Red Dot vs. Reticle

SW Gun Guy · Feb 23, 2011

Yesterday the dot in my TruGlo started to fragment after only about 3 months of very mild use. Excluding that the red dot is 1x and a scope with a reticle probably has some magnification.... Is it your experience that in long term use there is a less chance of problems with a reticle scope than with a red dot? Thanks for helping me decide my next purchase.

Rustpot · Feb 23, 2011

If you buy cheap optics you're more likely to have issues regardless of what it is.

If you enjoyed using the red dot and don't think you need magnification just get a better red dot. Spending about $70 on a Primary Arms is as cheap as I would personally go.

If you feel the shooting you do would be better served by a magnified optic, get a scope. There are probably 3 dozen threads on here for selecting a scope for the 15-22.

ChattanoogaPhil · Feb 23, 2011

I have used and abused cheap $29 BSA red dots for years and they keep on ticking.... same with cheap Bushnell 3-9x scopes. Like Rustpot says, whatever type optic best fits your shooting needs is the best one to get.

Usually, when someone says their red dot is fragmented they are having difficulties with their eyes and focus. If I take my distance glasses off, the red dot will appear to be fragmented into 3 or more small dots. One way to tell if it is the dot or your eyes is to take the red dot off the rifle then rotate it as you look through it. If the fragmented dots do not rotate along with the scope then your vision is the problem.

Bflaker · Feb 23, 2011

My cheapo iTac Defense red dot has held up to 800+ rounds while on my Rock River LAR-15, and 650 rounds so far on my 15-22.

Foxtrot · Feb 23, 2011

If your just doing plinking or putting some rounds on paper, and want to stay in the budget category for these things, then look at some of the NCStar stuff.

Yes, I said NC Star. Personally i don't even consider their stuff myself but i've got a friend who has some of their stuff for his .22's and put probably 10,000 rounds thru the weapons with the NCStar stuff.

He has a NcSTAR Illuminated Compact Rifle Scope 3-9x42E Ill. AR15 / M16 Scope, on one rifle - and the NcSTAR Red Dot Sight 1x42 B-Style Red Dot on another.

NcSTAR Illuminated Compact Rifle Scope - 3-9x42E Ill. AR15 / M16 Scope - $60.00 > NcSTAR Illuminated Compact Rifle Scope - 3-9x42E Ill. AR15 / M16 Scope / Ruby / Mount FREE S&H SECAQ3942R. NcSTAR Riflescopes.

NcSTAR Red Dot Sight - 1x42 B-Style Red Dot - $32.99
NcSTAR Red Dot Sight - 1x42 B-Style Red Dot - Weaver Base DBB142 FREE S&H DBB142. NcSTAR Red Dot Sights.

If you don't need the magnification of the 3-9x42E Ill they also have some others that are pretty reasonable and built on the same frame and same construction as the 3-9x42E Ill. They also have fixed 4X if thats what your looking for. Most of their stuff is budget priced.

I would not depend on them in a life and death situation, but they are fine for a .22 for plinking and targets and seem to hold up pretty well in that use.

I use EoTech's myself on all my weapons, but thats because I need the dependability and reliability thats there, pay for it yes...but...for example...the difference between a 1 MOA dot and a 3 MOA dot is only a heartbeat away in a critical situation when your moving and have only a small part of a target to hit.

Red Dot vs. Reticle

SW Gun Guy

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Rustpot

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ChattanoogaPhil

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Bflaker

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Foxtrot

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