"cheap" red dot for my m&p 15 sport Options

newguy07 · December 9, 2011, 07:25 PM

Just ordered my first AR, the M&P15 Sport, and need advice for my first red dot. I need to stay under 120$. I would like something that can be set up for co-witness ( not sure if absolute or lower 1/3). What models do you recommend? This weapon system and red dots are all new to me so if i need to buy amount as weak please clarify.

Primarily a range toy and for shooting varmints. Back up HD behind the shotgun. And if zombies start attacking I'll be busting out my entire arsenal. So I want something decent but really can't see spending more than $120 absolute max.

pturner67 · December 9, 2011, 08:21 PM

probably going to be multiple opinions on this

I think you'll need to spend closer to $150 for a decent red dot...vortex strikefire is my first and only red dot...works perfectly...holds zero...everything you'll need

http://swfa.com/Vortex-StrikeFire-Re...hts-C1462.aspx

there are others like bushnell, millett, barska, truglo, etc but I don't know much about them or their quality

DasGuy · December 9, 2011, 08:22 PM

You might be able to find a Vortex Strikefire for that much (retail is like $150). It's supposed to be a really well made Aimpoint clone and they have a lifetime warranty.

I'm looking at picking up their microdot called the SPARC.

tahunua001 · December 9, 2011, 08:51 PM

go over to midwayusa.com an alright leapers red/greendot is about $80. I had one on my AR15 and when I switched to a hunting scope I strapped it on my AK and it's still chuggin along

rickmelear · December 9, 2011, 08:56 PM

I have 3 ARs, eotech on one, ACOG on one and this on my S&W Sport. And I have been very pleased.
https://www.primaryarms.com/Primary_...ht_p/pam3m.htm

ritepath · December 9, 2011, 09:36 PM

https://www.primaryarms.com/Red_Dot_...Arms_s/903.htm

I've got one of thes cheapo 118 PA reddots...it's 2 years old now and works great...it'll even kill deer

I'd now upgrade to American defense base for 158 bucks.

All I was looking for was something to plink with and maybe hunt. It works and it wasn't a budget buster...LOL

I like them enough to where this is my next optic purchase.

https://www.primaryarms.com/Primary_...pe_p/pac3x.htm

Therealkoop · December 9, 2011, 09:55 PM

You could try primary arms. I had thier m3 clone and it would wander very badly on my AR. 20-30 shots and it would be like 10 moa left and 10 down. I took it off using the quick disconnect in a fit of rage, thew it, and shot it many many times.

However, that is apparantly not-typical, and the guy who works for primary arms said he would replace it for free even though I blew it up.

I turned down his offer, but he made it which shows me they have pretty good CS.

I run a vortex 2-7x on my m1a and its been an absolutely great scope, im sure tier red-dots are also nice.

Noonan · December 9, 2011, 10:01 PM

Bushnell Trophy red/green dot works great on my M&P.

mumbo719 · December 10, 2011, 06:34 AM

The Vortex Strikefire comes with quality mounting hardware for the AR15 and a 2X doubler.

http://www.opticsplanet.net/vortex-s...ar15-hunt.html

It's a workhorse.

GlenF · December 10, 2011, 07:46 AM

Just like Noonan said.

My wife has one on her S&W M&P 15t and it has been used by a whole bunch of folks. She has used it in two carbine classes, practice sessions ever couple of weeks, and an untold number of ladies have used it in Women on Target events.

To get a glimpse of it in action you might want to search for Warrior Knitter on You Tube. Well, after checking, you may not want to look. I just did and see there are around 1000 videos she has on there of various shooting events.

Simmy952 · December 10, 2011, 08:07 AM

Like above posted, the Primary Arms red dot is hard to beat for the money. Love the one mounted to my M&P 15-22. If you are patient, they have sales pretty frequently and you can get a good deal on the sight and mount.

Uncle Malice · December 10, 2011, 09:05 AM

I'll second that little Bushnell TRS-25. It can be had for around $70-$80 and it's a very low mount attachment, so you can get whatever height risers you'll need for your particular sights.

I picked one up cheap, used it for a while and then upgraded to the Lucid HD7. I sold the Bushnell to a friend for what I paid for it and he loves it. It functions basically the same as a Micro AimPoint, only it's not $600. (Obviously it's not quite as rugged either, but I haven't seen it break yet!)

Jo6pak · December 10, 2011, 10:14 AM

As others have said, Primary Arms has some great little optics for the money. I've been running one of their M3 clones for a while and had no issues with it.

