There’s a lot of red dots out there. And probably even more GUIDES to finding the perfect red dot.
What sets this guide apart?
We have everything in hand and tested them across tons of rifles, shotguns, and pistols.
By the end you’ll know the best red dot for your specific firearm AND budget. Plus some of the great reasons to even use a red dot in the first place.
THE QUICK LIST
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Best Overall Red Dot
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Best Bang-For-The-Buck Red Dot
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Affordable & Proven
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Best High-End Red Dot
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Runner-Up High-End Red Dot
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Best Pistol Red Dot
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Bang-For-The-Buck Pistol Red Dot
Red Dot Comparison Chart
| Model | Length | Weight | Reticle | Brightness Settings | Battery Life (Hours) | MSRP |
| Aimpoint Micro T-2 | 2.7″ | 3.3 oz | 2 MOA Dot | 12 | 7,300-50,000 | $896 |
| Aimpoint Pro | 5.2″ | 11.6 oz | 2 MOA Dot | 10 | 30,000 | $552 |
| AT3 Tactical AT3 Alpha | 2.9″ | 6.5 oz | 2 MOA Dot | 9 | 20,000-50,000 | $119 |
| EOTech XPS2 | 3.8″ | 9 oz | 68 MOA Ring w/ Single 1 MOA Dot | 20 | 1,000 | $629 |
| Holosun HS507 Comp | 1.80″ | 1.7 oz | Competition Reticle System Red | 8 | 50,000 | $435 |
| Holosun 507C X2 | 1.78″ | 1.5 oz | ACSS Vulcan Reticle | 12 | 50,000 | $364 |
| Holosun HS507K | 1.6″ | 1 oz | 3 MOA Red Dot, ACSS Vulcan | 12 | 50,000 | $379 |
| Holosun HS510C | 3.3″ | 4.94 oz | Multiple Reticle System | 12 | 50,000 | $364 |
| Sig Sauer Romeo5 | 2.46″ | 5.1 oz | 2 MOA Dot | 10 | 450 | $139 |
| Trijicon MRO | 2.6″ | 4.1 oz | 2 MOA Dot | 8 | 40,000 | $499 |
| Trijicon RMR Type 2 | 1.8″ | 1.2 oz | 3.25 MOA Dot | 8 | 30,000 | $479 |
How We Chose the Best Red Dot Sights
We’ve shot thousands of rounds and spent hundreds of hours with red dots over the course of our years of testing guns and gear.
So, for this article, we put our collective heads together to come up with the best red dots we’ve had hands-on time with. To make the list, we picked a mix of rifle, pistol, and holographic sights that a majority of the full-time editorial team liked.
We also only selected red dots that have seen 1,000 rounds minimum through them over a one-year period — though most have undergone more than a few years of testing. We made sure to link to specific reviews we have on the red dots we chose and also include view-throughs captured during testing.
All red dots are evaluated based on durability, reliability, accuracy, features, and overall value.
Best Red Dot Sights For Your Gun
1. Aimpoint PRO – Best Overall Red Dot
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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| Pros | Cons |
| Supreme durability | Expensive |
| Waterproof | |
| Easy to use |
Specs
- Magnification: 1 x
- Objective Lens Diameter: 38 mm
- Reticle: 2 MOA Dot
- Illumination Type & Color: LED, Red
- Brightness Settings: 10
- Eye Relief: Unlimited
- Adjustment Click Value: 0.6 in at 100 yds
- Emitter Type: Enclosed
- Parallax: Free
- Optical Coating: Multi-Coated
- Light Transmission: 60%
- Battery Life: 30,000 hours
- Operating Temperature: -45 – 71 Celsius, -49 – 160 Fahrenheit
- Water Resistance Level: Waterproof, 150 ft
- Dimensions: 5.2 in x 2.8 in x 3.2 in
- Wavelength: 650 nm
The Aimpoint PRO is our Editor’s Pick if you want the best red dot for everything from range plinking to all-out war.
Bomb-proof with 30K hours of continuous use…you can just leave it on and forget it. And then change out the batteries every few years.
Plus, it has a crisp 2 MOA dot (the dot will cover 2 inches at 100 yards), is night vision compatible, is waterproof up to 150 feet, and has an operating range of -49 to 160 degrees F.
If you need more than that…then I don’t know what to tell you!
Check out our full-on written review of it where we bash it real good with a hammer. It kept zero and didn’t even hiccup. We also have a YouTube review of it after 3+ years of testing and thousands of rounds.
Plus, it looks great on almost anything…
2. AT3 Tactical Alpha – Best Bang-For-The-Buck Red Dot
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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| Pros | Cons |
| 50,000 hr battery life | Can see a little bit of the emitter |
| Clear and crisp dot | |
| 15-min shake-awake function | |
| Robust build quality | |
| Comes with two risers | |
| Free shipping |
Specs
- Magnification: 1X
- Objective Lens Diameter: 20mm
- Reticle: 2 MOA Dot
- Illumination Type & Color: Red
- Brightness Settings: 11 (9 Daylight, 2 Night Vision Compatible)
- Eye Relief: Unlimited
- Adjustment Click Value: +/- 35 MOA (total adjustment range 70 MOA)
- Emitter Type: Enclosed
- Parallax: Fixed
- Optical Coating: Multi-Coated
- Battery Life: Up to 50,000 hours
- Water Resistance Level: Waterproof, IPX7
- Dimensions: 2.9in total length with riser mount
The Alpha is our new bang-for-the-buck red dot after testing several units for nearly for a year.
We’ve had it on 9mm blowback full-auto guns for over 1000 rounds. As well as on AR-15s and 12ga shotguns.
