New Primary Arms Advanced Micro Dot Sight

[caliberetta]

Monday I received the new Primary Arms Advanced Micro Dot Sight, which I've been waiting in the wings for, so I'm happy to have gotten one. I have (among other things) their other Micro Dot, the MD-06L, the predecessor to this Sight which I like very much.

This new Micro RDS is made at a new factory for PA, I believe where their top of the line Advanced Series Red Dot is produced, which I also have, it does look and feel like its big brother. It cost $99, which leaves plenty of room for me to get a nice Mount, the American Defense AD-TD-11, for 1/3 Cowitness. Like all PA Brand Optics, the upgraded Mount is offered at a generous discount when purchased together with their Optics. It's hard to resist.

Below, I'll just cut and paste the review I put on the PA Website, but before that here are some pics:



Below is review I posted earlier this week on the PA Site:

Just received and put it through 100 rounds of .223. PA has once again put out another tremendous value Red Dot. This is much like its predecessor with some key improvements including the new Lower Profile emitter: tiny, no obstruction at all even to 1/3 cowitness.

The mounting height now matches industry standard, mounts can be interchanged to maintain the same cowitnessing choices.

Mounting screws are beefier and upgraded to TORX.

The Dot itself is a much more fine, crisp dot being 2 MOA this time.

The new protective caps are snappy, one finger operated, high quality much like PA's top of the line Advanced Series RDS. The body is built solid, also like the Advanced Series.

What can I say, everything is right on the money, including maintaining zero after shooting and mounting/dismounting.

It costs only slightly more than its predecessor, it's a worthy upgrade, just for the new emitter alone, the rest is all bonus. Highly recommended.



And here are pics looking through the Sight from the rear and front, you can see the low profile emitter clearly in both pics:



You can't ask much more from a $99 Red Dot Optic.

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[Teeko]

Nice post OP,

Can you post a pic without the lens covers?
Does it still look like an aimpoint?

[SNCaliber]

I loved mine, great budget optic, nice AR pistol build man!

[tnlrat37]

Will Larue micro mounts still work with these?

Nevermind, website says yes

[caliberetta]

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SNCaliber - thanks

Nice post OP,

Can you post a pic without the lens covers?
Does it still look like an aimpoint?

Do you mean the Aimpoint T-1? (PA has another Red Dot Sight that looks like Aimpoint Pro).

The previous version Micro Dot does look like the T-1, this newer version has some similarities but looks different due to the hoods for the flip caps as well as a lateral lining where the logo and model name is located (this can be seen clearly in the pics above).

Below is a pic of the new PA Micro dot (model MD-AD, mounted on the AR above, with Flip Caps closed) versus the old (Model MD-06L, mounted on the other one).



You can also see more pics of the MD-AD without the lens caps and mounted Killflash here.
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[Losd619]

I love mine as well. Got it last week and couldn't be happier. I heard they will be releasing a version without flip caps/extensions for the people that would just want to run bikini caps or io covers.

[Teeko]

I love mine as well. Got it last week and couldn't be happier. I heard they will be releasing a version without flip caps/extensions for the people that would just want to run bikini caps or io covers.

ahhh I see, That explains this picture.
What I was first asking was if you can remove the caps to make it look like this one but I guess it will be a different version.

[caliberetta]

ahhh I see, That explains this picture.
What I was first asking was if you can remove the caps to make it look like this one but I guess it will be a different version.

Oh I see. I've never seen that before, looks very nice. I've also heard that PA is working on a Micro Dot that will have a longer battery life and some other added features, although at higher price point. Looking forward to that for sure.

[caliberetta]

I took out the Sight for the 3rd time today along with testing some new hardware.

I think I just made a new observation today. I thought before there really isn't much difference to the shooter for short distances whether the dot is 2 or 4 MOA, but after today I'm pretty sure it does, particularly to those of us who have astigmatism.

While it doesn't make much of a difference (to me) in well-lit outdoor conditions, the larger 4 MOA dot combined with some astigmatism exaggerates a larger red blotch on the sight picture particularly with lighted indoor conditions.

Here is a what I mean:


(Post message correction: The PA MD-06L has a 3MOA Dot, not 4 -- thank you Losd619 for pointing this out)

The Black backstop is 25 yards. The Target on the left is shot with 7.62x39 AR Pistol, HBAR 11.5" barrel. This one sports the previous PA MD-06L Micro Red Dot with 4MOA.

On the right is 5.56/.223 AR Pistol with 10.5" Barrel. This one has PA's newer Micro Dot with 2MOA.

These papers were shot at 25yards standing. In the past and using irons only, I can actually shoot tighter groups with the 7.62x39 than I can with the 5.56 (I don't know why, maybe the HBAR Barrel).

Today however, it's obvious I have a bit more problem shooting my 7.62x39 Pistol, and I think it's because I see a larger Red Blotch in these lighting conditions. In my eyesight, this blotch is elongated, thus you can see the problem I have with the elevation aiming.

I know for sure it's not the Caliber nor the Zeroing, as both Red Dots were zeroed exactly the same way using the corresponding Irons on each pistol. I know for sure the irons on both pistols are zeroed correctly as I have used them many times in the past. It can't be the caliber, as I've shot tighter groups with the 7.62x39 before.

So, the only thing I can think about that was different is that looking through the 4MOA dot with astigmatism causes me to gamble on the point of aim. The margin of error becomes worse when standing and unsupported.

So, I tend to conclude that the smaller 2MOA on the new Micro Dot is beneficial in short distance under certain conditions. Unless anyone with some more experience can point out something perhaps I'm missing.
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[Losd619]

Just a little correction. The model 06L has a 3 moa dot, not 4 moa dot.

[caliberetta]

Just a little correction. The model 06L has a 3 moa dot, not 4 moa dot.

Yes sir, I stand corrected. I always thought it was 4MOA.

One would think there wouldn't be much difference with a single MOA Dot especially at this distance, but when you have astigmatism and in the above lighting conditions, you can tell immediately when you're shooting one, and then pick up the other right after.

[HUTCH 7.62]

Nice review.

[TacticalSpork]

OP,

Thanks for the review. I was looking at the older version to put on an AR that I just bought my GF. She doesn't know she's getting it yet. I actually had to look for the Advanced version on PA's site. I skimmed over it twice because in the PA picture it actually looks much bigger than the original micro dot.

Question, does this still work when you have a left dominant vision and shoot right? Also, which range were those photos taken? I live in South LA county and have never seen that one

[caliberetta]

OP,

(snip)

Question, does this still work when you have a left dominant vision and shoot right? Also, which range were those photos taken?

(snip)

I have left dominant vision but am right handed and learned to shoot with right eye quite easily.

That range is the On Target Range in Laguna Niguel. I like it there because its not very far from me and they allow shooting steel case ammo.

[TacticalSpork]

I have left dominant vision but am right handed and learned to shoot with right eye quite easily.

That range is the On Target Range in Laguna Niguel. I like it there because its not very far from me and they allow shooting steel case ammo.

Thanks a lot! Looks like I may have to try this out. And I may have to head out to Laguna Niguel to try that range out. I've been looking for a place that allows bimetal ammo. I have a bunch of bimetal 30-06 for my Garand that I got from the CMP


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