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Help me with red dots

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tucansam View Drop Down
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    Posted: August/09/2016 at 21:07
Wasn't sure if this should go in the riflescope or tactical section, figured more readership here.

I am debating putting a red dot on a couple of AR15s.  I have a Primary Arms red dot now, and its great for the money, but there are a lot of things about it I really don't like.  I have decided that I am not a fan of the "micro' red dots.  Its like looking through a soda straw.  In addition, the Primary Arms has such a heavy blue tint, that I literally could not find targets at the range last time I took it out.  The targets simply washed into the background of the berm I was shooting into.

I understand that all red dots have at least some tint, and I understand why.

Having said that, we have hundreds of Aimpoint PROs at work, and while huge, they are virtually tint-less (I can see the tint but I really have to be looking at it) and the tube itself is so much larger, its much easier for me to get behind.

I like the idea of prismatics because I hate batteries in optics, but I understand its a necessary evil.  I am looking at the Vortex Spitfire 3x for a couple of coyote guns, and their 1x version has me curious now too.

So I guess my first question.... Can anyone with some experience with red dots rank a few in terms of least amount of tint to most amount of tint?

I am also looking at the Trijicon SRS and MRO.  Both seem to have very small fields-of-view (the ocular looks tiny on both) but I don't have any direct hands on experience.  The MRO has a very obvious tint from what I can find online.  Haven't looked that closely at the SRS yet.

May still end up with a 1x prismatic, or possibly the Aimpoint PRO, but curious what experiences you all have had.

Thanks.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote helo18 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/09/2016 at 21:22
My personal favorite is the Aimpoint Micros.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/09/2016 at 21:29
Micro intent is to shoot with both eyes open. I like closimg an eye as well but with both eyes open fov is not an issue

I have an MRO it hs a tint but it is not to bad IMO. Not near as bad as the holosun i habe which i beleive is the same sight as your primary arms. I had a T2 and it hd the least tint of the 3. But i sold it as i like the MRO better overall.

I am not a big fan of red dots. Much prefer a trijicon accupoint 1-4x or my swfa ss 1-4 hd.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/09/2016 at 21:34
Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.

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tucansam View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tucansam Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/09/2016 at 22:04
Excellent info in your link, thanks.  I do shoot both-eyes-open and even then I find the micros are a little too small.  Worse still are the little HUD types that all the cool guys seem to be putting on pistols (the RMR style).  To me a postage stamp-sized window is just too small, I can never find the damn dot in those things.

I am also not a huge red dot fan, but I used EOTechs daily in teaching for almost two years straight and they are my all time favorite non-magnified optic, after irons (the 1MOA dot in the ones we used allowed us to be more precise than irons).  Sadly my moral compass will not let me support a company with my own personal funds that pulled the crap L3 did... But I digress.

I am also a huge fan of the 1-4s, 1-6s, and 1-8s, but I am looking to scope a couple of AR pistols specifically, 9mm and 22LR, and was looking for something quite a bit smaller.  The Spitfire 3x seems to be just about perfect, I may simply settle on that and avoid red dots altogether.

Thanks for pointing out the larger FOV on the MRO -- any chance you have looked through a standard Aimpoint (Comp, PRO, etc)?  Curious to see the FOV difference between the MRO and the larger Aimpoints.  

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/09/2016 at 22:39
I have looked through comp 4s but not for years and not side by side with an MRO
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rancid Coolaid Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/10/2016 at 06:26
Trijicon reflex, no batteries, done.

I have not used the PA dot, but tint so bad it washes out a target is no good. I have an assortment of red dots, for their intended purpose, they are quite good.

I have yet to do much with the MRO but will probably be trying one soon. I do have an SRS and it has some good qualities, but don't bother for that price. I'd sell mine tomorrow if I could get close to what it cost.

For all the testing and evaluating, I am still stuck on aimpoint micro. They just plane work. And well. And for a long, long time.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tucansam Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/10/2016 at 20:07
Thanks.  The only Trijicon reflex I would consider is the 1x42, and its smallest dot option is 4.5MOA Loco

In fairness to the PA dot, its blue-ness isn't a factor 100% of the time, but shooting against a particular berm with steel plates of a particular color made it nearly impossible to see the targets.  So shooting a coyote in shadow, or a bunny under a tree, might yield similar results.  

The SRS looked awesome on paper, until I saw the price.  Um.... wow.