And the Alpha stayed true the entire time.
It has all the features you get from higher-priced optics, like a 50,000-hour battery life (almost 6 years). As well as a 15-minute shake-awake that raises the life even more.
Plus, we love that it comes with two risers that give you three heights to choose from. So whether you want a low optic on a shotgun or AK to an absolute co-witness or 1/3 co-witness on an AR…you don’t need to buy anything else.
The view through is also great with clear glass and a crisp dot. Only knock is that you can slightly see the emitter at the 4 o’clock section. But once you’re shooting…you don’t even know it’s there.
See it in video action here, although the real deal is way crisper:
It also feels overbuilt in hand…and has the performance to back it up with it surviving our 10-drop and water immersion torture tests.
Check out the full review of the Alpha for more info.
3. Sig Sauer Romeo5 – Affordable & Proven
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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| Pros | Cons |
| Affordable | Slight discoloration |
| Good durability | |
| 8 brightness settings |
Specs
- Magnification: 1X
- Objective Lens Diameter: 20mm
- Reticle: 2 MOA Red Dot
- Illumination Type & Color: Red
- Brightness Settings: 10 (8 Daylight, 2 Night Vision Compatible)
- Eye Relief: Unlimited
- Adjustment Click Value: +/- 40 MOA
- Battery Life: 450 hours
- Operating Temperature:
- Water Resistance Level: Waterproof, IPX7
- Dimensions: 2.47 in x 1.50 in x 1.52 in
The Sig Sauer Romeo5 used to be the Best-Bang-For-the-Buck red dot at under $200. And nowadays, we’re setting it for around $120.
We’ve been testing several units for 4+ years, and so far, none have failed.
Clear and crisp 2 MOA dot, 8 daylight settings and 2 night vision modes, and motion on/off.
The daylight settings are enough for our desert days and you get 40,000+ hours of battery life at the medium setting.
There’s a slight green hue, but it doesn’t bother me at all. When indoors, you can see how crisp the dot is.
Button adjustment is easy on the top and you can set up shake-awake as well which really helps the battery life.
Once set it will turn off with 2 minutes of inactivity and turn on with any movement. A great feature that was previously only present in higher-end red dots.
Plus, it comes with a high riser that is perfect for AR-15 platforms.
We’ve put thousands of rounds through several units, and you can check out the full Romeo5 review here.
What do you think of the Sig Romeo5? Rate it below.
4. Aimpoint Micro T-2 – Best High-End Red Dot
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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| Pros | Cons |
| Legendary durability | Expensive |
| 12 brightness settings | |
| 50,000 hour run time |
Specs
- Magnification: 1X
- Objective Lens Diameter: 18mm
- Reticle: 2 MOA Dot
- Illumination Type & Color: LED, Red
- Brightness Settings: 12 (8 Daytime, 4 Night Vision)
- Eye Relief: Unlimited
- Adjustment Click Value: 0.4 at 100 yards
- Emitter Type: Enclosed
- Parallax: Free
- Optical Coating: Multi-Coated
- Light Transmission: 70%
- Battery Life: 7,300 – 50,000 hours
- Operating Temperature: -45 – 71 Celsius, -49 – 160 Fahrenheit
- Water Resistance Level: Waterproof, 80 ft
- Dimensions: 2.7 in x 1.6 in x 1.4 in
- Wavelength: 650 nm
How about the gold standard in rifle red dots when price is no object?
Then it’s got to be the Aimpoint Micro T-2.
This lightweight (3 oz) red dot has a 50,000 hour battery life, is fully waterproof, and comes with 8 daytime and 4 night-vision brightness adjustments.
And of course…the incredible pedigree that is Aimpoint.
I like pairing mine with a Unity FAST mount, which comes with its own irons.
Plus, the height makes it great for reduced neck strain and easier acquisition with night vision goggles.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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5. Trijicon MRO – Runner-Up High-End Red Dot
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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| Pros | Cons |
| Durable | Expensive |
| 5-year battery life | |
| Red or green dot models |
Specs
- Magnification: 1X
- Objective Lens Diameter: 25mm
- Reticle: Dot
- Illumination Type & Color: LED, Red
- Brightness Settings: 8 (6 Daylight, 2 Night Vision Compatible)
- Eye Relief: Infinite
- Adjustment Click Value: 0.5 MOA
- Battery Life: 5 years of continuous use at Day-Setting 3
- Water Resistance Level: 100 ft.
- Dimensions: 1.6 in x 1.7 in x 2 in
Another favorite is the Trijicon MRO, which is around $400 and is in the same price range as the Aimpoint PRO.
However, it comes in a smaller profile AND a larger field of view.
Beefy and now an often chosen duty optic…the MRO gives you 6 daylight settings and 2 night vision with 5 years of battery life at a medium setting.
It survived a lot of punishment in our High-End Optics Torture Test…from water immersion to drop test, heat/cold cycling, and being shot with a variety of loads.
And it took them like a champ with only a slight shift in POA with the drop test.
Want a place where we sum it ALL UP? Check the full Trijicon MRO review plus video:
6. Trijicon RMR Type 2 – Best Pistol Red Dot
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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| Pros | Cons |
| Extremely durable | Expensive |
| Auto-adjust brightness | Bottom mount battery |
| 16.5-hour batter saver |
Specs
- Magnification: 1X
- Objective Lens Diameter: 0.63 – 0.83 in
- Reticle: 6.5 MOA Dot
- Illumination Type & Color: LED, Red
- Brightness Settings: 8
- Eye Relief: Unlimited
- Adjustment Click Value: 1 MOA
- Optical Coating: True-Color, Multi-Coated Lens
- Battery Life: 4 years at setting 4
- Water Resistance Level: Waterproof, 66 ft.
