Red dot or Reflex sight for my AR?

I just picked up an Aimpoint PRO. I was preparing to mount it on a side charger, but the freaking charging handle will interfere with the bulbous knob used to tighten the sight. So, no experience with the red dot yet.

As far as a reflex, when I had one on an AR47 and was running a bump stock, the glass was shaken out of it. So there's that. Lol.
 
I like red dots on ARs but I can't even explain why. I have reflex sights on pistols so I'm not stranger to either.
 
@kcult try mounting the sight/mount backwards so the knob is on the right side.

To the OP I prefer to put a proper red dot like an Aimpoint micro/pro, or Trijicon MRO on a Carbine.
 
Timfoilhat said:
@kcult try mounting the sight/mount backwards so the knob is on the right side.

To the OP I prefer to put a proper red dot like an Aimpoint micro/pro, or Trijicon MRO on a Carbine.
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I actually tried that before seeing this. It's ugly, but if it works, I might have to do that.

This particular rifle is a SBR. I thought it would be perfect, but the side charging complicates it. I might look at my other rifles to see who actually gets it.
 
For a rifle I'd stick with an enclosed red dot. Any kind of weather/dirt can get in the way of the emitter in an exposed reflex sight.
 
kcult said:
I just picked up an Aimpoint PRO. I was preparing to mount it on a side charger, but the freaking charging handle will interfere with the bulbous knob used to tighten the sight. So, no experience with the red dot yet.
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American Defense makes a damned good QD mount for the Aimpoint PRO.
 
Aimpoint Pro is hard to beat for the price. I run them and T2s on serious guns. I run a Sig Romeo 5 on fun guns. You can get them for $140 from PSA. Vortex stuff and Primary house brands are also decent choices.
 
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Buy once, cry once. I’ve had several different brands of red dots and nothing really compares to the durability, battery life, and quality of Aimpoint products. I currently have a salty Comp M2 and several Pro’s and all have been rock solid. The Pro is my favorite, not much difference between it and the much more expensive Comp M4.
 
Something to take into consideration regarding red dots on rifles, your eyes. If you are like me and have astigmatism, red dots will start to appear as a starburst. The best red dot sight for me, and it will be different for others is the Trijicon MRO. I suggest you try as many as possible before you make a decision to buy. For pros and cons; the pros, red dots are faster than irons in dynamic shooting situations, can have an amazing battery life, and more durable than you may think. The cons, red dots are expensive and like all optics, you will get what you pay for. I think once you try a quality red dot you will understand why they are so popular. Also, there have been some solid red dots mentioned above, it's like I said try before you buy. What looks sharp and clean to me may not work for you.
 
Had Cmores and Aimpoints and Eotechs. One issue with all of those. Dead batteries when you need the gun most. Trijicon Acog is what I run now and trying to find the funds to buy another one for my back up MSR. Yes the Acog is expensive but what is your life worth? As in most things with guns, buy once, cry once.
 
I think this may be considered the most critical piece I own to my family's survival so, along with a few handguns, PERFECT function is critical!
 
If you want cheap, bushnell trs-25 is what i have on my pistol. Seems good for how cheap it is.
 
Holosun 403/sig romeo5 are good budget options. They have different aesthetics but are functionally the same. 50k+ hour battery life (~5.5 years), large adoption without people complaining, seems to survive abusive testing well. If you wait for deals, I've gotten all of mine for <110$ but you can usually find them for 120-140$ I've got one on almost all my rifles.
 
jimmyjames8 said:
Had Cmores and Aimpoints and Eotechs. One issue with all of those. Dead batteries when you need the gun most. Trijicon Acog is what I run now and trying to find the funds to buy another one for my back up MSR. Yes the Acog is expensive but what is your life worth? As in most things with guns, buy once, cry once.
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Dead batteries in an Aimpoint? That's on you, not the optic. If it was the optic, it needed to be sent in.

Never had an issue with Aimpoint or EOTech, though they chew through batteries faster.

Now if they put an EOTech reticle in an Aimpoint.....
 
The dead batteries in my cheaper sights are exactly what drove me to spend for Aimpoint. I want the newer holosun/Sig sights to be in the wild for 5+ years to see if 5 year battery life claims are real. I still change batteries in smoke detectors, quick access safes, and sights every year on my birthday regardless of any battery life that may be left unused, but there's massive piece of mind having a 5 year expected life on the batteries.
 
Chuckman said:
Dead batteries in an Aimpoint? That's on you, not the optic. If it was the optic, it needed to be sent in.

Never had an issue with Aimpoint or EOTech, though they chew through batteries faster.

Now if they put an EOTech reticle in an Aimpoint.....
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Check out the new Trijicon MRO HD, it has an EOTech style reticle.
 
Chuckman said:
I will. I had the 'regular' MRO, didn't like it or dislike it.
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I have a regular one also and it is my favorite of the micro red dots. I prefer the FOV on the MRO over the T2/T1’s.
 
Derek8404 said:
I have a regular one also and it is my favorite of the micro red dots. I prefer the FOV on the MRO over the T2/T1’s.
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Interesting. That's kinda why I went back to EOTech, the FOV and reticle. The CCO was a great RDS, but I felt like I was looking through a toilet paper tube.
 
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