Economical Red Dot?

[Duster340]

Hey Folks,

I am in the market for an economical,<$100, red dot for my old Mossy 500 12 ga. Primarily for use with my turkey barrel and slug barrel. Having never used red dot optics, I was overwhelmed by the variety of choices and features! I'm hoping to find a sturdy, basic adjustable type optic that will allow me to get my POI to match my POA with various loads.

Any input/suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

 

[DDDWho]

The Bushnell TRS 25 gets good reviews. A red dot on a shotgun?
I have one on a Ruger 22/45. I'm not much of a handgun shooter but I've killed a ground hog with this outfit at 30 yards

 

[edwardware]

I second the TRS-25. I snagged one during the rebate last year for $15 shipped, and it's pretty good on my GP100.

Check Amazon for an open box deal.

 

[badkarmamib]

I have heard that the newer (2017+) TRS-25's aren't as reliable as the older ones, judging by the more recent reviews. Anyone know if there is much truth to that?

 

[cdb1]

TR-25 is the only sub-$200.00 Red Dot I’d take a chance on.

The Bushnell TRS 25 gets good reviews. A red dot on a shotgun?

Great for hunting turkey. Got one on my turkey shotgun.

 

[1KPerDay]

My primary arms has been great.

 

[Virginian]

I have a cheap Tasco from WalMart on my .22 rifle and it's been great, but shotgun recoil is no joke. I have a Burris FastFire I put on 1100, and/or 870 and it has been dead reliable, but it's a bit over your budget.

 

[CZ9shooter]

I have the TRS-25 on a 22 pistol. It works very well for that purpose. I am very happy with it. Would it hold up to hard recoiling 12ga shells though? Idk.

 

[ray15]

12 gauge recoil will kill any sub-$100 red dot I know of sooner or later (probably sooner). I recommend a Burris FastFire 3 or Vortex Venom. I have one of each and recommend the Venom as the least expensive option for your application.

 

[Duster340]

Thanks for all the responses fellas....looks like I've got some homework to do.

 

[LoonWulf]

12 gauge recoil will kill any sub-$100 red dot I know of sooner or later (probably sooner). I recommend a Burris FastFire 3 or Vortex Venom. I have one of each and recommend the Venom as the least expensive option for your application.

Trs-25 was on the mossberg er..88 "tactical hunter" build i did no issue in some 2-300rnds.

 

[ray15]

Trs-25 was on the mossberg er..88 "tactical hunter" build i did no issue in some 2-300rnds.

I had one that croaked on a Buckmark. I find the FF3 or Venom a big step in durability and good values compared to the range of cheaper sights I've tried.

 

[LoonWulf]

I had one that croaked on a Buckmark. I find the FF3 or Venom a big step in durability and good values compared to the range of cheaper sights I've tried.

Interesting, I think thats the first time Ive heard of one of these dying, Good to know thanks!
Ive looked at the FFs, but not the Venoms. The are out of my price range for a red dot, but for someone to uses one alot I think they would be a good choice.

 

[ray15]

FF and Venoms are built in the same factory, but I like the design of the Venom better. The FF3 only has 3 brightness levels where the Venom has 9, if memory serves. I also like the shape of the lens better. Either of these sights are available for ~185 on ebay with the picatinny mount. Since they have a lifetime warranty with no proof of purchase you can buy them anywhere new or used without impacting the warranty.

I also have a couple of the type 1 Trijicon RMRs, which are not as tough as the FF3 and Venom. The dot quality is better and the auto-brightness smarter and faster, but it can be a challange to keep the battery in contact under 12 gauge recoil. Obviously some people get away with TRS25s on shotguns, and sometimes even the $20 sights to be found on Amazon. But when it comes to something with some recoil it's easy to go through several inexpensive sights and end up buying one of the pricier options too.

 

[LoonWulf]

Yeah i appear to have gotten one of the good trs25s as its ridden around on that 12ga till i sold it, then on my .458 Socom till i scoped that one.
Ill take a look at a venom next time im at the gun shop, they do have them in stock. Ive wanted to put a red dot on my xd .45 super, and if im getting the slide milled might as well get a new sight for it.

 

[cdb1]

FF and Venoms are built in the same factory, but I like the design of the Venom better. The FF3 only has 3 brightness levels where the Venom has 9, if memory serves. I also like the shape of the lens better. Either of these sights are available for ~185 on ebay with the picatinny mount. Since they have a lifetime warranty with no proof of purchase you can buy them anywhere new or used without impacting the warranty.

I also have a couple of the type 1 Trijicon RMRs, which are not as tough as the FF3 and Venom. The dot quality is better and the auto-brightness smarter and faster, but it can be a challange to keep the battery in contact under 12 gauge recoil. Obviously some people get away with TRS25s on shotguns, and sometimes even the $20 sights to be found on Amazon. But when it comes to something with some recoil it's easy to go through several inexpensive sights and end up buying one of the pricier options too.

