Red dot Fail

[samginko]

Lucid HD7.

Good optics and good support.

[yuppiejr]

I also prefer an Aimpoint PRO and CompM4S to my T1 due to the tube diameter and the ease with the larger tubes to pick up the dot. This is a big benefit when shooting from alternative or awkward positions that do not allow you to get a solid cheek weld or directly behind the optic

I've had the same observation of any "micro" format red-dot optic I've tried, if someone is in the market I highly recommend trying both styles on an actual firearm/stock/etc... and take note of the range of head locations from which you can pick up the dot. The difference between micro and 30mm tube style red-dots is pretty significant and I'll gladly take the extra weight for a red-dot system that's easier to pick up and get on target quickly.

The Vortex SPARC, Aimpoint T1, Primary Arms Micro, Lucid M7 and Bushnell TRS-25 are all the smaller 20mm(ish) occular lens while the Lucid HD7, Bushnell TRS-32, AimPoint PRO and Vortex Strikefire have the 30mm+ lens.

[Currahee]

Make sure you don't have an astigmatism also. I do and can not use an Aimpoint, Eotech, or other reflex option (found out the hard way).

If you do have an astigmatism , it will look like a big starburst. I would go to Cabelas or wherever and check them all out. When I was looking at them, Vortex was nice for the money also.

I ended up getting a Leupold 1x with etched glass so it doesn't starburst.

[Hmac]

Make sure you don't have an astigmatism also. I do and can not use an Aimpoint, Eotech, or other reflex option (found out the hard way).

If you do have an astigmatism , it will look like a big starburst. I would go to Cabelas or wherever and check them all out. When I was looking at them, Vortex was nice for the money also.

I ended up getting a Leupold 1x with etched glass so it doesn't starburst.

Any competent optometrist can provide corrective lenses to get rid your astigmatism.

[Currahee]

Make sure you don't have an astigmatism also. I do and can not use an Aimpoint, Eotech, or other reflex option (found out the hard way).

If you do have an astigmatism , it will look like a big starburst. I would go to Cabelas or wherever and check them all out. When I was looking at them, Vortex was nice for the money also.

I ended up getting a Leupold 1x with etched glass so it doesn't starburst.

Any competent optometrist can provide corrective lenses to get rid your astigmatism.

No... does not work that way... . With glasses or with contacts or no lenses get starburst.

If you don't have it, you don't know how it affects. Google reflex sight and astigmatism once and see. I only googled once I learned from experience. It is true... .

[Hmac]

Make sure you don't have an astigmatism also. I do and can not use an Aimpoint, Eotech, or other reflex option (found out the hard way).

If you do have an astigmatism , it will look like a big starburst. I would go to Cabelas or wherever and check them all out. When I was looking at them, Vortex was nice for the money also.

I ended up getting a Leupold 1x with etched glass so it doesn't starburst.

Any competent optometrist can provide corrective lenses to get rid your astigmatism.

No... does not work that way... . With glasses or with contacts or no lenses get starburst.

If you don't have it, you don't know how it affects. Google reflex sight and astigmatism once and see. I only googled once I learned from experience. It is true... .

No, that's exactly how it works. Astigmatism is pretty straightforward to correct with lenses as long as the optometrist gets the prescription right and the lab doing the grinding is competent.

[Currahee]

No, that's exactly how it works. Astigmatism is pretty straightforward to correct with lenses as long as the optometrist gets the prescription right and the lab doing the grinding is competent.

Ummm... OK... try one (reflex sight) with an astigmatism once... even with prescription...

you know... you can be wrong sometimes...

I know SWAT and "other" guys who can't use one... never knew why but now I do cause of my REAL LIFE experience. Maybe your astigmatism isn't bad enough... YET.

[PhilaBOR]

No, that's exactly how it works. Astigmatism is pretty straightforward to correct with lenses as long as the optometrist gets the prescription right and the lab doing the grinding is competent.

Ummm, if it's cylindrical astigmatism. If it's irregular astigmatism there are limits to what an optometrist can do. There are also limits to how bad your eyes can be before LASIK isn't possible. I am a much less accurate shooter than I was as a kid before the astigmatism manifested.

[PRS]

vortex is great…. I've used the sparc, strike fire,viper, and razor. best glass for the money hands down. Unless you are jumping out of blackhawks vortex is what you want.

[Drizzle]

I like my Primary Arms, as much as my older EoTech. About 1/4 the price. Admittedly not used really hard yet, but much better tha n an NC Star or the like.

[Uffdaphil]

Aimpoint Pro can't be beat for dependability on a budget. I prefer the Mepro Tru-Dot for it's large eyebox, illum knob and instant on battery saver. Basically the original design of the current Israeli mil issue so it should be tough, but too new for a track record. Not much more $$ than a Pro.

The T1/H1 is still king of the hill in my book, but hard to justify when I can get two Mepros with built in QD mount for the price of one QD T1. I also like a used Comp 2/3 series for less than a new Pro. They last forever.

[AFTERMATH]

I'm honestly trying to think if I've ever seen a less than $50 red dot not fail?

Usually, it's the batteries - but I've seen them simply rattle to pieces as well.

Personally, I've got a Vortex strikefire (I think it's a 'II') - While I don't think it's the same class as an Aimpoint, it's a pretty good value. If you just want a budget RD, for a little rangetime it's not a bad option. The primary sacrifice I've noticed is battery life - I find myself replacing them about once per year. Still much better than the 1/day alternatives out there. It's supposed to be parallax free after 50 yards, though I've noticed a little bit @100. But RD's were never meant to be precision optics. It hasn't seen terrible abuse, but thus far it's withstood the temperature extremes of MN.

No real regrets in purchasing it.

[unknown]

Thank you for all of your thoughts. After doing a lot of reading and looting I narrowed down my choices between the Aimpoint Pro and the Eotech XPS2. I really like the idea of the double reticle on the XPS. I handled on at gander a couple days ago and I am not sure if it is the sight or my bad eyes but the dot did look like a starburst. Sadly the guy behind the counter didn't know anything about the sight. I think I will make another trip to a different Gander and test it to see if I have the same result.

Stay tuned!

[Hmac]

Thank you for all of your thoughts. After doing a lot of reading and looting I narrowed down my choices between the Aimpoint Pro and the Eotech XPS2. I really like the idea of the double reticle on the XPS. I handled on at gander a couple days ago and I am not sure if it is the sight or my bad eyes but the dot did look like a starburst. Sadly the guy behind the counter didn't know anything about the sight. I think I will make another trip to a different Gander and test it to see if I have the same result.

Stay tuned!

Starburst appearance is often a function of the reticle being too bright, not uncorrected astigmatism. Uncorrected astigmatism is typically a comma-shaped dot. Proper brightness for an RDS dot is just bright enough to see in whatever lighting conditions you're shooting in.