Which lower priced Red dot to buy?

joepa150

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I know most of the time you get what you pay for but I want a lower priced red dot. I know my local Walmart has a Tasco but they are always sold out.

UTG lden Image 38mm Red Green Dot Sight for $28

NcSTAR® Red Dot Reflex Sight with 4 Different Reticles $33

Used Bushnell Trophy locally for $46. It looks like this one but has some screw on sun shield. http://www.opticsplanet.net/bushnell-1x28-trophy1.html

Primary Arms M4 looks popular but they are out of stock and it is a bit more money than I was hoping to spend.

So which of these would work best?

Any other options?
 
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The only Red Dot I have experience with is the BSA RD-30 My Local Store Gave Me 1 Free when I purchased My 15-22 It is the only Red Dot I have so far it's been good & Problem Free.
 
The only Red Dot I have experience with is the BSA RD-30 My Local Store Gave Me 1 Free when I purchased My 15-22 It is the only Red Dot I have so far it's been good & Problem Free.

Wow! Free is good.

They have those at my local gun store for $40.

They also have a Truglow for $50
 
I have the cheap truglo red dot on my 15-22... it works... I do like that you can change the intensity of the dot, but once you get over level 7 or so the dot is kinda fractured... I use it on setting 3 or 4 and it works for me... I think I paid $45 or so, but the shop I go to is a little overpriced... but they are the friendliest shop in town... I pay for the service I get there...
 
I don't have anything from Primary Arms and they seem to get good reviews but I avoid your other listed brands like the plague. Add to that Tasko, Leapers, BSA, Barska, Simmons, and many more cheapies. Pretty much if it is optics from China then you already said it. You get what you paid for.
 
Different sight pictures are over rated. My BSA has 7 and the only one I use is the red dot. I payed $70 for my BSA. It works just fine. To reduce distortion make sure the red dot is in the center of the glass. Do leave the red dot "on" cause when the battery runs out, you are SOL. Buy and extra battery too.
 
re:

I have the Primary Arms micro dot. I had bought some other brands and made some mistakes. Go ahead and spend the little extra on the Primary Arms, you won't be sorry. I paid about $114 for my micro dot. A very good dot for the AR 22.
 
I just bought a Vortex Strikefire. Can be purchase used for $100.00 new for $149.00. Great little red dot. Just got mine sighted and zeroed in.
 
The PA M3 is also rock solid and priced at $69. That may be a good option for you, if the price fits your budget.

I was looking at the M3. That is in my budget, as long as it is a good step up from say the $35 Tasco at walmart or the $40 BSA at my local gun shop.

Keep in mind I am a noob with red dots so what is the difference between the M3 and M4? Does the M4 have many "upgrades for only $20 more?
 
The $69 M3 will most likely require a $10 mount so the M4 is $10 more. That version of the M3 is a 3 MOA dot, M4 is 2 MOA (better in my judgment, but others will disagree), you can get short set of screws free with M4 by just asking and you then have a low and high mount capability, M4 has 4 reticles and I use 3 of the 4 depending on shooting conditions, and finally the M4 uses the very common AA battery instead of the LR44 the M3 uses. I'd go M4.
 
The $69 M3 will most likely require a $10 mount so the M4 is $10 more. That version of the M3 is a 3 MOA dot, M4 is 2 MOA (better in my judgment, but others will disagree), you can get short set of screws free with M4 by just asking and you then have a low and high mount capability, M4 has 4 reticles and I use 3 of the 4 depending on shooting conditions, and finally the M4 uses the very common AA battery instead of the LR44 the M3 uses. I'd go M4.

Thanks for the info.

I wonder when PA will get some more M4 in.
 
BSA at my local Big5 was low quality, dot looked fuzzy, at higher brightness levels became like a cloud of dots rather than one uniform dot.

Picked up Sight Mark holo reflex sight. Very sharp, no problems sighting in. $44.
 
I like the thought of one of these Reflex sights: Primary Arms Micro Tactical Green Dot Reflex Sight - NEW!

I had a 3x9 scope on mine for quite awhile but now I'm tired of looking thru a tube so put the iron sights back on for now. I've never used one of these, or even looked thru one, but like the thought of it. It's $75 so right in line with your price range.
 
I like the thought of one of these Reflex sights: Primary Arms Micro Tactical Green Dot Reflex Sight - NEW!

I had a 3x9 scope on mine for quite awhile but now I'm tired of looking thru a tube so put the iron sights back on for now. I've never used one of these, or even looked thru one, but like the thought of it. It's $75 so right in line with your price range.

I was thinking about that but I haven't read to much about the PA reflex dot sight. I want my sight to co witness and would like not to have to buy a riser.

I actually went with the PA M4. I like the fact that it takes AA batteries and has a high mount so it will cowitness 1/3 without buying any additional risers.

Also I have in my possesion a Tasco red dot from Wallyworld. It is too low and I would need a riser. Also the dot is a bit fuzzy even on lower settings.

Hopefully the M4 would be a bit nicer than the Tasco.
 
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