WarpedWheel
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- Jan 19, 2012
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Since I had questioned this same thing a week or two ago, I figured maybe some of you had the same questions. I wanted to know what was the best red dot on a budget. The two most common responses were the Bushnell TRSs-25 and the Primary Arms Gen 2. After reading hundreds of reviews online I knew that either of them would be good. I couldn't decide so I bought both. I wanted one for my M&P 15-22 and figured I'd use the other one on another gun. I will do a side by side comparison for you guys that are looking into either of these two. I will not be doing a review of them at the range yet. I just moved to a new area and have not gotten signed up for the local range yet. It's not like living with my brother where we could shoot in the back yard. You will find plenty of reviews online for how they work while shooting.
Sorry if my pictures aren't the best. They are just cell phone pics with not the best lighting.
Primary Arms Gen 2: $59.99 plus $9 shipping
(This is a blemished product, though mine is perfect and the knob does not make any contact with the body like they describe)
This is the first production run and the factory used the wrong size brightness knob. This causes the knob to be tilted during installation and rubs the body. They function fine. The warranty is a little different in that If a blemished product fails during the 1 year warranty period and cannot be repaired you will receive a store credit of your original purchase price. The angle shown in the photo is worst case. INCLUDED MOUNT LINES UP WITH OUR STANDARD HEIGHT MAGNIFIER MOUNTS. YOU WILL HAVE ROOM ON A FLATTOP AR15 FOR BOTH, BUT WILL NOT HAVE ROOM FOR A BACK UP REAR SIGHT UNLESS YOU HAVE AN EXTENDED RAIL. YOU WILL HAVE ROOM WITHOUT AN EXTENDED RAIL FOR ALL 3 IF YOU UPGRADE TO THE 3X DELUXE MAGNIFIER.
Weapons grade red dot sight
Magnification: None
Eye Relief: Unlimited
2 MOA Dot
Optical coating: Anti-reflective
Uses 1 standard AA battery
1,000+ hours battery life 7 brightness settings
Anodized aluminum body
Length: 5.5-Inch
Width: 2 1/2-Inch
Height: 2 7/8-Inch w/mount.
Weight: 12 1/8 oz w/mount
Flip up caps included.
Mount height gives lower 1/3 co-witness
1 year repair or replacement warranty.
Shorter screws included for low applications where spacer is not required
Base is milled to accept Aimpoint cantilever spacer or aftermarket Aimpoint M4 mounts.
Bushnell TRS-25: $79.95 free shipping on Ebay
**Sorry that the Bushnell information doesn't copy and paste in the table like it does on their site. Do a Google search if you want to read it in a table.
Features
Multi-coated optics
Amber-Bright™ high contrast lens coating
100% waterproof/fogproof/shockproof construction
Dry-nitrogen filled
CR2032 battery
Power / Obj Lens 1 x 25mm
Finish Matte
Length (in / mm) 2.4 / 61.8
Reticle 3 M.O.A. Red Dot
Field of View (ft@100 ft. / m@100 m) Unlimited
Adj Range in@100yds/ m@100m 70 / 1.9
Weight (oz. / g) 3.7 / 106
Exit Pupil (mm) 22
Eye Relief (in / mm) Unlimited
Mounting Length (in / mm) 1.1 / 28
Model 731303
Click Value in@100 yds / mm@100m .5 /14
Primary Arms right side- stock brackets for co-witness
Bushnell right side- .083" mount for absolute co-witness
Left side of both: Primary Arms on left, Bushnell on right
Top view: Primary Arms on left, Bushnell on right
Lens View: Primary Arms on left, Bushnell on right
I think the PA is 30mm and Bushnell is 25mm
Primary Arms dot: bright setting (the glare from the camera makes it look bigger than it is)
Bushnell dot: bright setting
Overall they both look really good for the price. Neither of them look like they are made cheaply.
Covers: I do like the flip up lens covers on the Primary Arms sight better than the rubber bikini type on the Bushnell.
Red dot brightness: Sometimes when adjusting the brightness on the Bushnell it feels like I am loosening or tightening the batter cover as well (it is on the same knob). I like the brightness adjustment knob on the Bushnell better because it has definite clicking notches. The Primary Arms has faint notches and it would be better if they were more definite like the Bushnell. Both seem to be equally as bright on the high setting in the daylight.
Size: the Primary arms is definitely bigger and weighs a bit more. Once I put on the long riser on the Bushnell they were a lot closer in weight. Keep in mind you wouldn't need the long riser. I don't mind the weight because the 15-22 is so light that adding a pound doesn't make much difference to me.
Dot size: Primary Arms- 2 MOA, Bushnell- 3 MOA
Looking through these two at a house down the street the dots appear to be really close in size. The Primary Arms is just a tiny bit smaller as advertised.
Overall look on the gun: I haven't decided yet. I will put a picture up of both. I keep thinking that I want to go with the Primary Arms because I like the look of it and I like the larger lens. But then I don't want to rule out the Bushnell because it is equally as nice. Which look do you guys like?
