I’m looking for a red dot for my incoming M&P 15-22 pistol…
Caveats:
I want something big that’s easy to see through. Mini and micro RDSs need not apply.
I don’t want any weird batteries… AAA or CR2032 only.
This is a fun gun, not a serious gun, and I’d like to avoid paying Aimpoint PRO money for the optic.
So far I’m looking closely at a Vortext Spitfire and a Leupold RDS Freedom, and leaning towards the latter.
The deal-breaker with the former is the lower 1/3 mount, which isn’t changeable… I’d much rather have an absolute cowitness, or the flexibility to re-use the RDS on another gun later.
This is their full size red dot(still lower 1/3) that will accept other mounts and can be found cheaper than MSRP including used which isn’t an issue with Vortex
Something i just noticed yesterday that might interest you also?
I did know that the Spitfire is a prism — that’s part of the appeal — and I guess that I meant “red dot type” sight.
I just put a PA “classic” 1-6x24 on an AR, and I love it. The price was suspiciously low ($200ish), and the brightness and on/off knob is kind of crummy, so I’m tempted to move that to the 15-22 and then upgrade the AR with an Eotech Vudu 1-6x24 or something.
I’ve seen the Strikefire II, and I’ve seen you guys gush over it, but $90 seems like it might be junk, and I’d rather avoid the oddball battery, and if a regular RDS, then I really like the beefy 34mm Leupold.
I mean, I already have a whole draw of weird different batteries for various gadgets and wristwatches and whatever, but about the last thing I want is to schlepp more different kinds of batteries around for gun stuff: 9v, AAA, and CR2032 is enough.
Also, it makes me think that if the guys at Vortex obviously couldn’t answer the battery question correctly, then what else did they get wrong that I cannot see?
Cue to MarkM to rant about the weird battery in the Aimpoint PRO…
My old Japanese and Taiwan Tasco PDP2s RDSs use an odd 1/3N battery. They have been terrorized on centerfire pistols and other firearms since the early 90s yet keep on ticking. Their use is limited to recreation.
I keep spare batteries in a specific bag that remains in the truck. Covers everything from flashlights to optics. When I’m at the club I’m just a few steps away from any battery I might need. Of course I also have a batteries for everything at home. It’s interesting to see folks struggle with such simple things as spare batteries. I wonder how they cope with more complex tasks.
I’m glad that you have a system, but I have three cars, and I might wind up taking any of the three to the range, so leaving a stock of spare batteries in one vehicle won’t work for me.
I don’t struggle to keep 9v, AAA, and even CR2032s in my range bag, so that I can run electronic muffs, my chronograph, illuminated scopes, etc.
However, I just don’t want to add another oddball battery to the mix, if I can avoid it, and it’s easy enough to avoid it by simply not buying a Strikefire: No struggle at all.
FWIW, I now remember my issue with the Leupold RDS Freedom: Goofy UI, so that there’s only one single button to go up and down through the brightness levels.
The blinky rear light on my bicycle works the same way, so that’s not a total deal-breaker, but it’s a big demerit.
(Hey Leupold, WTF?!
Why not use the same style knob with “off” between each setting, like everybody else?!)
