Affordable red dot sights not made in China - Recommendations?

[gunsrfun1]

I recently bought a Primary Arms red dot sight for ~$80 to put on my Ruger 10/22. It seems decent (haven't used it yet), but of course, it's made in China.
I try to stay away from Chinese-made products if there are alternatives available, even if the non-Chinese product is "somewhat" more expensive.
After reading some news articles in the weekend edition of the Wall Street Journal, I am having even more qualms about putting a Chinese-made optic on my American gun.
So ... Can anyone recommend, based on personal experience, a red dot sight not made in China, with a 2 MOA dot, that is "somewhat" reasonably priced? I would like to keep it below $125, but I am flexible to some extent.
Tough question, I know. That's why I am asking you THR experts.
PS - Looking for a red dot sight, not a reflex sight.
Thanks

 

[Ohen Cepel]

$125 is a low price point.

Check Vortex, I don't think they will have American made at your price point but may have stuff from the Philippines or one of their other offshore sites.

Not sure if these guys make what you want, but worth a look. Different than a red dot but I think they are US made and meet your price point;
SeeAll - Tritium Gun Sights – SeeAll Sights (seeallopensight.com)

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Check out the Inrange TV series from a couple years ago titled 'American Made' on this very topic:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=inrange+tv+american+made

My recollection was that at the lower pricepoint end the SIGUSA Romeo series ended up doing pretty well.

 

[CapnMac]

Holosun makes a very good products. Closer to $200 than your target of $125; but the peer of sights running $300 and up.
That's my 2¢ for what that's worth.

My recollection was that at the lower pricepoint end the SIGUSA Romeo series ended up doing pretty well.

Most of the Romeos I have seen are over OP's target price point of $125--at the gun show yesterday, most were in the $230-240 range.

So, decent enough prices given the market, just more than OP's budget.

 

[mgmorden]

Holosun makes a very good products.

They are indeed good, but they're definitely made in China.

With Vortex you can likely get one made in the Phillipines and still get a good value.

Trijicon, EOTECH, and Leupold are made in the USA. Aimpoints are made in Sweden. All those cost a bit more though.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I went to look at the SeeAll Sight more just now. Promo of 40% off now and free shipping over $100. All US made. I have one of their sights and like it alright. Bit different, fast for me, but not precise. However, gonna give their rail sight a try given the current sale price of $60 or so.

 

[zaitcev]

I went to look at the SeeAll Sight more just now. ... All US made. I have one of their sights and like it alright. Bit different, fast for me, but not precise.

I like SeeAll too, but I would only buy one with tritium now. I have a non-lighted one and found that it does not work in the dusk or low light when irons are still discernable, barely. Another disadvantage of SeeAll, if one can call it that, is that it does not allow you to see lower than the POA. It can come in play if bullet drop becomes a factor.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

I like SeeAll too, but I would only buy one with tritium now. I have a non-lighted one and found that it does not work in the dusk or low light when irons are still discernable, barely. Another disadvantage of SeeAll, if one can call it that, is that it does not allow you to see lower than the POA. It can come in play if bullet drop becomes a factor.

I've owned a couple of tritium SeeAlls but I no longer use them on anything critical like my carry pistol. I had the compact model mounted on my Glock 19 for a short time. They seem reasonably rugged and under most lighting conditions they work well (delta reticle); however, I've found that the reticle can disappear entirely when the sight is shade at the same time the foreground is brightly lit (e.g. shooting at a target in daylight outside of a darkened room.) It's happened to me enough times now that I can't unreservedly trust the system. I've since switched to a Leupold Delta Point Micro -- if all else fails, that one doubles as a ghost aperture rear sight. The SeeAlls get used on .22 and air rifles now.

BTW, the SeeAll tritium illumination is functional but quite low contrast, and only effective in virtual darkness.

 

[DustyGmt]

$125 is a low price point.

Check Vortex, I don't think they will have American made at your price point but may have stuff from the Philippines or one of their other offshore sites.

Not sure if these guys make what you want, but worth a look. Different than a red dot but I think they are US made and meet your price point;
SeeAll - Tritium Gun Sights – SeeAll Sights (seeallopensight.com)

Never heard of these, look pretty interesting but it's unfortunate they don't take time to proofread their product description on their official website. I don't know why, but something small like a spelling error really shouldn't shake my faith in their ability to make a quality product as I'm sure they do, but it still sticks in my craw. Maybe I'll shoot em off a text so they can fix it....

From the website:

No waisted time lining anything up, or turning anything on, simply pull up, and put the delta point on what you want to hit.

 

[Guy48065]

Good luck finding a low-priced optic not made in China AND with electronics not made in China.
You pretty much have to compromise on one or both for under $500.

 

[DustyGmt]

Good luck finding a low-priced optic not made in China AND with electronics not made in China.
You pretty much have to compromise on one or both for under $500.

This is basically what I was thinking too. You're probably looking at $450 min for an optic free of china parts....

