RDS for Lightweight/Simple Carbine That's Not Aimpoint

[sundance435]

Sorry if this has been covered, but I searched and didn't find much. I'm looking for an RDS that's lighter and smaller than an EOTech EXPS (or the Mepro version, which I also have) that isn't Aimpoint. Much to my constant disappointment, Aimpoints don't work well for my eyes (grape clusters). As an example, I've been looking at the Vortex Razor red dot on an ADM mount, so something with an open FOV and holographic/reflex rather than laser/mirror, and accessible battery (e.g. not RMR). This will be used on a lighter-weight, simple carbine (6720) with a DD 1.5 fixed rear, so ideally I'd like lower 1/3 cowitness. There's not much info out there on the Razor red dot, though.

Any suggestions? Any other decent choices?

[Doc Safari]

I like the SIG Romeo5 due to the auto shutoff feature. I also use the Vortex Crossfire. Both are about the size of an Aimpoint T1/T2.

You see torture tests of them on YouTube.

No one is going to claim these are the equal of Aimpoints, particularly in water resistance to certain depths, but for someone who isn't likely to have his rifle in an explosion or dropping it into a river these are probably good.

I think the main cost savings of these over Aimpoints has to do with labor savings. My Romeo5 says "Assembled in China" or something. So if the components themselves are top quality then they should be good to go.

I have astigmatism and the dot on both looks more like a chevron or three dots stacked in a triangle. It still works for me.

YMMV.

[Nowski87]

I have two Holosun red dots, the 503cu I think it is. Is the size of a T1 and uses the same mounts but has a circle dot reticle that helps me from getting the dot distortion.


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[MegademiC]

There is the trijicon sro if you dont mind an open emitter.

[GH41]

I am not so sure the Razor's dot will look any different than the Aimpoint dot. I'd try one before spending that kind of coin.

[RKB Armory]

Have you tried the Trijicon MRO?

[titsonritz]

Have you tried the Trijicon MRO?

That's what I put on my daughter's LW SIONICS, on top of a Scalarworks LEAP.

[grizzman]

I received an MRO and LEAP a couple days ago for an 11.5 Sionics upper.

I've got a couple Crossfires, but I have more faith in a Trijicon than an inexpensive Vortex.


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[Doc Safari]

I received an MRO and LEAP a couple days ago for an 11.5 Sionics upper.

I've got a couple Crossfires, but I have more faith in a Trijicon than an inexpensive Vortex.


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Me too, although I did see a Trijicon SRO shit the bed at the range the other day. The dot had "dissipated" into more of a reddish transparent blob. The owner said it was less than 10 days old!

[WickedWillis]

Have you tried the Trijicon MRO?

As someone with Astigmatism, I pick up the dot more clearly on the MRO than I do my T1, or my Pro.

[sundance435]

As someone with Astigmatism, I pick up the dot more clearly on the MRO than I do my T1, or my Pro.

Thank you guys. I think I'll give the MRO a try, first. So far the only RDS that has been good for my eyes out of the box is the Meprolight RDS (or ACOGs). Is Scalarworks the best option for a mount?

[grizzman]

Trijicon has a dealer locator page on their site, so unless you live in the middle of nowhere, you should be able to try one out before the purchase.

If it gives the same result as Aimpoints, then you can look through the other optics they stock while you're there.

I have several LaRues, an ADM, and a couple LEAPs. None of them have loosened, shifted, or done anything else they're not supposed to. The LEAP's simplicity of installation is a bonus if it'll get moved around from rifle to rifle. The ADM is quicker to remove than the LaRue's, but I make them as tight as I can while still being able to remove them with fingers. The LEAP is the slowest to remove, but I honestly doubt a quick removal will ever be a true necessity. The light weight of the LEAP is a bonus. Over the lifetime of the optic, the price difference between all of them is unlilely to matter.

If I wanted a fixed mount, I'd consider the Geissle.

[titsonritz]

If I wanted a fixed mount, I'd consider the Geissle.

Reptilia

[sundance435]

Trijicon has a dealer locator page on their site, so unless you live in the middle of nowhere, you should be able to try one out before the purchase.

I have several LaRues, an ADM, and a couple LEAPs. None of them have loosened, shifted, or done anything else they're not supposed to. The LEAP's simplicity of installation is a bonus if it'll get moved around from rifle to rifle. The ADM is quicker to remove than the LaRue's, but I make them as tight as I can while still being able to remove them with fingers. The LEAP is the slowest to remove, but I honestly doubt a quick removal will ever be a true necessity. The light weight of the LEAP is a bonus. Over the lifetime of the optic, the price difference between all of them is unlilely to matter.

