a recipe for instant migraine if I look at it with both eyes open. Aimpoint PRO, no confidence in that clamp mount. Any other recommends out there? Huh? |
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I too am seeking a red dot in the 3-500 range. I guess I could go cheaper too if I needed to. I do plan to purchase 2-3 of them. All I have is a list of stuff I have ruled out so far: MRO - the minor bit of magnification is a recipe for instant migraine if I look at it with both eyes open. Aimpoint PRO, no confidence in that clamp mount. Any other recommends out there? Huh? Yeah! There are reasons to select a different red dot (size, weight, style, etc.), but the PRO mount ain't one of them. |
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I too am seeking a red dot in the 3-500 range. I guess I could go cheaper too if I needed to. I do plan to purchase 2-3 of them. All I have is a list of stuff I have ruled out so far: MRO - the minor bit of magnification is a recipe for instant migraine if I look at it with both eyes open. Aimpoint PRO, no confidence in that clamp mount. Any other recommends out there? I've owned both. Odd statement about not trusting the Pro's mount. It's completely fine. It's just a bulky AF optic. Not really heavy just takes up a lot of real-estate for a 1x (for my liking). Otherwise it's a great optic. The MRO didn't work for my vision. Recommend heavy research for the OP if he's looking into it. Keep an eye on EE. I recently got an AimpPoint H1 for $400 without the mount. RMR's aren't bad for rifles either. Those are around 400 to 500 in the EE. And, beyond the popular hate, EoTechs are still good optics. I've run one overseas without issues and currently have an XPS2 mounted on a paper killer. No issues, just short(ish) battery life. Might be able to snag one for a low price with all the panic (yes, i know they aren't trustworthy because they tried to cover it up, but their optics will work for most individuals) Happy hunting! |
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Might be able to snag one for a low price with all the panic (yes, i know they aren't trustworthy because they tried to cover it up, but their optics will work for most individuals) Not to pick on you personally, but is it anyone's honest belief that in ten years of combat use, multiple models, generations, competitions, downselects, and millions upon millions of rounds downrange in training and combat that no one from USSOCOM, JSOC, or anyone else in the DoD, or any other allied military noticed until just last year right as the DoJ was about to announce that the FBI had decided to go with an Aimpoint model? ~Augee |
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Not to pick on you personally, but is it anyone's honest belief that in ten years of combat use, multiple models, generations, competitions, downselects, and millions upon millions of rounds downrange in training and combat that no one from USSOCOM, JSOC, or anyone else in the DoD, or any other allied military noticed until just last year right as the DoJ was about to announce that the FBI had decided to go with an Aimpoint model? ~Augee Quoted:
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Might be able to snag one for a low price with all the panic (yes, i know they aren't trustworthy because they tried to cover it up, but their optics will work for most individuals) Not to pick on you personally, but is it anyone's honest belief that in ten years of combat use, multiple models, generations, competitions, downselects, and millions upon millions of rounds downrange in training and combat that no one from USSOCOM, JSOC, or anyone else in the DoD, or any other allied military noticed until just last year right as the DoJ was about to announce that the FBI had decided to go with an Aimpoint model? ~Augee You aren't picking on me, sounds more like agreeing. Their optics get BASHED on this site and unrightfully so IMO. They're proven optics which have worked for me personally in some shit situations. They did however cover up a known issue - apparently.... (Sorry to sort of hijack this thread) |
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You aren't picking on me, sounds more like agreeing. Their optics get BASHED on this site and unrightfully so IMO. They're proven optics which have worked for me personally in some shit situations. They did however cover up a known issue - apparently.... (Sorry to sort of hijack this thread) Quoted:
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Might be able to snag one for a low price with all the panic (yes, i know they aren't trustworthy because they tried to cover it up, but their optics will work for most individuals) Not to pick on you personally, but is it anyone's honest belief that in ten years of combat use, multiple models, generations, competitions, downselects, and millions upon millions of rounds downrange in training and combat that no one from USSOCOM, JSOC, or anyone else in the DoD, or any other allied military noticed until just last year right as the DoJ was about to announce that the FBI had decided to go with an Aimpoint model? ~Augee You aren't picking on me, sounds more like agreeing. Their optics get BASHED on this site and unrightfully so IMO. They're proven optics which have worked for me personally in some shit situations. They did however cover up a known issue - apparently.... (Sorry to sort of hijack this thread) Somewhat true. Covering up the fact that a 50 degree change in ambient temperature could cause a POI shift + degassing issues + battery life (not that they covered up the last 2)......that's not really what I call a reliable 1x optic. Sure, they are durable....but the Aimpoint m4 is more durable. They are cheaper, but they are also cheaper because they have an image problem. The fact that they aren't cheaper than they are now is actually surprising to me. I expected them to drop to 2-300 for a while just to get people to buy them and have their friends want one too. The only 2 advantages the eotech has are the more open view (which isn't as unique as it once was) and the circle-dot amateur (which is also available from other vendors now). If eotech would update their stuff, take care of the POI shift issue, and build their name back up by really getting people to test them and post it on the net (advertising cost).....they would have something. But right now, they aren't anything special. Doesn't mean you can't like yours........but they get bashed, rightfully so for what they are.....mediocre. I used to have one, and I used to like it quite a lot. But after moving on, I have found that while the eotech I had was once a damn good optic...optics have moved on and eotech hasn't. |
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Yeah! There are reasons to select a different red dot (size, weight, style, etc.), but the PRO mount ain't one of them. Quoted:
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I too am seeking a red dot in the 3-500 range. I guess I could go cheaper too if I needed to. I do plan to purchase 2-3 of them. All I have is a list of stuff I have ruled out so far: MRO - the minor bit of magnification is a recipe for instant migraine if I look at it with both eyes open. Aimpoint PRO, no confidence in that clamp mount. Any other recommends out there? Huh? Yeah! There are reasons to select a different red dot (size, weight, style, etc.), but the PRO mount ain't one of them. lol yeah what he said . I have had mine on a 458 socom , 50 beowulf and an akdal mk1919 12 guage shotgun . Nothing is wrong with the mount other than some people just want something different . favorite brand or they read it on arfcom . |
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lol yeah what he said . I have had mine on a 458 socom , 50 beowulf and an akdal mk1919 12 guage shotgun . Nothing is wrong with the mount other than some people just want something different . favorite brand or they read it on arfcom . Quoted:
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Things Huh? Yeah! There are reasons to select a different red dot (size, weight, style, etc.), but the PRO mount ain't one of them. lol yeah what he said . I have had mine on a 458 socom , 50 beowulf and an akdal mk1919 12 guage shotgun . Nothing is wrong with the mount other than some people just want something different . favorite brand or they read it on arfcom . I have a Aimpoint M3 which I'm pretty sure has a similar style of mount. A couple years ago I bapped my rifle pretty hard on something and the scope torqued itself about 90 degrees sideways. The M3 still works great and it was easy enough to correct, but I'd rather have something with a screw or something to keep it fixed in the mount. I'm perfectly willing to admit that I was probably the culprit in not getting the screws screwed hard enough. I'm also willing to observe that there's alot of aimpoint pros out there and not alot of complaints about this happening. I should probably stop worrying and learn to love the PRO. |
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