I know it’s not technically a red dot but what about a eotech 512? they can be picked up for sub 400 bucks makes it a very good competitor to a aimpoint pro
The auto shutoff, size, weight, and poor battery life make Eotechs of all kinds pretty poor choices unless you're chasing ultimate night vision performance.
@@itsamk18-ish I got mine for under 400. At that price point I can't complain. The window size and clarity are great, reticle is fast, uses common batteries, and plays well with my astigmatism
@@itsamk18-ish agreed. I'm more comparing it to options like the pro and 515. The pro is 450 and uses a weird battery. It's also about as heavy as the eotech with the factory mount.
I totally agree. I have the Holosuns, the Romeo 5 and the Bushnell optics. We've been running them for years at our events introducing people to firearms (the 2nd is For Everyone: Diversity Shoot). After thousands of rounds, being dropped, thrown around in rifle bags and carry cases they are maintaining zero and work every time. I agree with every point he made about these optics. I have used Aimpoints (T1 & T2), the dots are more crisp, I know they're tougher but those positives aren't enough to offset the higher price(for my purpose). I have 7 firearms equipped with these budget red dots with thousands of rounds through them. New shooters enjoy them and many purchase these for their first firearm. I recommend them highly. Well thought out video with good information, thanks Hop.
Looking for a red dot for my 12ga Turkey gun. I’m back and forth between sig Romeo 5 and Holosun. I hunt 12-16 days out of the Turkey season so I feel like a high end red dot isn’t necessary. Would you recommend one over the other? One thing I’m back and forth on is the difference in the way they look. Romeo being like a scope and holosun being open like they are. Not well versed in this stuff so sorry if I’m missing the correct terms they are called.
@@case8987 yea man I just keep reading articles and watching videos. I have a dozen web browsers opened going back and forth and back and forth. I know I don’t need a $6-7-800 dollar sight. I’m going to make a decision in the next few days here. Really considering the holosun 507c. I was looking at the 510c but the more I researched it’s significantly bigger than the 507. But then I’m staring at the Romeo. I really like the price point for that and the great reviews. $110 for a Romeo or $330 for a holosun, not at all concerned about paying more but is this something along the lines of you get what you pay for? Romeo has great reviews but that holosun has fantastic ones. And also going back and forth about the type of sights, scope like Romeo and open like the 507. Right now I’m leaning towards the holosun just for the fact that it sits lower and I can glance over my gun to see. I’m thinking the Romeo might obstruct me a little especially shooting with both eyes open. Not gunna lie have been looking at that vortex venom too lol. I know people have had issues with the battery cap but it seems very few considering the amount of reviews I’ve read. And there warranty is top notch. I have Binos and range finder and really like them.
@@jeffkonst25 I also have the vortex binos and range finder. Love them for the price. I’ve had a vortex spitfire on my ar for like 5 years now and it is solid. No complainants. I think I’m going to get the Romeo5 for my shotgun and if I don’t like it I’ll throw it on another AR so it won’t be a loss lol. I’ll report back. Let me know if you like the holosun, might get one down the road.
Love the Romeo 5 and MSR. Looked at getting an Aimpoint PRO, but since I'm not dismounting from armored personnel carriers and rolling around in the dirt anymore, I think the Romeo 5 will me serve just fine.
Don't be a snob man too many good deals you'll pass over. Why get a Mossberg 500 when you can get their dirt cheap mav 88 😎 and diamondback makes pretty decent guns these days. Palmetto Dagger is a $300 Glock 19 gen 3 can't beat that.
Have to mention the Vortex Crossfire red dot as well. 50k hours on a CR2032, 2 moa dot, and its actually the same centerline height as a T2 (Romeo 5 and HS403R are taller, which is a pain when matching mounts and magnifiers)
Those bushnells still have the benefit of being the lowest mount available since it's built into the body itself. Those are the only RDS I can get to comfortably cowitness on non AR style platforms since all of the other ones have to be attached to a separate low mount. Even an RMR style of sight sits higher when attached to a pic mount.
@@workingguy6666 for a cheap red dot I always throw a set of mbus on there. Had a couple of range trips where my first gen sparc had turned on inadvertently and drained the battery, but I still used the rifle because of the back ups. Same thing with a Romeo that randomly went kaput. On my rifles with an etched reticle I don't bother with back ups. Besides, I specifically mentioned their uses on non AR rifles (like an AK on a forward mount) and those generally have fixed sights that are going to block your view window unless you run it obnoxiously high.
Hop continues to put out awesome content for the budget conscious. He's most certainly going to be the most well equiped hobo standing around the barrel fire someday.
I run the Sig Romeo package on my patrol rifle. If you can find the bundle you get the Remeo red and Juliet magnifier with covers, mounts and adapters for about $300.
I have both green and red Romeo’s but I bought them before I ever saw the magnifier package come out I wish the package was available because that is such a fuckin awesome deal, I’ve considered buying it and just giving the red dot to a family member or something. I have the green Romeo on my 10.5” 556 since it’s my outdoor gun and the red dot on my Extar EP9 for indoor HD.
@@warrenharrison9490. Yeah that’s fuckin awesome. I got my Romeo’s during the pandemic after I got my Extar EP9 I was trying to put together a 10.5” 556 and it was fuxkin impossible to get the stuff I wanted as far as AR parts I really wanted an Aero lower and they were impossible to find anywhere so I ended up having to go with an Anderson lower and PSA upper, I’m still happy with my pandemic build but I would have gotten a few different things if they were available. Point of my ramble was they weren’t running any of the Romeo packages at the time I was pretty lucky to pay $99 for the Romeo’s through a PSA deal
I have to agree here, as someone that owns A LOT of Aimpoint T-1's and T-2's (and some H-1's and H-2's) I have been shocked at how good the Holosun 403R's have been. I never thought I would see a day where I could get a reliable (doesn't break and holds zero) red dot for well under $200. They are like Frank's Red Hot to me now, I put that sh*t on everything!
Hop, I really appreciate you guys putting in the time and effort to make these videos. I would venture to say that you are one of the best firearms reviewers on UA-cam. I really appreciate that you cover the important features and skip the fluff and BS that is ineffective in the real world. Furthermore, I appreciate you guys putting in the man hours to test all of the equipment and then review it for your subscribers. I have truly dodged a couple of costly mistakes, because of your reviews. Thanks again and take care!
Been saying it for years, but Holosun really nailed the value proposition with their entry level and mid-level micro dots. I have some of their more expensive offerings (HS512C, for example) and while they're also good, you really start to run into a diminishing returns situation with them. The durability and functionality of something like the HS515 is extremely hard to beat when it's so cheap.
