The best red dot sights worth buying

A red dot sight will help you shoot better with any kind of firearm. That’s because the optic reduces skills like sight alignment and sight picture down to simply aiming a dot — usually red, sometimes green, and occasionally gold — at a target. Unlike a magnifying scope, red dots are reflex sights meant for quickly engaging targets out to 100 yards (or more with magnifiers). 

For many, it isn’t a question of do you want a red dot sight, but rather why the hell wouldn’t you want one? Today, we’ll look at the best red dot sights available and help you find the perfect option for whatever task and purpose suits you.

• Best Overall: Aimpoint CompM5s
• Best Value: Vortex Sparc Solar
• Editor’s Choice: Meprolight Foresight
• Best for Handguns: Trijicon RMR Type 2
• Best Budget: SIG ROMEO5
• Best for Shotguns: Holosun 507C
• Best Mini: Holosun 507K
• Best for AR-15s: SIG ROMEO4T
• Best for Under $100: SIG MSR
• Best for Under $200: Primary Arms SLX Microdot

Best Overall

Aimpoint CompM5s

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Pros

• Crisp 2 MOA Dot
• Lightweight design
• Compatible with NVGs and magnifiers
• Extremely rugged

Cons

• Expensive
• No fancy features

Product Specs

• Weight: 5.8 ounces
• Length: 3.3 inches
• Reticle: 2 MOA red dot
• Battery life: 50,000 hours

Best Value

Vortex Sparc Solar

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Pros

• Insane battery life
• Auto switches from solar to battery
• Aimpoint Micro Mount compatible
• Night vision compatible

Cons

• Broad 1 MOA adjustments
• Somewhat crowded view

Product Specs

• Weight: 5.9 ounces
• Length: 2.6 inches
• Reticle: 2 MOA
• Battery life: 150,000 hours

Editor’s Pick

Meprolight Foresight

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Pros

• Highly customizable
• True heads-up display
• Can save 10 different zeroes
• Wide field of view

Cons

• Rechargeable battery only
• Tough to use without an external device
• Expensive

Product Specs

• Weight: 9.9 ounces
• Length: 4.6 inches long
• Reticle: 20 total choices
• Battery life: 50 hours with brightest setting and maxed out HUD feature

Best Red Dot Sight for Handguns

Trijicon RMR Type 2

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Pros

• Extremely durable
• Long battery life
• Various reticle sizes

Cons

• Bottom-mounted battery
• Expensive

Product Specs

• Weight: 1.2 ounces
• Length: 1.8 inches
• Reticle: Varies
• Battery life: 4 years

Best Budget Red Dot Sight

SIG ROMEO5

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Pros

• Affordable
• Tactile adjustment buttons
• Multiple mounts
• MOTAC Shake Awake Tech

Cons

• Large 1 MOA adjustments
• Heavy blue tint

Product Specs

• Length: 2.46 inches
• Weight: 5.1 ounces
• Reticle: 2 MOA dot
• Battery life: 40,000 hours

Best Red Dot Sight for Shotguns

Holosun 507C

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Pros

• Solar panel
• Multiple reticles
• Affordable price point
• Side-mounted battery

Cons

• Small controls

Product Specs

• Length: 1.78 inches
• Weight: 1.5 ounces
• Reticle: Multiple
• Battery life: 50,000 hours

Best Mini Red Dot Sight

Holosun 507K

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Pros

• Robust
• Three reticles
• Two button controls
• Side-loading battery

Cons

• Heavy blue tint

Product Specs

• Length: 1.6 inches
• Weight: 1 ounce
• Reticle: Multiple
• Battery life: 50,000 hours

Best Red Dot Sight for AR-15s

SIG ROMEO4T

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Pros

• Awesome reticle
• Solar power backup
• Long battery life
• Tough as hell

Cons

• Somewhat heavy

Product Specs

• Length: 3.33 inches
• Weight: 7.6 ounces
• Reticle: 4 options
• Battery life: 100,000 hours

Best Red Dot Sight Under $100

SIG MSR

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Pros

• Super cheap
• Oddly robust
• Out-of-the-box ready

Cons

• Reticle is not crisp
• Adjustment wheel is super stiff

Product Specs

• Length: 3.1 inches
• Weight: 4.9 ounces
• Reticle: 2 MOA red dot
• Battery life: 20,000 hours

Best Red Dot Sight Under $200

Primary Arms SLX Microdot

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Pros

• Awesome reticle
• Durable design
• Awesome price point
• Versatile

Cons

• Low battery life

Product Specs

• Length: 2.35 inches
• Weight: 6.5 ounces
• Reticle: ACSS-CQB
• Battery life: 12,000 hours

Why you should trust us

I could tell you all about my Marine Corps service, my competitive shooting experience, and my years as a gear reviewer. Still, honestly the best credential I can offer you are my credit card statements. Over the course of years, I’ve purchased tons of optics — good and bad — and I’ve learned through trial and error what works and what doesn’t. 

Types of red dot sights

Miniature and micro red dot sights

Miniature and micro red dot sights are small. Miniature sights like the RMR work well on pistols, as backup sights on magnified optics, and even as primary optics on some long guns. Micro red dot sights are almost entirely used with pistols. 