 

[zaitcev]

I don't know why, but something small like a spelling error really shouldn't shake my faith in their ability to make a quality product as I'm sure they do, but it still sticks in my craw.

Meanwhile, at Beretta:

 

[12Bravo20]

Good luck finding a low-priced optic not made in China AND with electronics not made in China.
You pretty much have to compromise on one or both for under $500.

I have to agree. It is going to be hard to find anything under $500 that does NOT have Chinese parts in it or totally made in China.

Politics aside. A lot of people have had good luck with Holosun and Swampfox Optics micro dot sights. Yes they are made in China but both companies have excellent warranties and also great customer service.

 

[Guy48065]

I never hear complaints about the made-in-China phones everyone loves. Lol
The simple fact is they're capable of producing useless garbage or excellent quality--and everything in between. Whatever the buyer requests.

I wanted a green dot reflex optic so that narrows the field significantly. Ended up buying an ADE optic off Amazon, aware that I could easily send it back for full refund if it turned out to be junk. It was junk.
Monday there was a Swampfox Sentinel on my porch. Haven't shot it yet.

 

[imac98374]

As many above have said, fortunately/unfortunately you get what you pay for.

I've heard it said: Price, quality, speed - pick 2.

I think the parallel in optics is: price, quality, not-made-in-china.

 

[starling]

Those see all sights look kinda neat for a target/range pistol. Kind of a modern version of the Nydar sights.

 

[12Bravo20]

I never hear complaints about the made-in-China phones everyone loves. Lol

And no one is complaining about their made in China desktop computers or laptops either.

Regardless of where a product is made, I look at three things; the quality of the product, warranty, and customer service.

 

[BigBL87]

And no one is complaining about their made in China desktop computers or laptops either.

Regardless of where a product is made, I look at three things; the quality of the product, warranty, and customer service.

That's kind of what it comes down to for me. I prefer optics not made in China, but it isn't a deal breaker for me. I currently own 1 optics of Chinese origin. Of the remaining optics, three are made in the Phillipines and one made in South Korea.

 

[sevt_chevelle]

I much prefer not buying products made in china, but often times you simply cant .

Sorry but as others said, you aren't buying anything under 125 and not be made anywhere other than china.

 

[Hookeye]

Isnt the Burris Fast Fite made in Phillipines?
Asking, as I dunno
Honked me off when I ordered some Signature Zee rings and package said MIC

 

[The Glockodile]

I don't know why, but something small like a spelling error really shouldn't shake my faith in their ability to make a quality product as I'm sure they do, but it still sticks in my craw.

While I like seeing proper labelling as much as the next guy...

It's kind of ironic seeing how poorly most of us good ole boys can't spell / punctuate / compose sentences on the various Forums.

We can, of course always fall back on the premise that not all of us forumati speak English as our native language

And as a side - note, depending on how old you are...

...we once exhibited the same sneer at products hailing from Japan, then later - Taiwan

...and they trump everything we make nowadays!

 

[Russ57]

Most of what is being mentioned are reflex sights and the OP stated he didn't want one.

FWIW I have been using the Ultradot brand on my target pistols for a long time and have always been very satisfied. I think they are now offering models for rifles. But you are going to be in the $300 range.

 

[DustyGmt]

Meanwhile, at Beretta:

View attachment 1108327

Is it the double "CORP". Otherwise I don't see the error. But that would be annoying, anything besides maybe the logo is all I want to see on my slide. Ruger is probably the worst with all their liability scrolls on every gun....

 

[Hookeye]

Tube style US made RDS.

Leupold Freedom.
1 moa dot.
34mm tube
The mount is heavy and beefy, IMHO too heavy even for putting on a AR.
View is small, see a lot of the body around it.
Battery life not as good as others

Had one, worked fine. But overall just doesnt cut it. Aimpoint PRO is what Ill get next.

I like RDS just fine. But having messed w a few reflex sights, I like them too

Light and small (reflex) the window effect is nice if placed fwd. A tube style RDS for me is good, but only when placed closer to the eye ( dont see turrets/ body).

Exception being the bigger 30mm tube RDS.
On a Contender pistol prefer over smaller tube stuff.

Romeo 5 or Bushnell TRS25 ....hate em on a pistol. OK on a rifle closer to the eye.

 

[The_Quartermaster]

Grab a tasty beverage. After links are open, hit control F, type in China or USA and hit enter.

https://sageratsafaris.com/always-on-home-defense-ar15-optics/
https://sageratsafaris.com/master-list-of-red-dots-and-battle-sights/

That site is constantly being updated, FYI.

Be aware that what some will erroneously call made the USA by Sig is actually assembled here and even says assembled. They import everything to assemble them direct from China and then assembled here by Americans. It's how they were able to get contracts from both the DoD and the alphabet agencies.

The above came to light from another web forum of fellow gun enthusiasts where the made in China topic can get awfully emotional depending on where one sits on said subject. I personally will not buy any optic being made there, my choice, my decision, my money, so there's that.