Primary Arms
Bushnell
Overall Choice: I don't have one. They both seem like they will be very good. The Bushnell is VERY popular. If you search it on the internet is has excellent reviews and there are tons of them. The Primary Arms seems like it will be great as well. Even though it is a blemished product and the price was dropped, there were no issues with mine making contact with the body like they show pictures of on their website. Bottom line is that if I had only bought one I would be just as happy with it as the other one. That is, given that I haven't shot my rifle with either of them yet.
If anyone has real world experience with either of these feel free to add your $.02.
Sorry if my pictures aren't the best. They are just cell phone pics with not the best lighting.
Primary Arms Gen 2: $59.99 plus $9 shipping
(This is a blemished product, though mine is perfect and the knob does not make any contact with the body like they describe)
This is the first production run and the factory used the wrong size brightness knob. This causes the knob to be tilted during installation and rubs the body. They function fine. The warranty is a little different in that If a blemished product fails during the 1 year warranty period and cannot be repaired you will receive a store credit of your original purchase price. The angle shown in the photo is worst case. INCLUDED MOUNT LINES UP WITH OUR STANDARD HEIGHT MAGNIFIER MOUNTS. YOU WILL HAVE ROOM ON A FLATTOP AR15 FOR BOTH, BUT WILL NOT HAVE ROOM FOR A BACK UP REAR SIGHT UNLESS YOU HAVE AN EXTENDED RAIL. YOU WILL HAVE ROOM WITHOUT AN EXTENDED RAIL FOR ALL 3 IF YOU UPGRADE TO THE 3X DELUXE MAGNIFIER.
Weapons grade red dot sight
Magnification: None
Eye Relief: Unlimited
2 MOA Dot
Optical coating: Anti-reflective
Uses 1 standard AA battery
1,000+ hours battery life 7 brightness settings
Anodized aluminum body
Length: 5.5-Inch
Width: 2 1/2-Inch
Height: 2 7/8-Inch w/mount.
Weight: 12 1/8 oz w/mount
Flip up caps included.
Mount height gives lower 1/3 co-witness
1 year repair or replacement warranty.
Shorter screws included for low applications where spacer is not required
Base is milled to accept Aimpoint cantilever spacer or aftermarket Aimpoint M4 mounts.
Bushnell TRS-25: $79.95 free shipping on Ebay
**Sorry that the Bushnell information doesn't copy and paste in the table like it does on their site. Do a Google search if you want to read it in a table.
Features
Multi-coated optics
Amber-Bright™ high contrast lens coating
100% waterproof/fogproof/shockproof construction
Dry-nitrogen filled
CR2032 battery
Power / Obj Lens 1 x 25mm
Finish Matte
Length (in / mm) 2.4 / 61.8
Reticle 3 M.O.A. Red Dot
Field of View (ft@100 ft. / m@100 m) Unlimited
Adj Range in@100yds/ m@100m 70 / 1.9
Weight (oz. / g) 3.7 / 106
Exit Pupil (mm) 22
Eye Relief (in / mm) Unlimited
Mounting Length (in / mm) 1.1 / 28
Model 731303
Click Value in@100 yds / mm@100m .5 /14
Primary Arms right side- stock brackets for co-witness
Bushnell right side- .083" mount for absolute co-witness
Left side of both: Primary Arms on left, Bushnell on right
Top view: Primary Arms on left, Bushnell on right
Lens View: Primary Arms on left, Bushnell on right
I think the PA is 30mm and Bushnell is 25mm
Primary Arms dot: bright setting (the glare from the camera makes it look bigger than it is)
Bushnell dot: bright setting
Overall they both look really good for the price. Neither of them look like they are made cheaply.
Covers: I do like the flip up lens covers on the Primary Arms sight better than the rubber bikini type on the Bushnell.
Red dot brightness: Sometimes when adjusting the brightness on the Bushnell it feels like I am loosening or tightening the batter cover as well (it is on the same knob). I like the brightness adjustment knob on the Bushnell better because it has definite clicking notches. The Primary Arms has faint notches and it would be better if they were more definite like the Bushnell. Both seem to be equally as bright on the high setting in the daylight.
Size: the Primary arms is definitely bigger and weighs a bit more. Once I put on the long riser on the Bushnell they were a lot closer in weight. Keep in mind you wouldn't need the long riser. I don't mind the weight because the 15-22 is so light that adding a pound doesn't make much difference to me.
Dot size: Primary Arms- 2 MOA, Bushnell- 3 MOA
Looking through these two at a house down the street the dots appear to be really close in size. The Primary Arms is just a tiny bit smaller as advertised.
Overall look on the gun: I haven't decided yet. I will put a picture up of both. I keep thinking that I want to go with the Primary Arms because I like the look of it and I like the larger lens. But then I don't want to rule out the Bushnell because it is equally as nice. Which look do you guys like?
Primary Arms
Bushnell
Overall Choice: I don't have one. They both seem like they will be very good. The Bushnell is VERY popular. If you search it on the internet is has excellent reviews and there are tons of them. The Primary Arms seems like it will be great as well. Even though it is a blemished product and the price was dropped, there were no issues with mine making contact with the body like they show pictures of on their website. Bottom line is that if I had only bought one I would be just as happy with it as the other one. That is, given that I haven't shot my rifle with either of them yet.
If anyone has real world experience with either of these feel free to add your $.02.
Last edited:
Thanks for your effort.
