Reflex sight warning

Rifle scopes, iron sights and optics. Spotting scopes and target acquisition devices.

Reflex sight warning

Post by deye243 » 28 May 2026, 9:48 pm

Just bought a reflex site for my 22 pistol figure I shouldn't have to spend $700 so I bought one of the very popular cheaper ones should have pulled it out of the box and turned it on before I left the shop because a red dot it was not was more like a star no matter what stage you set the brightness at , even for $300 i was expecting more than that .
User avatar
deye243
Major
Major
 
Posts: 2776
Victoria

Re: Reflex sight warning

Post by wrenchman » 28 May 2026, 10:25 pm

the vortex ones have been doing real well here the price is real good and have life time warrentys I do have one on one of my guns it was a gift and can say I like it
wrenchman
Warrant Officer C1
Warrant Officer C1
 
Posts: 1472
United States of America

Re: Reflex sight warning

Post by deye243 » 29 May 2026, 1:17 am

wrenchman wrote:the vortex ones have been doing real well here the price is real good and have life time warrentys I do have one on one of my guns it was a gift and can say I like it

Problem is I do not have that much spare cash 300 is my limit I can't afford the spend 550 dollars on a reflex .
Yes I do remember that favourite Australian saying you get what you pay for well no you don't in this country because you're pay through the ass and you get crap
User avatar
deye243
Major
Major
 
Posts: 2776
Victoria

Re: Reflex sight warning

Post by Damo300 » 29 May 2026, 1:32 am

deye243 wrote:
wrenchman wrote:the vortex ones have been doing real well here the price is real good and have life time warrentys I do have one on one of my guns it was a gift and can say I like it

Problem is I do not have that much spare cash 300 is my limit I can't afford the spend 550 dollars on a reflex .
Yes I do remember that favourite Australian saying you get what you pay for well no you don't in this country because you're pay through the ass and you get crap



Australia. The land of the middleman.

I opened up a ship to account years ago when our dollar was on par with the US.
It was fantastic.

Did I contribute to our retail demise?
Probably, but when I saved $1000 per motocross helmet, or $200 savings on AUSTRALIAN MADE FOOTPEGS" it paints a serious problem we have here in this country and I'm happy for those people creating this mess to go bust.
There's "making a profit" , then there's extortion.


Flame suit on....
I got handed a red dot.
I'm not up to scratch with the gel blasters, but I fitted this thing to my straight pull 12g and went to the range.
100 clays later, the thing is still going strong and works fantastic.
Holds zero.
WTF? This sight is for a Gel blaster... :lol:
Damo300
Private
Private
 
Posts: 95
Queensland

Re: Reflex sight warning

Post by deye243 » 29 May 2026, 3:48 am

Damo300 wrote:
deye243 wrote:
wrenchman wrote:the vortex ones have been doing real well here the price is real good and have life time warrentys I do have one on one of my guns it was a gift and can say I like it

Problem is I do not have that much spare cash 300 is my limit I can't afford the spend 550 dollars on a reflex .
Yes I do remember that favourite Australian saying you get what you pay for well no you don't in this country because you're pay through the ass and you get crap



Australia. The land of the middleman.

I opened up a ship to account years ago when our dollar was on par with the US.
It was fantastic.

Did I contribute to our retail demise?
Probably, but when I saved $1000 per motocross helmet, or $200 savings on AUSTRALIAN MADE FOOTPEGS" it paints a serious problem we have here in this country and I'm happy for those people creating this mess to go bust.
There's "making a profit" , then there's extortion.