These little optics have a very small window and are best used with a two-eyed, open shooting style. They often won’t pair with magnifiers, and what you see is what you get. Their main benefits are small size and low weight. 

Compact red dots 

Compact red dots refer to red dots with an objective lens or window from 18mm to 25mm in size. They can be used with magnifiers and night vision devices. Compact red dots are often enclosed optics and can be tubular or square in shape. These optics are extremely reliable, and offer a smaller, lighter alternative for long-gun red dots. 

Full-sized red dots 

Full-sized red dots are often 25mm and higher. While they are falling out of favor slightly, they still have a place in the shooting sports. Full-sized red dots offer a massive window and a wide field of view. Plus, they pair very well with magnifiers and clip-on thermal or night vision optics. They are perfect for duty rifles because they’re incredibly durable. 

Key features of red dot sights

Reticle 

Red dot sounds pretty dang simple when it comes to picking a reticle, right? Most of the time, the reticles are just red dots, but you might want to consider the size of the dot. Smaller dots work best for weapons designed for precision, i.e., rifles like the AR-15. Bigger dots are easier to see and often faster to get on target, but lack precision for long range use, making them perfect for shotguns, subguns, and pistols. 

Additionally, the modern red dot might incorporate any number of reticle designs these days. These reticles are awesome and provide some added versatility to your optic. These can be the addition of a large circle around the dot, drop points, and more. 

Brightness levels 

On the high end, a red dot needs to be bright enough to see in the brightest part of the day. Some cheaper red dots are challenged by the brightness the sun delivers at high noon. On the flip side, you might need a setting low enough to allow for night vision use. Night vision settings used to be relevant for professional shooters only, but night vision has become absurdly popular within the civilian shooting realm, so this feature matters more now than ever. 

Controls 

How do you zero the optic? How do you adjust brightness settings? You should consider both when it comes to buying a red dot. Buttons are often better than wheels, and recessed turrets provide a simpler system for getting you on target and staying there. Buttons allow for smooth and quick adjustments, and recessed turrets won’t slip and lose zero if they get bumped or dumped. 

Benefits of red dot sights

Speed

With a properly zeroed red dot sight, all you need to do is put the dot on target and pull the trigger. It’s much quicker than aligning iron sights and simplifies the entire shooting process. Shooters with red dots will be faster than shooters with iron sights. The speed red dots offer has made them the CQB sight of choice for professional gunslingers in the armed forces. 

Accuracy 

Iron sights are accurate, but are often large and easily obscure the target, plus they require sight focus. Red dot sights present a very small reticle that is less likely to obscure the target than a front sight. Additionally, shooters can focus on the target and keep it clear, versus focusing on the reticle or sight and having a blurry target. This makes it easier to shoot accurately. 

Versatility

Red dots are insanely versatile optics. They can be used on nearly any platform (handgun, shotgun, or rifle), they fit on tactical weapons, hunting tools (including bows), and competition guns. 

Pricing considerations for red dot sights

Budget 

Good budget red dot sights often cost a little more than $100. They’re designed for personal use like plinking and recreational shooting, but it’s not unheard of to use them for hunting or even some light competition. They’re generally not built for professional or duty use. 

Mid-tier

Mid-tier red dot sights cost anywhere from $200 to $500. They tend to have a higher quality construction than budget optics, but usually aren’t built for the most extreme conditions. Nonetheless, they’re usually tough and designed for things like home defense, hunting, competition, and even limited duty. While I wouldn’t jump out of a plane with one, I could see a mid-tier red dot succeeding in the hands of police and security forces. 

Duty-grade 

When you need to issue an optic to Joe, you want the toughest optic in the market. They’re priced $500 or more, but they’re designed to resist a range of punishment. From full submersion to being dropped or kicked and misused by the least intelligent PFC in the platoon. 

How we chose our top picks

For this review, I researched a wide range of red dot optics and considered all the options I could find that would be considered proven, not just the ones I’ve personally used. Why be boring when the world has so many great options out there? However, I did handle all the red dots on this list. My picks were informed by my personal experience and the experiences of firearm instructors, competitive shooters, and professional gunslingers. 

FAQs on red dot sights

You’ve got questions, Task & Purpose has answers.

Q: What red dot sights do the Navy SEALs use?

A: Aimpoint and Trijicon are the go-to for Navy SEALs — specifically the Aimpoint Micro series and the Trijicon RMR for handguns. 

Q: What is the clearest red dot sight?

A: The Aimpoint CompM5s provides a crystal clear viewing window tied to a very crisp and awesome little red dot. 

Q: Do soldiers use red dot sights?

A: The Army currently issues the M68 CCO, aka the Aimpoint CompM4, to most soldiers. Additionally, SOCOM commandos utilize the Trijicon RMR on handguns. 

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Travis Pike is a former Marine machine gunner who served with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines for five years. He deployed in 2009 to Afghanistan and again in 2011 with the 22nd MEU(SOC) during a record-setting 11 months at sea. He’s trained with the Romanian Army, the Spanish Marines, the Emirate Marines, and the Afghan National Army. He plays in the great outdoors of Northwest Florida and enjoys good beer, sharp knives, and long walks in the woods.