On a budget but still need a reliable red dot for your gun?
We got four of the most popular red dots under $100.
Shot them a bunch.
Got video view-throughs.
And tested some impact resistance.
THE QUICK LIST
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Best Red Dot Overall
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Runner-Up Red Dot
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Best $60 Red Dot
Table of Contents
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How We Tested Our Cheap Red Dots
We first selected some of the most popular red dots under $100 from Amazon and other affordable brands such as AT3 and Primary Arms.
We shot at least a few hundred rounds of 5.56 through each one. Although some like the TRS-25 and AT3 we’ve had for years.
We took view-through videos and still photos through each one to show the dot clarity, brightness, and lens picture.
Finally, we threw them onto a big rock while still attached to an unloaded AR-15 to check function and zero shift.
Best Cheap Red Dots Under $100
1. AT3 RD-50
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
Copied! Visit Merchant
Pros
- 50,000 hr battery life
- Glass is clear, dot is sharp
- Good zero hold
- Option for riser
Cons
- 2 MOA dot isn't the brightest
AT3 has a great rep online and I was excited to try their RD-50 red dot.
Their main claim to fame is having the upgraded generation of red dot technology in a sub-$100 category.
Mainly…it has a 50,000 hour battery life at a low setting.
If having an always on red dot (because 50K hours is 5 years) on your rifle is your thing…AND you gotta stay under $100…get the RD-50.
The only complaint we have is that the crisp 2 MOA dot is a little dimmer than the Bushnell and PA.
Again…bright-ass summer day in the desert.
It worked perfectly fine on other days and of course indoors.
Note it does have a little bit of halo effect on the sides when you crank the brightness to the max.
But much less noticeable and at less angles than the TRS-25.
And the 5 o’clock glob is in between the TRS-25 and Primary Arms.
Brightness knob time…it does allow you to turn both ways. But…it’s a little stiff. I know…very nitpicky.
Let’s throw it on the ground (I mean rock).
This time, the RD-50 landed on its battery cap instead of the elevation knobs like its predecessors.
It kept on chugging…and the zero stayed pretty consistent for a hard hit.
I still highly recommend the AT3 RD-50 if always on battery life is important to you.
Brightness is a little dimmer so unless you’re on the surface of the sun like us…you should be fine.
Glass is clear, dot is crisp, and there’s only a slightly bigger glob and halo effect compared to the Primary Arms.
The $75 version doesn’t come with a riser but you can get the PRO version at $99 with one. Good deal for whatever height you’re going for…
2. Primary Arms Classic Red Dot Gen 2
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
Copied! Visit Merchant
Pros
- Brighter dot
- Clear glass and crisp dot
Cons
- Only 1000 hr battery life
- Some zero shift with impact
Another big contender in the under $100 red dot world is the Primary Arms Classic Red Dot (Gen 2).
It’s a definite step up from the TRS-25 with better battery management (I haven’t needed to change batteries for over 18 months).
And a sub-$100 acceptable 1000 hour on battery life.
But really…it has better overall build quality.
Though it’s more at around the $89 mark.
How’s it perform?
The glass is quite clear and the red dot is still very visible even in the bright-ass desert.
Its 2 MOA dot is smaller but better for precise shots up close and farther targets where a larger dot might obscure the entire thing.
Plus the glob of glue at 5 o’clock is also much smaller and doesn’t obstruct as much as the TRS.
And very negligible halo effects.
One small thing I don’t like about it is that the brightness adjustment knob doesn’t turn from 0 to 11…you gotta go all the way around.
Zero also held well through our testing for the last year or so.
Ok…rock time!
Direct hit on the elevation adjustment knob which caved it in a little. We needed pliers to remove it.
But the optic still worked and with no glass damage.
Zero shifted around 6 inches low though.
Which further extends our guess that all these budget red dots (and maybe higher end ones) will experience shift when their adjustment knobs are directly hit.
Still…I highly recommend the Primary Arms Classic Red Dot Gen 2 if you’re looking to stay under $100 and have a bright, clear, and reliable red dot.
However, a Primary Arms riser will run you around $24 extra.
What’s your take on the PA Classic Red Dot?
3. Bushnell TRS-25
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
Copied! Visit Merchant
Pros
- Most affordable option
- Tested well on our ARs and AKs
Cons
- Some zero shift with impact
- Only 1000 hr battery life
- Most greenish lens
One of our favorites and this tested TRS-25 has been with us for many years…
Racking up almost 3000 rounds…with the last 1000 or so on a harsh-recoiling AK-pistol.
It’s what we recommended to all our friends/family just getting into red dots.
For around $60 and sometimes cheaper on sale…the TRS-25 is solid.
However, there are some trade-offs…
The lens is pretty green.
It’s noticeable when you shoot but one advantage is that it allows easier acquisition of the red dot in really bright environments (like above).
Check it out in action on the range…
And indoors…
The reticle is 3 MOA (covers 3 inches at 100 yards) which makes it a little larger than its counterparts at 2 MOA.
Easier to acquire targets but may cover up smaller stuff at closer ranges.
And the “glob” of glue that holds in the red dot emitter at 5 o’clock is a little chunkier.
Again…budget red dot.
Battery life is meh but par for the course in the price range…it’s rated at somewhere around 1000 hours (with conflicting data).
That may be true with it on…but when it’s off you gotta change the battery at least every year (even when it’s off).