Flame suit on....
I got handed a red dot.
I'm not up to scratch with the gel blasters, but I fitted this thing to my straight pull 12g and went to the range.
100 clays later, the thing is still going strong and works fantastic.
Holds zero.
WTF? This sight is for a Gel blaster... :lol:

I did the same on stihl parts bars and chains and leupold stuff all of it was 40% off the cost in Oz even after import .
Just look at the bloke that owns Bundaberg rum he can buy a bottle of his own spirit anywhere in the world for less than he has to pay in this f****** country
User avatar
deye243
Major
Major
 
Posts: 2776
Victoria

Re: Reflex sight warning

Post by Wapiti » 29 May 2026, 7:05 am

I bought a Zerotech 3 MOA Green dot for a couple of hundred bucks when I bought a 1-8X (which proved to be optically appalling) to stick on the Mrs shotgun.
Took two chances at once, the scope has parallax that bad built-in that you cannot use it to shoot groups to test ammo. Every time you lift your head and work the action and replace your face, the crosshairs are somewhere else. $900 of glossy advertising rubbish.

But the green dot reflex has held up, and I'm amazed at the sharpness of the bright daylight dot. Green was touted as less likely to have a crap image for us with older eyes and flare and star. The "shake awake" seems to work just fine so far, but less than 100 rounds of buckshot is probably not a long term test.

But what really sh*ts me is the latest SSAA magazines and the Youtube Sporting Shooter videos chokka full of ads and "Paid ads" that look like articles on this brand's scopes, which to me scream "sell out" for dollars at the expense of us consumers. Maybe some are OK.
"The only way to avoid criticism is to do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing."
Aristotle.
Regards G,
AKA Dr. Doolittle
Wapiti
Lieutenant
Lieutenant
 
Posts: 2414
Queensland

Re: Reflex sight warning

Post by bigpete » 29 May 2026, 7:39 am

deye243 wrote:Just bought a reflex site for my 22 pistol figure I shouldn't have to spend $700 so I bought one of the very popular cheaper ones should have pulled it out of the box and turned it on before I left the shop because a red dot it was not was more like a star no matter what stage you set the brightness at , even for $300 i was expecting more than that .


Get your eyes checked. Classic sign of astigmatism. You could give me a 2000 dollar red dot and it would do that if I'm not wearing glasses
bigpete
Brigadier
Brigadier
 
Posts: 4205
South Australia

Re: Reflex sight warning

Post by Wapiti » 29 May 2026, 7:59 am

bigpete wrote:
deye243 wrote:Just bought a reflex site for my 22 pistol figure I shouldn't have to spend $700 so I bought one of the very popular cheaper ones should have pulled it out of the box and turned it on before I left the shop because a red dot it was not was more like a star no matter what stage you set the brightness at , even for $300 i was expecting more than that .


Get your eyes checked. Classic sign of astigmatism. You could give me a 2000 dollar red dot and it would do that if I'm not wearing glasses



That's bloody true alright.
Which is why I bought a green dot.
Because I have bad astigmatism.

I must say though, that I have a Leupold DeltaPoint Pro with a red dot, and it's clear and sharp ALL THE TIME. The Vortex one, also a red dot, I bought for a cheapie flares like a campfire.
But it's typical Vortex Chinese compromise junk.

So when you buy Chinese, it's not always your astigmatism. This is true, but it's also used as an excuse to sell rubbish too.
"The only way to avoid criticism is to do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing."
Aristotle.
Regards G,
AKA Dr. Doolittle
Wapiti
Lieutenant
Lieutenant
 
Posts: 2414
Queensland

Re: Reflex sight warning

Post by straightshooter » 29 May 2026, 8:31 am

bigpete wrote:
deye243 wrote:Just bought a reflex site for my 22 pistol figure I shouldn't have to spend $700 so I bought one of the very popular cheaper ones should have pulled it out of the box and turned it on before I left the shop because a red dot it was not was more like a star no matter what stage you set the brightness at , even for $300 i was expecting more than that .


