The quest to find the best reflex sight available can be a long and confusing one. There’s a lot of choices out there, and navigating the market place can be tough if you’re not sure what to look for.
At A Glance: Our Top 3 Best Reflex Sights Of [current_date format=Y]
In this guide, we’ll review eleven different reflex sights available today, so you’ll know what to look out for if you’re looking to buy one. For those of you who don’t have time to read the full guide, we highlight the top 3 products below.
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The Best Reflex Sight: Vortex Optics Venom
Our Winner: Vortex Venom Red Dot Sights [star rating=”5″ numeric=”yes”]
Our favorite Reflex Sight is the Vortex Venom Red Dot Sights. Not only is it lightweight and easy to use, but it will also give you a clear line of sight, no matter the lighting conditions. The sight comes with an impressive 150 hours of battery life, and that’s if you use the sight at the highest setting.
Overall, it’s an impressive sight that’ll work well with whatever type of firearm you’re using and whatever type of shooting your taking part in.
[amazon link=”B00S2P2J90″ title =”Vortex Optics Venom Red Dot Sights”]
[amazon box=”B00S2P2J90″][amazon link=”B00S2P2J90″ title =”The Vortex Venom Red Dot Sights”] promotes rapid target acquisition while providing a precise point of aim. The sight weighs 7.2 ounces, so it won’t weigh down your gun when you shoot it. Vortex has also included a protective plastic casing that you can slide over the sight to protect it from the elements.
You may not want to use the cover all the time, but it’s good to have the option to protect your sight. Included with the sight is a lens cloth so you can clean the lens of the sight as and when you need to. The red dot sight itself is impressive; it will show up on a target regardless of lighting conditions, you can choose between 10 levels of brightness in manual mode or switch in automatic mode.
Vortex state that you’ll get 150 hours of battery life of use from the sight at its highest setting, with this amount of time increasing if you use the sight at a lower setting. Venom has also included screws and a low rail mount clap, which will allow you to attach the sight to your gun. It’s advisable to read the instructions carefully when attaching the sight to your firearm.
The Reliable Option: Leupold DeltaPoint Pro
[amazon link=”B00NWIYAD0″ title =”The Leupold DeltaPoint Pro”] is a 2.5 MOA Dot reticle sight, finished with a solid matte black finish. A nice feature that Leopold has included on the sight is the battery saving motion sensor, the sensor will automatically deactivate illumination after 5 minutes of inactivity, but turns back on instantly when movement is detected. With this feature, you won’t have to worry about the battery on the sight draining if you leave your firearm unattended.
The sight is 100% waterproof so you can safely use the sight, whether you’re out hunting or using the sight in more tactical situations such as target shooting. All Leupold sites are designed, machined, and assembled in the USA, and each sight has been tested to excel in temperatures ranging from -40 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
[amazon link=”B00NWIYAD0″ title =”Leupold DeltaPoint Pro”]
[amazon box=”B00NWIYAD0″]One the back end of the sight you’ll find click adjustments for your elevation and windage, this allows you to more easily line up your red dot sight with the existing iron sight on your firearm. The sight is easy to turn on or off with a button on the top of the sight.
The Leupold DeltaPoint Pro is made of solid aluminum and contains a steel guard over the top of the sight. The sight also has scratch-resistant glass, so Leupold has really made sure that the sight is durable and built to last.
The Best Reflex Sight for the Money: Dagger Defense DDHB
[amazon link=”B00ZM3TMO0″ title =”The Dagger Defense DDHB”] red dot sight is constructed from aircraft-grade aluminum, so durability is ensured. Based on the other sights that we tested, the Dagger Defense DDHB is more suited for recreational use; this means that you should use this sight for plinking or practicing at the range.
Included with the sight are a lens cloth, a detailed instruction manual, and one CR2032 battery. The sight will install onto your rail with two Allen screws, and the Allen wrench is included with the sight.
[amazon link=”B00ZM3TMO0″ title =”Dagger Defense DDHB”]
[amazon box=”B00ZM3TMO0″ button_detail=”http://itishooting.com/dagger-defense-ddhb-review/”]
At the back of the Dagger Defense DDHB, you’ll find a rear switch that allows the user to choose between various reticle patterns. You can switch between a red or green reticle, and the color can be changed using the circular dial on the side. The sight is exceptionally light-weight, so your firearm won’t be weighed down when the sight is attached to your gun.
