Cheap red dot

[Grimah]

I'm new to airsoft and looking to buy a cheap red-dot for my Sig 556.

I've seen some articles showcasing some cheap good ones but most are american like: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01A8CY0WI/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=B01A8CY0WI&linkCode=as2&tag=lazereyes2403-20&linkId=b80eb66be06a7140380adab56679239b

I went looking around ebay and found a bunch of cheap ones shipped from UK/EU but have no idea how bad they are:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tactical-Holographic-Reflex-Red-Green-Dot-Sight-4-Type-Reticle-for-20mm-Rail/272993333911?epid=3009558757&hash=item3f8fabb297:g:gIoAAOSwYeRaPViq

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-Reticle-7-Mode-Dot-Sight-Scope-Tactical-Holographic-Projected-Reflex-Red-Laser/163243034614?epid=10020062861&hash=item26020b07f6:g:tgQAAOSwRtNbkUHc

Anyone got any recommendations? I'm looking for something cheap as I'm a noob and will probably break it or something.

 

[E21A]

Ta dah! 

View attachment 38587

 

[Gepard]

Ta dah! 

View attachment 38587

£22? I picked up this very sight for £3.99 on eBay last year - new!

 

[L3wisD]

I had one of the Pinty sights last year for £15 off Amazon.

Gone up a healthy percentage since then!

Decent sight though. Attached solidly and had a red/green crosshair. *shrug*

 

[Rogerborg]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tactical-Holographic-Reflex-Red-Green-Dot-Sight-4-Type-Reticle-for-20mm-Rail/272993333911?epid=3009558757&hash=item3f8fabb297:g:gIoAAOSwYeRaPViq

Is fine, that's the unbranded "Pinty".  I've bought two, passed one on to Workmate Eddy, and both are performing fine on airsoft toys.  They really do work well once you get used to them.

However, the lens is glass and it can be shot out, so I'd add a sight protector.  Depending on what lower face protection you're using, you may struggle to get your face close enough to the stock to see through it, in which case you can add a rail riser under the sight.

I like InYourSights on eBay.  You can get things for a few (or a lot) £££ less elsewhere if you want to gamble on BestJoyLuck99 stylee drop- or Chinese-shippers, but InYourSights are UK based and have always dispatched my orders same-day from UK stock.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Holographic-reflex-sight-4-reticle-red-green-dot-sight-suit-9-5-11mm-dovetail-/201476998442?hash=item2ee8f7052a

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Quick-release-8-slot-20mm-weaver-rail-riser-mount-Rifle-scope-riser-mount-/171387340318?hash=item27e77b461e

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rifle-sight-lens-protector-screen-Airsoft-holographic-sight-screen-Acog-551-552-/172286843629?hash=item281d189aed

Those sight protectors aren't ideal though as the lenses can be shot off, somewhat obviating the point of them.  The ghetto option is to get a cheap sheet of 2mm or 3mm polycarbonate, cut a piece to fit in front of the sight, drill and tap a 4mm thread into both, then just bolt it straight on.  Put the hole here:

 

[Adolf Hamster]

those sights are pretty decent for what they are, it's kind of impressive really what can be made for such a low cost .

just remember when zeroing it the springs don't hold it too well so you need to manually push it up against the stops on the adjuster screws (and that if it takes a knock in game it could push it off zero)

and it wont take a bb hit for sure.

 

[Rogerborg]

And don't back the height adjuster off too much or else the top of the unit will pop clear and require a bit of persuasion to re-seat and re-engage the screw thread.  Not a criticism of the unit, just avoidable user error.

 

[Grimah]

Thanks for all the feedback guys. I decided to get the Pinty, as I was unsure about the unbranded ones. Hope it works well!

 

[Gepard]

Thanks for all the feedback guys. I decided to get the Pinty, as I was unsure about the unbranded ones. Hope it works well!

They're all just rebrands of the same product. Doesn't matter who you buy from. 

 

[THE FNG]

Get the app called 'wish'. Very cheap sights on there, the items come from Asia but shipping is usually less than 2 weeks and no custom duties for some reason.