Hop, you hit the nail on the head! I tried a Romeo 5, but couldn't get it to work, so have avoided them like the plague. Don't know their actual value, but they do seem to have a huge following. My first serious experience with Holosun was the 403b and I dearly love them, features and all. I appreciate your pointing out the advantages of the 403r and expect that will be my next consideration for any future builds needing a red dot. Thanks for the good vid!
Yeah, Sig and Holosun are definitely the top brands for folks on a budget. Personally, the Holosun circle-dot reticle on the 510C, 507cv2, etc. is a huge plus for me.
I totally agree with you on Holosun's solar feature. Totally a marketing thing imo. I have one one a pistol optic of theirs and it's basically useless on solar settings. I'm glad to see holosun is offering manual brightness adjustments on at least a couple optics now. Never really a fan of push buttons on rifle sights.
Don't know if you/TFB TV has already done a video about this, but I'd love a top 5 budget LPVO scopes. Anywhere from 1-10 power, under $300. Even throw in some dirt cheap ones to see how good/not good they are.
I didn't even know LPVOs existed for under 300 until my buddy bought some Monstrum 1-4x. He says the batteries run dead in minutes and the glass is garbage, and it's constantly going out of focus.
Have a cabelas (lpvo) ar scope 1-4x. It's honestly really nice for being under $300. Idk who actually manufactures cabelas optics (I've read vortex but couldn't confirm). It isn't bad though. Good glass, red/green high vis reticle. Only complaint is the funky label on the scope turret covers but that can be painted over.
I think you’d prolly have to choose a cutoff of like 500-600, but yes I’d love to see that. Because while I feel pretty knowledgeable about suggesting red dots to friends with new builds, i honestly don’t know nearly as much about lpvos
@@vahnn0 that same monstrum broke on me after the gun slid off the wall and slammed into the ground. The rear eye piece bent and touched the charging handle. Sold it and bought a steiner 1-4 back in 2016 and it is still absolutely amazing
The MSR Optic is great. Simple, clear glass, can be had for $80 shipped if your patient. 20,000 hours is plenty of battery life. They can also tolerate lots of shotgun use - a good test for durability, I have a friend that uses one on his 1301 to the tune of thousands of rounds.
@@HawaiiFoodAndFun my dad also just bought a 1301, 300 slugs down the pipe so far with an MSR (only thing we could shoot inside), no issues. Keep in mind the MSR doesn’t come with a low mount, we had a low mount left over from other red dots mounted on ARs that were compatible.
@@HawaiiFoodAndFun cheapest option, glass is clear, simple. Then they surprised me with how tough they are. I don’t like switching red dots onto different rifles and re-zeroing. On actual serious use rifles, Aimpoint T-2. I don’t have the funds to be putting those on more than a couple of firearms though.
@@HawaiiFoodAndFun you can pay about $65-$80 for the Romeo 5 if you look carefully. Especially Christmas, after Christmas, etc. Inflation sucks, but if you pay more than $85 for an MSR, you’re not looking hard enough. At $100, we agree. Get a Romeo variant, a primary arms equivalent, etc.
If your Holosun with solar panel is dim just press the plus button. The relative brightness raises but it still changes with ambient light. When you go back indoors and it’s too bright press the minus. Never had a problem with mine and I’ve used mine outdoors in competitions
@Subverse Nation I prefer aimpoints and eotechs. The glass coating on the MRO isn't great under night vision. That's why hop doesn't like em as he shoots with night vision often
Primary Arms MD-20 Micro Red Dot for me. Affordable, shake to wake, enclosed red dot, NV settings with an Aimpoint footprint. Small and durable, everything I will ever need in a reflex optic!
Really happy to see the 403R in the #1 spot. One of my favorite dots no matter the price. I agree with this whole list but I think you forgot to mention the 403R has 100k hours of battery life.
It's also worth mentioning for the Sig MSR, that's still over 2 continuous years of staying on, replace the 10 dollar battery every year and you'll be more than fine
Big fan of the sightmark m-spec myself for a budget optic. Currently have 2 on Ak's and 1 on an AR. All 3 hold zero, look good and function flawlessly. Runs about $240 each.
Hop did a dedicated review on it a few months ago and tbh I was kinda impressed by how it performed (although Hop did not actually recommend it at the end because of its drawbacks). ua-cam.com/video/-x2rSGg3nuQ/v-deo.html
I love my Romeo5 ($100). I have no issue going between that and my HS510C ($275). The small dot on the Romeo5 allows me to pretty easily hit steel targets at 250 yards with my 11.5" AR.
Thank you for an excellent breakdown, Hop. As per your recommendation, I've just placed an order for a 403R with an online vendor whose name rhymes with "Schnoptics Planet" - for about a Jackson cheaper than what the Big "A" (mail order company named after a river in Brazil) charges.
Update: Installed it on a 45° offset pic mount on my upper, just past the ejection port (a PA SLX 5x Gen III prism is my main optic). I must say, I have to agree with the preference of rheostat dial over buttons: in the dead of winter, gloved hands can easily manipulate the brightness control over buttons, and I have to believe the dial would certainly outlast rubber-covered momentary switches. Also appreciate the well-protected turrets. Love the shake-to-wake feature! Leaving mine on brightness level 7 as a default. Dot is sharp and clear. Anything under 100 yards is the 403R's domain, any longer shot belongs to the 5x. Very happy with my rig. Thanks again, Hop!
I decided to go with the romeo5x due to the AAA battery, and I could get it in FDE to match my rifle. Then i got lucky and optics planet shipped a 5xdr instead of the standard 5x. I later learned that the real luck was the fact optics planet shipped it at all.
i have read the horror stories and a lot of the complaints about their shipping speed being slow, not having things in stock when their website shows in stock, and people complaining about the customer service from optics planet which honestly surprises me to read so many complaints because I have ordered from optics planets dozens of times over the past 7-8 years spending several thousands in total on all my orders all together and maybe I am just lucky because I have never had a real issues at all. All my orders have shipped within 3 business days when selecting the free shipping option which is what is expected for free and have gotten all my orders in between 7-10 business days from the day I placed the order. Even when I placed an order for a barrel without checking to see if it said they were currently in stock until after I placed the order I decided to just wait since it showed they would have them in stock within 10 days and was a really good price at the time and had a discount code that expired that same day that wouldn't be able to use if I placed a different order and canceled the order for the barrel and even then just 2 business days after I placed my order I got an update with tracking number and the following day it was on its way to me and arrived about a week later. Can't say that everyone will have the same experience ordering from them as I have especially with how many complaints I have seen but at least in my case they have always shipped my orders in a reasonable time frame for free shipping option I always choose and have always got every product I have purchased, which is many, out the door and to me without any taking longer for the products to arrive at my door.