I wandered about them being built in the same factory since the Venom can use FF3 mounts. What is your source for the statement that both are made in the same factory?

When I bought the FF3 for the shotgun in the above picture it was because the Venom was backordered for nine months. I was still selling optics and could get a Venom for $132.00 through the dealer program at work. Though not a fan of Vortex scopes I have a Razor red dot that I like so was willing to give the Venom a shot. Anyway I didn’t want to wait nine months so I bought a FF3 using dealer program pricing.

 

[Odd Job]

I second the vote for the FF3, if you can find the funds to get that. It is a great sight with one auto brightness setting and three other brightness settings, with a 3MOA dot.
I have one on my BR99 and it has never failed, and retains zero.
If you are going to roll around at all, I recommend the Flat Top mount for it. Otherwise you can get by with the standard mount and removable slip-on plastic cover. I have the Flat Top mount:





I have another FF3 on my 10/22 clone. This time with the standard mount:



Note: because the FF3 is so low profile you might have to get a riser for it. In my case I had to get a 20MOA rail for the shotgun and a 1/2" flat rail riser for my .22 rifle. The top photo of the shotgun is with the 20MOA riser and the one underneath was taken before I got that rail and I was trying a 1/2" riser.

 

[ray15]

I wandered about them being built in the same factory since the Venom can use FF3 mounts. What is your source for the statement that both are made in the same factory?

I have an astigmatism that causes problems with the Chinese red dot sights. I see multiple dots in a specific pattern due to their optics. The pattern is the same between the FF3 and Venom. This is not a problem with my RMRs, which have better optics.

Beyond that, you can tell by the packaging. They come in the same size box with identical foam, and include exactly the same accessories shrunk wrapped identically. I recognize the packaging from some of the $20 sights I had previously tried from Amazon, which strangely enough produce the same dot pattern in my eye.

I believe a single Chinese maker makes the bulk of the $20 sights, the TRS25, the Primary Arms, FF3, Venom and a bunch of others. They provide differing grades of products in at least 3 styles, the open reflex, the TRS25 'mini scope' form factor and the mini red dot like the FF3. The FF3 and Venom represent their top quality level. I further suspect FF3 and Venom seek the same price point and offer the same no proof of purchase lifetime warranty because Burris and Vortex pay very little for them compared to their sales prices and thus will give you another at the drop of a hat. They may have more in pay for the person that talks to you on the phone than they have in the sight itself.

 

[cdb1]

Thanks, makes sense. I wondered about that myself. The Venom and FF3 don’t cost retailers that much so I imagine you are right about the low cost of manufacture. I do know a Venom cost a retailer between $100.00-$132.00.

 

[Tiro Finale]

On Bushnell's website, it says that the TRS-25 is "a reliable, 3 MOA red dot sight with unlimited eye relief for handguns and shotguns."

 

[ray15]

I've not found too many manufacturers who characterize their produces as unreliable.

I place TRS25 in a middle grade durability-wise between the $20 sights and the FF3/Venom. The one I had failed almost immediately (wouldn't hold zero). I liked TRS25 a lot better when they were selling them for $19.95. but you can do worse. It's not an unreasonable choice for a shotgun but I found the FF3 and Venom enough better that they are my recommendation. To each his own.

 

[Tiro Finale]

I've not found too many manufacturers who characterize their produces as unreliable.

Certainly true, but I included the quote because it mentioned that the sight is intended for use on shotguns.

In all fairness, though, I've never tried the FF3 or Venom sights. They could both definitely be better than the TRS. My impression of the TRS is that it is a budget red dot that happens to be better than the average budget red dot.

 

[cdb1]

In all fairness, though, I've never tried the FF3 or Venom sights. They could both definitely be better than the TRS.

There’s no question they are better than the TRS-25.

 

[bassjam]

I have two TRS 25's, both ordered in 2012 that are still going strong. One has spent it's life on my Buckmark, the other has been on a SIG 522, a few rounds on an Anaconda, and then on my Marlin .357 for deer season. I doubt I'd buy one now, I've heard the rumors as well that the newer ones (since 2016ish) aren't as good. Apparently the way to tell the difference is the color of lettering. If it say's "Bushnell" in gold, it's GTG, if the lettering is in white it's a newer model and your results may vary.

Since the OP wants one for hunting on a shotgun, I'd probably spend the money to get something better or find a used one from someone you trust.

 

[armoredman]

I had a TRS-25 that rode a vz-58 and Scorpion with no trouble for years. I have a TRS-32 that rides on a BREN 805 with no issues. I find Bushnell products may be less expensive, but seem generally to work just fine, from my personal perspective. However, I have no experience with a red dot on a shotgun - don't even OWN a shotgun.