MrWesson · December 10, 2011, 10:17 AM

I have a UTG ITA quick detach scope on my sub2k and it works really well although the dot could be smaller/more defined.

If I were going cheap on an AR I would order a primary arms red dot.

70-150 for a quality sight.

VeryOldDog · December 10, 2011, 10:26 AM

I use two of the Millet Red Dots. Millet is part of the Bushnell Outdoors Corp so I would imagine that it is similar to the regular Bushnell Red dots. They run about $80.00.

[IMG]

[/IMG]

boostedtt91 · December 10, 2011, 04:26 PM

The Cheapest Red Dots are BSA ones and you can get them new for like $25
One gun i bought awhile back came with one and it works good for what it is

chris in va · December 10, 2011, 10:22 PM

I've had the $100 Millett on a couple different rifles. The first one had optics misaligned so I had to send it back to California from Virginia.

The second had the dial work loose, which i managed to fix after taking it apart.

Honestly, you may want to look at a 1-4 power dot scope. Allows both eyes open but lets you zoom in a bit when needed.

Congrats on the Sport BTW. Mine has been great.

Mrgunsngear · December 10, 2011, 11:01 PM

For your budget, the Bushnell TR25 is a great optic. With a riser, you can co-witness if that's your thing...

For a little more, the Lucid is awesome but I understand being on a budget. The Bushnell will do anything you need under 100m.

December 9, 2011, 07:25 PM	#1
newguy07 Senior Member Join Date: February 8, 2007 Posts: 134	"cheap" red dot for my m&p 15 sport Options Just ordered my first AR, the M&P15 Sport, and need advice for my first red dot. I need to stay under 120$. I would like something that can be set up for co-witness ( not sure if absolute or lower 1/3). What models do you recommend? This weapon system and red dots are all new to me so if i need to buy amount as weak please clarify. Primarily a range toy and for shooting varmints. Back up HD behind the shotgun. And if zombies start attacking I'll be busting out my entire arsenal. So I want something decent but really can't see spending more than $120 absolute max.

December 9, 2011, 08:51 PM	#4
tahunua001 Senior Member Join Date: July 21, 2011 Location: Idaho Posts: 7,839	go over to midwayusa.com an alright leapers red/greendot is about $80. I had one on my AR15 and when I switched to a hunting scope I strapped it on my AK and it's still chuggin along __________________ ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar. I never said half the stuff people said I did-Albert Einstein You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin

December 10, 2011, 07:46 AM	#10
GlenF Member Join Date: April 4, 2011 Location: Monett, Missouri Posts: 98	Bushnell Trophy Just like Noonan said. My wife has one on her S&W M&P 15t and it has been used by a whole bunch of folks. She has used it in two carbine classes, practice sessions ever couple of weeks, and an untold number of ladies have used it in Women on Target events. To get a glimpse of it in action you might want to search for Warrior Knitter on You Tube. Well, after checking, you may not want to look. I just did and see there are around 1000 videos she has on there of various shooting events.

December 10, 2011, 09:05 AM	#12
Uncle Malice Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2009 Location: Phoenix Posts: 4,580	I'll second that little Bushnell TRS-25. It can be had for around $70-$80 and it's a very low mount attachment, so you can get whatever height risers you'll need for your particular sights. I picked one up cheap, used it for a while and then upgraded to the Lucid HD7. I sold the Bushnell to a friend for what I paid for it and he loves it. It functions basically the same as a Micro AimPoint, only it's not $600. (Obviously it's not quite as rugged either, but I haven't seen it break yet!) __________________ Handguns: 2x Glock 19.4 \| Glock 26.4 \| HK USP 9 \| HK P2000 \| HK VP9 SK \| HK P30 \| CZ Shadow 2 \| CZ P-10 C \| CZ P-07 \| CZP-01 \| S&W 360PD Rifles: DDM4 \| SGL 21 \| SAM7K \| Draco \| PSA PDW SBR \| ASA Side-Charger SBR \| CZ Scorpion K SBR \| Aero M4E1 9" 300blk SBR \| Angstadt Jack9 SBR \| Savage Mark II FV-SR Shotguns: Mossberg 590A1 20" SP \| Mossberg Shockwave

December 10, 2011, 10:14 AM	#13
Jo6pak Senior Member Join Date: August 5, 2010 Location: West Coast...of WI Posts: 1,663	As others have said, Primary Arms has some great little optics for the money. I've been running one of their M3 clones for a while and had no issues with it. __________________ NRA Life Member, SAF contributor.