- Dimensions: 1.8 in x 1.2 in x 1 in
Now we’re entering the realm of micro red dots…or red dots that fit on your pistol.
We’ll start with the Gold Standard…the Trijicon RMR Type 2.
If you’re serious about a red dot enabled fighting/competition pistol…you go with an RMR.
It is trusted by professionals and has the most widespread “cut” for pistol slides, so if you’re upgrading your slide, it will likely be an RMR cut.
Up to 4 years of battery life (always keep it on) plus night vision compatible.
Find out more about the RMR Type 2 in our Best Pistol Red Dots article.
7. Holosun 507C X2 ACSS Vulcan – Bang-For-The-Buck Pistol Red Dot
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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| Pros | Cons |
| Guiding reticle | Higher cost |
| Solar backup | |
| 20,000-hour battery life |
Specs
- Magnification: 1X
- Reticle: ACSS Vulcan
- Illumination Type & Color: LED, Red
- Brightness Settings: 12
- Eye Relief: Unlimited
- Adjustment Click Value: 1 MOA
- Emitter Type: Open Emitter
- Optical Coating: Multi-Coated
- Battery Life: 50,000 hours
- Water Resistance Level: IP67
Looking for the new hotness in pistol red dots with an innovative reticle? We’re digging the Holosun 507C X2 ACSS Vulcan that’s a collaboration between Holosun and Primary Arms.
It has all the nice things like 20,000 hours battery life with a solar backup, shake awake, night vision compatibility, and extreme durability.
But what really does it for us is its reticle.
A nice crisp chevron that has some built in dropoff indicators…and a large ring on the outside that helps you realize you’re off center and quickly correct.
Super useful, especially when you’re learning the switch from irons to red dots, and you tend to aim too low in the beginning. And once you get the hang of it…you can choose to turn it off to save some battery life.
We’ve done an in-depth review of the 507C and have a full video review below.
8. EOTech EXPS-2 – Best Holographic Sight
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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| Pros | Cons |
| Super rugged | Expensive |
| Holographic | 600-hour battery life |
| 68 MOA reticle | |
| Better for astigmatism |
Specs
- Magnification: 1X
- Objective Lens Diameter: 0.85 in
- Reticle: 68 MOA Ring w/ Single 1 MOA Dot
- Illumination Type & Color: Holographic
- Brightness Settings: 20
- Eye Relief: Unlimited
- Adjustment Click Value: 0.5 MOA
- Emitter Type: Enclosed
- Battery Life: 1000 hours
- Operating Temperature: -40 – 140 Fahrenheit
- Water Resistance Level: Submersible, 10 ft.
- Dimensions: 3.8 in x 2.1 in x 2.5 in
This one is technically a “holographic” sight. The technology of showing the reticle in front of your eyes may be different…but it still does the same thing as a red dot.
The EOTech EXPS-2 is my go-to for a serious rifle. As it is for a lot of our military.
EOTech pioneered the reticle that has become synonymous with other holographic sights. Its large 68 MOA circle and small 1 MOA center allow for quick acquisition and precise targeting.
Battery life is less for holographics overall. The EXPS2-0 has 600 hours…but you get a much larger view window and the great reticle.
We took an EXPS model and also subjected it to untold horrors in the High-End Optics Torture Test.
It survived everything (with no POI shift in the cold/heat cycling) until the .22LR Mini-Mag which took down all but one optic.
But due to the holographic technology, which doesn’t need the rear glass…it still technically worked.
I run it as my main suppressed night-vision gun since the newer generation tubes are ok with the lowest settings.
Learn more in our Best EOTech Holographic Sights.
9. Holosun 510C – Best Circle-And-Dot Reticle
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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| Pros | Cons |
| Holographic & red dot | Medium price range |
| Long-gun capable | |
| 50,000-hour battery life |
Specs
- Magnification: 1X
- Objective Lens Diameter: 32mm x 24mm open lens
- Reticle: Multiple Reticle System featuring 3 reticles
- Illumination Type & Color: LED, Red or Green
- Brightness Settings: 12 (10 Daylight, 2 Night Vision Compatible)
- Eye Relief: Unlimited
- Adjustment Click Value: 0.5 MOA
- Parallax: Parallax Free
- Optical Coating: Multi-Coated
- Battery Life: Up to 50,000 hours (Setting 6)
- Operating Temperature: -22°F ~ 76°F
- Water Resistance Level: IP67
- Dimensions: 3.3in x 1.68 in x 1.78 in
And you know I wouldn’t leave you hanging without a more affordable holographic option…
Holosun’s 510C combines the typical holographic reticle with red dot technology. Now you get tons of hours, a great view window, and the ability for quick snap or more precise shots.
Plus…it even has a solar panel to not use up battery power during the day. Not that you have much to worry about…it’s rated for 50K hours.
Check out more pics and videos of the 510C in Best Holographic Sights.
10. Holosun HS507K – Best Micro Pistol Red Dot
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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| Pros | Cons |
| Great micro companion | Medium price range |
| 50,000-hour battery life | |
| Multi-reticle |
Specs
- Magnification: 1X
- Reticle: MRS – Circle Dot, 2 MOA Dot, 32 MOA Circle
- Illumination Type & Color: LED, Red or Green
- Brightness Settings: 12 (10 Daylight, 2 Night Vision Compatible)
- Eye Relief: Unlimited
- Adjustment Click Value: 1 MOA
- Parallax: Parallax Free
- Battery Life: Up to 50,000 Hours Battery Life (Setting 6)
- Operating Temperature: -4°F ~ 123°F
- Water Resistance Level: IP67
- Dimensions: 1.6 in x 0.98 in x 0.95 in
Ok…we do kind of love our Holosuns.