I know the micro Aimpoints have a cult following, and its completely justified from what I have read.  I tried one on a shotgun at work and it was OK.  But I've tried the PA micro in every position on my upper, from all the way back on the upper to all the way forward, and just can't get the field of view I'm looking for, ever with both eyes open.

Gonna try the Vortex Spitfire and see what happens, and possibly look into something like a C-More for another gun.

Thanks again to all.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/11/2016 at 04:53
Originally posted by tucansam tucansam wrote:

I know the micro Aimpoints have a cult following

We prefer...Micro enthusiast. Big Grin
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Steelbenz Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/12/2016 at 08:08
Originally posted by cheaptrick cheaptrick wrote:

Originally posted by tucansam tucansam wrote:

I know the micro Aimpoints have a cult following

We prefer...Micro enthusiast. Big Grin
Intervention needed on delusional brother! It's a Cult! Mé Hermano!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rancid Coolaid Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/12/2016 at 09:34
The SRS excels at only 1 thing: shooting from improvised - often weird - positions. At everything else, it is okay. There is a known problem with pointing it at a light source, as the electronics of the dot obscure the dot itself. I emailed them about fixing it and their response was " only first owners get warranty coverage, sorry." I replied I was the first owner (I guess they know it sucks so bad people sell them quickly) and they said "ship it back, we'll decide if it needs repair, or just buy our $100 ARD and it will be fine" - which was something of an admission of the problem.

I bought the ARD, problem solved, and will probably never again buy a trijicon product. When they get it right, it is awesome (ACOG, MRO, etc) and when they get it wrong (SRS, tri-power) they refuse to acknowledge, much less address. There are several good options for you, skip the SRS.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/12/2016 at 16:02
I like the Aimpoint scopes particularly the Comp M4 and even better the Comp M4s both of which use a single AA battery and have very long battery life. These are really tough scopes. 
Aimpoint CompM4s 30mm Red Dot Sight2 MOA DotAimpoint CompM4s 30mm Red Dot Sight
Stock # - AIM12172
  • Matte
  • 2 MOA Dot
  • 30mm
  • Night Vision Compatible
  • Picatinny Mount Included
  • Spacer Included
  • Killflash Included
  • Bikini cover Included
$863.00

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/12/2016 at 16:04
I also use a couple of the 9000L Aimpoints ---- cheaper. So far so good acceptable for heavy recoil and can be mounted forward in a scout configuration for a lever action or scout rifle or on a handgun with two 30mm rings.
Aimpoint 9000L 30mm Red Dot Sight2 MOA DotAimpoint 9000L 30mm Red Dot Sight
Stock # - AIM11419
  • Matte
  • 2 MOA Dot
  • 30mm
  • Free Aimpoint Bikini Lens Cover w/ Purchase
$445.00


Edited by Urimaginaryfrnd - August/12/2016 at 16:10

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/12/2016 at 16:07
When it comes to clear glass with no need for a battery the Trijicon is a great choice and I really like several models.  I have compact ACOGs on two rifles one is a 1.5 the other is a 3x if I were to do it over I would pick the 2x.  The compact ACOG is by far my favorite for an AR-15 using a La Rue RCO mount.


Trijicon 2x20 Compact Acog Rifle Scope
Stock # - TA47C400151
  • Matte
  • Red Crosshair
  • Carry Handle Screw and Washer Set
  • Compact Acog Scopecoat
  • Lenspen
  • Trijicon Logo Sticker
  • Acog Manual
  • Warranty Card
$1,093.00
Trijicon 1-4x24 AccuPoint 30mm Rifle ScopeRed TriangleTrijicon 1-4x24 AccuPoint 30mm Rifle Scope
Stock # - TR24R
  • Matte
  • Red Triangle
  • 30mm
$935.00

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote m1911 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/20/2016 at 03:18
I had an Aim-Point with flip-down 3X magnifier.....
I was going to buy Trijicon.....

But recently picked up a Vortex Razor Red-Dot in 3 MOA.
It's almost like the dot is floating in space.....you don't get hung up trying to "look through" something.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/20/2016 at 06:28
That's nice. Which Aimpoint did you use?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote m1911 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/21/2016 at 03:52
I can't remember the model number now......but iit was fairly long and robust with the battery on the right side.
I had a 3X flip up barrel shaped Aimpoint magnifier just behind it.
Both were about the same size.
Too much stuff.....that's why I like the minimalist size of the Razor Red Dot.
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