One I think that should be considered here is the the Sig Romeo 4T. It's a ruggedized version of the Sig Romeo 4 that has an IPX rating and uses AimPoint T2 mounts. It cost around $400 it has solar and shake awake circle Dot and regular modes, uses 2032 batteries and you have the benefit that it was tested and utilized by FBI SRT teams as well as being seen on Craig's rifle in Nairobi. 🍻
Unless you’re saving that Sig Romeo7 for another video on mid-tier red dots, it should be #1 on the list as it’s a perfect Aimpoint CompM4 clone. If the Romeo5 is the gold standard - then the Romeo7 is diamond.💎 Bigger objective window than the Romeo5, NV compatible, AA battery, 60k hour life (Comp M4 is 80k), shake awake, auto shutoff, submersible, QD mount, and all the other goodies. For $199 it cannot be beat plain and simple. Picked mine up for $169 on sale and threw it on my Sig M400 Tread rifle and it’s never coming off. Next will be a Juliet magnifier when I can get a good deal.
I think another honorable mention would be the Riton X1 Tactix ARD, I run afew of them on some of my rifles. I think they are great quality and value for what you pay.
The amazon special "OTW Red Dot Sight" is the new bushnell TRS25. Hovers around 25-30 bucks and works great for a rimfire or beater gun. I have 3 of them and 4 Romeo 5s. No reason to buy anything else, imo
How about the Crossfire? I'm sure it has the same issues you mentioned with the Sparc, but it's only 150 bucks or less last I checked. Plus Vortex's unconditional lifetime warranty is worth a mention
I think the crossfire flies under the radar because before it was quietly updated to have a 50k hour battery life, it was just an expensive TRS-25 with a sweet warranty. Now though, the the crossfire II is every bit as good as a Romeo 5 for those who prefer a knob control.
I'm really happy with my Vector red dot... besides the fact it taught me I have an astigmatism and have to wear glasses (or a monocle) when I'm shooting. Don't ever get old, kids.
Excellent video!! Thanks for sharing. Hopefully this gets to the right viewers. I’ve seen some ppl proudly posting their newly acquired DD rifles with Amazon optics mounted 🤢🤮. Like seriously dude, don’t need to spend that much for a quality optic.. I’ve got a Romeo 5 on all my carbines. I highly recommend getting something with “shake awake” / “MOTAC” feature for home defense.
Great list/review for the entry level shooters. I had almost every one of these red dots when starting up before expanding to Vortex UH-1, EoTech, Aimpoint and LPVO’s. I Still run a Holosun 403R on my HK MP5.
Nice video breakdown, it might be nice to cover the Swampfox line as well, they are good durable budget options and are very affordable if you happen to be police/military because of the discount. I feel that they are better known for their prism line but they do have the Liberator line and the version 2 has shake awake and night vision modes at a pretty inexpensive price point.
Dagger Defense makes a nice red dot which is budget friendly and happens to be sold on Amazon. Been around for a few years at least, and still going. Four reticles that can switch between red and green, for 8 options. Holds zero. Oval not round, for wider view. Quick detach version available. Great product!
Sorry to break it to you, but dagger defense just sells a cheap clone of a really really really old feyachi dot from the early 2000's. They have awful battery life compared to even a hog like a eotech 512, and have very blurry dots co pared to anything decent. Also the multi reticle feature is something that should warn you, not encourage you, as that just means they have a giant emitter and switch filters in front of it, which changes your zero.
I agree. Holosun should swing for the fences and make a new version of the AEMS with the following changes- Change 7075 to Titanium, better lens cap options to include kill flash, better mount options (heights), ditch the solar feature, and include a battery door option that isn't that silly tray with torx screws. Good luck if you accidentally drop one of those tiny screws changing the battery in the field. This would be a world-class optic. Holosun emitters produce the nicest looking reticle, and I have had absolutely zero issues with their other optics. I'd just like to see them build a tank of an optic already!
Surprised to see AP PROs in the lineup. What they might lack in whiz-bangery, they more than make up for in dead-nuts reliability and very well-proven durability.
I'm a little late to the party, but when you mentioned the Vortex Sparc AR and the slow refresh rate, the Sparc Solar is supposed to have fixed that issue, among being better in numerous ways, minus the 1 MOA adjustment turrets, and would love to hear your input on this upgraded Vortex red dot.
It also does have shake awake.. the whole solar think may be a little bit gimmicky but it does have the ability to work without a battery in the right conditions(bright sun). Although it cannot draw any power indoors so I think their claim of 100k-150k hours is a bit overstated.. maybe if you only use it during the day. Having the T2 footprint helps some. I own one because I had some credit with Vortex I needed to use and it’s not a bad dot but the new prisms from PA seem to be the better deal to me.
The new Romeo7 *s* deserves a place on future lists. For about $160 (or $99 on PSA) you can have a red _or_ green dot, AAA battery with brightness knob, and shake awake.
@@kono8172 They are the total opposite of what you said. Excellent prices, good return policy, fast shipping, and they offer some excellent rifles and uppers/ lowers that are well made. Their ARs and AKs are very good for their sub $1k prices. Their products almost always do well in various you tube abuse/endurance tests. I've ordered from them at least half a dozen times and never been unhappy.
Excellent topic discussion my friend. Although, I think there is a point of diminishing returns when considering optics (especially scopes). The average shooter simply would not notice the difference in the majority of optics if you placed them side-by-side and removed all identifying markers. Ergo, videos such as this one help to clarify the monikers to the uninformed/newcomers. According to my wife, when confronted with all the varying optic models - "Just a bunch of numbers, letters and symbols. My goodness! All these product names look like a horrible algebra equation. Sheesh!" That being said, I am still of the school of thought that you should acquire the best optic you can afford from your preferred manufacturer. Regardless of the overall opinion of the 2A community. Sorry Hop. Furthermore, the use of Amazon by the 2A community needs to stop IMHO. I had some "super sleuths" do some digging and that "charitable donation" (ours was FPC) does not get the appropriate amount of recognition. Meaning, that they [Amazon] do not honor your choice if it displeases them, therefore your donation is not always applied. DISCLAIMER: This is *_only_* applicable if you shop using Amazon Smile and _not_ the standard Amazon site. Long story - short: We had six people order the exact same products using FPC as our preferred charity. Between those six people, the charitable donation varied from zero to .90 cents. The math simply does not add up. Food for thought ladies and gentlemen... Stay classy my friends. EDITED for structure.
The difference between modern budget dots and high end ones isn't things you proactively notice, it's small things like absurd battery life combined with proper water ratings and basically bombproof housings (literally, lol). You buy aimpoint for the warranty, the battery life, and the reputation.
I got my Sparc AR with a magnifier for pretty dang cheap during a Brownell sale. It's been great but they tend to Starburst indoors. Don't know why but the difference between inside and outside dot quality is night and day on it.
