First Red Dot Sight/Scope?
 

I'm getting a scope since it's pretty hard to use iron sights with a mask on, so I'm looking for a decent entry level red dot sight/scope for my M4A1 Carbine that's under $50 (including shipping + tax). I'll mostly be in CQB but sometimes go out to fields. The reason why I like tubes is because it's a lower chance of getting the lens shot out... I think.:confused:

I took a look at Airsoft Peak and saw a few:

The first one, looks really cool and comes with a killflash, but will it make any difference than the second one?
Is the price higher just because of the cosmetics?
Will the kill flash protect the lens if it gets shot?

The second one is the cheapest one I found.

The third is basically the same to the second one but with a larger lens I guess. (Worth an additional $5?)

1. http://www.airsoftpeak.com/redgreen-...ck-p-9792.html

2. http://www.airsoftpeak.com/rd30-30mm...cope-p-47.html

3. http://www.airsoftpeak.com/1x42-gree...e-p-11440.html

Get whatever you like, just be sure it runs on AA or AAA batteries, otherwise you'll end up paying more for obscure types of batteries than you will for the sight itself!

my killflash has been hit to the point of knocking paint off it... lens still ok

I have a similar version of the first one. The kill flash has been shot countless times and held up well. It gets dented slightly, but you just use the right sized hex key and pop it through the holes and it fixes it right up.

If you can't see through the iron sights with your current mask, you're gonna need a riser for your reddot.

These give tons of clearance but looks a little silly
http://www.airsoftpeak.com/ar15m16-2...dles-p-70.html


There are also ones like this, not sure if this particular one will be tall enough for you.
http://www.airsoftpeak.com/universal...rail-p-71.html

This is a great red dot if you're not necessarily looking for a mil type repro, much better quality than most repros. The dot is nice and crisp and the brightness variation is good for bright days and lower light applications. It's made for real steel so it will hold zero on a GBB. A BB hit will break the lens (as with all red dots) so some sort of protection is a good idea (I attached a piece of plexi to mine). I didn't care for the trades but they rubbed off easily.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brows....jsp?locale=en

With taxes it will be over $50 but you won't have to wait for shipping.

Check these out: http://www.airsoftstore.ca/index.php...roducts_id=198

Apparently they're quite good. You may wish to acquire a kill-flash though, so your $50 item doesn't become a paperweight.

The worst problem I have encountered with cheap red dots is the brightness settings in daylight/snow. With cheaper ones, you cannot see the dot at all, and you may end up spending more in the long run, purchasing multiple optics.

Oh! And for slightly more money, you can get a mount. Thus eliminating your mask-is-too-big issue. http://www.airsoftstore.ca/index.php...roducts_id=197

The Tasco Red Dot that was mentioned is phenomenal. It's meant for up to a .375/ 2" 12ga, so it's more than enough, and at a good price too.

You can pay 50 for a crap clone sight that looks like something else, or pay the same for a real sight that works better but doesn't look as fancy from the outside. Function over form.

Alright, the tasco seems promising, thanks!

My though exactly.

I have been running the same Tasco RDS for... 7 years I think.
The rubberized finish is all gone, and the metal was painted black under (now shows quite a lot of silver on the edges)
It NEVER lost zero, and unless you forget it on, the battery will work for over a year. Replacement battery is a CR2036, same battery used in PCs for internal clock and easy to find everywhere.

I have this exact scope, but with a "wide-view" (see link below).

http://www.badlandspaintball.com/TAS...Dot_p_869.html

If your mask is getting in the way, I suggest using this one instead. The pros to the bigger lens is that it makes it easier to acquire targets. However, bigger also means heavier.

One thing to note about this scope is that no kill flash fits it. So, instead, I've been using this as an alternative. It works just fine, but the lens needs to be replaced if it shatters (it can take a good 4-6 shots).

http://airsoftdepot.ca/catalog/produ...oducts_id=1201

As for batteries, it uses a CR2023, which can be purchased at Canadian Tire ($5 or so), or on amazon.

I just use polycarbonate on mine. Cut some discs out (I used tin snips as my stuff was pretty thick) and hockey/electrical tape them on. You could use glue (not super glue though - it's brittle and may crack if the lens is hit), but tape makes it easy to put on a new disc if it gets too dented/distorted or scratched.

If you use real optics, I don't see why you bother.
For example, that Tasco 30mm RDS I use is garanteed against lend shatter. They don't specify impact or not, but a destroyed lens from recoil vs a BB impact would probably look the same (assuming the lens did break).

In the last 7 year, I got multiple hits on the glass, and worst that happened was some BB dust left over.

THIS !

Actually most red dots tend to run on common button cell watch (LR41) batteries or calculator batteries (CR2032), not AA/AAA (only some Eotechs, Comp M4).

Better safe than sorry.