 

[skintrade]

Get the app called 'wish'. Very cheap sights on there, the items come from Asia but shipping is usually less than 2 weeks and no custom duties for some reason.

Yep, Wish is handy for odds n sods, lots of clones of bits, some are bad quality tho (take a punt if the price is low enough). Sometimes prices are actually cheaper here, but 80-90% of stuff you can find exactly the same bits from UK retailers. Just double check price with shipping against UK, and wait a couple of weeks. If you find the part on Amazon or eBay from a HK seller, there's a high chance it's the same part from the same factory from the same warehouse and the same seller!

Regarding duty, they often list the value as below VAT level. If the bits don't arrive, or there's a problem (not as listed etc), you generally get a refund instantly too.

 

[YorkieT17]

Sorry to hijack the thread but I was wondering if anyone could recommend any reflex or holographic sights for under £50. Cheaper the better really. Also considering a flip to the side magnifier in the near future.

Here’s the catch though I want to try find one in tan / dark earth. Want it to tie in with the 2 tone of my RIF. Had a little browse and also searched the forum, I saw this thread and one warning people off of the 551 style sights.

Theres this T1 style one from nuprol slightly over my budget but with enough recommendations I would be willing to go that far:

https://www.patrolbase.co.uk/we-europe-np-point-e1-rds-sight?pv=1298

or this EOTEC style one

https://www.patrolbase.co.uk/we-europe-wetech-882-holographic-sight?pv=1289

Or this

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Valken-Tactical-Red-Dot-RDA30/dp/B0142BJDI2/ref=mp_s_a_1_69?ie=UTF8&qid=1538677238&sr=1-69&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65

but honestly any suggestion in the correct colour is very welcome. Thanks in advance

 

[Rogerborg]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=reflex+sight++tan&_sop=15

Sadly I can't find a genuine UK seller in there, but you'd be looking at about 2 weeks from the Chinasellers.  I got one, they're generic, they work, and they're very fetching.

 

[Gepard]

Sorry to hijack the thread but I was wondering if anyone could recommend any reflex or holographic sights for under £50. Cheaper the better really. Also considering a flip to the side magnifier in the near future.

Here’s the catch though I want to try find one in tan / dark earth. Want it to tie in with the 2 tone of my RIF. Had a little browse and also searched the forum, I saw this thread and one warning people off of the 551 style sights.

Theres this T1 style one from nuprol slightly over my budget but with enough recommendations I would be willing to go that far:

https://www.patrolbase.co.uk/we-europe-np-point-e1-rds-sight?pv=1298

or this EOTEC style one

https://www.patrolbase.co.uk/we-europe-wetech-882-holographic-sight?pv=1289

Or this

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Valken-Tactical-Red-Dot-RDA30/dp/B0142BJDI2/ref=mp_s_a_1_69?ie=UTF8&qid=1538677238&sr=1-69&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65

but honestly any suggestion in the correct colour is very welcome. Thanks in advance

Reflex 

Eotech - 552 (glass can be dark on some. Flip of the coin really)

M68

FTS sights (the replicas) aren't the best. Wouldn't recommend them tbh. 

You really don't need to spend much on these red dots. Unless there's a certain model you like (such as a Comp M4) most of the cheap options will work fine for what you need them for. You do run the risk of the glass breaking on those reflex sights however, so bear that in mind. 

 

[Adolf Hamster]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=reflex+sight++tan&_sop=15

Sadly I can't find a genuine UK seller in there, but you'd be looking at about 2 weeks from the Chinasellers.  I got one, they're generic, they work, and they're very fetching.

apart from the potential glass cracking (which will happen with any cheap scope) these are pretty decent.

i've found the way the zeroing is done it can get knocked off quite easily, you have to hold the sight against the adjustment stoppers as you zero to ensure it's in the right place, and if it gets knocked off in the field you'll have to push it back again.

but otherwise nice and bright, crisp enough reticle for airsoft purposes and does the job of being a no eye relief red dot.

 

[YorkieT17]

Thanks very much to you all for taking the time to give a poor clueless noob some advice