Red Dot sights?

ghughes said:
After all of the helpful suggestions I think I'm pretty sure of what I'm looking for
Circle dot of some sort, 1moa dot and 6-12moa circle.
Probably Sig Sauer or Holosun (possibly PA as well).
Mounting low on a 3030, 7.62x39 and/or 12ga.

Will the entry level ($200) units handle the recoil?
Are the handgun as robust, are they all essentially the same?
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Unless you are on an extreme budget I'd consider going a bit over $200, and buying something with a lifetime, no paper work fully transferable warranty.... the nice thing about that is it's easier to sell down the road if for some reason you want to.

The other option is to wait until you find a PA or Vortex used and take advantage of the savings while still being covered if there are any issues down the road with the unit.

I recently bought an Olight fully enclosed micro reflex optic that was on sale when it first launched, it's more designed for compact pistols that are cut for an RMRs footprint but I've bought some adapter plates to allow it to mount to a typical slotted rail. It has a 2moa dot and 32 moa ring and it can be selected as dot only, ring only or both which is pretty typical these days for that style of reticle.

Turnbullrestorations makes some nice mounts for lever actions but they are pricey and would need to be imported.
https://www.turnbullrestoration.com/red-dot-sight-mount-compatibility/

This looks like a good less expensive option to mount a rear rail on a top eject 94 with the factory peep mount side screws, not as low profile as the turnbull but it would allow use of different micro red dots that mount on a rail.

https://gun-guides.com/products/WIN...-for-TOP-eject-model-lever-actions-p506217886
 
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Buck1950 said:
I'm shooting a $40 UUQ red-dot on my SKS. I first had it on the barrel by the f-sight, per an experiment a member of sksboards. Worked OK, I guess, but awkward to see thru that far out. It took the recoil there just fine. Now it's on a dust cover 'tri-rail' and OK there too. Over 100 rounds between the 2 mounts, with No probs. I find the red-dot not that accurate, even compared to irons but it is faster getting a sight-picture. I might try a 12G next ? And maybe try my Holosun, too.
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The rear sight pic rail mount from BadAce is the way to go for a red dot installation.
 
ghughes said:
Does shake awake work on a long gun?
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Yes, why wouldn't it? How would the sight know what kind of firearm it was on?

FWIW the TRS 25 is crap and it is priced as such. I had one for a short while and found it wasn't nearly bright enough for a sunny day outdoors. Maybe it'd be fine for indoor range use?

The Sig Romeo 5 has a great reputation and all the features you could want. Super long battery life and shake awake. They are also super tough and durable. There are a ton of YouTube vids expounding the virtues of the Romeo 5. You can find "used" ones for ca. $200 and the new version for around $250. Best buy for the buck these days.
 
I'll throw the vortex sparc 2 out there when it's on sale for $199
If you like it and want something with pedigree, it resells for near new and you can throw on an aimpoint h1/h2 in its place.

But my whole hearted suggestion is a good 2-7x scope with a forgiving eyebox.
 
+1 for the Bushnell TRS25. I bought mine in 2012 and it's still awesome. Holds zero great, had it on an SKS for a while and at least several hundred rounds. Several thousand 22lr. Over a hundred 12Ga of different kinds. Maybe Mr. I don't care had a lemon because I've never shot mine inside once, every time I used it was outside and on particularly sunny days I'd max it out for brightness but it would still be good to hit pop cans at a hundred. For a hundred meter hunting red dot in the $100 range I don't know how it could be any better. The finish is completely worn off mine in spots, I have not treated it well at all, it's always rode on my beater guns and it's been a champ.

Buy more ammo and a TRS-25. Fancy sights are for fancy people, the Bushnell is good to go.
 
TravisJM said:
+1 for the Bushnell TRS25. I bought mine in 2012 and it's still awesome. Holds zero great, had it on an SKS for a while and at least several hundred rounds. Several thousand 22lr. Over a hundred 12Ga of different kinds. Maybe Mr. I don't care had a lemon because I've never shot mine inside once, every time I used it was outside and on particularly sunny days I'd max it out for brightness but it would still be good to hit pop cans at a hundred. For a hundred meter hunting red dot in the $100 range I don't know how it could be any better. The finish is completely worn off mine in spots, I have not treated it well at all, it's always rode on my beater guns and it's been a champ.

Buy more ammo and a TRS-25. Fancy sights are for fancy people, the Bushnell is good to go.
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The bushnell is a pretty fancy sight by historical measures..... and if you want to make it even more fancy it looks like monstrum now makes some inexpensive flip up caps if you've gotten tired of, or more likely snapped the bikini it came with.... :)

