I’m new to this kind of sights…could you explain me the differences beetween various manufacturers?
TIA
Frens
i don’t know much about mirco red dots myself, but you might want to look into the Burris Fast Fire. all aluminum construction in the body. moderately priced. they seem to be very popular.
Pride-Fowler also has a micro red dot. looks very nice, but its pricey.
Frens,
There are not many differences between them. How they adjust, if there is an on/off switch, set screws, how they mount… blah blah …
I would wait a couple months if you are seriously looking at one. NSWC Crane / SOPMOD Program had just closed a solicitation and are going through a selection. Im saying wait to see who wins, BUT wait and see who entered. Mot will not go public until its over.
Just curious, what application would this be for?
I do not recommend these optics as a primary sighting system on a carbine. They are fine for certain other applications.
Back in the 90’s Tasco bought the rights to a sight from China (or Japan) called the Firepoint and toned it down and badged it the Optima. Decent sight but a pain in the butt to zero.
Over the years, it improved and folks started finding real value in it for competition and then practical uses. JP Enterprises now owns the rights and has improved it to the point that it can be found both with JP’s name on it as well as Trijicon. For folks that say that competition isn’t practical this is a huge advent (along with other red dots and optics on short rifles) that worked its way to the real world and they can now be found on ACOG’s in combat.
The Docter is a sight out of Germany (?). It’s VERY nice. The dot is better and the overall function is a touch better. However it does have some small wiring issues but ‘bulletproof-ed’ ones are available from Grams Engineering (call as it’s not on his website’. Burris has an off model of the Docter called the Fast Fire. It’s weird in that it mounts exactly as the Docter, but isn’t as good (way better price though). The big plus to these over the Optima/JPoints is that it has an on/off switch. Down side when loose, it can turn on/off by itself (the switch moves).
I ran a JPoint in Afghanistan as a secondary dot on my M-4 in 2007/2008 and it worked fine. Just dummy cord the cover to your rifle. If you’re looking to mount a dot to your rifle though, go with either an EOTech or Aimpoint and then throw a magnifier on there. This will give you the best of both worlds.
Rich
I’d agree by-and-large with what TK says. There are simply too many other superior options. The notable exception might be the AK using the LaRue AK-IronDot since I’m not really a fan of AK sights. For a lightweight and durable primary optic, I don’t see a better choice than the Aimpoint T-1.
Where I’d disagree is that they’re worthwhile as a secondary sighting system, mounted on top of a primary magnified optic (ACOG etc.). I see no point other than to add more complexity to a carbine weapon system with little appreciable benefit outside of very limited circumstances. I can MAYBE see it on a Sniper/DMR for CQB but that’s a very limited application. Others I’m sure will disagree.
All that being said, you can easily learn the techniques and practice using a low-power variable-power scope for both long- and short-range applications if you want that flexibility. It won’t ever be as fast as a red-dot, but it’s faster than irons and pretty easy once you learn how.
Unsure about this too.
This is one of those “certain other applications.”
Without trying to be cheeky, can I ask what the “others” could be?
I tried to think of some, but honestly I couldn’t think of an application where either a traditional red-dot or magnified scope isn’t better suited to the carbine role.
As a general question, what’s the battery life like on those things? Burris says “5 years” using “energy saver” but doesn’t indicate intensity of use.
Just curious, what application would this be for?
I was thinking of putting one on top of a TA01NSN and one for my shotgun (no picatinny rail and top folding stock)
I do not recommend these optics as a primary sighting system on a carbine.
I 100% agree.
that’s my main concern about putting one on my shotgun…the Aimpoint T1 would be way better I guess but I dont know how could I mount it.
uscbigdawg, thanks for the little history lesson: so Optima, JPoint and Triji are all the same thing VS Docter.
what about battery life? how big/small is the reticle?
The Dr is the best of all of them. Trijicon has a NEW red dot coming out that looks chit hot. They have two models. One is LED and the other one uses ambient light and Tritium (just like an ACOG). They are also feature a hard case around them making them much more durable.
The other thing I like is that it appears the windage and elevation knobs have either a positive click or lines drawn on them so you know how far you have adjusted the optic (big improvement over all other micro optics).
C4
wow that’s nice! Thank You C4!
same size as the Docter/Jpoint right?
You are welcome. Don’t know for certain as I have not handled them yet. They should be a little bulkier because of the armor.
C4
thanks!!!
I spoke with someone at Trijicon the other day
I am interested in a GOOD MRD or possibly a T1 for my Ruger Super Blackhawk 44
he mentioned I might want to wait just a bit but wouldn’t tell me details…
damned, that and the new 1-4x30!
any idea on dot size?
I am interested in putting one of these “micro” red dots on my 870P. I would imagine that it is almost as quick as the bead sight, but much more accurate for distance slugs.
You have a choice of sizes with the Trijicon RMR: 4/8/9/13MOA. The 9MOA variant is the one being piggybacked on the SDO (the Corps’ SAW Day Optic). I’ve shot the 9MOA, which is an amber dot, and the adjustments are 1" per click @ 100m.
I spent a day shooting it, which isn’t really too much time, but it held zero throughout 1200rnds of linked 5.56 and survived being dropped and having a fat man land on it, so my first impressions were pretty favorable.