The Best Reflex Sight For Shotgun: Burris Fastfire III
[amazon link=”B00794N7LO” title =”The Burris Fastfire III”] is a lightweight, durable red dot sight. When using the sight, you’ll notice that the brightness sensor automatically adjusts to the environment that you are shooting in. We really like this feature as it gives you flexibility over the environment and time of the day you want to go shooting.
It also means that should the weather conditions change unexpectedly then you don’t have to worry about manually changing any brightness settings on your sight.
[amazon link=”B00794N7LO” title =”Burris Fastfire III”]
[amazon box=”B00794N7LO”]The sight is designed to fit your favorite handgun, shotgun, hunting, or tactile rifle, to give you greater accuracy and faster target acquisition. The sight is also completely waterproof, and you’ll see that the sight has a protective cover over the glass of the lens, so it doesn’t get damaged.
You can also adjust the windage and elevation adjustments on the sight to make sure it’s fine-tuned to whatever conditions you’re using it in.
This model of the Burris Fastfire III comes equipped with a Picatinny mount so you can install the sight onto your firearm. If you’re unsure how to install the sight onto your gun, then Burris has included an instruction manual to show you how it’s done.
As the sight will fit most competition firearms, this sight can make up a useful component of your competitive shooting equipment.
The Best ReflexSight Under $100: Browning Buckmark
[amazon link=”B0038OW1W0″ title =”The Browning Buckmark Sight”] is designed to provide accurate shooting to the outdoorsman and recreational shooter alike. All Browning products are created in the USA and are built with durability in mind.
The Browning Buckmark sight is a well designed slick sight, complete with a matte black finish. The sight comes with a year warranty as standard, so you know you’re covered should anything happen to the sight within the first year of you owning it.
[amazon link=”B0038OW1W0″ title =”Browning Buckmark Reflex Sight”]
[amazon box=”B0038OW1W0″]The majority of the sight is made of aluminum, so it’s robust and doesn’t damage easily. The sight weighs just under 4 oz, so it’s nice and lightweight. The battery is also well located, meaning you don’t have to remove the optic when you want the battery to be removed.
On the side of the sight, you’ll find seven different brightness settings, so you have full control over the brightness of the sight, no matter what conditions you find yourself in.
One minor downside to this sight is that the windage and elevation adjustments need to be done with an Allen wrench, making the sight slightly less easy to use than other sights we tested. The sight does have unlimited eye relief, so wherever you choose to aim your sight, your eyes shouldn’t feel strained. Overall, it’s a reliable sight that will do everything you need it to.
The Best Looking Option: Bushnell Red Dot Sight
[amazon link=”B00200E0HM” title =”The Bushnell Red Dot Sight”] is an impressive looking sight, fit with a matte black finish. The sight features a 3 MOA Dot reticle with 11 different brightness settings. The 11 brightness settings give you full control over when you use your red dot sight; these 11 brightness settings mean you can use your sight no matter the weather conditions outside.
The sight has been constructed to be completely waterproof, and the O ring sealed optics stay dry inside, even when the sight is totally immersed in water. The sight has been constructed to be completely shockproof, so the sight is built to withstand bumps, bangs, drops, and the rough and tumble environment of the field.
[amazon link=”B00200E0HM” title =”Bushnell Reflex Sight”]
[amazon box=”B00200E0HM”]Bushnell has also constructed this sight to be fog proof. With the nitrogen inside the scope ensures interior optical surfaces won’t due to humidity or rapid temperature change. The sight is easy to mount and will work with most Picatinny rails; the sight is compatible with pistols, rifles, muzzleloaders, and more.
Bushnell also states that the sight comes with unlimited eye relief, and we certainly noticed that our eyes didn’t feel any strain after we used the sight. Bushnell has also included a rubber scope cover so you can keep your lens and scopes covered after you use the sight.
The Best Basic Option: Trijicon RMR Type 2
[amazon link=”B0721L3PKC” title =”The Trijicon RMR Type 2″] features an automatic brightness mode and easy push buttons with eight adjustable brightness settings. With the sight having eight brightness settings, the sight can be used in different weather conditions and brightness levels.