And with the extreme popularity of micro compact 9mm handguns that hold 10+ rounds…there’s a whole new category of micro pistol red dots to accompany them.
But our favorite is the Holosun HS507K X2.
A quick comparison of the larger HS507C vs the micro HS507K.
It’s got the same things you expect like it’s big bro…50,000 hours, night vision compatibility, great build quality, and a nice reticle.
The dot and circle is one of our favorites and makes it almost cheating to shoot with the HS507K. Get the reticle on target and you’ll hit it.
See it in action here:
There are a lot more micro pistol red dots, and we go over all our favorites in our giant Best Pistol Red Dots article. But our go-to for price and performance has to be the HS507K.
11. Holosun HS507Comp – Best Competition Pistol Red Dot
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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| Pros | Cons |
| Large viewing window | Medium price range |
| Competition Reticle System | |
| RMR/SRO footprint |
Specs
- Magnification: 1X
- Reticle: Competition Reticle System – 2 MOA Dot & 8/20/32 MOA Circle
- Illumination Type & Color: LED, Red
- Brightness Settings: 12 (10 Daylight, 2 Night Vision)
- Eye Relief: Unlimited
- Adjustment Click Value: 1 MOA
- Parallax: Parallax Free
- Optical Coating: Multi-Coated
- Battery Life: Up to 50,000 Hours Battery Life (Setting 6)
- Operating Temperature: -22°F ~ 76°F
- Water Resistance Level: IP67
- Dimensions: 1.8 in × 1.3 in ×1.3 in
- Wavelength: 650nm
If you like the 507K, you might love the 507 Comp; there’s just so much more to love.
This sight is enormous and the reason why is in the name — competition. If you’re the type that doesn’t like to hunt for your red dot on presentation, then 507 Comp might be a good option for you.
Featuring a 1.1” x 0.87” objective lens and new Competition Reticle System, shooters can choose variations between a 2 MOA dot, 8 MOA circle, 20 MOA circle, and 32 MOA circle.
The 507 Comp is built with 7075 aluminum housing and mounts up using the Trijicon RMR/SRO footprint. Running on a CR1632 battery, Holosun says the unit gets 50,000 hours of run time.
The power source is conveniently tray-mounted, so you don’t have to remove the optic to change batteries.
For electronics, the dots come in red or green, and there are 8 brightness settings, with the final two being night vision compatible. The 507 Comp also utilizes Shake Awake technology as a battery-saving measure.
We’ve tested this unit quite a bit and love how easy it is to find the dot, and even keep it during recoil.
Is a Red Dot Worth It?
Now that we’ve gotten our favorite picks out of the way…why would you even want a red dot? Haven’t iron sights worked for hundreds of years?
Well…there’s always room for improvement!
1. Eye Relief
This means you don’t need to have a set distance of your eyeballs from the sight. More apparent for scopes…but it’s also a thing you deal with on iron sights.
2. Parallax Free
This means when you move your head around…the red dot still stays on target. This combined with eye relief gives you a lot more freedom in position.
3. Co-Witness
You always want a backup since electronics can fail…even if you go with the gold standards. Red dots let you either absolute co-witness or lower 1/3 co-witness with your existing iron sights.
I prefer the lower 1/3, so you don’t always see the front post in your face until you drop a little lower and WANT to see it.
You can select the specific co-witness height based on models and riser heights. Don’t worry…we cover everything in the in-depth articles!
4. Both Eyes Open
Lastly, you can keep both eyes open with red dots which opens up your entire field of view. No more squinting behind your irons and ignoring potential threats on the side.
Why Trust Pew Pew Tactical
Leading the research and testing of this article is Pew Pew Tactical Founder and CEO Eric Hung. Though Eric got into guns later in life, they have become his passion and given him a gateway to put his research and data-driven brain to use. Eric has researched and written over 250 articles on firearms and gear since getting into guns and uses his expertise as an NRA-certified pistol instructor and a USPSA/3-Gun/NRL22 competitor to help him evaluate and choose the best red dot setups for rifles and pistols.
Overseeing all operations at Pew Pew Tactical (and editing the articles) is Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings — who runs our experienced team of reviewers. She is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, NSSF, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association. Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. With over 2,000 articles under her belt and two book edits, she uses her professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards for Pew Pew Tactical.
Content Producer Sean Curtis & Jr. Editor Wyatt Sloan, and former Pew Pew Tactical staffer John Currie also contributed to this article.
Final Thoughts
There you have it…our picks of the best red dot (and holographic) sights for all types of guns. Here are the specific articles we referenced if you want to see more in-depth reviews.
How did we do…anything else you’d add to our list? If you’re looking for something with a little more magnification…check out our Best AR-15 Scopes & Optics or more general Best Rifle Scopes post.
LATEST UPDATES
- October 2024: Removed Vortex Venom and STNGR. Added analysis and comparison charts.
- May 2024: Removed Sig MSR & added AT3 Tactical Alpha.
92 Leave a Reply
just noticed you guys left out what battery type each model takes. Shouldn’t that be basic included information???
The CR2032 seems to be the most common type but some red dots use different button batteries that are not so readily available.
You should also include the length of the warranty period. One reason I went with Leupold DeltaPoint Pro is they have a Lifetime Warranty.
