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Red dot sights are great for AR-15s, Pistols, Shotguns, and everything else that sends bullets down the range. I’ll show you some of the best options for all budgets. Spoiler alert, in my opinion, the two best options are the Aimpoint Pro models and Trijicon MRO. They’re precise reliable and durable, making them an outstanding choice for any rifle.
Short on time? Our Picks for the Best Red Dot Sight
- Trijicon MRO
- Aimpoint Pro
- Aimpoint Micro T2
- Aimpoint Comp M5
- Holosun Hs403c
- Holosun Hs403b
- Sig Sauer Romeo 5 Red Dot Sight
- Ozark Armament Rhino Red Dot Sight
- Bushnell TRS-25
What We Will Cover
Best Red Dot Sight – Updated
1 Trijicon MRO
The Trijicon MRO or Trijicon Miniature Rifle Optic is the upcoming king under the red dot market. There is no coincidence as Trijicon is also the manufacturer that produces the ACOG for the military.
This optic is one of the most durable and rugged sights you can find on the planet, try to break one and you will see what I mean. This gave Trijicon a head start for the MRO. It takes durability from the ACOG putting it through plenty of durability tests.
The Trijicon MRO offers a nice feature because the lenses are not the same size. The one facing you is smaller than the one facing the target, this creates the feeling of a wide field of view instead of having to look through a tube. It is true that this does not apply to people shooting with both eyes open and this is how the use of a red dot is intended. However, most people ignore that and close the other eye.
The battery should give you continued use for five years so you do not have to worry about it failing you in the worst moment, also you can switch it off when you don’t need it. The optimum is between the brightness setting 2 and 3, these positions are the ones you need the most. If you want to leave it always on that’s fine too.
When it comes to brightness there is usually a tendency to overemphasize it, then you end up with scopes that have 12 different settings and you use only half, or even less than that. Trijicon understood that and just used 6 day settings and 2 for night, which gives you more than enough options to make sure that you can actually see the target.
Is there a downside to the Trijicon MRO? There is in the right light conditions. You might notice a slight blue tint on the lens. It should not be a problem but that might cost you a little bit of light when there is not too much of it anyway like at dawn or dusk. But this is a solid scope you should certainly consider.
2 Aimpoint Pro
The number two on our list is the other best option for a red dot sight. Aimpoint is a well-known name in the optics market. However just to be clear, it is neither cheap nor of low quality but it is sleek and light and it is as tough as it gets. It is even waterproof down to 150 feet, which makes it extremely durable and extremely reliable.
Of course, there is a downside. You never have only all the best options and in the case of the Aimpoint Pro, it is the battery life that is a slight negative. It has only three years of continued use in it, however, I can live with that.
Red Dots More Expensive Options
If you don’t have to worry about your budget there are red dots that can fulfill all your dreams. Using them is like cheating in a video game. My favorite here are the Aimpoint Comp M5 and Aimpoint Micro T2.
3 Aimpoint Comp M5
This Red Dot Reflex will withstand even the strongest abuse. It is even stronger than the Aimpoint Pro. You have an added window in the front that protects the lenses and it’s made of 7075 T6 aluminum which is twice as hard as 6061.
The battery will last you almost 6 years on a brightness setting of 7. It is submersible and relatively small with a length of 3.3 inches and a width of 1.3 inches, also the weight is just 8.4 ounces.
If you’re not sure what kind of punishment to expect from your scope, the Aimpoint Comp M5 is your choice. It survives almost everything you can throw at it but this comes at a price. You will have to pay more than twice what you spend for the Aimpoint Pro.
4 Aimpoint Micro T2
The Aimpoint Micro T2 is another super sight that follows what the name Aimpoint makes you expect. It is also the smallest red dot that you can find with the reliability and ruggedness of what you would expect from any Aimpoint. However, this sight does not come cheap.
Under $200
After a short look at our two kings and two heroes of optics, we turn our attention to the budget products. What can you get that does not cost you an arm and a leg? Luckily, nowadays there are more and more options in the lower budget area that makes it easier to find something.
You should be aware that an optic of $200 or below will of course not be the same as one of $400 and above, but that does not mean that it’s not worth it.
The sight will most probably look and feel like the most expensive ones but what makes them cheaper is durability, reliability, and quality control. Especially the latter which means that you run a higher risk of getting a lemon. Some of them also just die over time or lose some of their functionality. Budget options may not survive the amount of abuse a more expensive one might.
