Red dot sights opinions

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highlander 5

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Need some help here,I've 2 Canik 9 mm pistols one of which I'd like to mount a red dot on.
Having no experience with such sight I'd like some opinions on them my only criteria I'd like to keep the price at $200 or less just in case the sight doesn't pan out. Thanks in advance
 
I have a sig zero on a 1911. Mainly a range gun but I carried it on a pig hunt and shot a couple of armadillo with it. These type of sights are going to keep me shooting much later into life than if I didn't have one.
I asked for a swamp fox kingslayer for Christmas for my ruger mk2. Here's hoping!
 
I asked this question on December 10th last year. I don't know how to link to the thread. Search sights for aging eyes and you'll find it. Lots of good answers there.
 
Not knowing what Canik models you have, it is hard to recommend an optic. The Elite SC uses the smaller Shield RMSc footprint. Other models will come with different adaptor plates.

I can definitely recommend the Swampfox Kingslayer, Sentinel and Liberty optics. The Kingslayer is $189 while the rest are $229. All prices are from the Swampfox website. Now if you qualify for their MIL/LEO discount, that knocks quite a bit off the price, but you must buy directly from them to get the discount.

I also have a Sig Romeo Zero but I don' scare for it much. The ON/OFF/brightness adjustment button is in a bad spot right in front of the lenses. This makes it hard to reach.

I would definitely stay away from the cheap off brand optics on eBay or Amazon. Who knows what the quality is like or what kind of warranty/customer service they have. Again I will suggest Swampfox optics since you have a budget of $200 or less. I would definitely spend the extra $30 for the Sentinel (Elite SC) or the Liberty if you want something with shoe to wake feature. If having to manually turn the optic on or off is fine then you can't beat the Kingslayer.

https://www.swampfoxoptics.com/shop-all

I have at least one of every micro reflex sight that Swampfox makes and none of them have let me down. They work well on everything from 22lr pistols to 45ACP pistols.

I know there are other optics such as the Holosun but I kept it to your budget or just slightly over.
 
Bass Pro/Cabela's had the Vortex Venom on sale recently for $149. Might see if that is still going on. Metal RDS with a great reputation and company that stands behind it.
 
12Bravo20 said:
Not knowing what Canik models you have, it is hard to recommend an optic. The Elite SC uses the smaller Shield RMSc footprint. Other models will come with different adaptor plates.















I can definitely recommend the Swampfox Kingslayer, Sentinel and Liberty optics. The Kingslayer is $189 while the rest are $229. All prices are from the Swampfox website. Now if you qualify for their MIL/LEO discount, that knocks quite a bit off the price, but you must buy directly from them to get the discount.















I also have a Sig Romeo Zero but I don' scare for it much. The ON/OFF/brightness adjustment button is in a bad spot right in front of the lenses. This makes it hard to reach.















I would definitely stay away from the cheap off brand optics on eBay or Amazon. Who knows what the quality is like or what kind of warranty/customer service they have. Again I will suggest Swampfox optics since you have a budget of $200 or less. I would definitely spend the extra $30 for the Sentinel (Elite SC) or the Liberty if you want something with shoe to wake feature. If having to manually turn the optic on or off is fine then you can't beat the Kingslayer.















https://www.swampfoxoptics.com/shop-all















I have at least one of every micro reflex sight that Swampfox makes and none of them have let me down. They work well on everything from 22lr pistols to 45ACP pistols.















I know there are other optics such as the Holosun but I kept itT9 sfx and sfx mete to your budget or just slightly over.
Click to expand...
T9sfx and sfx mete
 
Vortex or Swampfox would probably work.

But really, you get what you pay for so don’t be surprised if you don’t love he cheaper DOT.
 
There are a lot of people that are perfectly happy with Vortex and Swampfox products.

I can't speak on Vortex's warranties or customer service since I don't own any of their products. Swampfox has a great warranty and has excellent customer service.
 
By all accounts Vortex has good CS, and good warranties.

I very much like my Vortex scopes and binoculars, don’t love my Venom dot so much.

No shake awake, edges are kinda sharp and ate up a belt carrying IWB, couple other little things. It was fine to learn on but if I hadn’t tried other options I wouldn’t be using dot equipped pistols, I don’t believe.
 