One of the first things we noticed about the sight is how robust it feels in your hands. The sight is made with military-grade aluminum, but is also extremely light weighing only 1.17 ounces.
[amazon link=”B0721L3PKC” title =”Trijicon RMR Type 2″]
[amazon box=”B0721L3PKC”]The dial on the top of the sight will allow you to change the brightness setting whenever you want to. Each brightness setting is clearly labeled, so it’s nice and easy to follow. You’ll also find a scope cloth included with the sight so you can clean the lens of the sight whenever you need to.
An important point to remember about the Trijicon RMR Type 2 sight is that it doesn’t have an auto-off feature built-in, so you need to remember to turn the sight off after each time you use it. The optic on the sight is nitrogen-filled, meaning it’s fog proof, so the visibility of the sight will be clear at all times. The sight also provides unlimited eye relief, so your eyes shouldn’t feel strained when you use the sight.
The Best Sight for All Weather Conditions: Sig Sauer
[amazon link=”B01C95I8N4″ title =”The Sig Sauer Romeo5″] has been developed for all types of shooters in mind. The 2 MOA Red Dot Sight provides 10 illumination settings to give you visibility in all lighting conditions. The sight includes a built-in feature that will make the sight power up when it senses motion and powers down when it does not.
This feature gives the sight optimum operational safety and enhanced 40,000+ hours of battery life, and you don’t have to worry about switching off the sight after you’ve finished using it. The sight mounts onto most platforms, and its aluminum design helps to keep the sight sturdy and reliable. Included with the sight are a battery, a lens cloth, a lens cover, and an adjustment and mounting tool.
[amazon link=”B01C95I8N4″ title =”Sig Sauer Romeo5″]
[amazon box=”B01C95I8N4″]We also noticed that the elevation and windage are easy to adjust so you can make sure your sight is set up for use in specific weather conditions. When you’re aiming the sight, you’ll notice that the red dot is bright and round, which makes honing on your target all the easier. The visibility of the lens is crystal clear, which again makes aiming the sight efficient and effective.
All in all the Sig Sauer Romeo5 is a very nice sight, the illumination feature, in particular, makes the sight user-friendly and easy to use.
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The Digital Option: Sightmark Ultra Shot M-Spec
[amazon link=”B00JAE11Z0″ title =”The Sightmark Ultra Shot M-Spec”] is made from cast magnesium alloy, and the sight is fitted with a protective shield to keep the lens clean and scratch-free. You can switch between six to eight daytime brightness levels and six-night vision odes so you can use the sight for day shooting or night shooting.
Sightmark notes that the sight will give you up to 1,000 hours of battery life. The illuminated reticle makes it easy to focus on your target, and the lens is nice and clear when you go to shoot. The button on the side of the sight will allow you to turn the sight on or off when you want and also switch between day and night vision.
[amazon link=”B00JAE11Z0″ title =”Sightmark Ultra Shot M-Spec”]
[amazon box=”B00JAE11Z0″]A nice little feature is a pull-out sunshade; this will block out extra sunlight if there is a lot of sun glare when your shooting and just makes for a clearer shot and increased visibility. Our favorite feature about this sight is that it has inbuilt motion sensing, this again just makes for an easier shot, and you feel more in control. There’s also a low battery indicator, so you know when the battery will need changing.
HOLOSUN HS510C
[amazon link=”B01MT5RJLD” title =”The HOLOSUN HS510C”] contains an LED that allows up to 50,000 hours of battery life using just one CR2032 battery; this equates to around five years of use. The sight gives you two reticles to choose from a 2 MOA and a 65 MOA circle around the dot.
The sight includes technology so you can use the sight in low light situations. The frame of the sight is made with titanium, so it’s very sturdy while remaining lightweight.
[amazon link=”B01MT5RJLD” title =”HOLOSUN HS510C”]
[amazon box=”B01MT5RJLD”]The sight is fully waterproof so you can use it in all weather conditions. The sight comes with a lens cloth, a full instruction manual on how to use the sight. The plus and minus buttons located on the side of the sight allow you to turn it on or off, but also adjust the brightness level.
