Cheap chinese knock off red dots

[Thompsoncustom]

Anyone ever try mounting one of the cheap clone red dot to a pistol slide? I see there's a Doctor knock off for 40 bucks and thought it might be fun to mount to a pistol. I'm not worried about it being the most accurate or durable but if it works for a range gun would beat putting $300 dollar glass on it.

So has anyone tired this with any of the Chinese knock off red dots?

 

[onthehunt]

My LGS tried to sell me one for $49. I'll wait to see the reviews before I buy one..

 

[Thompsoncustom]

Ya I guess the only thing I'm really wondering is if it will take the beating from a 9mm and if it will or can be made to mate with the real doctor dovetail mounts.

 

[Sock Puppet]

Why spend hard-earned money on an "unknown" that "might" turn out to "possibly" be a good deal? This question is relevant in all things, but especially when it comes to firearms and personal protection. Seriously, just spend a bit more and buy something that is proven to be reliable.

 

[Thompsoncustom]

Cuz if it doesn't work no big deal I'll just throw it away and call it a day I'm not looking to spend 300 bucks on a piece of glass. Was just trying to see if anyone else had first hand experience.

Not looking for the buy a glock instead of a hi point argument.

It's not like it's going on a carry piece so mights and ifs are ok for this.

 

[Esoxchaser]

I have a couple of these. Compact, inexpensive, hold zero, whats not to like?

http://www.amazon.com/Browning-1290...id=1388333286&sr=8-1&keywords=browning+reflex

 

[Thompsoncustom]

I have a sight similar to that think it was 30 or 40 bucks and works great on my 9mm carbine but I was looking for something smaller that could be mounted to the sight dovetail on the slide of a pistol.

 

[bannockburn]

I have one (got it from CDNN), a few years ago. Have used it primarily on my .22s (SIG Trailside and Beretta Neos), and it has held up just fine.

 

[chicharrones]

I've only tried the Chinese cheapies on rimfire pistols where the optic is mounted to a stationary rail and not a moving slide. They hold up fine on the rail, but I don't know how they'd do on a moving slide of a centerfire pistol.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I'm not worried about it being the most accurate or durable but if it works for a range gun would beat putting $300 dollar glass on it.

If you're not worried about accuracy or durability, it might work for you...that is putting shots in the same spot or always being visible. Depending on the mount and handgun you are mounting it on, it shouldn't come flying off

The reason the Doctor sights are so expensive is because they will retain point of impact when being shot repeatedly. I've seen lessor sights lose zero or lose their dot during a match...which makes for interesting follow up shots.

The cheap knock-offs, I've seen used, were originally intended for air soft guns, might work with proper mounting on a .22 and won't work, for more than a handful of shots, on an air rifle. I think you'd have a better chance with it on a DI AR style rifle than the slide of a CF pistol

 

[tuj]

yes I had one frame-mounted on a .45, it broke apart after about 200 rounds.

Friends don't let friends buy crap red dots. Ultradot FTW.

 

[Thompsoncustom]

If you're not worried about accuracy or durability, it might work for you...that is putting shots in the same spot or always being visible. Depending on the mount and handgun you are mounting it on, it shouldn't come flying off

Ya if the sight wonders a little here and there that won't brother me any and if it's strong enough to help up to normal 9mm loads I'd be happy. Only one way to find of I guess and that to get on it and order one.

I might build a open like gun on the cheap for something to do cuz I got some money burning a hole in my pocket while I'm waiting for CZC to get some shadows in. No plans on using the gun for anything other than a fun gun at home tho.

 

[SuedePflow]

Thompsoncustom - Got a link to the one you're referring to?

 

[Thompsoncustom]

http://dx.com/p/tactical-light-oper...e-scope-sight-for-20mm-gun-gauge-black-205509

 

[Justin]

Just bite the bullet and spend the money on a Docter or Aimpoint. You know what you're getting, and it comes from a company with a known reputation, customer service, and warranty.

 

[wally]

I see there's a Doctor knock off for 40 bucks and thought it might be fun to mount to a pistol.

While I've have very good results with the Chinese tube type red dot sights I've had universally bad results with Chinese reflex type red dots -- even on .22lr pistols. Primary Arms used to sell one, but I believe they've stopped because the return rate was way too high -- they took mine back and gave me full credit towards a Burris Fastfire -- about as low as you can go with the reflex type sights in my experience so far.

If you try one, make sure you buy from a place with a good return policy, I've tried most of them and returned them all.

