Reflex sight with laser designator

The 5 Best Reflex Sights For The Money

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The best budget reflex sight is a sight that will perform without putting a strain on your wallet. Regular scopes are great for most of the hunting I do, but for fast-moving targets, I turn to my reflex sight, and the best reflex sight will cut down on aiming time significantly. It allows you to rattle off rounds quickly, while still maintaining accuracy. In addition to my own knowledge, I scoured the internet for the reflex sight reviews and asked around at my local shooting range to create this list of the best reflex sights for the money.

Best Budget Option
GGD Holographic Red/Green Dot Reflex Sight
  • 33mm lens for wide field of view
  • Anti-glare reflective coated lenses
  • Includes an 11mm/20mm integrated rail
  • Maximum brightness is less than ideal
  • Sight adjustment issues
$44 Shop NowClick to read my review
Ohuhu Red and Green Reflex Sight
  • Green or red color choice
  • 33mm lens for wide field of view
  • Shock-proof and water-proof
  • The two cross reticles are a bit blurry
  • Does not fit Dovetail rail
$21 Shop NowClick to read my review
Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 Red Dot Sight Riflescope
  • Parallax free design
  • Works well in dim conditions
  • Dry nitrogen filled housing
  • Red dot gets blurry in ambient light conditions
  • When the red dot is in the very upper part of scope it vanishes
$64 Shop NowClick to read my review
Vortex Venom Red Dot Top Load
  • 3 MOA gives quick target acquisition
  • Windage and elevation adjustments are super sleek and easy to use
  • Auto-brightness adjustments
  • Price is a bit high
  • Red dot difficult to see in high light conditions
$249 Shop NowClick to read my review
Top Pick
Aimpoint M4s 2 Minute of Angle QRP2 CompM4 Sight
  • 80 000 hours of battery life
  • Seven night vision settings
  • Killflash anti reflective coating
  • Price
  • No magnification option
$916 Shop NowClick to read my review

Civilian use of reflex sights really took off in the 1970s, even though they have been in wide use in the military since WWII. They work by reflecting an image of a target reticle that the shooter sees across their plane of view, along with the target they are aiming for. This makes them much quicker to aim than traditional scopes or sights.

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Factors to Consider When Buying Reflex Sights

Four things that should be considered before buying even a budget reflex sight are; ease of use, range, durability, and accuracy.

Accuracy

If you are planning on rapid fire shooting, which is what a reflex sight is usually used for, then accuracy should be at the top of your list when buying one. It does not matter where you will use it, because as a gun owner you have a responsibility to accuracy. If at all possible, I recommend testing a few out to see what you like, and what gives you the greatest accuracy of all. The reason for this is simple; many bargain scopes and sights lack in accuracy.

Durability

There are many different reflex sights on the market, but the best cheap reflex sight should still be able to handle some common challenges it might have to face. Look for things like shockproof, and waterproof. You do not want to spend any money on something that will crack or break the first time you knock it against something or drop it. The material it is made of will have a lot to do with its durability, so pay attention to that while searching for one.

Range

What you use your reflex sight for will determine what kind of range you need. How far, generally, are your targets. The best reflex sights for an AR15, for example, will be close and mid-range. For a .308, you might want something a bit further out. You also want to find a sight that will not get distorted at further ranges, or at all, for that matter.

Ease Of Use

It is paramount for a reflex sight to be easy to use. Just because a sight or scope has a bunch of fancy buttons does not equate to better quality. Everything about it should be quick and easy for the operator. This does not mean some extra features are wasteful, but some are, and knowing what you need will help determine what features are a necessity and which ones are ridiculous.

The Best Reflex Sights For The Money

Here we are, finally, at the reflex sight review I have compiled through research and testing. The testing part is important, even for you, because knowing exactly what you want will eliminate many headaches down the road. So, without further ado, here are five of the best budget reflex sights that I found. Hopefully, my research will cut down on some of those headaches.

GGD Holographic Red/Green Dot Reflex Sight

Another low-cost option is the GGD Holographic Red/Green Dot Reflex Sight which is not only affordable but has an excellent quality. This sight includes an 11mm/20mm integrated rail that is suited for most applications. The sight itself is solid and lightweight. It’s also shockproof and waterproof. It means you won’t have to worry about getting your scope wet or having to take it outside in any conditions. The tubeless design of a 22x33mm lens provides a wide field of view. The dot system can be set to red or green, with four distinct reticle styles to choose from. These red and green reticles are bright enough to be visible even in strong sunlight. It has anti-glare reflective coated lenses that enable the shooter to take better shots by reducing glare. Additionally, the reticles are also extremely responsive to motion which helps with accuracy.

If you are looking for more reviews, head to the GGD website and you will see tons of positive insights about this reflex sight. The sight is definitely worth your money. It does the job, it’s well-made, and it comes with two lithium batteries as a plus.

Pros
  • Green or red color choice
  • 33mm lens for wide field of view
  • Anti-glare reflective coated lenses
  • Includes an 11mm/20mm integrated rail
  • Lightweight, shockproof, waterproof
  • Affordable
  • Two lithium batteries included
Cons
  • Maximum brightness is less than ideal
  • Sight adjustment issues

Ohuhu Red and Green Reflex Sight

This sight was on multiple reviews I came across, and one of my hunting companions uses it on a regular basis. It has a tubeless design with a 33mm lens that provides a wide field of view. Perfect for rapid fire shooting, or shooting moving targets. The built-in mount is made for the weaver and Picatinny bases, which should fit most rifles. It is lightweight, shock-proof, and waterproof so it will stand up to even those harsher conditions we often find ourselves in. The windage and elevation adjustments are made with a hex screw. It comes with four different reticle patterns, and four different dot sizes, all in red or green color. That is an amazing option for the price of this.