@@MF-Rell is not my eyes. Eye doctor says I don't have an astigmatism and the dot when shooting outside is a dot. Inside its a Starburst. It might be a couple of batches of bad qc here or there because I've heard others talk about it. I bought mine in like 2015 or so
@@AceFalken Oh, Could be. My eyes are weird I don't have an issue in daylight or in a lit area. It's only when it's dark the dot will Starburst on me. But not too bad, it's annoying af tho.
@@MF-Rell it truly is. I thought it was my eyes but I don't experience it elsewhere or with other dots I've played with so I just think it's a weird a factory defect at higher brightness. I don't care much to get it fixed since it's on my plinker
Happily got a new Eotech XPS 2-0 for bargain sale a couple years ago. Sig units are both excellent too and my long serving TRS-25 soldiers on. Many nice options out there.
You forgot to mention battery trays vs screw caps. Never ever ever buy trays, Holosun for example. The screws are tiny and soft and they strip/round unbelievably easy. I did right out of the box. In Holosun's case, this backs up not getting the solar panel because that's how they are optioned.
100% agree on avoiding the tray, & the solar being useless. Wish I woulda known that 5 years ago, but my Holosun HS515cu's been pretty durable & the battery that came with it lasted 5 years, but I wouldn't buy it again.
The Holosun HS503G is my favorite. Shake awake. I change the battery once a year. The reticle is amazing. Big circle for fast close quarters targets and a chevron for pin point long shots.
Went with Holosun for my first pistol mounted red dot. It having the solar panel never played into the purchase though. Like the shake awake. And of course I won't know if the battery life claims are true in my life time lol
@@Kmurray9244 lol in like every PA review on UA-cam, the reviewer got them for free and is best buds with the Dimitri. Their red dots just aren’t as great of value anymore like they were 10 years ago when they first started coming out and the romeos and holosuns didn’t exist
@@Kmurray9244 I’m aware holosun makes all of them. But PA red dots are just worse and are priced worse than their holosun and sig counterparts. Just bc they’re made in the same place doesn’t means their equal quality. The sig tango 6t and Nightforce scopes are made in the same factory yet they are very different quality and price brackets
I know it’s not technically a red dot but what about a eotech 512? they can be picked up for sub 400 bucks makes it a very good competitor to a aimpoint pro
The auto shutoff, size, weight, and poor battery life make Eotechs of all kinds pretty poor choices unless you're chasing ultimate night vision performance.
He says eotechs are poor choices but for most people that's not true. The 512 is a great option.
@@itsamk18-ish I got mine for under 400. At that price point I can't complain. The window size and clarity are great, reticle is fast, uses common batteries, and plays well with my astigmatism
@@itsamk18-ish agreed. I'm more comparing it to options like the pro and 515. The pro is 450 and uses a weird battery. It's also about as heavy as the eotech with the factory mount.
@@itsamk18-ish I can get a brand new eotech 512 for 400 even.
Here we are again with Hop catering to us poors, with James no where to be found. Hop definitely is the man for us common folk peasants.
99.9% of the audience tbh
James doesn't associate with us poor, he's too busy buying more hk guns
@@d3fc0n545 wow I’m the top 0.01% lol
Go grovel about your "just as good PSA AR" peasant. ;) Man I love Hop.
I like James too but yeah 85% of what he reviews is way out of my budget. Nice to watch vids from Hop on something I could actually buy
"I have a whole bunch and I just think they're neat." -Me talking about anything gun related.
Huh... Neat.
My Amazon red dot has made it through 37 rounds, it’s gtg.
War ready
37 rounds!?! Must be a hell of a target.
Dude this comment is great😆
“It’s practically an eotech boys”
Proven
There ain't enough fruity beer in Louisiana to get James to review these optics! Lol
That's what technology and innovation do.
Todays budget stuff can do things that were unimaginable in premium stuff 20 years ago.
Todays budget stuff has features premium stuff still cannot do
Hop has definitely become my favorite TFB TV contributor. His channel is great.
I totally agree. I have the Holosuns, the Romeo 5 and the Bushnell optics. We've been running them for years at our events introducing people to firearms (the 2nd is For Everyone: Diversity Shoot). After thousands of rounds, being dropped, thrown around in rifle bags and carry cases they are maintaining zero and work every time. I agree with every point he made about these optics. I have used Aimpoints (T1 & T2), the dots are more crisp, I know they're tougher but those positives aren't enough to offset the higher price(for my purpose). I have 7 firearms equipped with these budget red dots with thousands of rounds through them. New shooters enjoy them and many purchase these for their first firearm. I recommend them highly. Well thought out video with good information, thanks Hop.
I have a holosun for my AR. It was cheap and works great.
Looking for a red dot for my 12ga Turkey gun. I’m back and forth between sig Romeo 5 and Holosun. I hunt 12-16 days out of the Turkey season so I feel like a high end red dot isn’t necessary. Would you recommend one over the other? One thing I’m back and forth on is the difference in the way they look. Romeo being like a scope and holosun being open like they are. Not well versed in this stuff so sorry if I’m missing the correct terms they are called.
@@jeffkonst25 let me know when you figure it out. I’m currently looking for the same exact thing.
@@case8987 yea man I just keep reading articles and watching videos. I have a dozen web browsers opened going back and forth and back and forth. I know I don’t need a $6-7-800 dollar sight. I’m going to make a decision in the next few days here. Really considering the holosun 507c. I was looking at the 510c but the more I researched it’s significantly bigger than the 507. But then I’m staring at the Romeo. I really like the price point for that and the great reviews. $110 for a Romeo or $330 for a holosun, not at all concerned about paying more but is this something along the lines of you get what you pay for? Romeo has great reviews but that holosun has fantastic ones. And also going back and forth about the type of sights, scope like Romeo and open like the 507. Right now I’m leaning towards the holosun just for the fact that it sits lower and I can glance over my gun to see. I’m thinking the Romeo might obstruct me a little especially shooting with both eyes open. Not gunna lie have been looking at that vortex venom too lol. I know people have had issues with the battery cap but it seems very few considering the amount of reviews I’ve read. And there warranty is top notch. I have Binos and range finder and really like them.
@@jeffkonst25 I also have the vortex binos and range finder. Love them for the price. I’ve had a vortex spitfire on my ar for like 5 years now and it is solid. No complainants. I think I’m going to get the Romeo5 for my shotgun and if I don’t like it I’ll throw it on another AR so it won’t be a loss lol. I’ll report back. Let me know if you like the holosun, might get one down the road.
Love the Romeo 5 and MSR. Looked at getting an Aimpoint PRO, but since I'm not dismounting from armored personnel carriers and rolling around in the dirt anymore, I think the Romeo 5 will me serve just fine.