 

[SuedePflow]

http://dx.com/p/tactical-light-opera...e-black-205509

Your link is no good. "The link is not currently active"

Maybe it requires a "sharesale" account to view?

 

[M2 Carbine]

I have dozens of the cheap ($20-$30) BSA (and other) Red Dot sights. Been using them for years on handguns.........







rifles...............









and shotguns.








Would I recommend a $30 Red Dot?
Usually not, but I have.
Actually, over the years the failure rate has been no worse that my more expensive Red Dot sights.


The Red Dot in the cheap sight usually is not as sharp as in the expensive sights......


but it's good enough for most uses.


Ruger 22LR Charger



Like my Wife use to ask me,
"Are you spending the extra money because you need to, or are you buying the expensive stuff just to impress the other kids at the range?"

Just bite the bullet and spend the money on a Docter or Aimpoint. You know what you're getting, and it comes from a company with a known reputation, customer service, and warranty.

That might be OK if you want to put the sight on one or two guns but can get a little expensive if you need a Red Dot on 5, 10, 30 guns or more.

And it's a little embarrassing when a kid with a $30 Red Dot out shoots the $400 Aimpoint.


.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Your link is no good. "The link is not currently active"

The link worked for me

 

[9mmepiphany]

And it's a little embarrassing when a kid with a $30 Red Dot out shoots the $400 Aimpoint

You're comparing tube sights to reflex, as linked by the OP

I agree with wally in post #16

While I've have very good results with the Chinese tube type red dot sights I've had universally bad results with Chinese reflex type red dots

 

[evan price]

The Browning reflex sight listed is also sold under many different brand logos. It is also available from the manufacturer in China.
In my experience it wasn't worth it. On a S&W 22A it started getting flakey, getting flickery and sometimes not staying on under 22LR recoil, the switch got loose inside. As far as I know mine is still under the seat of my Jeep where I dropped it.

I bought a couple of these-
http://www.amazon.com/Truglo-Red-Dot-Color-Sight-Black/dp/B001EYFK1U
at my LGS and was surprised at how well they are holding up. Tried on pistols, a shotgun, even put one on a FAL and it held up to 308 recoil. Can be selected red or green dots, 30mm tube, 5moa dot.

 

[Thompsoncustom]

Link works for me.

So some people think it might work and other don't but no first hand experience with this model. I'm going to just buy one and test it out and let you guys know how it turns out. Like I said for the 30-40 bucks I'm not worried about it and the base plate will be from a real doctor so If I ever fell like putting a 300 dollar sight on it I can.

I can't say it being a chinese reflex worries me to much the one on my 9mm carbine have been fine shooting Major reloads through it. My main concern is it being destroyed from the slide cycling since I want to mount it to the sight dovetail.

 

[M2 Carbine]

You're comparing tube sights to reflex, as linked by the OP

Oh, yeah you are right.

I don't know much about reflex sights, except the two I had, I didn't like.

Years back a friend gave me a Glock 17 that had a reflex sight.
I didn't like the Glock or the sight. I gave the gun back.

Again years back I bought a $200 reflex sight. Don't remember the brand.
I gave it away.

 

[aka108]

The only red dot sights I have are Russian built Kobras. What I have found with most Chinese products is that they are built to the specifications set by the company purchasing them from the manufacturer. If the specs are crappy then the Chinese guys will build crappy ones for you. Set high specs and you will get very good quality from them.

 

[Grunt]

I figure it depends on what your buying it for and just how high (or low) you set your standards. If it's for a play gun never to be used outside of plinking or range time, you don't care if you have to fire off extra ammo because the sights drifted and what not, sure go ahead. It's your money and if you want to buy several to replace broken ones, more power to ya.
If it's on something a bit more serious like a match gun, might work for you but make sure you can take loosing a match if the accuracy isn't up to snuff or it just plan quits working. If your ego is easily bruised, then you might want to get a better sight that will hold its zero and hold up to abuse.
Finally, if you're buying one of these things to put on a firearm that will have a chance of seeing duty in a self defense scenario, I'd run the other way from one of these things. Maybe your life and the life of your family is held to pretty cheap standards but me and mine isn't. When it comes to anything I plan to use to defend the lives of me and my loved ones, I spare no expense to ensure that my gear is good to go from a trusted reputable source. If this is your plan, you may want to reevaluate your priorities, think things over, then avoid the cheap Chinese junk and get the good stuff.