Definitely one of the best budget red dot sights on the market, and comparable to sights twice its price. The unlimited eye-relief will ensure long hours of comfortable shooting. It has a good balance of weight when mounted, and holds on tight.

Pros
  • Solid and durable
  • 4 patterns and 4 dot sizes
  • Green or red color choice
  • 33mm lens for wide field of view
  • Lightweight build
  • shock-proof and water-proof
  • Mount is compatible with weaver and picatinny rails
Cons
  • The two cross reticles are a bit blurry
  • Does not fit Dovetail rail
  • Not for higher powered guns

Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 Red Dot Sight Riflescope

This is a barrel red dot reflex rifle scope. Bushnell is a name in optics that has been around for a while and certainly comes with a decent reputation. It has easy target acquisition with an amber-tinted front lens to make those targets stand out. The multi-coated optics bring light to dim situations. Amber-coated optics will help you distinguish what you are aiming at, be it a brown tree or brown critter. The housing is filled with a dry nitrogen gas which keeps it from fogging up in a wide range of temperatures. It is a hundred percent waterproof, shockproof, and fog-proof, making it an excellent choice for hunting or tactical use.

This sight can easily be used with both eyes open, increasing the awareness of the shooters’ surroundings by enhancing peripheral vision. There is no need to center because of the parallax-free design, where the dot follows the movement of the user’s eye while remaining fixed on the target. Considering the great set of features, I consider it to be one of the best reflex sights for the money.

Pros
  • Amber tinted optics
  • Parallax free design
  • Water-proof, fog-proof, shock-proof
  • Tilted front lens
  • Works well in dim conditions
  • Dry nitrogen filled housing
  • Durable construction
Cons
  • Red dot gets blurry in ambient light conditions
  • When the red dot is in the very upper part of scope it vanishes
  • Clicks in the knob are barely detectable

Vortex Venom Red Dot Top Load

This is one of the best reflex sights for the AR15. The 3 MOA dot promotes rapid target acquisition, while still maintaining a precise point of aim. It has a durable machined aluminum housing that can handle many hours of abuse and will take whatever you can dish out. The high-quality, multi-coated optics provide a clean, wide field of view, increasing the shooter’s awareness of things around them. The top load system for the battery makes it easy to change, without having to remove the sight. The power dot and intensity controls are on the left side of the unit, easy to adjust, and comfortable in their position.

Flush 1 MOA windage and elevation adjustments are nice and sleek, making sighting a piece of cake. It is easy to mount on an AR15, Shotgun, or pistol. The brightness can either be manually adjusted, or you can use the auto-brightness feature. Slightly more expensive, but for the ease of operation it is worth the tag.

Pros
  • Multi-coated optics
  • Easy to mount on a variety of firearms
  • 3 MOA gives quick target acquisition
  • Machined aluminum housing
  • Auto-brightness adjustments
  • Windage and elevation adjustments are super sleek and easy to use
  • Top load battery system makes it easy to switch power sources without removal
Cons
  • Price is a bit high
  • Red dot difficult to see in high light conditions

Aimpoint M4s 2 Minute of Angle QRP2 CompM4 Sight

The next option is a higher-end reflex sight, which I actually wouldn’t necessarily consider being a budget reflex sight. It did come up in sight reflex reviews, but I still have a hard time swallowing the price tag. Even so, it does perform well. It has an integral mount that eliminates the need for a separate ring and can be customized to fit nearly any weapon system.

The unique coating on the front lens reflects the dot’s selected frequency of red light at near 100% efficiency. This gives the brightest red dot sight with the least amount of power. It comes with a kill flash anti-reflection device to make the field of view clearer than any other sight I came across so far. The sight also has seven-night vision settings and nine daylight settings making it easy to find the perfect option for any given situation.

It is parallax free, making it super easy to center. The sight is built like a tank, while maintaining a low profile construction, ensuring that it will be there even after a few bumps and bruises. The battery life is just impressive, with close to 80 000 hours. No matter if you use it for long-range applications or up close, you certainly won’t be disappointed. I have seen shooters hitting 12-inch steel plates at 600 yards! What more can you ask for?

Pros
  • 80 000 hours of battery life
  • Integral mounting system
  • Killflash anti reflective coating
  • Seven night vision settings
  • Nine daylight vision setting
  • Parallax free
  • Super durable, built like a tank
Cons
  • Price
  • No Magnification option

The Cheap Reflex Sight I Would Choose is…

With all the options out there these days, it is hard to find the best of the best because a lot of it comes down to personal preference. My favorite sight all around is the Aimpoint M4. It has the best options and best battery life but comes with a hefty price tag. The best cheap reflex sight is the GGD Holographic Red/Green Dot Reflex Sight with an incredible price/ performance ratio. It is simple and straightforward but performs remarkably considering the low price tag. All of these sights will work wonderfully depending on the application.

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  1. Hello, what is the brand & model of the last sight in your review, the “higher end reflex sight.” Thank you!

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