You can always roll around in the mud for practice, like the dirty leg you are ;)
my remeo 5 died after two years today. if sig sends me a new one i will sell it and save for aimpoint
Do you like faithful fatties or potentially flighty thinnies?
I hope you do a continuation and do Mid-Teir red dots. You are TFB's favorite son 👍
Hop, you’re a very likable guy. That’s a pretty un-TFBTV thing to say, but dammit it’s true. Keep up the good work.
@@JohnM-sw4sc I support this, they might be cute together
I'm generally a bit of a gear snob...but my romeo5 has shocked me.
Yeah modern tech is amazing isn't it. High quality glass coatings and LEDs are no longer state secrets
Don't be a snob man too many good deals you'll pass over. Why get a Mossberg 500 when you can get their dirt cheap mav 88 😎 and diamondback makes pretty decent guns these days. Palmetto Dagger is a $300 Glock 19 gen 3 can't beat that.
The romeo5 is my go to now. The video of it being shot with birdshot and still operating sold me for life.
@@MurderBallad Mine do. I love those little Sig Romeo 5s.
I’m all about the budget optics. Got me a Romeo5, Holosun HS510C, and a Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8.
Love em all👍🏼
Have to mention the Vortex Crossfire red dot as well. 50k hours on a CR2032, 2 moa dot, and its actually the same centerline height as a T2 (Romeo 5 and HS403R are taller, which is a pain when matching mounts and magnifiers)
My wallet is always relieved when I see a Hop special in my sub feed.
Hop, I always appreciate what u do and what u bring .. Top notch 🤙🏻🎯
I see “Budget” in the title of TFBTV video I know it’s a Hop video and I’m excited to see what us poors’ messiah has to say
Those bushnells still have the benefit of being the lowest mount available since it's built into the body itself. Those are the only RDS I can get to comfortably cowitness on non AR style platforms since all of the other ones have to be attached to a separate low mount. Even an RMR style of sight sits higher when attached to a pic mount.
@@workingguy6666 for a cheap red dot I always throw a set of mbus on there. Had a couple of range trips where my first gen sparc had turned on inadvertently and drained the battery, but I still used the rifle because of the back ups. Same thing with a Romeo that randomly went kaput. On my rifles with an etched reticle I don't bother with back ups.
Besides, I specifically mentioned their uses on non AR rifles (like an AK on a forward mount) and those generally have fixed sights that are going to block your view window unless you run it obnoxiously high.
Hop continues to put out awesome content for the budget conscious. He's most certainly going to be the most well equiped hobo standing around the barrel fire someday.
I have 2 of the Bushnell TRS25 optics. Had them for a while. They still work and I see no need to replace them as long as they work.
Same. They migrated to. .22s and rock on.
@@ShepherdsSheepdog yup, perfect for a .22 plinker
@@sickboy703 It has moved from my Beretta CX4 to my Ruger 10-22. It just seems to keep on running.
@@stevemiller7433 I'm just jealous you have a Beretta CX4! Mine lives on a take down ruger 10/22
I have one on a KP-9 and another one on a MCK glock chassis.
Thank you again Hop. Realistic evaluation for people that do other than guns for a living is always in style.
This was the first place I saw somebody actually explain what all the holosun models mean, good information.
I run the Sig Romeo package on my patrol rifle. If you can find the bundle you get the Remeo red and Juliet magnifier with covers, mounts and adapters for about $300.
I have both green and red Romeo’s but I bought them before I ever saw the magnifier package come out I wish the package was available because that is such a fuckin awesome deal, I’ve considered buying it and just giving the red dot to a family member or something. I have the green Romeo on my 10.5” 556 since it’s my outdoor gun and the red dot on my Extar EP9 for indoor HD.
I've gotten the package for 200. Couldn't pass it up.
@@warrenharrison9490. Yeah that’s fuckin awesome. I got my Romeo’s during the pandemic after I got my Extar EP9 I was trying to put together a 10.5” 556 and it was fuxkin impossible to get the stuff I wanted as far as AR parts I really wanted an Aero lower and they were impossible to find anywhere so I ended up having to go with an Anderson lower and PSA upper, I’m still happy with my pandemic build but I would have gotten a few different things if they were available. Point of my ramble was they weren’t running any of the Romeo packages at the time I was pretty lucky to pay $99 for the Romeo’s through a PSA deal
Hop's reviews of budget gear are unsurpassed.
I have to agree here, as someone that owns A LOT of Aimpoint T-1's and T-2's (and some H-1's and H-2's) I have been shocked at how good the Holosun 403R's have been. I never thought I would see a day where I could get a reliable (doesn't break and holds zero) red dot for well under $200. They are like Frank's Red Hot to me now, I put that sh*t on everything!
Same for me with Sig Romeo 5.
Hop, I really appreciate you guys putting in the time and effort to make these videos. I would venture to say that you are one of the best firearms reviewers on UA-cam. I really appreciate that you cover the important features and skip the fluff and BS that is ineffective in the real world. Furthermore, I appreciate you guys putting in the man hours to test all of the equipment and then review it for your subscribers. I have truly dodged a couple of costly mistakes, because of your reviews. Thanks again and take care!
Been saying it for years, but Holosun really nailed the value proposition with their entry level and mid-level micro dots. I have some of their more expensive offerings (HS512C, for example) and while they're also good, you really start to run into a diminishing returns situation with them. The durability and functionality of something like the HS515 is extremely hard to beat when it's so cheap.
TFB TV: drops a budget video.
eBay venders: *selling used at double the cost* no haggling! I know what I got!
Absolutely love my Romeo 5's- not many products make me 100% happy, this one does.
ROMEO MSR BABY!!! Been in love with these cheap little things for years now. Nice to see someone else appreciates it.
Battery life is kinda ass on mine but besides that it’s everything I personally need I have green and red
@@Evergreen1400 me too
Thank you for making a review video that is not just a slide show of OEM marketing videos. This was very helpful, thank you.
Thank you so much for all the info. Myself , I prefer the circle dot optic. Thats what sold me to try Holosun
Finally, some love for my Romeo 5
I have several, Rock solid, best bang for the buck,imo.
Hop, you hit the nail on the head! I tried a Romeo 5, but couldn't get it to work, so have avoided them like the plague. Don't know their actual value, but they do seem to have a huge following. My first serious experience with Holosun was the 403b and I dearly love them, features and all. I appreciate your pointing out the advantages of the 403r and expect that will be my next consideration for any future builds needing a red dot. Thanks for the good vid!
Sig MSR works pretty good for me on the budget lineup. Aimpoint pro is a good endgame for saving up for a high end budget option. Great video brother
you can occasionally see Aimpoint Pros go for $300-350 on ebay
Yeah, Sig and Holosun are definitely the top brands for folks on a budget. Personally, the Holosun circle-dot reticle on the 510C, 507cv2, etc. is a huge plus for me.
