Name me some good quality Red Dots you know of.

Let's not forget that it's all based on Mission Specifics. To use a term I'm familiar with. The user may not shoot past 100yards in which case the standard red dot works great, but if you switch from a 100yrd to a 200yrd or greater, the standard red dot sucks. I've got a Vortex like that. 1-4x I believe. It's on another AR. It's also on a longer barreled AR. I've tried using flip over magnifiers and they kinda get in the way. Some types I've had lock to the side which was better, but Meh, not cool. Twist lock worked well, but still bulky.

You're right, it depends greatly on the intended role for the optic/rifle combination. That being said, a low mag optic is very capable at 1x when compared to reddots, whether the user ever moves the power ring or not. The low mag optic can go from zero to 300-400 yards with little effort. The reddot not so much.

TDC
 
You're right, it depends greatly on the intended role for the optic/rifle combination. That being said, a low mag optic is very capable at 1x when compared to reddots, whether the user ever moves the power ring or not. The low mag optic can go from zero to 300-400 yards with little effort. The reddot not so much.

TDC

Ya know,
All this talk about my 1-4x makes me want to take it out to the range again. I have a bad opinion about the magnifiers at the moment so maybe for our next training day ill use the 14.5" with that. We have been doing alot of cqb crap lately and I think it's time to do some midrange fun.
Do you have a pic of yours kicking around? I'm a big visual type. The greatest ideas I get from all of you. I've been on here a while and just as of recently I'm branching out and asking more specific questions lately. It helps me out alot and I do appreciate all of you guys help.
 
Trijicon RMR. Can be had with fibre optic/tritium or a battery powered LED version. I lucked into an LED for a price I just couldn't pass up. Still trying to source a mount for it. If you don't like it as a primary optic you can mount it on a scope or even onto a pistol.

RM01_additional_popup_1.jpg
 
Lot of good and bad points of view on this thread and since I have handel all of the above sight's and owned them at one point or another except the new SRS here is my ranking;
  1. Insight MRDS (Pro's: Quick& percise aiming abilities, light, auto-adjust red dot, good battery life, tough as nails, easy to adjust and also NVG firendly) (Con's: Mount comes seperatly, no tritium batery life & hard to make hold off corections)
  2. Aimpoint T-1 (Pro's: NVG compatibilty, percise aiming ability, tough, extreme battery life, intergal removeable mount and light) (Con's: the "tube" effect manualy have to adjust the brightness of one's red dot & also those damm bakini cover's keep on breaking on me:mad:)
  3. EoTech XPS (Pro's: Excelent hold off capability, great for acurate multiple threat engugements, works in all adverise weather conditions, NVG firendly, easy to operate and also has a tough outershell) (Con's: Can not make it lower so it is only suitable for certain firearms, battery life is alright but can drain quickly, bulky and heavy)

Those are my personal top 3 to date. Basicaly the insight for a CQB AR is great, aimpoint for an ak style of rifle were you need a low profile rugged opitic & the EoTech for a home defense shotgun were you need to quickly pick out multiple targets and that circle works great for you to rember your paterns from your buck shot.
All the rest of the red dot's that I have owned also have there advanatges and dis-advantages but just ask away and I will chime in why I believe that they are not in my top 3 ranked red dot style sights.
 
Trijicon RMR. Can be had with fibre optic/tritium or a battery powered LED version. I lucked into an LED for a price I just couldn't pass up. Still trying to source a mount for it. If you don't like it as a primary optic you can mount it on a scope or even onto a pistol.

RM01_additional_popup_1.jpg

The RMR is nice, but it's really only suitable as a secondary optic on a rifle.
 
The RMR is nice, but it's really only suitable as a secondary optic on a rifle.

Perhaps, I haven't been able to try it out yet. Don't see how it would be much different from an Aimpoint T-1. Satain seems to think the Insight MRDS is a suitable optic and they're very similar.

Certainly not optimal, but I'm using it on a budget, lightweight build. If I find I don't like it then I'll swap it out for the TA01 that came with it.
 
Perhaps, I haven't been able to try it out yet. Don't see how it would be much different from an Aimpoint T-1. Satain seems to think the Insight MRDS is a suitable optic and they're very similar.

Certainly not optimal, but I'm using it on a budget, lightweight build. If I find I don't like it then I'll swap it out for the TA01 that came with it.
The deal with the RMR that I don't like is the fact that there is no brightness control over the red dot. The tritium/fiber optic ones stink in my personal point of view and can easly wash out with the back ground. On a budget the Buris Fast Fire is a great alternitave but the JPoint is a complete waste of money. As for the Dr.Optic they aren't that bad but for the money that you are paying for why not get all the bells and wistle's like the Insight MRDS or save your money and get the Fast Fire???
Like I said I have owned all of these light wieght reflex sight's and these are my personal conclusions that I have reached from owning and using them.
 
