AR red dot

[redneck2]

looking for something for an AR. Not going to be used for any type of competition or hard use. It’s something that mostly sits in the corner of the bedroom. Would like something that has ultra battery life so we don’t have to worry about batteries running out.

Budget maybe up to $250ish area. Price is not a deal break IF there’s a compelling reason

FWIW, I’ve got a Trijcon on another AR. It’s awesome but I’m not sure I’m ready to drop that much coin again when there are most likely more budget friendly alternatives

Guy at the LGS recommended a Vortex SPARC. Looks OK but I’m up for others.

TIA

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Bushnell TRS-25.
Love mine, only small gripe is I wish the on/off switch was separate from the brightness knob. A year ago, they could be found for $65-80. Looks like they run about $100-110 now, still a good deal for what you get

 

[rabid wombat]

Aimpoint is wonderful (though can be pricey - not ACOG pricey, but still). The Pro has good reviews, and in the link below a LaRue mount. North of what you want to pay, but rock solid.

https://www.larue.com/products/aimpoint-pro-patrol-rifle-optic-w-mount/

 

[Craig_AR]

Bushnell TRS-25. ... A year ago, they could be found for $65-80.

I picked up s TRS-25 for my 10/22 just to learn about red dots, and liked it enough to get a second for my AR. Amazon is showing me a price of $71 today for the low rise model BUT, for the AR you need a tall riser for another $10 - $20. They are showing the hi-rise TRS-25 for $90.
I don't shoot my long guns very often, so cannot give a meaningful review, but I do like this Bushnell on both.

 

[LunchMoney]

Sig Sauer Romeo5 or a Vortex Crossfire II can easily be found for under $150. I have the Romeo5 and like it.

 

[brunowbe]

Bushnell TRS-25.

Been trying to kill mine for about a decade now to put something “better” on my converted Saiga’s ultimak, it’s the cockroach of red dots and has been through 1000s of rounds on there.. I’m perfectly happy with it and always recommend them. I recall reading something about the yellow lettering ones being built with higher quality than the white letter ones, don’t have any idea if that is actually true.

 

[SquidBubble]

I use a Holosun HE510C-GR. I find it great for the strictly home defense context. Circle or dot or both, holds zero, shake awake, great battery life, and auto-adjust that I don't use but is nice to have. The only quibble I and some others have is that it's a PITA to adjust the reticle without the proprietary tool. It can be done with a precision screwdriver, just be prepared to use a good deal more grip strength than seems reasonable. Then again, that's how it holds its zero after all.

Is it a "duty" optic? I dunno, maybe or maybe not? I don't do drug busts. I'm just a regular private citizen with simple needs and the Holosun hasn't failed me even after some drops and smacks.

 

[Boomholzer]

I'd add $50 to the budget and get the Holosun 510. Reflex over red dot tube seems a much better fit in application and this is not crap HW. Secure your chit. The Vortex Sparc is near the LCD in red-dot optics.

 

[Tommygunn]

Both Sig Sauer and Holosun make very good red dots. They will both hold up to some rugged use .... but maybe not SEAL TEAM SIX type rugged use.

 

[Llew Taranau]

I threw a Romeo5 on my M&P Sport II. Would I prefer a holo or an ACOG? Sure, but I can’t afford to spend 50% or more of the price of the rifle just for an RDS, not when it’s just for plinking and defense.

 

[Buzznrose]

I’ve been very happy with Swamp Fox red dots on pistols. I have 4 and all are great so far.

https://www.swampfoxoptics.com/shop-all#dot-sights

 

[Lo-Profile]

Wow, I've got red dots from cheap $30 ones to Trijicon.

The Bushnell TRS-25 is a awesome sight.
The Truglo Red Dots work really well too and aren't very expensive.
Holosun, Vortex and Sig make nice ones as well. I like the Sig Romeo 5.
Of course the high end ones work beautiful. Love my Trijicon MRO and have a couple Aimpoint.
Buy the best you can afford.
But truth, iron sights will work just as well. I spent 20+ years qualifying at 200m with them.

 

[Buzznrose]

[QUOTE="Lo-Profile, post: 11995531, member: 268762"
….
Buy the best you can afford.
Good advice!

But truth, iron sights will work just as well

Not sure I agree….I too shot iron for many years, and I shoot much better and faster with a dot

[/QUOTE]

 

[FL-NC]

Vortex

 

[mavracer]

I have really come to love the Vortex Sparc AR. Battery life isn't the best but it uses common and CHEAP AAAs

 

[bassjam]

I really like my Romeo 4h. I have a couple Romeo 5's, a few TRS-25's, and a Vortex Crossfire as well and the 4h is much nicer than the other's IMO. You can sometimes find them for under $250, but this one at @ $260 isn't a bad price. Going up to the SOR43011 adds the select-able reticle which is pretty nice, its the model I have but it's more expensive.

https://www.opticsplanet.com/sig-sauer-romeo4h-hunter-1x20mm-compact-red-dot-sight-w-mount.html

Then again, the Romeo 5's are pretty nice when you can pick them up for around $100.