Romeo 5 for the win. Have 3, 2 on ARs 1 on 12 gauge. flawless
The Sig Romeo for $120 is an amazing deal for the quality and features.
I totally agree with you on Holosun's solar feature. Totally a marketing thing imo. I have one one a pistol optic of theirs and it's basically useless on solar settings. I'm glad to see holosun is offering manual brightness adjustments on at least a couple optics now. Never really a fan of push buttons on rifle sights.
Hop man, I gotta tell ya, I really enjoy your no bullshit delivery and americanized deadpan comedic tone
Don't know if you/TFB TV has already done a video about this, but I'd love a top 5 budget LPVO scopes. Anywhere from 1-10 power, under $300. Even throw in some dirt cheap ones to see how good/not good they are.
I didn't even know LPVOs existed for under 300 until my buddy bought some Monstrum 1-4x. He says the batteries run dead in minutes and the glass is garbage, and it's constantly going out of focus.
Have a cabelas (lpvo) ar scope 1-4x. It's honestly really nice for being under $300. Idk who actually manufactures cabelas optics (I've read vortex but couldn't confirm). It isn't bad though. Good glass, red/green high vis reticle. Only complaint is the funky label on the scope turret covers but that can be painted over.
I think you’d prolly have to choose a cutoff of like 500-600, but yes I’d love to see that. Because while I feel pretty knowledgeable about suggesting red dots to friends with new builds, i honestly don’t know nearly as much about lpvos
@@vahnn0 that same monstrum broke on me after the gun slid off the wall and slammed into the ground. The rear eye piece bent and touched the charging handle. Sold it and bought a steiner 1-4 back in 2016 and it is still absolutely amazing
the Primary Arms 1-4x is dog ass cheap (like 120 bucks on sale) and is tough as woodpecker lips.
Your reviews are critical, correct, and generally outstanding. Excellent work sir. Keep it up!
The MSR Optic is great. Simple, clear glass, can be had for $80 shipped if your patient. 20,000 hours is plenty of battery life. They can also tolerate lots of shotgun use - a good test for durability, I have a friend that uses one on his 1301 to the tune of thousands of rounds.
@@HawaiiFoodAndFun my dad also just bought a 1301, 300 slugs down the pipe so far with an MSR (only thing we could shoot inside), no issues. Keep in mind the MSR doesn’t come with a low mount, we had a low mount left over from other red dots mounted on ARs that were compatible.
@@HawaiiFoodAndFun cheapest option, glass is clear, simple. Then they surprised me with how tough they are. I don’t like switching red dots onto different rifles and re-zeroing.
On actual serious use rifles, Aimpoint T-2. I don’t have the funds to be putting those on more than a couple of firearms though.
@@HawaiiFoodAndFun you can pay about $65-$80
for the Romeo 5 if you look carefully. Especially Christmas, after Christmas, etc. Inflation sucks, but if you pay more than $85 for an MSR, you’re not looking hard enough.
At $100, we agree. Get a Romeo variant, a primary arms equivalent, etc.
If your Holosun with solar panel is dim just press the plus button. The relative brightness raises but it still changes with ambient light. When you go back indoors and it’s too bright press the minus. Never had a problem with mine and I’ve used mine outdoors in competitions
Nothing against aimpoint, but I guess we have different ideas on “budget.” That’s the territory of serious duty optics, or approaching it.
@Subverse Nation Hop doesn't like the MRO so it would've never made the list
@Subverse Nation I prefer aimpoints and eotechs. The glass coating on the MRO isn't great under night vision. That's why hop doesn't like em as he shoots with night vision often
@Subverse Nation So far I like mine. Only complaint is the shitty battery life but that's just a part of owning holographics.
@Subverse Nation Hop made a video titled "the Trijicon MRO is the worst red dot on the market", so I don't think you're gonna agree.
Primary Arms MD-20 Micro Red Dot for me. Affordable, shake to wake, enclosed red dot, NV settings with an Aimpoint footprint. Small and durable, everything I will ever need in a reflex optic!
Really happy to see the 403R in the #1 spot. One of my favorite dots no matter the price. I agree with this whole list but I think you forgot to mention the 403R has 100k hours of battery life.
He didn’t mention shake awake. Does the 403r have that feature?
It's also worth mentioning for the Sig MSR, that's still over 2 continuous years of staying on, replace the 10 dollar battery every year and you'll be more than fine
My go-to red dots are the Romeo 5 and 7, I like the 7 for the 30mm tube and it looks damn good on a larger rifle.
Romeo 7 on an ak is slept on
Big fan of the sightmark m-spec myself for a budget optic. Currently have 2 on Ak's and 1 on an AR. All 3 hold zero, look good and function flawlessly. Runs about $240 each.
Hop did a dedicated review on it a few months ago and tbh I was kinda impressed by how it performed (although Hop did not actually recommend it at the end because of its drawbacks).
ua-cam.com/video/-x2rSGg3nuQ/v-deo.html
Not a red dot but if you have astigmatism like me the primary arms micro prism gen2 is amazing! You can find them for $225
id rather just use contact lenses
I love my Romeo5 ($100). I have no issue going between that and my HS510C ($275). The small dot on the Romeo5 allows me to pretty easily hit steel targets at 250 yards with my 11.5" AR.
Thank you for an excellent breakdown, Hop. As per your recommendation, I've just placed an order for a 403R with an online vendor whose name rhymes with "Schnoptics Planet" - for about a Jackson cheaper than what the Big "A" (mail order company named after a river in Brazil) charges.
Update:
Installed it on a 45° offset pic mount on my upper, just past the ejection port (a PA SLX 5x Gen III prism is my main optic). I must say, I have to agree with the preference of rheostat dial over buttons: in the dead of winter, gloved hands can easily manipulate the brightness control over buttons, and I have to believe the dial would certainly outlast rubber-covered momentary switches. Also appreciate the well-protected turrets.
Love the shake-to-wake feature! Leaving mine on brightness level 7 as a default. Dot is sharp and clear. Anything under 100 yards is the 403R's domain, any longer shot belongs to the 5x. Very happy with my rig.
Thanks again, Hop!
@@edwardx.winston5744 the 403r has shake awake?
@@tylersimpson3512 Yup. Turn it on and leave it on. Replace the battery once a year on July 4th, just in case.
Hop thank you for not wearing short shorts and being normal!!! You make TFB enjoyable and PG13; unlike some "others" with a law degree :)
I decided to go with the romeo5x due to the AAA battery, and I could get it in FDE to match my rifle. Then i got lucky and optics planet shipped a 5xdr instead of the standard 5x. I later learned that the real luck was the fact optics planet shipped it at all.