Mine has gone through at least 5 changes in the last 5 years.
For this reason I wouldn’t put it on a “bump in the night” gun because it could have drained its batteries.
But for a range gun…game on!
How about other stuff?
Its brightness knob is quite nice…good amount of resistance and you can turn it both ways (immediately go from 0 to max 11 brightness).
And zero? It’s held it great for its entire life…even on an AK pistol platform.
But now…we set up a target 50 yards away and zero on a small target.
Then we drop the unloaded rifle directly onto a rock and shoot at another target.
Actually not too bad for a direct hit onto exposed elevation turrets…about a 3 MOA shift.
Still perfect good for minute of bad guy.
But RIP to the turrets.
And a little damage to the rear glass. Optic still worked though!
All in all…I still love the TRS-25. For around $60 and even cheaper sometimes, it does its job.
I’d opt for the non-riser edition since the one it comes with SUCKS.
Then get yourself a UTG 1″riser for 1/3 cowitness.
Want more info? Check out our standalone review of the Bushnell TRS-25.
4. Dagger Defense DDHB
Just kidding…this one isn’t great comparatively.
The Dagger Defense DDHB is the cheapest red dot with decent reviews and comes in at around $50.
The front lens is shiny silver (so watch out for the snipers, lol).
It comes with its own mount that seems ok.
And gives you a dial for brightness and red/green color choice.
Plus a little dial for 4 different reticles.
So far…actually seems ok right?
And it is…for $40.
But there’s bad halo-ing and it was very difficult to see in bright sunlight.
We could barely see the green circle reticle.
I couldn’t find stats on its battery life when on…but the official Amazon seller says the battery should power it for a year.
Its elevation and windage adjustments are also Allen key screws on the side and top which doesn’t instill confidence. And there’s a zero lock-in Allen key too…
So how did it do against Mr. Rock?
It landed on the top side and put a little dent.
And badly cracked the front lens.
It turns on but is effectively taken out of the fight.
How did its zero fare?
And post-drop we had to hold 6-inch high to get on paper in roughly the same spot.
Still short range minute of bad guy? Up to you…
If you’ve absolutely only have around $55 to spend…you could do worse than the Dagger Defense.
But if I were you I’d save up for the TRS-25 if not the other ones.
Cowitnessing Sights
If you’re on an AR-15 type platform…you’re going to want some sort of red dot riser so you’re not breaking your neck.
Then it comes down to your preference of having a lower one-thirds cowitness…where with a normal cheekweld the red dot is over your irons…
Or going with an absolute cowitness where having a normal cheekweld puts the red dot directly in line with your irons.
In my opinion it gets too cluttered.
To go with a lower one-thirds cowitness, make sure to get a mount that is 1″ high. Like our recommended UTG 1″ Riser.
Or for absolute…get the shorter .83″ version.
Conclusion
Wooh, there you have it.
Lots of shooting and some destruction testing of some popular el cheapo red dots.
Any other affordable red dots you’d like us to test that aren’t complete Chinesium? Otherwise if you’re ready to ball it up a little check out our main Best Red Dots article.
LATEST UPDATES
May 2024: Added How We Tested and added additional experiences for each item.
11 Leave a Reply
Ruger ReadyDot - great choice for $99. Dot is big enough to see quickly, but not huge. No battery to run out. No delicate electronics - all fiber optics. No adjustments to make. If you mount it on the Ruger Max-9, it is already adjusted to 25 yards, which means you will effectively hit your target from about 10 yards to about 40 yards. If you co-witness the red dot with the built in iron sights, you WILL hit your target.
I think this will be better than this list.
Best Red Dot Sight for AR15 under $100, Better than Sig Sauer Romeo 5?
I'm wondering how old the Bushnell TRS25 is in this test? The TRS25 originally came with green tint glass, but Bushnell changed the TRS25 to a virtually clear tint glass many years ago. I have two TRS25 red dots and one is the old green tint glass and the other is the updated clear version.
I looked at the Primary Arms red dot and noticed it comes with a free mount for an AR, is it not okay, or is the UTG just that much better?
@Eric Hung would really appreciate a review of red dots that can survive on the ultimak rail of an AK. So far I've only Holosun and Aimpoint have made held zero. Everything else I've tried starts drifting after 90 or so rounds of rapid firing.
How do I go about measuring a red dot to figure my co-witness?
Do you want a full cowitness or a 1/3?
I have destroyed many cheap dots with recoil. Some sheared the mount screw. What has happened is the prism pops out of the tube. Chinese paper glue. The prism needs crimped to the tube. I fixed with steel bed but the position must be right.
The paltry recoil of an AR or any rifle does not come close to a big revolver. One time I read three pages about a Swift scope and how strong it was. I bought one and with 2 shots on my .475 it was a bag of broken glass. The replacement is on a .22 Ruger Mark.
Some of those things have one screw to hold to the base, forget it.
You get what you pay for only most times. Drop on rocks is not recoil.
Did you look at an Overlord?
HAHAHA! Love the blooper at the end of the video.... worth the price of admission.
Memo to self: get an AR with a picatinny rail and put a hooded front ramp sight on it. But first, paint said front sight hood and post's facing you side a bright neon color, too. You can get both Q tips at Walmart. Pharmacy, You can get bright neon paint tubes in the art department. The best cheap dot sight I have found, too.