Get your eyes checked. Classic sign of astigmatism. You could give me a 2000 dollar red dot and it would do that if I'm not wearing glasses

Not necessarily astigmatism.
If deye243 is well into his 50's or older it is more likely caused by presbyopia which is not so noticeable in bright light but gets worse in dull light.
Any old optometrist will be of little help. Better to track down an optometrist that is aware of the special needs of shooters and especially pistol shooters in his case.
"Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about."
"There is no expedient to which a man will not resort to avoid the real labor of thinking." Sir Joshua Reynolds
straightshooter
Warrant Officer C1
Warrant Officer C1
 
Posts: 1437
New South Wales

Re: Reflex sight warning

Post by bladeracer » 29 May 2026, 11:48 am

Wapiti wrote:I must say though, that I have a Leupold DeltaPoint Pro with a red dot, and it's clear and sharp ALL THE TIME.


What about when you get water on the screen?
Practice Strict Gun Control - Precision Counts!
User avatar
bladeracer
Field Marshal
Field Marshal
 
Posts: 14022
Victoria

Re: Reflex sight warning

Post by Wapiti » 29 May 2026, 12:29 pm

Ah, the old hunters trick mate.
You know that spray on / wipe off stuff you use on your motorbike visors and mirrors and windscreens where water just can sit on vertical surfaces?
Water just streaks off? Anti-fog too?
C'mon mate, "Blade" suggests you have been unfortunate enough to own Hondas, or am I mistaken? :sarcasm:

Water just isn't an issue, or dust for that matter. It's anti-water and anto-static.
Great for hunting scopes too, although I insist on flip-up caps for my outdoor rifles.

Although what I meant was, although red dots do show up as starry flaring things in Vortex or Zerotech I happened to buy, and green doesn't seem to at all, the red dot in the US-made Leupold is super sharp no matter what the intensity set, or at night even when set too bright.
Make that what you will, I think it reinforces where it's made and the reputational expectations and achievements of the company itself.
Maybe these flaring, sparkling dots on these Chinese sights are just an excuse to blame eye issues of the user, where other red dots definitely don't do it?

Just an observation, definately NOT a shot at cheaper gear. There is a right way to make something, and a corner-cutting way, and there is no reason it should cost any more. I think too many companies don't care what they sell to consumers.
"The only way to avoid criticism is to do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing."
Aristotle.
Regards G,
AKA Dr. Doolittle
Wapiti
Lieutenant
Lieutenant
 
Posts: 2414
Queensland

Re: Reflex sight warning

Post by Fester » 29 May 2026, 3:28 pm

Cheap red dots can be good or bad, a Tasco that cost next to nothing seemed OK on the PPC so I bought the smaller diamiter Bushnell for my banned shotty.
In bright daylight, I can hardly see the dot on the brightest setting.

Played with another bloke's rifle with a later model Zerotech, and it was very impressive, and about $300 back then.
I would have bought one, but relized I would then lose the cheekweld.

No way will I pay the Aimpoint type prices for one.
Fester
Corporal
Corporal
 
Posts: 388
New South Wales

Re: Reflex sight warning

Post by deye243 » 29 May 2026, 6:33 pm

straightshooter wrote:
bigpete wrote:
deye243 wrote:Just bought a reflex site for my 22 pistol figure I shouldn't have to spend $700 so I bought one of the very popular cheaper ones should have pulled it out of the box and turned it on before I left the shop because a red dot it was not was more like a star no matter what stage you set the brightness at , even for $300 i was expecting more than that .


Get your eyes checked. Classic sign of astigmatism. You could give me a 2000 dollar red dot and it would do that if I'm not wearing glasses

Not necessarily astigmatism.
If deye243 is well into his 50's or older it is more likely caused by presbyopia which is not so noticeable in bright light but gets worse in dull light.
Any old optometrist will be of little help. Better to track down an optometrist that is aware of the special needs of shooters and especially pistol shooters in his case.