Optics planet has been pretty good to me
i have read the horror stories and a lot of the complaints about their shipping speed being slow, not having things in stock when their website shows in stock, and people complaining about the customer service from optics planet which honestly surprises me to read so many complaints because I have ordered from optics planets dozens of times over the past 7-8 years spending several thousands in total on all my orders all together and maybe I am just lucky because I have never had a real issues at all.
All my orders have shipped within 3 business days when selecting the free shipping option which is what is expected for free and have gotten all my orders in between 7-10 business days from the day I placed the order.
Even when I placed an order for a barrel without checking to see if it said they were currently in stock until after I placed the order I decided to just wait since it showed they would have them in stock within 10 days and was a really good price at the time and had a discount code that expired that same day that wouldn't be able to use if I placed a different order and canceled the order for the barrel and even then just 2 business days after I placed my order I got an update with tracking number and the following day it was on its way to me and arrived about a week later.
Can't say that everyone will have the same experience ordering from them as I have especially with how many complaints I have seen but at least in my case they have always shipped my orders in a reasonable time frame for free shipping option I always choose and have always got every product I have purchased, which is many, out the door and to me without any taking longer for the products to arrive at my door.
One I think that should be considered here is the the Sig Romeo 4T.
It's a ruggedized version of the Sig Romeo 4 that has an IPX rating and uses AimPoint T2 mounts. It cost around $400 it has solar and shake awake circle Dot and regular modes, uses 2032 batteries and you have the benefit that it was tested and utilized by FBI SRT teams as well as being seen on Craig's rifle in Nairobi. 🍻
The 403r has double the battery life of the other options on this list just FYI. It has a stated 100,000 as opposed to the more common 50,000.
does it have shake awake?
@@stewmeat9261 No it does not as far as i know.
Unless you’re saving that Sig Romeo7 for another video on mid-tier red dots, it should be #1 on the list as it’s a perfect Aimpoint CompM4 clone.
If the Romeo5 is the gold standard - then the Romeo7 is diamond.💎
Bigger objective window than the Romeo5, NV compatible, AA battery, 60k hour life (Comp M4 is 80k), shake awake, auto shutoff, submersible, QD mount, and all the other goodies.
For $199 it cannot be beat plain and simple. Picked mine up for $169 on sale and threw it on my Sig M400 Tread rifle and it’s never coming off. Next will be a Juliet magnifier when I can get a good deal.
I think another honorable mention would be the Riton X1 Tactix ARD, I run afew of them on some of my rifles. I think they are great quality and value for what you pay.
i love how he was nailing the stump point blank (unintentionally) at 5:42 into the video!
LOVE the occasional, tasteful, sprinkles of profanity....LOL
Thanks for the reviews!
This was exactly the video I was looking for. Thanks!
i was expecting to see at least one from Primary Arms, they steadily rose to be a legitimate competitor.
Their optics are mostly made by Holosun
@@tfbtv Love me some holosun
Always look forward to a Hop Special
The amazon special "OTW Red Dot Sight" is the new bushnell TRS25. Hovers around 25-30 bucks and works great for a rimfire or beater gun. I have 3 of them and 4 Romeo 5s. No reason to buy anything else, imo
They’re actually more like $70. I just bought 3 of them.
I want Hop to review everything.
I’ve been pretty happy with the Romeo 5
I love slumming it with Hop!
How about the Crossfire? I'm sure it has the same issues you mentioned with the Sparc, but it's only 150 bucks or less last I checked. Plus Vortex's unconditional lifetime warranty is worth a mention
Bought 2 of them for $100 each. They have deals for $100 all the time
I've got a Crossfire on both my AR and AK. I've never had a problem with the zero shifting, and I beat the piss out of both of them
My ar with a crossfire fell onto the battery turret and it has completely shit the bed. It’s good, but not super durable
I think the crossfire flies under the radar because before it was quietly updated to have a 50k hour battery life, it was just an expensive TRS-25 with a sweet warranty. Now though, the the crossfire II is every bit as good as a Romeo 5 for those who prefer a knob control.
Hop is the best reviewer on TFBTV. Change my mind.
Let's hear it for Hop! The alpha poor we all deserve.
Dude, Very well prepared and delivered review. Told me just what I needed to know.
Thanks 👊
Everything you said in this videos aligns with my own experience. It is good to get confirmation on my own conclusions.
I'm really happy with my Vector red dot... besides the fact it taught me I have an astigmatism and have to wear glasses (or a monocle) when I'm shooting. Don't ever get old, kids.
Yeah, the starburst 🔆🔅 sucks. I found some improvement when I updated my prescription. Still distracting.
Hop. Truly a man of the people. 👍👍
Sightmark Wolverine is pretty good
Decent under magnification
Durable
Has NV options
AA battery
Fantastic battery life
Excellent video!! Thanks for sharing. Hopefully this gets to the right viewers. I’ve seen some ppl proudly posting their newly acquired DD rifles with Amazon optics mounted 🤢🤮. Like seriously dude, don’t need to spend that much for a quality optic.. I’ve got a Romeo 5 on all my carbines. I highly recommend getting something with “shake awake” / “MOTAC” feature for home defense.
Sig Romeo 5 is one of the best Red Dots for the money.
The Romeo 7 is even better.
Great list/review for the entry level shooters. I had almost every one of these red dots when starting up before expanding to Vortex UH-1, EoTech, Aimpoint and LPVO’s. I Still run a Holosun 403R on my HK MP5.
Nice video breakdown, it might be nice to cover the Swampfox line as well, they are good durable budget options and are very affordable if you happen to be police/military because of the discount. I feel that they are better known for their prism line but they do have the Liberator line and the version 2 has shake awake and night vision modes at a pretty inexpensive price point.
Dagger Defense makes a nice red dot which is budget friendly and happens to be sold on Amazon. Been around for a few years at least, and still going. Four reticles that can switch between red and green, for 8 options. Holds zero. Oval not round, for wider view. Quick detach version available. Great product!
Sorry to break it to you, but dagger defense just sells a cheap clone of a really really really old feyachi dot from the early 2000's. They have awful battery life compared to even a hog like a eotech 512, and have very blurry dots co pared to anything decent. Also the multi reticle feature is something that should warn you, not encourage you, as that just means they have a giant emitter and switch filters in front of it, which changes your zero.
Thanks for this hop keep up the good work. Now make one for pistol red dots :)
I agree. Holosun should swing for the fences and make a new version of the AEMS with the following changes- Change 7075 to Titanium, better lens cap options to include kill flash, better mount options (heights), ditch the solar feature, and include a battery door option that isn't that silly tray with torx screws. Good luck if you accidentally drop one of those tiny screws changing the battery in the field. This would be a world-class optic. Holosun emitters produce the nicest looking reticle, and I have had absolutely zero issues with their other optics. I'd just like to see them build a tank of an optic already!