Just picked up a Holosun HE530C-RD for my AR-15. Great Red Dot (also in green). Fail safe solar, very clear 30 mm, shake-awake, 2 MOA dot or 65 MOA circle and 2 MOA dot. Up to 50,000 hours on a battery, side battery compartment, clear lens covers that allow you to see even if not flipped open, QD Mount, Titanium housing. It is one of the more expensive options but well worth it. I was reluctant to spend that much but now that I have, I am happy. In My opinion Should be in the top picks. Holosun Optics are very good. I have 507c-X2s, an EPS and an EPS Carry. All my guns have Holosun optics.
Whether the optic needs to be mounted on a plate depends upon whether the firearm has the optics-ready platform. It’s a matter of the forearm, not the optic.
Some good choices for sights, with a word of warning or two.
First, no matter how good their sights are, Trijicon’s Customer Service is quite possibly the world’s worst — and they don’t stand behind their warranties. In over 30 years of dealing with them, their customer service stinks.
Second, EOTech has an unflattering nickname that its quality deserves: have owned five different EOTurds in the past two decades and each has quit functioning in less than a year.
It comes as no surprise that Pew Pew failed to mention a vital fact or two about red dots… that’s to say, the use of a green dot/reticle.
1. The green is 3-5 times more visible than red for day or night usage. It isn’t difficult to pick out when a target has a red sky behind it;
2. After the age of 55: the average shooter has a much easier time visually using a green dot as the color is more readily seen by older eyes than red is;
3. The brain perceives green more readily than red for those of us who are 55 or older.
As an airline pilot who uses a heads-up display (HUD) in the cockpit, its symbology is green in color — never red. Looking through the windscreen-mounted display, its green symbols and alphanumerics will allow us to use the HUD to land an aircraft safely while never seeing the runway until we actually almost touch down.
Of course, no one at Pew Pew bothered to research the reason why many optics offer a green version of dot/reticle. That should tell you a great deal about the company… and its reviews: lots of personal opinion, little objective fact.
I agree - the Deltapoint Pro is still the choice of quite a few professionals in the gun industry I talk to.
I own several Aimpoints, Leupolds, and one of the new Vortex Defender CCW.
I did return two Vortex Venoms where the dot was stuck up in the right top corner but they honored their warranty and sent me their newer Defender CCW model.
The Leupold DeltaPoint is hard to beat IMO.
Red Dot Heaven reviewed it..
"Mount the StrikeFire II when conditions call for a large field of vision and split-second target acquisition, and DONE! You are all good to go."
Vortex has lifetime warranties on most of their products, so if that applies, you're stoked.
I lucked into a sale on Truglo XR24, Reflex, 25X17mm recently. The review I read says the XR series are compatible with handguns, rifles and shotguns.
I just purchased my first Red/Green dot sight ever. I am as green as grass when it comes to this. PSA was offering what looked to be a good one-day sale and I had the money so here is what I bought. Please let me know if I made a good choice or not - Vortex Strikefire II Red Dot Sight 1 x 30mm 4 MOA and 10 Magpul PMAG 30 A4/M4 Gen 2 MOE 5.56 30rnd magazines.
I have a lot of Cyelees. I tried one and kept going. None have failed.
Their GT10 is a Romeo5 in green. I have at least 8 of them on all my short distance rifles.
I also have some of their pistol dots and they work flawlessly.
I believe they are the best up and coming brand out there.
Working 47 yrs in aerospace, I much prefer products designed, assembled, tested, by US manufacturers that adhere to their Quality Management Systems.
What about the Leupold DeltaPoint Pro?
I agree - the Deltapoint Pro is still the choice of quite a few professionals in the gun industry I talk to.
I own several Aimpoints, Leupolds, and one of the new Vortex Defender CCW.
I did return two Vortex Venoms where the dot was stuck up in the right top corner but they honored their warranty and sent me their newer Defender CCW model.
The Leupold DeltaPoint is hard to beat IMO.
I just noticed you guys left out what battery type each model takes. Shouldn’t that be basic included information???
The CR2032 seems to be the most common type but some red dots use different button batteries that are not so readily available.
You should also include the length of the warranty period. One reason I went with Leupold DeltaPoint Pro is they have a Lifetime Warranty.
Eric, as always, excellent coverage and review!!!
Question, I have an H&K VP9 optics ready and would like to know the following:
1. Can the "Trijicon RMR Type 2" and "Holsun HS507C" be easily mounted without additional plates?
2. Are the batteries easy to exchange without removal (ie. replacement on the top)?
3. Between the 2 models, which one has the larger viewing window?
4. Is red dot the only option for these models? I much prefer green dot.
Obviously all of these sights have particular issues. Although I do appreciate your reviews. I find them lacking. Especially when most of the issues with your reviews are prices. Most guys or girls that have guns and plink aren’t going to spend $500.00 on a red dot. Unless. They have they the funds. I’ve purchased multiple inexpensive red dots and haven’t had any issues. Anyway aim point, EOTech, Trijicon all over priced optics that most regular working guys or girls can’t afford. And really don’t need. I suppose if you have equipment with night vision these optics might be a necessity, but like I said most people only need a simple $100.00 red dot. Let’s face it. Unless you’re spending the money on the high end brands, most everything is produced in China. Engineered in America, and produced in China.
One thing not addressed at all is the night vision capability of the sights: many do have NVG settings — which is about the only reason I would buy, for example, an EOTech HWS. Of course, a red dot or reflex sight has little use with having NVGs and an IR laser mounted on a firearm.
What Pew Pew hasn’t mentioned is that most reflex sights’ red or green dot can be clearly seen by anyone the firearm is pointed at — not a great tactical advantage to give away your position in darkness. The only sight that does not allow anyone down range to see your optic’s red dot is EOTech’s holographic displays— its advantage lost when the sight fails or runs out of battery power.