If I wanted a fixed mount, I'd consider the Geissle.

Not necessarily the middle of nowhere, but a far enough drive from a Trijicon dealer that would have the MRO that the gas/time expended would be equal to or > than the $$ I'd lose on resale. Thanks for the mount advice - I've had both ADM and LaRue QD mounts and I'd probably give a slight edge to LaRue, but I've never had an issue with either. I don't mind giving Mark a few extra bucks.

[RKB Armory]

My preferred mount, that hasn't been mentioned, is Midwest Industries. That's just my two cents.

[WickedWillis]

Thank you guys. I think I'll give the MRO a try, first. So far the only RDS that has been good for my eyes out of the box is the Meprolight RDS (or ACOGs). Is Scalarworks the best option for a mount?

I personally love the Scalarworks mount on my MRO. It's worth every penny. I have a fixed Geissele on my T1, and it's decent as well. Reptilia makes some nice mounts that are newer too.

[gaijin]

I also run MRO and RMRs on lightweight carbines.
The Scalarworks mounts are exceptional, but I’ve had no issues with MW Industries and ADM either.

[MWAG19919]

To the OP, astigmatisms are completely individual. An Aimpoint PRO looked like total crap to me (blurry comma) while a T2 looks perfectly crisp. MRO was somewhere between a period and a comma, but way better than a PRO and perfectly usable when actually shooting. Surprisingly, the dot in my Bushnell TRS-25 is every bit as crisp as my T2 dot.

As for mounts, I have a Scalarworks LEAP + T2 combo and I absolutely love it. Their quantum system is not what I would consider "quick detach" but it does return to zero reliably. If you want a quality, lightweight, slim mount made of 7075 aluminum look no further. If you want something you can take off the gun in under 1 second, look to ADM/Larue/Midwest/Bobro...

[GH41]

To the OP, astigmatisms are completely individual. An Aimpoint PRO looked like total crap to me (blurry comma) while a T2 looks perfectly crisp. MRO was somewhere between a period and a comma, but way better than a PRO and perfectly usable when actually shooting. Surprisingly, the dot in my Bushnell TRS-25 is every bit as crisp as my T2 dot.

As for mounts, I have a Scalarworks LEAP + T2 combo and I absolutely love it. Their quantum system is not what I would consider "quick detach" but it does return to zero reliably. If you want a quality, lightweight, slim mount made of 7075 aluminum look no further. If you want something you can take off the gun in under 1 second, look to ADM/Larue/Midwest/Bobro...
^^^^ THIS ^^^^ What works for me may not work for you.

[sundance435]

I found a dealer not too far away that had one in stock. The dot does appear better to me than any Aimpoint I've used. However, on the setting I would consider the most useful, I noticed it begins to "starburst". Is that my eyes or is this common? Had it in an Aimpoint T1, as well, but it wasn't as bad. One up from that setting and there was a bunch of red reflection/refraction. One setting below the most useful was perfectly clear, but not as bright as I would like for daylight.

[titsonritz]

I found a dealer not too far away that had one in stock. The dot does appear better to me than any Aimpoint I've used. However, on the setting I would consider the most useful, I noticed it begins to "starburst". Is that my eyes or is this common? Had it in an Aimpoint T1, as well, but it wasn't as bad. One up from that setting and there was a bunch of red reflection/refraction. One setting below the most useful was perfectly clear, but not as bright as I would like for daylight.

Have you tried using your red dot in conjunction with iron sights? It seems to me viewing the dot through a rear aperture crispens the dot. YMMV

[GH41]

[QUOTE=titsonritz;2757227]Have you tried using your red dot in conjunction with iron sights? It seems to me viewing the dot through a rear aperture crispens the dot. YMMV[/QUOTE

Sighting through the rear sight fools your eye. It also takes away the advantage over iron sights a RDS offers. The only time I do it is to zero the RDS. After that it's all grapes, comet tails and starburst for me.

[grizzman]

The MRO's starburst effect you witnessed is typical. The starburst of level 4 and above isn't ideal, but given roughly equal brightness it's no more excessive as the M4.

Having only 6 non-NV levels definitely causes the brightness differences between each level to be greater than (for example) the M4's 11 non-NV levels.

[Furbyballer]

Look at the leupold prism 1x and the primary arms prism 1x. Both are etched and have diopters.