Cheap/Good Reflex?

[jonnyc]

I have a $15 reflex sight on my HP995. It's been fine, and accurate, for a number of years now but likes to flicker every now and then. Any recommendations for a decent reflex sight that won't break the bank? And remember, it's going on a High-Point, so it shouldn't be $200 lipstick on a $100 pig.

 

[jmorris]

An old Trijicon costs more to refurbish than they are worth (AKA a bargain). They will be quite old as the tritium/fiber optic ones are warranted for 15 years but I still use a real old one on a regular basis because it’s always “on”, doesn’t require adjustment, batteries and are as repeatable as my Aimpoints or other good red dot sights.

 

[IndianaBoy]

Palmetto State Armory has Vortex SparcAR for about $120 bucks and also the new Sig red dot for about the same money.

I have been using a SparcAR for a couple (3 or 4?) years now and it has been rock solid as far as durability and holding zero.

 

[Varminterror]

Most “cheap red dots” from major name brands seem to do just fine in casual applications.

The “mistake” you might make, if there is one to be made, is buying a particular model with a feature set which doesn’t match your desired use. For example - the Bushnell First Strike red dot is an inexpensive RDS, and I have been very happy with a couple of them on range rifles. However, after using mine, a friend bought one for his hunting rifle, but then realized it is light activated, so it won’t turn on during the low-light hours of dusk and dawn.

Similarly, some models are automatically dimmed or intensified by ambient light, and shooting in certain conditions - like a poorly lit range station at well illuminated targets down range might leave your dot insufficiently bright. Some models go-to sleep, some “shake awake,” some have manual controls which must be toggled through 6 brightness settings just to turn off... some have big 8-12moa dots, some have 2-3 MOA dots, some are green, some are yellow, some are red...

Decide which features you actually want, then pick the brand name sight - however cheap it might be - which best lines up with those features.

 

[cdb1]

Most “cheap red dots” from major name brands seem to do just fine in casual applications.

The “mistake” you might make, if there is one to be made, is buying a particular model with a feature set which doesn’t match your desired use. For example - the Bushnell First Strike red dot is an inexpensive RDS, and I have been very happy with a couple of them on range rifles. However, after using mine, a friend bought one for his hunting rifle, but then realized it is light activated, so it won’t turn on during the low-light hours of dusk and dawn.

Similarly, some models are automatically dimmed or intensified by ambient light, and shooting in certain conditions - like a poorly lit range station at well illuminated targets down range might leave your dot insufficiently bright. Some models go-to sleep, some “shake awake,” some have manual controls which must be toggled through 6 brightness settings just to turn off... some have big 8-12moa dots, some have 2-3 MOA dots, some are green, some are yellow, some are red...

Decide which features you actually want, then pick the brand name sight - however cheap it might be - which best lines up with those features.

You really tick me off sometimes with posts that are so good and to the point.

 

[jonnyc]

Thanks for the thoughts.
Ran through the various attributes of all the candidates on Amazon and made my choice. Hope to give it a test tomorrow.