I have a Burris Fastfire III on my Gen 5 G17 9MM

Also have a Swampfox on my FNX Tactical. Has the circle dot which I like.

Holosun on my S&W 2.0 4.6” M&P 10MM. I use the circle dot on this one as well.

Had a Hex Dragonfly on the XDM Elite 3.8” 10MM that came with the pistol but this one I shoot the iron sights better.

It does take some time to get used to red dots.
 
I hate them. Cant stand seeing the dot bounce around when shooting off hand. My brother feels the same way. He was shooting with me one day. And was complaining about the one on his AR. I gave him a scope with hold overs when we got done then.
 
I just put this on recently. Holosun HE507K-GR-X2. I think they offer some lower priced ones as well. I went with the green as it is easier for me to see in sunlight.



IMG_1291.JPG
 
I have been using the Vortex Venom on my SFX for 3 years and it has been great. Still on the same battery but it is a range gun. The Holosun is very nice but it may be more than you want to spend.
 
highlander 5 said:
I've 2 Canik 9 mm pistols one of which I'd like to mount a red dot on.
... I'd like to keep the price at $200 or les
Click to expand...
Is this for a range gun or for a home or self defense carry pistol?
If for a gun that you may need to save your life, consider the need tor high reliability and high sturdiness. Instructors who know a lot more than I on the topic suggest for HD/SD reliability, go with either Trijicon or Holosun. Those are going to be notably higher than your current budget.
For a range gun, or maybe even competition, any of the well recommended brands and models you hear about onilne will give you a good way to learn dot sight use.
Good luck.
 
I have had a Vortex Venom on my 1911 22lr race gun for years. Zero issues and it's probably had 10,000 rounds cycled underneath it.
 
The problem with putting a Trijicon onto a Canik pistol is that no Trijicon optic will fit the Canik's machined for the Shield RMSc footprint. And using a RMSc to RMRcc adaptor puts the optic a lot higher over the bore axis.

And the OP stated that he went with a Swampfox Sentinel. I think he will be happy with his choice. I've been running several Swampfox optics on my EDC pistols (to include the Sentinel) and haven't had any issues whatsoever. Yes I have dropped them but I don't intentionally abuse them either.
 
Some of the red dot sights cost more than what I paid for the pistols. Got the sight yesterday after a bit of confusion got it mounted on the SFX now to try to get to the range and get it sighted in. Just trying it out the dot is nice and bright and my eyes have no problem getting it centered. I've had multiple eye surgeries and iron sights are sometimes hard to pick up which is why I wanted to try a red dot.
 
highlander 5 said:
Just trying it out the dot is nice and bright and my eyes have no problem getting it centered.
Click to expand...
As you train with the red dot, you will learn that getting the dot centered is not required. In fact, trying to center the dot in the window costs you time on your shot. If you also have iron sights on the pistol, it is likewise unnecessary to make the dot rest on the iron sight picture. If the dot is anywhere in the window and stable on your target, then you are aimed and ready to fire.
As you work with the dot, concentrate on your presentation consistency so the dot is quickly visible in the window.
Also, it will take a while to adjust to focusing on the target, not the sight, when using the dot. Years of front sight focus has to be overcome for you to focus on the target and accept that the dot will be a little fuzzy.
Enjoy!
 
@Craig_VA gave solid advice.

I will initially use a rest to sight in a red dot but then verify while shooting off hand. Yes it does take some practice getting use to red dots. The nice thing about using them is you can focus more on the target and the dot will be plainly visible. And definitely do not worry about trying to line up the dot with iron sites. As Craig stated, the dot does not even need to be centered in the window after sited in.

I also suggest practicing your presentation at home as much as possible. I periodically do this even though I have been using dot sites for quite some time. With an unloaded pistol, I will practice drawing from the holster and bringing the pistol up into a shooting position. After a while it will become second nature and easy for you.
 
the holosuns are close enough to $200 that i think it should be considered given the good reviews with it. i have one on my canik, a 407c. the detents are not as positive as described in reviews but overall i am happy with it. instructions were to zero at 25 yrds and i still couldn't get good groups but that may be the gun or the ammo but at 10 yrds it was much easier to shoot well.
20221212_085358.jpg
 
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