Best entry level $100-$200 red dot for 10/22?

J

"J" man

Regular
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I was originally going to go with a 2-7X variable scope on my 10/22, but I have decided on a red dot of some sort instead. I think it makes more sense for me to mount a red dot, I just hope I can make clean kills with it on small game. The scope would be more accurate, but the fast target acquisition and quick follow ups that the red dot can provide seem to be more beneficial to me (especially in thick, brushy areas).

Can anyone recommend to me a better solution than the Vortex Sparc? I've been leaning to this one because of all the solid reviews and the small 2 M.O.A. dot it has. What is the maximum range that I could make a clean HS on a rabbit with a 2 M.O.A. dot? What about a grouse? I'm guessing the smaller I go with dot size, the less I will be handicapping myself distance wise. Or is this foolish, and I should be using a scope with magnification instead?

This Meuller reflex sight is nice, but what do you guys think about hunting with reflex sights? It has a photo sensor that automatically adjusts dot brightness, but I'm worried that some antis would get terribly frightened of me and call the cops. :D ???No M.O.A. dot size provided???
http://www.opticsplanet.net/mueller-optical-1x22x-33mm-quick-shot-waterproof-red-dot-scope.html

Can't forget the Bushnell TRS-25 with it's slightly larger 3 M.O.A. dot.
http://www.opticsplanet.net/bushnell-1x25-trophy-series-riflescope-trs-25-red-dot-731303.html

This range of Millet red dots seem to be a good value too, any experiences using these? It says they have a 3 M.O.A. dot size, and some are waterproof.
http://www.opticsplanet.net/millet-electronic-red-dot-sights.html

And, of course, the cheaper Vortex StrikeFire with its 4 M.O.A. dot size.
http://www.opticsplanet.net/vortex-riflescope-sfrd-hunt.html

I would also be interested in this Burris XTS-135 Speed Dot with a large 5 M.O.A., but they are very hard to find up here in Canada. It seems to compare with the Vortex Sparc in quality, but it's slightly more expensive.
http://www.opticsplanet.net/burris-xts-135-1x-35mm-mat-xtreme-tactical-speeddot-sights.html

Which red dot wins with you guys, and why would you go for it? Thanks for all the input, and Happy Holidays!
 
I have 2 TRS mounted on rifles as well as a Sparc.The Sparc is a little nicer but for the money the TRS is a great little red dot.The Sparc comes with different sizesd of mounting bases but you can get a rail spacer for the TRS cheap if you have to raise it a bit.
 
How rugged is the TRS if you drop it? Will it hold zero well after a few tumbles? I saw a review on the SPARC still holding zero after it got dropped a few times from the waist on hard ground, which is impressive for $220. The Sparc is 30mm vs 25mm, and has a 2 M.O.A. on it vs the 3 M.O.A. on the TRS. But the price does make up for it though. How much did you guys pay for the TRS, and from where? The TRS seems to be a lot cheaper down in the US compared to Canada, but the Sparc on the other hand is slightly less down there compared to here which tells me the Sparc is a better deal for the Canadian.
 
I got one off the EE and another off Fleabay....BH photo used to sell them really cheap to Canadians but I believe they dont ship north anymore.
Try Fleabay , the last one I bought was only around $110 shipped.
They seem pretty rugged to me.
 
Chalkriver, do you notice a perceivable difference between the 25mm tube and the 30mm? Is the extra 5mm the Sparc offers worth the price over the TRS in your opinion? Would the 30mm help to acquire targets faster? Easier to use with both eyes open?
 
The Spark is hard to beat, it is very solid and even on the biggest recoiling rifle, the zero stay perfect, it is a great tool... JP.
 
"J" man said:
Chalkriver, do you notice a perceivable difference between the 25mm tube and the 30mm? Is the extra 5mm the Sparc offers worth the price over the TRS in your opinion? Would the 30mm help to acquire targets faster? Easier to use with both eyes open?
Click to expand...

IMHO ..get the TRS .
 
I just took a sight like the Meuller reflex sight off my bush gun. There's always dirt, snow, leaves and crap on it. No good for the bush. Get a full tube.
Smaller the dot the better, 3 moa minimum I would think. 2 moa if you can find one.
 
Holy cow the Sparc's dot is smaller than my TRS'? I have no problem setting it to "tiny size" on your average cloudy, wet, BC fall huntin' day; it is so far waterproof (although there were complaints about this on here somewhere...some sort of action rifle course in the wet?), I've dropped it after bouncing the crap out of it on my quad, and still dropped a grouse with a head shot (the only grouse I saw this year:rolleyes:) at 15 yards. Ummm...bad things...can't find flip covers that fit? The Sparc looks cooler?
 
I can ebay a TRS for $115 with shipping. Don't know about duties on top of that. These TRS sights sell for $90 down in the states, and $165 in Canada. Now that is a big freaken difference! The Sparc down in the states is like $200. I managed to find the Vortex Sparc for $220 in Canada (@ DS Tactical). It's taking a risk from shady ebay seller with possible duties on top of $115, or buying a sure thing Sparc for $220 from DS Tactical. I think I'll probably go with DS Tactical and not look back. But in all fairness, the Bushnell is also a good sight. I just can't handle the price difference for it as a Canadian. For this only reason, I'm leaning to the Sparc. I think the Sparc is a poor man's Aimpoint, and if I have to shill out $165 for the TRS, I'm buying the Sparc for $220. How does it go again? Pay once, cry once? Although in this case, it's only $55 more. Also, the Sparc comes with multiple risers. I would probably have to buy a riser for the low mounted TRS anyway, so the difference is less than $55.
 
Ive had a vortex strikefire for a while now, if the sparc is the same quality then I'd have no problem buying one if I had a spot for it. If you use the doubler, mount it with the shortest eye relief possible otherwise the FOV is tiny. In daytime it makes a noticeable difference and doesnt seem to magnify the dot, just the background which I like.
 
Yea the doubler is no good if it's the same one for the Strike Fire as it is for the SPARC.

I wonder about their 3x though with the flip away mount. Anyone have that Vortex flipaway one?
 
The doubler seems to be a freebie, so I'm not too worried about it. I don't trust anything that screws on, unless there's some sort of o-ring to keep moisture out.
 
The Sparc being mountable on only one Weaver base ,make it the perfect companion for a back up rifle sight, i own half a dozen of them, when i go to Anticosti or on a caribou hunt,i got my regular top choice mounted scope on the rifle, i usually bring 4 rifles along a hunt ( my wyfe and i ) and each one have is presetted Sparc so if a rifle is drop or i am unsured of the zero... hop go the Sparc, a very practical tool, i would not be caught without them... Cheers. JP.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom