[cciman]

Unfortunately this turns into BRANDNAME war (just like those lube and clean topics). Many optics (no matter the brand) are made in China (Primary, Vortex, Holosun, Swampfox, Romeo, Crimson, Burris, Bushnell...), and possibly by the same factories by contract, but come packaged in different labels with different price points based on the NAME on the label. Does Sam's Club really make their own paper towels....NO?

You are ultimately paying extra for the brand name and the marketing, and brand faith/loyalty.

If you personally can't physically jump out of a moving truck (because of your back or knees), never been to a 4 day rifle class, and don't plan on doing torture testing, and NEVER dropping your precious firearms on the pavement, you probably don't need to worry about the optic. If you have taxpayer money to spend then buy the mil-spec ninjas.

 

[eman2016]

I do not believe in a battle ready 600 red dot on every rifle but at the same time range time is precious and can be difficult to set aside. It is a bit maddening to make the time, load the truck, do the drive, get there and encounter a disappearing dot 2 magazines in. There definitely seems to be some 80-150 dollar dots that are less prone to this than others, even Chinese made.

 

[Steve Urquell]

I feel like your best bet when choosing a budget optic is to shop lifetime or long warranty and then read forum reviews on what the mfg does when a warranty issue arises.

ETA: The Chinese can build high quality products with good materials if the buyer specs them.

Just because different importers have the same housing on an optic doesn't mean they all have the same quality of internal components.

 

[ringel05]

I've had good luck with Bushnell, Sig Romeo, Monstrum, CVLife, Pinty, Crimson Trace.

 

[dla]

Holosun manufactures a number of brands. They features they offer (shake-awake, circle dot) are pretty nice.
I use a HS503gu, but I would buy the Sig Romeo5 on sale - same features for less money.

 

[nedsled]

Unfortunately this turns into BRANDNAME war (just like those lube and clean topics). Many optics (no matter the brand) are made in China (Primary, Vortex, Holosun, Swampfox, Romeo, Crimson, Burris, Bushnell...), and possibly by the same factories by contract, but come packaged in different labels with different price points based on the NAME on the label. Does Sam's Club really make their own paper towels....NO?

You are ultimately paying extra for the brand name and the marketing, and brand faith/loyalty.

If you personally can't physically jump out of a moving truck (because of your back or knees), never been to a 4 day rifle class, and don't plan on doing torture testing, and NEVER dropping your precious firearms on the pavement, you probably don't need to worry about the optic. If you have taxpayer money to spend then buy the mil-spec ninjas.

Did you say "$40 AR15 Rail Mount light?"

Oh... you didn't?

Nevermind. I'd never buy one either.