Trijicon RMR. Can be had with fibre optic/tritium or a battery powered LED version. I lucked into an LED for a price I just couldn't pass up. Still trying to source a mount for it. If you don't like it as a primary optic you can mount it on a scope or even onto a pistol.

RM01_additional_popup_1.jpg

I like that. That would work well as a front mount on the handguard of a VZ. They say, the lighter the better. I think that covers it.
 
There are a whole slew of optics that are similar. Each with their own advantages and disadvantages as Satain has pointed out. Docter Optic, Burris Fastfire, Insight MRDS, J Point are all similar size but with different price points, ruggedness, quality, features, etc..

Finding mounts for them that co-witnesses them, or puts them lower third, can be an issue.
 
That's very true. Its hard to pick from all of these. My standby for fun is definately the Vortex for the price and decent durability. My buddy puts his through stress tests all the time just by how abusive he is to his equipment. If you all could only see. Lol.
For a primary work version mostly due to extreme battery life and extreme durability, my fave is definately Aimpoint(of any type, depending on the job). Eotech does ok too, but durabilty and battery lack to its main competitor(Aimpoint). But for look cool factor, it wins hands down. Not that looks should be a factor, but it is for most. The one I've tried but never owned is the 1-4x Elcan Specter DR. If they could give it Aimpoint battery power, it would be my favorite, hands down. Not that battery is a big deal anyways with it, considering it has etched reticals. Nobody who has to carry a rifle for 12 hour shifts wants to carry a magnifier as well as a red dot to be functional in both capacities. You carry enough wearing your gear, ammo and plates. Extra stuff just sucks. Who needs a P90X video when you carry all that and work in the blistering heat? Am I right or what? Lol! Some of you know what I'm talking about too. What I wouldn't give to take my vest off at work sometimes. But if you do, could be the last time. The old "Catch 22".
 
That's very true. Its hard to pick from all of these. My standby for fun is definately the Vortex for the price and decent durability. My buddy puts his through stress tests all the time just by how abusive he is to his equipment. If you all could only see. Lol.
For a primary work version mostly due to extreme battery life and extreme durability, my fave is definately Aimpoint(of any type, depending on the job). Eotech does ok too, but durabilty and battery lack to its main competitor(Aimpoint). But for look cool factor, it wins hands down. Not that looks should be a factor, but it is for most. The one I've tried but never owned is the 1-4x Elcan Specter DR. If they could give it Aimpoint battery power, it would be my favorite, hands down. Not that battery is a big deal anyways with it, considering it has etched reticals. Nobody who has to carry a rifle for 12 hour shifts wants to carry a magnifier as well as a red dot to be functional in both capacities. You carry enough wearing your gear, ammo and plates. Extra stuff just sucks. Who needs a P90X video when you carry all that and work in the blistering heat? Am I right or what? Lol! Some of you know what I'm talking about too. What I wouldn't give to take my vest off at work sometimes. But if you do, could be the last time. The old "Catch 22".
Not quite...
What were you wanting to place this on?
If a etched reticale is what you are after and this is for an AR or that type of platform were eye relief is not a factor then I had this cool optic from Leopuld called the prismatic. The battery life stink's but then again it's etched reticale only make's the light to be on durring twilight time to sun rise. So there for your barrely ever need to turn it on & when the battery does run out on ya then you are still good to go cause of the etched reticale. Plus multiple mount size's come with the kit. As for the vortex new relfex sight...
Well just save your $$$ cause the strikefire and the sparc are a way better value.
 
Got any pics? Sounds like something I haven't seen before.
The Strikefire and Sparc are cool, but I noticed at Brownells, they have a new Doctor Optic like thing. Its not very cheap either. I haven't seen them here yet. I wish I could remember what it was called.
 
The Elcan is nice, but it is a pig in terms of weight...

It is pretty heavy/bulky, but in comparison to running the red dot and the 4x magnifier, makes it an awsome choice. If light weight and just a red dot, is what you need then I would have to go Aimpoint Micro for sure.

When I started this post I wanted to find something different from the norm. You guys have not disappointed me at all. Some of the stuff you all have shown me is awsome. On the other hand it makes me want to spend more money. Keep me coming guys.
 
It is pretty heavy/bulky, but in comparison to running the red dot and the 4x magnifier, makes it an awsome choice. If light weight and just a red dot, is what you need then I would have to go Aimpoint Micro for sure.

When I started this post I wanted to find something different from the norm. You guys have not disappointed me at all. Some of the stuff you all have shown me is awsome. On the other hand it makes me want to spend more money. Keep me coming guys.

Most of the magnifiers I've seen are 3-3.25x. There are benefits to the magnifiers: first, a RDS/HWS+magnifier setup will still be lighter. And with a twist-off mount you can easily remove the magnifier to reduce weight. There's also the cost savings: Elcan = $1,600+ vs. maybe $1,200 for the RDS/HWS+magnifier.

I'd really like to try a Trijicon SRS; I'm just unsure if you really gain anything with the 13.8 weight! (the Aimpoint Micro being 3.7oz by comparison)
 
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