For all the frugal buyers out there.

[jrdolall]

Mods please feel free to move this to the appropriate forum.

I know that many of us have optics that require the CR2032 battery. If you are like me you probably leave at least one Red Dot on and burn the battery down just about every time you go to the range. Batteries are about $3 each at Walmart and I always try to keep a couple of spares in my range bag.

I was at the Dollar Tree last week(cheapskate Heaven)and walked past the candle section. They had about 500 packs of little plastic, battery operated candles that...you guessed it, use CR 2032 batteries! Each pack had two "candles" with batteries included so unless my math is wrong that comes to $.50 per battery.

Now these batteries probably won't outlast the Energizer Batteries but they will be going in my range bag for sure. My underground dog fence uses the same batteries so I should be able to get an idea of how long they last.

 

[230RN]

True. I bought a bunch of those flickering candles at an after-Christmas sale at a regular supermarket at a ridiculously low price --as candles. When I found out they had those batteries in them at way less than half the price of the bubble packs of CR2032s, I kept 10 of them aside for my various 'lectronic sights. There's only one of my gun sights that doesn't take them, but I forget which one. Might be the J-frame laser sight? Not sure.

They have a pretty good shelf life, but I got one of those battery testers a long time ago for various batteries (cells, actually) which has saved me beaucoup bucks over the years on all kinds of batteries. I check them out before installing them in my guns and blink test them before going out.

On the AR red dot sight, which I rarely use, I get paranoid about whether I left the darned thing on... sorta like "Did I turn off the stove or iron or whatever before I left the house...?"

Wish I'd thought of posting about this long before jrdolall did.

Terry, 230RN

 

[jmr40]

Gotta wonder how good those batteries are, but at that price it wouldn't hurt a thing to try.

 

[Tommygunn]

I don't know about lithium "button" batteries....every time I try to get frugal with AA, AAA, C, or -whatever- I wind up getting "stung" when I find the box of brand X batteries have leaked and there's white skuzz or acidic goop everywhere in the box ....

 

[Candyman87]

Check Amazon. I often buy these for like $7-8/dozen in a reputable brand name.

 

[Salmoneye]

50 Maxell 2032 for $21 delivered...

eBay...

 

[burrhead]

Let's see. I've got an $800 AR with a $400 RDS on it and $20 worth of ammo in the mag. I'm going to worry about saving two bucks on the battery? No, no I'm not.

 

[Candyman87]

Let's see. I've got an $800 AR with a $400 RDS on it and $20 worth of ammo in the mag. I'm going to worry about saving two bucks on the battery? No, no I'm not.

Why not? You don't buy ammo every time you shoot, you keep backups. Why not buy a dozen batteries so you have backups of that too?

Besides, the $24 you save is ~60 rounds of 5.56!

 

[burrhead]

The "why not" is because there is a large difference in the quality of Li batteries. I'm not going to put a no-name, Chi-Com battery in my Aimpoint. Duracell, Energizer, etc. just flat make more reliable products. When I grab my rifle and step outside at night (and yes I do, live in the county on the border) I really want the lights to come on. My weapon isn't a toy. It costs me $5 every three years for fresh batteries. Who cares?

 

[Candyman87]

See my post above... $7-8/dozen for Duracell or Energizer... I'll take backups and a few extra boxes of ammo. I would never put cheap batteries in anything I own, defensive or not.

 

[goon]

Thanks for the heads-up. Not sure why some people get ticked off when you try to do a favor or share useful info. Just the nature if the internet I guess.

 

[Onward Allusion]

Personal experience with no-name lithium button batteries has been crap. Sometimes they're DOA. Other times, they have a real short lifespan or are half dead. Worst case is when they appear to work when you put 'em in but a couple of weeks later they're dead and you open up the red dot or whatever and they've leaked.

Save yourself the headaches and get 'em on Amazon with free shipping: Maxell can be had for 0.60 a pc and Sony for 0.40 each.

 

[goon]

I will say that as far as shooting accessories go, Black Friday wasn't so hot. I bought a couple things because I was planning to buy them anyhow as gifts, but nothing that would have made me buy if I hadn't already planned to.

 

[Zach S]

I had decent luck with a card of 2032s at Nothern Tool. There were 25 or 30 on the card, I cant recall the price but they were cheap.

They were found in a bargain bin, so I dont know if they're regularly stocked.

 

[danez71]

I had decent luck with a card of 2032s at Nothern Tool. There were 25 or 30 on the card, I cant recall the price but they were cheap.

They were found in a bargain bin, so I dont know if they're regularly stocked.

I just bought a 4 pack from Harbor Freight for couple bucks for a 'no contact' laser thermometer.

The moment I put them in it said 'low battery'. The didn't have shelf life dates or anything.


Ive read that those large 6V batteries have like 20 AA in them. I don't remember which or all brands.

Thanks for the heads-up. Not sure why some people get ticked off when you try to do a favor or share useful info. Just the nature if the internet I guess.

Yep. But whats funny is that seems to be no shame in saving .002 per round on ammo.

 

[Tommygunn]

Ive read that those large 6V batteries have like 20 AA in them.

20 AA batteries @ 1.5 volts each would be 30 volts.
A 6V would require 4 AAs.

*They may have something other than AA, like Cs or Ds?.........*

 

[splithoof]

Jrdolall,
Thank you for the tip. I will look for same next time I walk through our local discount store. I do a fair bit of night shooting with various electronics, so that may help. However, like burrhead advised, I keep only the best in our weapons when they go back on the grab-&-go rack.
There is for some of us a level of enjoyment from stretching the dollar, and as long as it is done under the right circumstances, it can allow us to spend $$ in other areas.

 

[jrdolall]

Heck yes. I never meant to imply that these would be replacing the "quality" batteries I normally use but just something to go in the range bag for that "Oh Shi$" moment when I realize I left the red dot on...again.
For those of you who disdain the use of chintzy batteries in your "high dollar" gear...whatever! I too have some expensive gear and I take good care of it. I mean what good is an $800 AR with a $400 RDS if your $5 battery is dead?

 

[Lj1941]

20 AA batteries @ 1.5 volts each would be 30 volts.
A 6V would require 4 AAs.

*They may have something other than AA, like Cs or Ds?.........*

They use a combination of series /parallel to get the needed voltage/amperage rating desired.

 

[MachIVshooter]

The batteries in dollar store, be it batteries alone or in items, are crap.

I'll second the suggestions for eBay and Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-CR2032-L...qid=1448766277&sr=8-2&keywords=CR2032+20+pack

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FRESHLY-NEW...462928?hash=item4635cee7d0:g:TSkAAOSwe-FU9W1v

 

[Scooter22]

I've gotten cheap Alky and Lith batteries at the dolar stores. They work good for toss away stuff but they do leak. I wouldn't put them in a good scope or similar item.