Aimpoint and Holosun have excellent customer service, and I don’t minding paying for that: never had an Aimpoint ACO or PRO fail; one call to Holosun and I had a brand-new replacement sight arrive before my unit got back to the company. Can’t say that has been my experience with Trijicon, who has the worst people in customer service, and the company doesn’t stand behind their products
One salient fact neglected by Pew Pew’s staff is the real advantage of using a red dot sight.
There’s something called the Bindon Aiming Concept, which — long story short — means that having both eyes open while using a red dot sight, your brain adapts to the sight picture and incorporates the red dot into your binocular vision. My use of Holosun sights over the past two years has resulted in no longer being aware of the optic: I see the dot or reticle superimposed on my target — and my time to draw and shoot my first round is consistently sub-second (0.89-0.92).
I’ve been using OpticsPlanet for about eight years and their customer service is great. For Red dots and other optics EuroOptic beats OP in price every time. Every time in the past 3-4 years; plus their service is great too! Not sure if this will make it online but you’ll thank me if it does.
Why was the Cyelee Products not in consideration for this review? I have the Cyelee Wolf Pro and absolutely love it! I put it up against my Leupold Delta point pro which cost double the money. In these days of high prices I would argue to consider products that won’t empty our wallets.
Not one of these “red dot” sights is actually green, or, has the option of providing a green dot.
Why is this significant?
The eyes of a 55 year-old more readily “see” green light than red, which makes a significant difference when shooting from dawn to dusk: a “red” dot is far more difficult to see during hours before/during/shortly-after sunrise and sunset: and can be difficult to see during daylight hours.
The delay in seeing a red dot during pre-dawn, daytime, and post-sunset hours would likely be a deadly one, critical seconds lost.
Considerable research has gone into this visual phenomenon, from NASA to the manufacturers of aircraft visual systems: the “heads-up” display of the 747 I fly has GREEN symbols and alphanumeric characters for this reason. Pewpew tactical has failed to mention this, probably for a variety of reasons — to the detriment of its customers — more than likely because their recommendations are likely based on what’s good for pewpew tactical, not what’s necessarily good for its customers.
I also notice that my more “experienced” eyes seem to prefer green. The blue dot is another interesting alternative that I have revisited recently. I think blue is only available on cheapie dot optics?
Idon’t know how ‘cheap’ they are, but Osprey Global has a few blue dot sights which I have on small shotguns like the Mossberg 590S Shockwave— and the AR-platform Citadel Boss 25. Works fine.
Hi. Looking for a budget friendly red dot for a new S&W FPC (9mm) which comes with no iron sites. Suggestions appreciated. Thanks
Grammar much?
First sentence....
There's lots of red dots.
Joe
What is the difference btw a rife and pistol scope.
I recently purchased a 357 mag henry lever action rifle with obviously a pistol cartridge.
Good question! A major difference is mounting style. Rifle optics have dovetail or picatinny rail mounts, whereas pistols usually have some sort of mounting plate that fits into a recess on the slide, then the optic attaches with two screws. The plate is basically an adapter for the different bolt patterns of optic versus pistol. Another difference might be recoil tolerance so I suppose some rifle optics are tougher. Also eye relief matters to some extent. With pistol the optic is at arm’s length, whereas with rifle the optic is a few inches away from your face. I know dots are parallax free but they still must have an optimum viewing range, within which the dot is in focus and visible.
Nice article but there is one serious flaw with the page overall: I touched something by mistake and got taken to an Amazon page for Trijicon? Really, Amazon? You guys actually steer people to the alleged number one seller of counterfeit merchandise for high dollar optics? Your credibility just plummeted into the basement.
Please provide the evidence that the Aimpoint cannot be harmed by a bomb. It's an interesting assertion and I'm sure we'd all love to see the evidence.
Hey Jeff, by saying it's "bomb-proof" our author was suggesting that it's durable. We obviously have no bombs to test that, it was merely a turn of phrase. Thanks for reading!
Israeli based Meprolight RDS Pro V2 is an excellent choice. The design and build quality is second to none. Is there any way PPT can do a review of this quality optic? Kudos PPT for your unbiased reviews.
Dear Eric,
What would be the best "DOT" for me to use on my .454 Alaskan w/2.5 inch barrel? Am concerned about aiming quickly (bear defense) and the recoil possibly "readjusting" the setting.
What about the strickfire2 red green dot under 200$ Really works great
I am not sure why the MRO was 5 and the Aimpoint Pro was 1 when the MRO is the same price, smaller profile, and larger field of view. Don't get me wrong, I have the Pro and love it, but it is big relative to the MRO. But given your rankings, I would assume if you could only grab one red dot to put on your rifle you would go with the Pro?
Because the MRO had an awful launch and has issues that persist to this day.
Fisheye, poor light transmission and mediocre NVG compatibility being a good start. The pricing is okay but you consider an Aimpoint at similar price and the choice is easy.
The MRO is very aesthetic and I would love for it to not suck but... Such is life.
Thanks that is good to know! I was considering getting another rifle red dot and was thinking about either a Holosun 515, Aimpoint Pro ( I have both the 515 and Pro), or the MRO but you are not the first person to mention issues with the MRO so will focus on either the Holosun or the Aimpoint Pro
Watch out for fake Sig Sauer Romeo 5's. Buy one from an authorized seller. YouTube has videos on how to spot a fake. I got a fake one on eBay.
The Romeo 5 is a terrific red dot. Every bit as good as ones that are three or four hundred bucks. There is a video where the guy shot the Romeo 5 with a shotgun (birdshot) from ten feet away, and after the red dot still worked perfectly! Fantastic product.
AT3 RD-50 Pro comes with an option for either absolute co-witness, or lower 1/3 co-witness (your choice). Also includes a rubber removable armor jacket for weatherproofing and shock absorption.