Surprised to see AP PROs in the lineup. What they might lack in whiz-bangery, they more than make up for in dead-nuts reliability and very well-proven durability.
The Toyota of red dots
Just sucks that they add noticeable wait compared to micros, but budget reliability is usually heavy.
Vortex Sparc AR: the Red dot you got when Palmetto bundled them with builders kits or your local chain store had a sale and the Romeo5’s were sold out
I'm a little late to the party, but when you mentioned the Vortex Sparc AR and the slow refresh rate, the Sparc Solar is supposed to have fixed that issue, among being better in numerous ways, minus the 1 MOA adjustment turrets, and would love to hear your input on this upgraded Vortex red dot.
It also does have shake awake.. the whole solar think may be a little bit gimmicky but it does have the ability to work without a battery in the right conditions(bright sun). Although it cannot draw any power indoors so I think their claim of 100k-150k hours is a bit overstated.. maybe if you only use it during the day. Having the T2 footprint helps some. I own one because I had some credit with Vortex I needed to use and it’s not a bad dot but the new prisms from PA seem to be the better deal to me.
The new Romeo7 *s* deserves a place on future lists. For about $160 (or $99 on PSA) you can have a red _or_ green dot, AAA battery with brightness knob, and shake awake.
I've heard PSA is very inconsistent and close to being considered a scam
@@kono8172 They are the total opposite of what you said. Excellent prices, good return policy, fast shipping, and they offer some excellent rifles and uppers/ lowers that are well made. Their ARs and AKs are very good for their sub $1k prices. Their products almost always do well in various you tube abuse/endurance tests. I've ordered from them at least half a dozen times and never been unhappy.
Excellent topic discussion my friend.
Although, I think there is a point of diminishing returns when considering optics (especially scopes). The average shooter simply would not notice the difference in the majority of optics if you placed them side-by-side and removed all identifying markers. Ergo, videos such as this one help to clarify the monikers to the uninformed/newcomers.
According to my wife, when confronted with all the varying optic models - "Just a bunch of numbers, letters and symbols. My goodness! All these product names look like a horrible algebra equation. Sheesh!"
That being said, I am still of the school of thought that you should acquire the best optic you can afford from your preferred manufacturer. Regardless of the overall opinion of the 2A community. Sorry Hop.
Furthermore, the use of Amazon by the 2A community needs to stop IMHO. I had some "super sleuths" do some digging and that "charitable donation" (ours was FPC) does not get the appropriate amount of recognition. Meaning, that they [Amazon] do not honor your choice if it displeases them, therefore your donation is not always applied.
DISCLAIMER: This is *_only_* applicable if you shop using Amazon Smile and _not_ the standard Amazon site.
Long story - short: We had six people order the exact same products using FPC as our preferred charity. Between those six people, the charitable donation varied from zero to .90 cents. The math simply does not add up.
Food for thought ladies and gentlemen...
Stay classy my friends.
EDITED for structure.
The difference between modern budget dots and high end ones isn't things you proactively notice, it's small things like absurd battery life combined with proper water ratings and basically bombproof housings (literally, lol). You buy aimpoint for the warranty, the battery life, and the reputation.
I got my Sparc AR with a magnifier for pretty dang cheap during a Brownell sale.
It's been great but they tend to Starburst indoors. Don't know why but the difference between inside and outside dot quality is night and day on it.
Is it eyes bro.
@@MF-Rell is not my eyes. Eye doctor says I don't have an astigmatism and the dot when shooting outside is a dot. Inside its a Starburst.
It might be a couple of batches of bad qc here or there because I've heard others talk about it. I bought mine in like 2015 or so
@@AceFalken Oh, Could be. My eyes are weird I don't have an issue in daylight or in a lit area. It's only when it's dark the dot will Starburst on me. But not too bad, it's annoying af tho.
@@MF-Rell it truly is. I thought it was my eyes but I don't experience it elsewhere or with other dots I've played with so I just think it's a weird a factory defect at higher brightness. I don't care much to get it fixed since it's on my plinker
Happily got a new Eotech XPS 2-0 for bargain sale a couple years ago. Sig units are both excellent too and my long serving TRS-25 soldiers on. Many nice options out there.
You forgot to mention battery trays vs screw caps. Never ever ever buy trays, Holosun for example. The screws are tiny and soft and they strip/round unbelievably easy. I did right out of the box. In Holosun's case, this backs up not getting the solar panel because that's how they are optioned.
Definitely true. I can't stand that little tray.
100% agree on avoiding the tray, & the solar being useless. Wish I woulda known that 5 years ago, but my Holosun HS515cu's been pretty durable & the battery that came with it lasted 5 years, but I wouldn't buy it again.
The Holosun HS503G is my favorite. Shake awake. I change the battery once a year. The reticle is amazing. Big circle for fast close quarters targets and a chevron for pin point long shots.
Went with Holosun for my first pistol mounted red dot. It having the solar panel never played into the purchase though. Like the shake awake. And of course I won't know if the battery life claims are true in my life time lol
I picked up an AT3 RCO
its great and the circle dot reticle is great for people with an astigmatism.
I'd like to see some primary arms red dots and scopes reviews
Appearently they don't pay as well as sign/holosun 👍
Hop did a review on the slx red dot on his personal channel
@@Kmurray9244 lol in like every PA review on UA-cam, the reviewer got them for free and is best buds with the Dimitri. Their red dots just aren’t as great of value anymore like they were 10 years ago when they first started coming out and the romeos and holosuns didn’t exist
@@caseyf2453 you should review where and whom manufactured Sig and PA 🤣🤣
@@Kmurray9244 I’m aware holosun makes all of them. But PA red dots are just worse and are priced worse than their holosun and sig counterparts. Just bc they’re made in the same place doesn’t means their equal quality. The sig tango 6t and Nightforce scopes are made in the same factory yet they are very different quality and price brackets
Sig romeo 5 is my SHTF go to Zombie-land red dot. Definitely getting another.
Honestly I kinda wonder why Holosun hasn't made an HS515 with a rheostat, because that seems like the logical upgrade for the 515 series.
I'd like to see it.
Primary Arms with ACSS reticle has become the default setup on all my long guns... Holosun 507c on my handguns and PCCs.
My AR’s are equipped with EOTECH only, best on the market for the protection of my family. Totally worth the extra expense.
That hasn't been true for at least a decade.
@@tfbtv that makes sense since I’m almost fifty lol and I’m a holographic guy versus red dot
Straight to the point, No BS! Excellent
I'm kinda surprised the Romeo 7 didn't get a mention, good or bad, after showing up in the intro pile of red dots.
I'd probably take it over the AimPoint PRO but then the AimPoint fans would have been insufferable in the comments.
@@tfbtv 😂🤣😂🤣