What's a good and reasonably priced red dot optic?

O

OhioGuy

New member
I'd like to get a red dot for my S&W Victory. I see these priced anywhere from like $49 all the way up to several hundred.

This will be mainly for indoor range use, and eventually outdoor also. It doesn't need to stand up to much abuse given the low recoil of the pistol and the fixed position of the sight rail (doesn't reciprocate).

Any recommendations for good starting points? Eventually I may want to move up to competition but for now I mainly want to improve and get used to that sort of sight.
 
For a truly reliable dot sight I would recommend the Burris Fastfire II or for a little more money for convenience the Fastfire III. Between $125 and $175 new on eBay. Less if you find a used one. Used is not a worry with Burris all inclusive warranty. Basically if you own it and it doesn't work for any reason we will warrant it and fix it.
 
Where to start !!!

Any recommendations for good starting points?
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Now then, you did state; "good starting point" Well, I'd suggest a CenterPoint or another one of the closed tube RedDots.. If the money is not a problem, then by all means, get a FastFire. I have one of these for indoor range. All of my Hunters are closed tube and provide reliable performance. I have been a RedDot fan for many years and still have a Tasco Propoint-I, in service. ..... :eek:

It's easier to list ones to shy away from then those that will meet or exceed your expectations. ..... ;)

Be Safe !!!
 
OhioGuy what MOA are you looking for? Do some youtunbing for the Vortex venom and the viper their warranty is second to non and can be bought for about 200.
 
I like the Fastfire and have one on my 22/45; but it is overkill for a .22 pistol. The Primary Arms Microdot is only about $90 and reliable enough for recreational/hunting use.
 
Red Dots are nice, but I have switched to the green laser. Since you mentioned eventually out door use, the green dot is much more visible outside than the reds are, at least for my old eyes.

When you want to splurge somewhat, take a look at the Streamlight TLR series. They are pricey, but perform admirably. I would have no other on my guns at this time.
 
Do the open designs like the Venom and FastFire have any inherent advantages over the tubular designs, other than being quite a bit smaller?

I've read a bit about the MOA ratings. I really don't know what ranges I'd be shooting with this pistol--indoors it won't be more than 25 yards for sure. I've never done any long range pistol shooting yet. How far out would I really be shooting before I'd want to have a magnification scope anyway?

I've read that diameter of the circle covered by the dot grows by 1" at 100 yards for every 1 MOA.

Even the cheaper ones recommended here are listed as 2 or 3 MOA which would seem to be more than adequate.
 
I've owned at least twenty-five red dot sights over the last twenty-five years. I have seven of them right now on different guns. Not even one person mentioned parallax on these sights. I had two different Bushnell TRS-25's and sent them both back. They had at least three inches of parallax at twenty-five yards....and this is something easy to check if you know how. It's easy. The cheaper red dot sights do not have plated circuits and fail for that reason. The Burris FF3 is about the best you'll get for the buck. The really cheap ones are simply junk and it's not just recoil that does them in. The open sights like the FF3 are a bit harder to find the dot on a handgun, have less brightness settings. The "tin can" types are easier to find the dot, have more settings for brightness, and are just a bit heavier. I find them to work better for hunting and plinking applications. They make so many different brands that you get too many answers to this question. Some are good answers, some aren't. I'd listen to the Burris people on here. If you can afford it, you'll get a great sight. I have one on a 44mag and a 45-70 rifle and they hold up to sustained recoil and are very, very well made.
 
Pahoo said:
Now then, you did state; "good starting point" Well, I'd suggest a CenterPoint or another one of the closed tube RedDots..
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Well, this brings up the question: which kind of "red dot" are we talking about? There are the reflex ("tombstone" types, there are the small (1-inch, plus-or-minus) tube type, and there are the 30mm to 40mm tube type.

Which type? And do you have a budget?
 
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