Red/Green Dot Sight Recommendation

[rraisley]

I did some searches, and realize there is a LOT of information already here on this. But I have some specific requirements/desires, and hoped you all wouldn't mind if I added one more topic.

I have an M&P 15-22 MOE, with Magpul folding sights, and got a BSA 4-14x44 tactical scope for it, with QD mount, which works great. I'd like to also get a red/green dot as well. Here's what I'm thinking:

* 1x bright Red/Green Dot. I'll be shooting mostly outside in bright sun, and have heard green dots show up better.

* Multiple reticle style. I've seen some with crosshairs plus the dot, circle plus dot, and I think that would be much easier for me to use.

* Over 1 MOA dot? My eyesight is not that great, so I use corrective lenses for distance, and will be using them with the sight. I have slight astigmatism. What I've read on 1 MOA dots might mean I'd have a rougher time with them. Although having a circle plus a dot would definitely help, I'm sure.

* Quick Disconnect Mount. I LOVE the AR-PEPR mount on my sight, and want to be able to swap out with the red/green dot scope without re-sighting.

* Co-witness with MBUS sights. VERY important to me. Could be lower 1/3, but I definitely want to be able to use this to calibrate and use my sights. I'm hoping that by careful selection of scope & mount I can get pretty much full co-witness.

* Probably under $100. I'm willing to pay what I need to, but don't want to pay more than needed. Not interested in wasting money, either by paying for more than I need, or buying something I won't be happy with and will have to replace. I want to just buy one (1).

That's what I /think/ I need. Feel free to correct me, or add other specs to my list.

 

[rraisley]

Nothing? Really?

 

[Sven]

I have a Bushnell -- don't remember the model number, and I'm at work -- it will switch from red to green and will also switch from small dot, small dot in a circle, large dot and small cross hair. Mounted with quick release rings.

I have not had the opportunity to shoot it much, but I prefer the red during daylight and green in low light. I know the red should not affect night vision as much as green, but even on the lowest setting, the red seems glaring at night and the green not.

 

[Gopher Slayer]

If you don't have to have the green option, check out the Primary Arms multi reticle dot.

https://www.primaryarms.com/Primary_Arms_s/586.htm

 

[rraisley]

I've been looking at the Primary Arms PAM3M as you suggest. From other reviews, the 2 MOA dot is a good compromise with old eyes, and I love the multi-reticles. Only thing is not having green, and the only reason I thought I wanted green is the recommendation of people who say it's better in sunlight, which is what I'm going to be shooting in (at targets).

I see it has a 30 mm tube. Do you know if it will work with McStar MARFQ QD mount? I ended up with one when I decided to use the PEPR on my scope. I see PA sells reasonably priced mounts, but not are QR, I think.

 

[Gopher Slayer]

Green is overated IMO. I use my red micro dots all day long at settings 5-8 out of 11.

Post a pic or link to you're mount and I can give my opinion. I'm not familiar with the model you mentioned.

FYI, I don't have the PAM3M, I'm just a happy PA customer and I love my micro's. I've heard lots of good things about that optic.

 

[rraisley]

Post a pic or link to you're mount and I can give my opinion. I'm not familiar with the model you mentioned.

Here's a link: NcStar AR15 QR Cantilever Scope Mount (MARCQ)

It's for 30 mm scopes, the rear (non-cantilevered) ring can be removed, and ring is 0.7" long.

I see PA makes a nice cantilever mount, only $10 extra, but it's not QD, which I would prefer.

 

[Ghost_Soldier]

I prefer the green dot on my vortex strikefire but even in bright sunlight I can see the red dot just fine. It has 10 brightness settings and I rarely turn it to the brightest setting. Its a really good red dot optic, its not a multi-reticle but it works great especially if you have other AR's to mount it on. Its rated for .375 h&h mag so it holds a zero just fine on a .22lr. If you get the high mount for it you can co-witness the buis but it doesn't come with a QR mount.

