Red Dot scopes

[Crusader]

I'm thinking of getting a cheap red dot scope to put on my AR just to see if I like to look, feel, and accuracy of the set up. And I'd like to find this stuff out before I buy a $400 Aimpoint.

So I was wondering if anyone has purchased a red dot scope in the $50ish price range that has worked well for you for a long time without issues. If so, what was it (make/model)?

[MallNinja]

If a $50 red dot worked as well for a long time without issues, I don't think anyone would buy a $400 Aimpoint.

I'd be interested as well for a .22 plinker that I may pick up some time in the near future.

[Mute]

No, but if you want to save a little and get a decent red dot sight you should checkout Vortex Strikefire. So far, I've heard lots of good reports on this optic. $150 will get you a sight and a mount.

[stphnman20]

You can try out the Vortex StrikeFire.. It's about $120. It's a good red dot optic. Check out AR15.com. They have a lot of positive feedbacks.

[tomd1584]

funny you bring this up.. I just bought a vortex strikefire from Addax today. will be going to the range wednesday night to get it zeroed in. I bought it with the same reason you have.

[smlockdown]

they got one for $19 at budsgunshop that is more in the ~50 range mentioned and the people gave it good reviews

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/48617

[fusionstar]

Im currently running a $50-$60 red dot on my airguns, 22lr, and a cheapie ar15 in 7.62x39.


Like this one, Thats not me. But thats the guy who made me buy it.



It works, Hasn't lost zero. The mounts come with both 3/8" and picatinny so 22lr to ar15 is just a few screws away.

Bought it on ebay...

Its actually quite nice for a $60 piece. Sure beats the leapers and barskas.

If you go up 2x, you can get a vortex strikefire, which is pretty nice for the price.

[ucla_jtsuei]

Primary Arms makes excellent budget optics. Their Aimpoint M4 and M3 clones are extremely popular on Arfcom. Their red dot magnifiers are great, too.

http://www.primaryarms.com/main.sc;jsessionid=D648421D363E6BA5A6894FD1DB867FDF.qscstrfrnt04

[kgcabs]

This is a great red dot at a great price. I have about a thousand rounds through my rifle and the Walther has not skipped a beat.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=655370

HTH, Karl

[supermario]

I bought a Truglow for $50 and it sux. I wouldnt buy a cheap scope that requires batteries ever again. I needed an optic for my Keltec so i figured it didnt matter, well it does. The battery can go dead in no time and it didnt hold a zero on a 5.56 recoil. I still use it but just so my Keltec has something on it since i dont have any sights on it. I woudnt go cheap for a red dot type of scope but i would go cheap on a basic magnified scope. I have a $50 Tasco 3-9 on my Rem 700 and it has been excellent and very reliable under harsh conditions for about 10years now and still going. By the way, I have an Aimpoint Mark11 (i think) from the 80's, and it still works 100%. My brother bought me the Aimpoint for me when i was 12yrs old and mounted it on my Marlin 30-30 lever and 22years later, it still works good and I love Aimpoint! I even lost the scope for about 6years in my garage, it got beat up in all kinds of garbage, i found it, pulled it out, only to find it had a battery stuck in it, so i banged (literally) the scope on a wooden table, the battery came out eventually, then i put a new battery in and its been working since. I have it mounted on my Sig 556 now. Oh by the way, i lost the mount during the process, i called up Aimpoint (in the USA) and he sent me the mounting hardware free of charge!!

[Flying Bones]

they got one for $19 at budsgunshop that is more in the ~50 range mentioned and the people gave it good reviews
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/p...ducts_id/48617

If you want one like this, I have a similar one i'll give to you.

It's made for the the smaller "dovetail" rails. I think you can get an adapter. It's on top of the safe for eternity, so let me know.

[JohnBrian]

I had a BEC 20mm red dot on my AR15 for several years. I took it off a month ago because a friend of mine gave me a Trijicon Reflex. The BEC cost me $19.99 plus shipping from Sportsman's Guide. Never had a problem with it. It's been painted a couple of times with camo paint and I always stripped the old paint off before a repaint. I love dot type sights because they are super fast to get on taget--- nothing to line up. And it co-witnessed with my iron sights.

[rrg927]

Primary Arms makes excellent budget optics. Their Aimpoint M4 and M3 clones are extremely popular on Arfcom. Their red dot magnifiers are great, too.

http://www.primaryarms.com/main.sc;j...F.qscstrfrnt04

I have both the M3 & M4 from Primary arms. Very happy with both of them. They're in the 80-100 dollar range and while they are not an Aimpoint by any means, I feel they are more like a 2OO -ish dollar red dot for half the price.
Just my 2.....

[tyan]

I would stick with the Vortex StrikeFire and the Burris XTS-135. Just spend a little more for a real warranty.

[MKT]

A third vote for the PrimaryArms.com clones. I got an Aim Point M4 clone from Primary Arms for $89. It looks and feels pretty close to the real deal. Not a bad optic for the price. Since it is a pretty close clone I thought I would try to fit a genuine Aim Point M4 KillFlash. I managed to snag one off of fleabay, it arrived yesterday and I quickly found the manufacturing difference. The clone uses a taller lens ring which prevents the KillFlash from engaging the internal threads. Other than that quirk it seems to be a decent item.

Put about 100 rounds down range using the optiuc on Saturday with no issues.