 

[The Glockodile]

Bushnell TRS-25. Love mine, only small gripe is I wish the on/off switch was separate from the brightness knob. A year ago, they could be found for $65-80. Looks like they run about $100-110 now, still a good deal for what you get

I picked up s TRS-25 for my 10/22 just to learn about red dots, and liked it enough to get a second for my AR. Amazon is showing me a price of $71 today for the low rise model BUT, for the AR you need a tall riser for another $10 - $20. They are showing the hi-rise TRS-25 for $90. I don't shoot my long guns very often, so cannot give a meaningful review, but I do like this Bushnell on both.

Been trying to kill mine for about a decade now to put something “better” on my converted Saiga’s ultimak, it’s the cockroach of red dots and has been through 1000s of rounds on there.. I’m perfectly happy with it and always recommend them. I recall reading something about the yellow lettering ones being built with higher quality than the white letter ones, don’t have any idea if that is actually true.

https://www.amazon.com/Bushnell-Trophy-TRS-25-Riflescope-1x25mm/dp/B00200E0HM

This one?

I'm looking for something with a reputation for indestructibility and excellent value - in the same league of SWFA's SS scopes.

 

[brunowbe]

^^^That would be it.

 

[12Bravo20]

I have not been able to kill my Bushnell TRS25 or the first Gen Primary Arms red dots. IF you want a good RDS for a low price both will suit your needs. I also have a Sig Romeo MSR and would put it in the same category as the TRS25 and PA RDS.

While I have not tried the Swampfox Liberator, I have several of their micro reflex sights on pistols along with their 1X Blade prims scope and several of their LPVO scopes. All of them have been good to go so far.

The next step up is the Vortex and some of the higher end stuff from Sig and Primary Arms.

After that you are into the Aim Points and such.

End the end, buy the best you can afford. But you won't go wrong with the lower cost RDS sight from the manufacturers I mentioned either.

 

[Skylerbone]

I’d recommend looking over a few if possible, use Prime for free returns and you can check brightness and washout with a WML. I prefer the larger sight picture of an Eotech or the almost frameless Burris Fastfire style units but you may prefer something else.

To date I’ve owned or still own:

Truglo- was a cheap foot in the door, gave it to a kid.
Vortex StrikeFire- solid but heavy, gave away.
Vortex SPARC- great little sight, still sees use.
Bushnell TRS-25- nice for the price but eye alignment is slow.
Vortex SPARC AR- want to love it but the stick together tethered caps are always popping apart and distracting.
Vortex Venom- really like the open glass reflex style sights.
Eotech EXPS-3- easily recommendable, quick to find reticle.

 

[Nuclear]

A few years ago I replaced an EoTech with a Romeo4c at about the OP's price point, or maybe a little less. It has a circle dot reticle and I have no real complaints, other than how much smaller the view is. But I have yet to replace a battery, so that's an advantage. I've had good experience with Holosun products, not so much with Vortex, although they did replace a defective RDS with no pushback.

 

[redneck2]

I had looked at PSA’s website. There are a gazillion choices. After reading all the input, there seem to be a lot of decent choices. FWIW, I’m going to get whatever I end up with from the LGS. Online may be a little cheaper, but I’m going to buy local.

Thanks for all the replies.

Vortex SPARC- great little sight, still sees use

This is what the LGS recommended and most likely what I’ll get simply due to battery life. May get the Bushell TRS-25 simply as a back up since it’s so low priced

 

[Emmanuel of Arms]

I like my trs-25, but I’d say its far from the ultra long life (40k hrs+) that you get from an aimpoint m3 and up. The sig romeo 5 boasts a 40k battery life, but it achieves it thru a “shake-to-wake” feature that puts the optic on standby when not in use. I’m not aware of any other optics in your price range that give you ‘always on’ capability, besides waiting for the gun panic to calm down and sniping a used comp ML3 on ebay for 250. Or perhaps those days are gone forever.

 

[P89DCSS]

Holosun 403B is shake and wake, 50khrs and cost $125. Holosun makes some of the Sig electro-optics. I like them better than a TRS-25 especially the battery life. Both Busnell and Holosun electro-optics are made in China.

 

[CraigC]

I really like the micro tube style red dots, which are all basically Aimpoint T1 clones. The Bushnell is a good one. I've had one for several years and it's still in service somewhere but I've come to prefer push button controls over a rotary knob. The Primary Arms advanced version is also very good. I've really developed a strong affinity for the SIG red dots and have nine or ten total. I've got Romeo 1's, 4's, 5's and 6's, plus an MSR. My favorite is the Romeo 4 with push button controls and the "shake awake" feature. Most of mine were caught on sale for under $300. Right now the Romeo5 is $129 at Midway. The MSR hovers around $100-$120 but it uses a rotary knob. I would urge you to never buy a red dot without checking Primary Arms' site first. I also got a really good deal on a Romeo4T last year from EuroOptic.