If you can't decide between how to co-witness, you can order the other mounting option separately, and see what works best for you.
Second the RD50; paired with the AT3 3x magnifier, it's a decent combo that is inexpensive (often one or both components on sale), feels rugged and gives a crisp fov. Great bang for the buck..
Arguably the best Pew Pew article ever researched for the consumer....nicely accompanied with videos. Really appreciate the knowledge compiled to make a viable "read it again a few times" article. Thanks for the energy boost.
The open reflex sights, like the Sig Sauer Romeo 3, are a hundred times better than looking through a skinny little tube. Trijicon is similar. If you’re on a tight budget get a Romeo 5.
I run the Vortex Venom 3 MOA on my .300 AAC SBR 10". It performs flawlessly. I run it on its proprietary QR mount and it Absolute Co-Witnesses with Magpul MBUS BU Sights.
I'm looking at the SIG Romeo as an Alternate for my other AR (currently sporting a 4 - 12 X 40 Barska I picked up at a yard sale for $15 still in its box. surprisingly, the Barska works pretty good. It keeps its zero, hasn't fogged up, and its only issue is it's a battery hog, even when turned off the battery discharges. MSRP on this scope was $199 though it probably sold in the $70 to $100 range new at the stores. The mil dot reticle works with out without a battery so I keep it empty when stored. It works well from 100 to 300 yards, but I'd like a Red Dot for 25 to 100 yards CLARENCE, which the Romeo looks to fit the bill without maxing my CC out.
Thanks for a good review
Anyone have experience with micro dots like the RMR for use on rifles?
I have the Bushnell TRS-25 and love it. It didn't break the bank either. It's mounted atop my SW 22 Victory serving target practice. I am more accurate and can deliver more lead on target with this Red Dot. Not for concealed carry but you know that already anyway.
No love for the PA SLx MD-25? I've been running it for a while and I love it. HUGE field of view, 2 night vision settings, great battery life, and a nice price. I'd recommend it for sure. And yeah, good call on the Bushnell TRS 25. That was my first red dot and I've had it on a bunch of guns in 5.56 and 7.62 ... holds zero like a champ.
I've been looking at that Optic too, but couldn't find a lot of reviews for it. Thanks for speaking up. I'm already set on the SIG, but I've 2 more builds I need to optic up.
Beings retiree of limited means, under "$200 is something that gets my attention.
Probably just me, but while I have optics on my AR and Tvor; just not that impressed with handgun optics. Inside 15m the dot moving in the figure-8 is distracting. Shot just as well with irons; outside 15m absolutely. One single advantage of irons is they won't die on you; with tritium IMHO you can shoot equally accurately in no-light/low light conditions.
Yeah, Im in the minority.
Sig sauer Romeo 8T
Hi, I really like the information on the Bushnell TRS-25 for the economy and the testimony of the quality. Can this red dot be mounted on a Weaver rail?
Yes! It should have no problem mounting to Weaver or Picatinny
I have a trs 25 I would suggest u don’t get I have it on a Ruger 10/22 it doesn’t hold it’s zero very well and now brightness stopped working with a brand new battery in it I’ll have it on highest setting and u can barely see it
hi, really great article, thanks!!
I'm very new to guns and trying to learn more.
In the section of why one might want a red dot one of the pros is that you can keep both eyes open.
Does that mean that one should keep one eye closed when shooting with iron sights?
thanks
p.s. I read all of your articles and find them very informative so thanks!
I may be way off, but that backyard photo sure reminds me of the San Gabriel Valley
I'm getting into rifle target shooting 22lr at 100-200 yards. Is a scope better than a red dot for that? Excuse my lack of knowledge.
Thank you.
I would highly recommend a scope for that! 200 yards is considered long range for .22 LR and having the magnification will help a lot with calling your shots.
At those ranges, consider high-velocity ammo as well.
Great and informative article. Thxs.
eeeYehehehes
I don't wish to appear overtly vitriolic in my self-criticism but after reading this and a few other articles on this site I feel rather like an "Idiot"!! I just purchased a Nikon P-Tactical Superdot and placed it upon a Ruger AR556 MPR thinking I really had something nice. For me the combination worked fantastically well albeit I am new to these types of products. Now I feel like I should toss them in a river as junk since to the best of my knowledge none of these items have ever been mentioned by experts like yourselves. My question is have I made an egregious mistake and if so what shall I do? Thanks for your assistance.
Nikon isn't bad at all, I don't think you've made an error of any kind. The issue with Nikon is that they got a bit lazy over the years and stopped trying to push their optics design. As the market got more crowded, Nikon was content to rest on their laurels. Over the years, the rest of the market simply left Nikon behind in price and quality.
That isn't to say Nikon scopes are bad, they aren't generally. But you can normally get better for cheaper. However, that is kind of changed right now because Nikon scopes are all on firesale prices. Nikon recently announced that they would be stopping their scope lines and exiting the market. The Nikon scopes that are being sold right now will be the last ones on the market. As such, every retailer is having huge sales on them.
At the firesale prices you can find a Nikon, it's a solid deal. Good glass for a really good price! The downside is that if something breaks and you need to warranty it, no one knows what Nikon will do. They have said that they will be honoring warranties still, but you never know with a big company and since they want to get out of the market -- they don't really have much motivation to honor their word in the long run.
tl;dr -- Nikon is good, just not competitive at MSRP. If you can get one on a steep discount, they are a solid buy generally. However, there is some risk involved with that now.
I am surprised the Sig Romeo 5 or any of their red dot optics was not on the list. 10 times better than the Bushnell.
