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Primary Arms Red dot
- Thread starter amcline82
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JaPes
Member
I've owned three PA red dots. I've mounted them to range use only firearms. They're good value for the dollar. I do not mount them to firearms I use for home and self defense. For the home and self defense firearms, I mount a Trijicon or Aimpoint.
This is puzzling to me, you will mount one to a range gun and shoot the snot out of your range gun, and it appears to hold up fine. But you wont put one on a home/personal defense gun that sits loaded and ready for use should SHTF at home. What, it's going bad from sitting on your weapon? It's apparently reliable and accurate enough to keep using at the range, but not reliable and accurate enough to shoot someone breaking into your home, or shooting someone meaning to do harm to you or your family?
ChattanoogaPhil
Member
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I have three optics with PA labels on them, two 1x red dots and a compact 4x. They have given great service.
But... I put optics in two categories, recreation and duty worthy. PA optics in the $200 and under price range aren't in my duty worthy category. The operator of PA, Marshall, says the same thing.
Chinese quality control optics (no matter what label is slapped on them) work great until they don't. These are the more pricey Holosun/Primary Arms red dots.
Holosun A fail
Holosun B fail
Holosun C fail
Unsuitable at Any Range: A Holosun Review - The Firearm Blog
I've probably got more Chinese made red dots than most others here. They are great for recreational use. Expectations beyond recreation, no thanks.
Reminds me of the guy who posted pics on the Net of his PA Advanced Micro image shift. Horrible. He sent it back and got another that he said wasn't so bad. Chinese quality control is like a box of chocolates....
Al that said, I really like the lower priced PA optics. Marshall and his folks are great to do business with and stand by their products. If someone wants to use them on a firearm designated for duty/self defense then go for it... probably won't have a problem if a life or death situation arises. I just prefer the odds with proven duty worthy optics.
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amcline82
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Good to know thanks for the input. This will be just for plinking. I think ARs for home defense is not a good idea and I also don't see a point in owning two different optics for a rifle.
Friends don't let friends buy a Taurus
Friends don't let friends buy a Taurus
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Nothing wrong with modern Taurus firearms. I have a PT111 G2 and PT140 G2 with easily 2000 rounds through them combined and I've had zero reliability issues. I'd trust my PT140 G2 with my life more than a PA optic (even though I do like the PA optics).
ChattanoogaPhil
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Taurus does not make an AR platform anything that I'm aware of. Discussion should be in the Other Firearms section.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Westie1
Member
Think Phil was referencing arnoob's post in response to your signature
Rastoff
US Veteran
What's puzzling to me is that you think a true self-defense gun is rarely fired. Any device you use for protection should be used and practiced with A LOT! If ever there was something you need to be proficient with, it's that.
I agree wit Japes and Phil on this one. PA optics are decent. Their customer service is second to none. However, when it comes down to brass tacks, I want Trijicon or Aimpoint.
You can search my post on the MD-ADS to see what I think about it.
Horn
Member
I Have One
50K-Hour Battery Life" on my S&W M&P 15-22 Sport. For the price
it's very high quality and easy to use. Is it a military grade optic?
No. Frankly I don't see a civilian need for something needed for extreme combat situations. I don't consider an AR as a SD firearm. My personal experience was situations taking 2 seconds or less and within a few feet.
Front sight only for such.
I highly recommend the Primary Arms optics. Great value for good quality and outstanding customer service.
Hope this helps you.
Stay safe
Poli Viejo
I have the "PA Advanced Micro Dot with Push Buttons and Up to
50K-Hour Battery Life" on my S&W M&P 15-22 Sport. For the price
it's very high quality and easy to use. Is it a military grade optic?
No. Frankly I don't see a civilian need for something needed for extreme combat situations. I don't consider an AR as a SD firearm. My personal experience was situations taking 2 seconds or less and within a few feet.
Front sight only for such.
I highly recommend the Primary Arms optics. Great value for good quality and outstanding customer service.
Hope this helps you.
Stay safe
Poli Viejo
cyphertext
US Veteran
I notice that you have a shield next to your name... do you have a PA optic on your duty weapon?
cyphertext
US Veteran
I don't see a "pissing contest". I see a trend of people responding that if you want an optic for recreational use, i.e. target shooting, hunting, etc., Primary Arms is a good buy. However, if you want an optic for home defense or duty use, then you might want to look elsewhere.
Rastoff
US Veteran
I'm confused by this statement. Isn't the reliability of the optic important to you? I was stating my experience with Primary Arms optics and how they relate to the way I use them.
Kadonny
Member
I have a PA 2.5x optic on my AR pistol and love it. Great reticle, nice glass and reliable. That being said, I have Trijicons on my true SD/battle rifles.
Horn
Member
On My Duty Weapon?
flash light under a suit coat.... that was enough.
You LE?
Hey!
Stay safe.
Poli Viejo
No duty weapon now days. Retired detective. Detectives aren't apt to be carrying a rifle ___it'd get in the way..... By the time I already had a pair of handcuffs, a pistol, extra ammo, a small
flash light under a suit coat.... that was enough.
You LE?
Hey!
Stay safe.
Poli Viejo
cyphertext
US Veteran
No, not LE. Was just curious if you used one on duty. I have several LE friends who carry patrol rifles in their squad, and a couple of SWAT officer friends... All of them have the same opinion... "I need it to work when I need it", so they have more trust in brands like Aimpoint.
From out of left field what is the skinny on using a PA on a shotgun? I just bought a Kel-Tec KSG and I need a sight for it. IMO a bead sight is generally good enough for a shotgun. I've had good luck with them all my life but AFAIK you can't mount one on a KSG.
I know this isn't a shotgun forum but I'm concerned about the PA, not the shotgun. If that isn't OK just say so and I'll move the question.
I know this isn't a shotgun forum but I'm concerned about the PA, not the shotgun. If that isn't OK just say so and I'll move the question.
Rastoff
US Veteran
It works fine on a shotgun.
I put mine on a Mossberg SPX. I used it for a little while without issue. I didn't like that it reduced the field of view a little and went back to using the ghost ring and post sights that the gun came with.
Because of my experience with the optic, a friend put one on his Mossberg 500. He's fired over 1,000 rounds and likes it a lot.
So, yeah, you can use it on a shotgun.