 

[Gopher Slayer]

Here's a link: NcStar AR15 QR Cantilever Scope Mount (MARCQ)

It's for 30 mm scopes, the rear (non-cantilevered) ring can be removed, and ring is 0.7" long.

I see PA makes a nice cantilever mount, only $10 extra, but it's not QD, which I would prefer.

It's not going to work. There's no place on that optic for the second ring to attach. You would need something like this. American Defense MFG, LLC | Browse | Aimpoint Mounts | High Profile Aimpoint Mount

It's a little spendy, but keep in mind a good QD mount isn't cheap if you want it to work the way a QD mount is supposed to. I'm sure there's another good option for a mount that costs less, but I don't know of any.

 

[rraisley]

It's not going to work. There's no place on that optic for the second ring to attach.

As I mentioned above, the second (rear) ring can be removed, and only the front (cantilevered) ring used. It is also the same height as the AD-68 mount you refer to, which ends up about 0.1" above the iron sight sighting line (folding sights are a bit lower, I think, than standard ones).

 

[Gopher Slayer]

I thought you planned on just leaving the top of the rear ring off, but know I see that the whole thing can be removed. That's a pretty nifty little mount and I can't see why it wouldn't work. does it return to zero and stay tight? I might have to pick one up for my 10-22. I'm not a fan of NcStar anything, but it could be an exception.

 

[rraisley]

I thought you planned on just leaving the top of the rear ring off, but know I see that the whole thing can be removed. That's a pretty nifty little mount and I can't see why it wouldn't work. does it return to zero and stay tight? I might have to pick one up for my 10-22.

I originally ordered the Burris AR-PEPR QD mount, which I like better, but is fairly expensive ($100) and after ordering, I found out it wouldn't fit the BSA 4-14x44 scope I'd ordered, so I ordered my second choice, this NcStar mount. After getting the Burris, I found that a little Dremel work made the mount fit, so I'm using it. That leaves me with the NcStar mount. It only has a single long locking lever, rather than the two on the Burris, but seems to lock pretty well, and is long enough (I think) to return to zero okay. Especially for a red-dot (as opposed to a high power scope).

If I get the PA PAM3M, I'll probably order the cantilever mount I can get with it for the extra $10, even though it's not QA. That way, I can at least use it, if the NcStar doesn't work out well (although I really think it will).

Can PA scopes be purchased anywhere other than PA (i.e. at a discount)?

 

[photoracer]

You might consider the TruGlo Dual Red/Green reflex and tube model red dots. I have both, one for my AR15-22 for speed shooting events and one for my 597 VTR as backup if needed.

 

[rraisley]

You might consider the TruGlo Dual Red/Green reflex and tube model red dots. I have both, one for my AR15-22 for speed shooting events and one for my 597 VTR as backup if needed.

There's quite a range (price and styles) of them. Which do you recommend? Do any have multiple reticles? I think that's more important to me than the green.

 

[rraisley]

Thanks all. I've ordered the Primary Arms PAM3M with high cantilevered riser. I will either use that riser, or the NcStar QD which I have.

 

[Martimus]

Thanks all. I've ordered the Primary Arms PAM3M with high cantilevered riser. I will either use that riser, or the NcStar QD which I have.

You'll like the PA M3... I have one with the cantilever riser on my 15A and I'm very satisfied with it!

 

[Scottydoo]

I have a utg one. Cost about 60$ at LGS. Works good for what I use it for. I also got a 3/4" riser and co-witnessed it with stock iron sights.

 

[tracksol]

Thanks all. I've ordered the Primary Arms PAM3M with high cantilevered riser. I will either use that riser, or the NcStar QD which I have.

You'll be pleasantly surprised with that red dot. Also, Marshall is excellent with customer service if by chance you do have a problem.

 

[azcabal]

Agree about Marshall. He and the guys at PA are top notch on the service end and the products are solid.

 

[photoracer]

There's quite a range (price and styles) of them. Which do you recommend? Do any have multiple reticles? I think that's more important to me than the green.

Yes the reflex one has 4 reticles.