Then there’s the battery life. Expect some budget options to have shorter battery life. The options I’m suggesting here however come with a good life span for their batteries. They also have fairly good quality. In my opinion, the Holosun HS403C and B, as well as the Sig Sauer Romeo 5 Red Dot Sight, will serve you the best.
5 Holosun HS403C & HOLOSUN HS403B
HOLOSUN options run from 100 to 300 with the HS403, it offers you the option to run your red dot either with a battery that holds its own for 5 to 6 years of continued use or with solar energy. Using the solar array you get a nice extra feature, it can sense the brightness of the surroundings. This means it adjusts automatically to the level required in your current lighting conditions.
The battery merely serves as a backup, it will work under most light conditions alone with solar power or with a combination of solar and battery, only in total darkness will it be on battery alone. Combining these will make the battery probably last most of your life.
The HS403C is one of the smallest objects you can find if you discount reflex sights. It is so short that you do not get the looking through a tube effect. You have 10 settings for daytime and 2 for nighttime use.
On a side note, there is also a Holosun HS403B out there, it is practically the same as the C model with one major difference, it runs on battery power only. It is the same battery so you get 5 to 6 years of continuous use out of it and it is a little bit cheaper. In order to save battery life, it has motion sensors and auto shut off and on, as long as you do not move your gun it will be in standby until it is needed.
6 Sig Sauer Romeo 5 Red Dot Sight
Sig makes great firearms, so it’s no surprise that they make an affordable and quality red dot sight for you to mount to virtually any firearm you choose. It’s great for rifles, shotguns, and full-size handguns.
The Romeo 5 has a 2 MOA red dot reticle with extremely crisp and clear optics. The lens is made with an anti-scratch and anti-reflective coating that protects the lens from scratches while also providing superior light transmission. Because of this design and technology, the Romeo 5 gives you the clearest image among comparable models.
One of the best features of the Romeo 5 is the battery-saver mode. The red dot sight doesn’t stay on the entire time you’re using it. It only powers on when it senses motion. When there is no motion, it powers off, but don’t worry – the startup time for the red dot is nearly instantaneous.
The Romeo 5 comes with a Picatinny riser mount with a co-witness of 1.41 inches. It also includes two CR2032 batteries for the sight, but you’ll likely have to wait more than 40,000 hours to replace the battery because of the extensive battery life.
It has an unlimited lifetime guarantee that requires no warranty card for the sight to be repaired or replaced by Sig.
Under $100 Dollars
There are a few more options out there for even less money, however, be careful about what you get for your gun. Many of these optics might be rated for an airsoft gun, in that case, they might not even survive or hold the zero with the recoil of a real firearm. If I have to choose something in this price range then I like the Ozark Armament Rhino Red Dot Sight and the Bushnell TRS-25.
7 Ozark Armament Rhino Red Dot Sight
This is the best I could find for less than one hundred dollars. It’s a great deal as it offers you practically a budget version of the Aimpoint Pro. It does not come close to the feeling of the more expensive optic but it does its job nicely, which makes it a good choice for a little money.
It’s quite rugged and it says it can take the recoil of a 50 BMG. I did not test it to that level but it could definitely withstand my 308 M1A Socom 16. It comes with a nice mount that makes the optic easily detachable which is another trait of the Aimpoint Pro that I like.
8 Bushnell TRS-25
The TRS-25 is waterproof and does not get foggy when the air is humid, proving itself as durable and reliable. It can take the recoil of an AK and hold at zero. The knobs for the adjustment feel nice under your fingers and the coating does not come off which means it will not rust away while you’re using it.
Take a battery of good quality and you can shoot with it for a year, cheap batteries however might die much earlier.
The lenses come with a good finish that gets them some excellent light transition and clarity. It also reduces the glare from the sun. The dot is 3MOA and well defined and crisp. You have 11 settings for brightness and can use it in daylight as well as in low light conditions.
It’s easy to get a good sight picture and equally easy to hit any target at 100 yards. You can use it for blinking as well as for some serious work like self-defense or hunting. It can go well with an AR-15, AR-10, AK, and shotguns.
Final Thoughts
More and more well-made red dots are becoming available which should continue to provide us with great options at decent prices. Always look at the material and lenses that the manufacturer is using before deciding on a purchase. With some great choices provided, I hope you find something that fits your budget and needs in the above list.