$24 bucks for some flip up caps might blow the budget though for the hard core TRS-25 uber alles fans... :)

https://www.amazon.ca/Monstrum-Flip-Up-Lens-1x20mm-Sights/dp/B09JL7R27K/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2SLVZPBQTWSMD&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.sr1xYX-na8b6TrRNPVJpS5gFirT7dOkOK1k2MEYAPXLRnSVqHVuLPJoWZnzeywPhXQJi-7HCEmwwG4bErk9PWXI_K1i2avGWdc9jPl3c_7HqqE9l6bprUKubF3hHiSmT6d5hMlfNGq3aIxo5IRK758Bh4Gb6KgjORYLXjpY3T-325bnWhi9_7_VLuAj2Q010GQcGG-3ZzUFG0JyiISl6Zh9wc_Z-1HH3dJte4ph5VNSbMnVKS1Hrt9Ehy2FMj65n8OIdCo-3tTZkd75jpIeTrWA9KF63xF--4vFo-3lr7L-v-diKQJEMBduwKSBcWCn0UEH3lxwr__8ymD-D_P-_HBlAvHXmJV0aGZkEMRvw4GjEFzwYR6QBr9SCxz_syeeRFFkzjaIKW4weF-P33HLjedQyibuhcPtuqK6nX-ZklxadqqvcAPg0M1g2Ny5-wNI8.ukhTnQ07530_DovkKIC1QJUKPK_oaghgdBROGcamlS4&dib_tag=se&keywords=monstrum+flip+up+sights+for+bushnell&qid=1742840197&sprefix=monstrum+flip+up+sights+for+bushnel,aps,277&sr=8-1&th=1
 
I'd pick one up right now if they showed it on a TRS-25 not on a riser. I don't know if they'd work with the bottom of the optic being so close to the rail when they're mounted without the riser. It looks like they might rub? Very cool though.
 
Travis - There are some pics on the Bushnell site that show the optic on a low mount on a rail. It looks close, but a file could cure the problem ?
PS Everyone - The TRS-25 is a 5-MOA dot = 5-inches @ 100. I have a 2 and a 3-MOA red-dot and find at 100 yds it's tough to keep 3-4" groups with larger calibres like 223, x39 and 308. The TRS might be OK for hunting if you're within 100-yds or so. JMO
 
Buck1950 said:
Travis - There are some pics on the Bushnell site that show the optic on a low mount on a rail. It looks close, but a file could cure the problem ?
PS Everyone - The TRS-25 is a 5-MOA dot = 5-inches @ 100. I have a 2 and a 3-MOA red-dot and find at 100 yds it's tough to keep 3-4" groups with larger calibres like 223, x39 and 308. The TRS might be OK for hunting if you're within 100-yds or so. JMO
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Pretty sure mine are 3moa, but I would not be shocked if they also made 5 moa dots.
 
per website, about halfway down the page - 3 MOA ; maybe older ones were 'better'. My Amazon UUQ $40 reflex is 3-MOA. And my older Holosun 503 is 2-MOA. I think the 1-MOA get costlier ?
https://www.bushnell.com/red-dots/ar-optics-trs-25-hirise-red-dot-sight/BU-AR731306.html
The Bushnell 3-moa reflex is $300-ish USD MSRP.
The Bushnell 4-MOA reflex is $80-ish USD MSRP.
I have one of these on my S-64 - https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07GWNTJR4?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1
for those 'nite-time CQs' 😉
Only a couple hours use in daytime at 25 & 50 yds - zero OK but Not testing laser - too sunny to verify.
EDIT - I Mis-Read web-page - DOT IS 3-MOA (changed above) and added the 4-MOA Reflex.
Thanks to 'several' for pointing out this error.
 
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I picked up a PA MD-RB-AD red dot here on CGN and it appears I have mild astigmatism.
Indoors I get a cluster but outside it works just fine. May very well need to get an etched one or something else down the road but this should work a treat for a trial.
 
ghughes said:
I picked up a PA MD-RB-AD red dot here on CGN and it appears I have mild astigmatism.
Indoors I get a cluster but outside it works just fine. May very well need to get an etched one or something else down the road but this should work a treat for a trial.
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I don't know what it is exactly between the different lighting inside and outside, but I notice the same thing. Much better outside where I do most of my shooting..... :)

For what a red dot is to me, put the dot (flared or not) on the spot and break the shot..... mild flaring due to astigmatism is not an issue.
 
I have a TRS-125 on a short barrel slug shotgun.
I like it more than the other TRS-25 I have, costs more though.
Has two mounting clamp screws, c/w high & low mounts, 3moa dot, push button brightness.
It’s been great, no issues holding zero shooting 3” slugs.
 
Buck1950 said:
per website, about halfway down the page - 5 MOA ; maybe older ones were 'better'. My Amazon UUQ $40 reflex is 3-MOA. And my older Holosun 503 is 2-MOA. I think the 1-MOA get costlier ?
https://www.bushnell.com/red-dots/ar-optics-trs-25-hirise-red-dot-sight/BU-AR731306.html
The Bushnell 3-moa reflex is $300-ish USD MSRP.
I have one of these on my S-64 - https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07GWNTJR4?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1
for those 'nite-time CQs' 😉
Only a couple hours use in daytime at 25 & 50 yds - zero OK but Not testing laser - too sunny to verify.
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From Bushnell’s website, it’s a 3moa dot.

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You're right ! I shoulda taken a screen-shot so I would have seen that error. Too late at nite I guess.
I edited that post also.
 
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