It’s worth noting that the sight is extremely bright when it’s at its maximum brightness level, so you may not need it at full brightness much of the time.
You’ll notice when you use the sight that the reticle is very sharp, and the visibility of the lens is good. This gives you a clear shot and makes the sight easy to use. The sight didn’t give us any eye strain either, which is also a bonus when using any sight.
Feyachi Reflex Sight
[amazon link=”B07WR9FQWQ” title =”The Feyachi RS-30″] features four selectable reticles and five brightness settings to choose from. The tubeless design of the sight provides a wide field of view, making the sight suitable for normal and rapid-fire of moving targets.
One of the first things we noticed about the sight is that it’s very lightweight, weighing just 5.4 oz. The sight has unlimited eye relief, and we didn’t notice our eyes feeling strained at all when using the sight.
[amazon link=”B07WR9FQWQ” title =”Feyachi RS-30″]
[amazon box=”B07WR9FQWQ”]The sight provides shockproof performance and allows for the windage and elevation to be adjusted to the weather conditions you are shooting in.
On the side of the sight, you’ll see clearly marked buttons that allow you to increase or decrease the brightness level to your liking. You can also choose between four different reticle settings, which all meet different needs. You may want to experiment with all four settings to see which suits you best.
What Is A Reflex Sight?
A simple way to think of a reflex sight is that they use a lens that acts as a kind of mirror. A reflex sight is an optical device that allows the user to look through a partially reflecting glass element where you’ll see an illuminated projection of an aiming point which you can then point to a target.
Like with all the reflex sights we’ve reviewed when you’re using any of them, you should be able to aim your sight onto a target clearly, and a red dot sight or another color dot will help you to do this.
Reflex Sight vs Red Dot: Are Both Sights the Same?
Red dot and reflex sights were initially developed for the American sporting market and then expanded into the US military, but are now common-place among a variety of shooters. Whether a Reflex Sight is right for you will depend a lot on the type of shooting you are doing and how experienced you are.
If you’re unsure, you can always ask a professional down at a shooting range or a gun store for recommendations on which sight is best for you.
Advantages of Reflex Sights
One of the main benefits of Reflex Sights is the lack of eye relief. This means that your hands can be positioned anywhere, and you can keep both eyes on your target. This allows you to switch quickly between targets. Most reflex sights are battery powered and have a reasonably extensive battery life.
As you’ve seen with some of the reflex sights we’ve reviewed, some of them will turn off if they are left inactive, which is undoubtedly an advantage, so you don’t need to turn off the site every time you use it.
Most reflex sights are also very lightweight and usually compatible with a wide variety of firearms, some reflex sights come equipment that’ll guide you on how to attach them to your firearm while others won’t. Always check the instruction manual that comes with your sight if you’re looking to attach a sight to your gun.
How to Choose a Reflex Sight
Before you decide on which reflex sight to buy, you need to decide on your budget. This may be linked to your expertise as a shooter. If you’re brand new to shooting, hunting, or gun sports in general, then you may want to try out a cheaper sight.
If you’re more experienced and know what you’re looking for in a sight, then you may want to consider a more expensive sight. You may also want to consider if you want your sight to turn on/off automatically when you go to use it. Most sights have plenty of brightness settings, so you can use the sight day or night.
You also want to get the right sight for your gun; some sights will fit more types of firearm than others. With this in mind, it’s worth checking if the sight you’re going to buy will fit your firearm correctly. Most sights will come with lens protectors so be sure to put these on when you’ve finished using your sight.
You may also want to consider the type and size of the reticle on your sight, a larger reticle will make it easier to view your target, but you need to make sure you pick a dot size that you’re comfortable with. The color of the dot may also come into consideration, once again it depends on the type of shooting you’ll be doing and the time of day that you’ll be using our firearm.
Ready To Buy A Reflex Sight?
Our Winner: Vortex Venom Red Dot Sights [star rating=”5″ numeric=”yes”]
As you can see there’s plenty of different reflex and red dot sights that you can go for. Like with any major purchase, the first thing you want to do is determine how much you want to spend. Once you’ve done this, you can start looking into other factors such as ease of use to decide which Reflex Sight is best for you.