Yup, we've subbed in the Romeo5 for the Holosun in the $100-$200 category! Bushnell we still like for sub-$100.
Isn't the Romeo 5 contracted through Holosun?
No, it is not. I asked Sig Sauer about that rumor several months ago and they stated that it was completely false.
What would you recommend to put on a Ruger Super Redhawk 44 magnum for hunting?
Clueless noob here - What warrants the MASSIVE price difference between these and airsoft replicas when both seem to do the same thing? Is it just sheer ruggedness?
More or less, yes. Airsoft optics will not survive on a real firearm. The recoil and shock will ruin their electronics very quickly, depending on the gun and the optic - 10 shots or less isn't surprising. The outside housing is also much more robust on real firearm optics since many of these are used for self-defense where your life literally depends on them working. Lastly, real firearm optics need to hold zero. Airsoft can walk a little and it doesn't matter too much since they aren't very accurate to start with. A real firearm optic needs to hold a zero at fairly long ranges while also enduring much more force and shock.
Where is the sig romeo5?
I went red dot on a G-19 RMR Trijicon (holding up) Type 1. Slow at IDPA but accurate. On the PCC went with reflex Sighmark Ultra 79.99 at Midway; because of red/green choice. I favor green. Fast and accurate with PCC on steel. Learning curve is huge but I like them. And thanks for article Eric very enlightening. P.S. Be careful with the clones.
what saith thou... Holosun good to take to battle?
I vote for the SPARC-AR from Vortex. First off they have their lifetime warranty and second it is a nice crisp 2moa red dot. I have one on a Ruger 10/22 and one on a SBR.
a steiner 536 is pretty great also 529 bucks and am Burris 536 is good and has an 6 minute reticle and focuses well its a 5 x good to 200 yards
Just picked up an Aimpoint Pro for $378, including expedited shipping, from Sportsman's Guide.. Discounts included membership (-$43.80) and current code SK1760 (-$40). Current code takes $40 off anything over $250, so this could be used for other products...
Aimpoint PROs 'can' be picked up as low as $350-$360 if you are patient and get the right sale. They used to happen more often, but not so much lately. Watch for a LAPG discount code; PSA occasionally drops them into the $360 range as well.
Get the right coupon at Sportsman's Guide and you can pick up a XPS2-0 or XPS2-2 for right at $399 after discount (Buyer's Double Discount code for 20% off) plus about $15 shipping.
Sig's Romeo5 and Primary Arms 50K hour RDS are also both 'bang for your buck' solutions, the Romeo5 around $129 shipped at a few places right now, and the Primary Arms ~$150 every day. The PA dot is Holosun sourced and the Sig is believed to be Holosun sourced.
just got a Burris 536 a 5 power 36mm objective and a focusable eye piece ,took 3 rounds to shoot in absolute Co witness on a sig 716 .7.62 x 51 dmr ,shoots about an inch at two hundred yards bi pod and butt rest ,I have 4 acogs for some pretty nice fn heavy and light sca r rifles the Burris was a present from my gf who shoots with me .this Burris 536 is just as clear an my acogs and its reticle is pretty well set up for up to 600 yard hold overs .im surprised at the build quality I think this was manufactured in Japan because the glass is excellent ,came with non reflector filter and a sun shade ,I have seen them go for 499 ,mine came with a leupold delta point on the top rail ,I really like this set up ass its as nice as an acog and my gf who works at Amazon got it for me cause she loves me and I give her a magic injection almost every night .
How does the Romeo1 show up if the weapon light is on in a nighttime condition?
Do you recommend co-witnessing on a pistol with Red dot?
I personally don't since my red dot pistols are more for competition or fun. If you're using one for duty it might make sense.
What is easier to aquire with, a smaller red dot sight or larger one, I use on a 10/22 for speed steel shooting?
Hey Todd, a larger red dot (in terms of the size of the dot) will be easier to acquire. You can check out 6 MOA sizes.
I'm new to the AR "scene" and just finished building my 3rd. My first 2 have flip up "open" sights but, my 3rd, I put a Vortex Sparc AR on it and plan to install a set of back-up open sights. I have two questions; 1) In "zeroing" in my Red Dot, does the dot have to be centered when setting it up? I've zeroed in scopes but Red Dots are new to me. 2) When co-witnessing open sights with a Red Dot, is there a simple process for setting it up at 1/3? Sorry for the dumb questions, I've been a handgun guy most of my life.
The dot does not have to be centered when you are zeroing.
And for having absolute or 1/3 cowitness will depend on your red dot height. When setting it up you have either the optic or the irons zeroed, and then move the other to match it up.
or a bore laser/
Eric I have a sig 320 9mm with a romeo1 red dot. when looking at red dot I see a clustered group of red all around the dot which is hard to find the single red dot. its like red clouds all around the window
,
Not sure if its the sight or your own eyesight...do you have astigmatism?
The red dot is round, astigmatism causes this. Sight through your glasses.
Great help, good article - thanks for the info! I think I'll get me an ACOG
You're welcome Rick!
Loved the article! I enjoy using these sights on a few of my rifles and handguns, but I learned some new info. Thanks!
You're so welcome, Peter!
Great background, thanks. I would like to know more about trajectory and distance using a red dot. Can't seem to find much about that.
Hi Dave, thanks for the suggestion! I'll be adding in that soon. I would personally use it up to 100 yards but I've seen people in competitions outshoot me easily up to 400 yards with a red dot while I'm using a 6x scope. Just depends on your eyes and if you know your holdovers.
Thanks for commenting on the different types. I'm (now) a civilian shooter, and this technology is new to me. I am researching to understand, and your explanations help.
Thanks so much...glad I could help!