Well I'm 61 and don't wear glasses only for reading i can still see a rabbit at 350y + , my arms are too short I can't even focus on the front sight anymore which is why all my Pistols are getting reflex sites makes a hell of a difference
User avatar
deye243
Major
Major
 
Posts: 2776
Victoria

Re: Reflex sight warning

Post by deye243 » 29 May 2026, 6:38 pm

Wapiti wrote:Ah, the old hunters trick mate.
You know that spray on / wipe off stuff you use on your motorbike visors and mirrors and windscreens where water just can sit on vertical surfaces?
Water just streaks off? Anti-fog too?
C'mon mate, "Blade" suggests you have been unfortunate enough to own Hondas, or am I mistaken? :sarcasm:

Water just isn't an issue, or dust for that matter. It's anti-water and anto-static.
Great for hunting scopes too, although I insist on flip-up caps for my outdoor rifles.

Although what I meant was, although red dots do show up as starry flaring things in Vortex or Zerotech I happened to buy, and green doesn't seem to at all, the red dot in the US-made Leupold is super sharp no matter what the intensity set, or at night even when set too bright.
Make that what you will, I think it reinforces where it's made and the reputational expectations and achievements of the company itself.
Maybe these flaring, sparkling dots on these Chinese sights are just an excuse to blame eye issues of the user, where other red dots definitely don't do it?

Just an observation, definately NOT a shot at cheaper gear. There is a right way to make something, and a corner-cutting way, and there is no reason it should cost any more. I think too many companies don't care what they sell to consumers.

I am assuming this flairing could possibly be caused by the cheaper manufacturers using coatings on the lens that are not good enough that's my assumption
Last edited by deye243 on 30 May 2026, 2:26 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
deye243
Major
Major
 
Posts: 2776
Victoria

Re: Reflex sight warning

Post by Wapiti » 29 May 2026, 6:51 pm

Quite possibly. It could also be the glass, or even the actual wavelength that some cheap lasers actually run at, despite their claims. I've heard some actually fluctuate in beam delivery, sort of similar to chatter or vibration.

I remember the old story years ago when a gunshop owner told me that a certain Austrian scope make was inferior to a big German name. He said, scopes arten't some old bag's crystal figurines...
This day was rainy, daylight was dull-as and it was getting late in the afternoon. I walked outside with both scope brands of the same power and tube and the difference was completely obvious when I looked way down the road and out towards the ocean. And he was bullsh*tting, obviously not to be listened to again.

Definitely worth comparing brands in both dull and bright light conditions, on all dot brightness settings. Unfortunately.
"The only way to avoid criticism is to do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing."
Aristotle.
Regards G,
AKA Dr. Doolittle
Wapiti
Lieutenant
Lieutenant
 
Posts: 2414
Queensland

Re: Reflex sight warning

Post by wrenchman » 29 May 2026, 11:26 pm

I am sorry to hear that about the shipping I was hoping you guys were getting the same sales there are deals going right now I have not seen in years for some reason.
I do tend to think that you can get them I ran into a issue a few years ago buying from Canada guy had a barrel for sale I couldn't get it sent here so I just drove the half hour and picked it up and it was u.s import laws
wrenchman
Warrant Officer C1
Warrant Officer C1
 
Posts: 1472
United States of America

Re: Reflex sight warning

Post by No1_49er » 30 May 2026, 6:44 am

wrenchman wrote:I am sorry to hear that about the shipping I was hoping you guys were getting the same sales there are deals going right now I have not seen in years for some reason.
I do tend to think that you can get them I ran into a issue a few years ago buying from Canada guy had a barrel for sale I couldn't get it sent here so I just drove the half hour and picked it up and it was u.s import laws

We suffer the same insanity with the ITAR rules, which in some circumstances might have some validity.
There are businesses in the US that could be making sqillions of dollars by being able to sell (and ship) parts for old US made firearms. An example would be parts for old Marlins made by Wisners. There are many more examples.
Proud member of "the powerful gun lobby" of Australia :)
No1_49er
Warrant Officer C2
Warrant Officer C2
 
Posts: 1010
Queensland


Back to top
 
Return to Scopes, sights and optics