December 9, 2011, 08:21 PM	#2
pturner67 Senior Member Join Date: February 26, 2006 Posts: 737	probably going to be multiple opinions on this I think you'll need to spend closer to $150 for a decent red dot...vortex strikefire is my first and only red dot...works perfectly...holds zero...everything you'll need http://swfa.com/Vortex-StrikeFire-Re...hts-C1462.aspx there are others like bushnell, millett, barska, truglo, etc but I don't know much about them or their quality

December 9, 2011, 08:22 PM	#3
DasGuy Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2011 Posts: 318	You might be able to find a Vortex Strikefire for that much (retail is like $150). It's supposed to be a really well made Aimpoint clone and they have a lifetime warranty. I'm looking at picking up their microdot called the SPARC.

December 9, 2011, 08:56 PM	#5
rickmelear Senior Member Join Date: October 8, 2005 Location: palm beach county, fl Posts: 257	I have 3 ARs, eotech on one, ACOG on one and this on my S&W Sport. And I have been very pleased. https://www.primaryarms.com/Primary_...ht_p/pam3m.htm

December 9, 2011, 09:36 PM	#6
ritepath Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,419	https://www.primaryarms.com/Red_Dot_...Arms_s/903.htm I've got one of thes cheapo 118 PA reddots...it's 2 years old now and works great...it'll even kill deer I'd now upgrade to American defense base for 158 bucks. All I was looking for was something to plink with and maybe hunt. It works and it wasn't a budget buster...LOL I like them enough to where this is my next optic purchase. https://www.primaryarms.com/Primary_...pe_p/pac3x.htm

December 9, 2011, 09:55 PM	#7
Therealkoop Senior Member Join Date: August 12, 2010 Posts: 285	You could try primary arms. I had thier m3 clone and it would wander very badly on my AR. 20-30 shots and it would be like 10 moa left and 10 down. I took it off using the quick disconnect in a fit of rage, thew it, and shot it many many times. However, that is apparantly not-typical, and the guy who works for primary arms said he would replace it for free even though I blew it up. I turned down his offer, but he made it which shows me they have pretty good CS. I run a vortex 2-7x on my m1a and its been an absolutely great scope, im sure tier red-dots are also nice.

December 9, 2011, 10:01 PM	#8
Noonan Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 155	Bushnell Trophy red/green dot works great on my M&P.

December 10, 2011, 06:34 AM	#9
mumbo719 Senior Member Join Date: June 27, 2008 Location: Tampa Bay, FL. Posts: 346	The Vortex Strikefire comes with quality mounting hardware for the AR15 and a 2X doubler. http://www.opticsplanet.net/vortex-s...ar15-hunt.html It's a workhorse.

December 10, 2011, 08:07 AM	#11
Simmy952 Member Join Date: March 3, 2009 Posts: 26	Like above posted, the Primary Arms red dot is hard to beat for the money. Love the one mounted to my M&P 15-22. If you are patient, they have sales pretty frequently and you can get a good deal on the sight and mount.

December 10, 2011, 10:17 AM	#14
MrWesson Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2010 Posts: 357	I have a UTG ITA quick detach scope on my sub2k and it works really well although the dot could be smaller/more defined. If I were going cheap on an AR I would order a primary arms red dot. 70-150 for a quality sight.

December 10, 2011, 10:26 AM	#15
VeryOldDog Member Join Date: October 31, 2006 Location: New Mexico Posts: 35	I use two of the Millet Red Dots. Millet is part of the Bushnell Outdoors Corp so I would imagine that it is similar to the regular Bushnell Red dots. They run about $80.00. [IMG][/IMG]

December 10, 2011, 04:26 PM	#16
boostedtt91 Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2011 Location: Danville, Pa Posts: 520	The Cheapest Red Dots are BSA ones and you can get them new for like $25 One gun i bought awhile back came with one and it works good for what it is

December 10, 2011, 10:22 PM	#17
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	I've had the $100 Millett on a couple different rifles. The first one had optics misaligned so I had to send it back to California from Virginia. The second had the dial work loose, which i managed to fix after taking it apart. Honestly, you may want to look at a 1-4 power dot scope. Allows both eyes open but lets you zoom in a bit when needed. Congrats on the Sport BTW. Mine has been great.

December 10, 2011, 11:01 PM	#18
Mrgunsngear Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2011 Location: Carolina Posts: 3,415	For your budget, the Bushnell TR25 is a great optic. With a riser, you can co-witness if that's your thing... For a little more, the Lucid is awesome but I understand being on a budget. The Bushnell will do anything you need under 100m.