What are your preferences for red dot for an AR?

I just ordered an EoTech EXPS 3-0 for an AR.  My first AR had an EoTech 512, but I got rid of that dot a while ago.  Nothing was wrong with it and I didn't experience the problems with the battery compartment that many others reported.  I just chose to go a different way at the time.

Since the 512, all of my ARs have had Aimpoints.  CompM4s, T-1s, and a PRO.  All have worked flawlessly.  I recently sent the CompM4s back to Aimpoint because the dot would come on when the knob was turned completely off.  While the dot still worked, I didn't like that if I had the dot off when storing that it would drain the battery.  Aimpoint ended up replacing it with a new one.

My preferences currently are just 1x.  I haven't really tried a magnifier for that long, but I have never felt the need for one.  For my shooting, the 1x is fine, but I also understand that there are other uses where the magnifier would be helpful.  I've wanted to try a 1-6x or 1-8x for a while, but I could also see the magnifier being "competitive" in that group. 

For weight, I like that the T-1s are super light, but the size or weight of the CompM4s or the PRO have (ETA:) never really bothered me.

What is important is durability and reliability.  Aimpoints are well known for both.  I've read many things about the EoTechs and I've seen them have problems in classes as well as just on the range, but I also wondered if those were knockoff.  That and I've also seen Aimpoints have problems as well. 

I've also been interested in trying out dots like Primary Arms and Vortex, but just haven't had the chance. 

Aimpoint micro series is hard to beat in terms of ruggedness and reliability.  Always on feature is fantastic for home defense and I'm currently running a T2 on my AR.  I love Eotechs when the company doesn't lie their fucking balls off about thermal drift factors but as far as I know the problem is fixed on newer models.  It's really hard to beat their holographic reticle for both speed and precision and it's astigmatism proof.

Was using a Trijicon MRO for a while but the dot isn't nearly as crisp as the T2.  The blue tinge didn't bother me.

Aimpoint micro series is hard to beat in terms of ruggedness and reliability.  Always on feature is fantastic for home defense and I'm currently running a T2 on my AR.  I love Eotechs when the company doesn't lie their fucking balls off about thermal drift factors but as far as I know the problem is fixed on newer models.  It's really hard to beat their holographic reticle for both speed and precision and it's astigmatism proof.

Was using a Trijicon MRO for a while but the dot isn't nearly as crisp as the T2.  The blue tinge didn't bother me.

While I'm not too concerned about the thermal shift nor parallax issues, from reviews I've seen/read, the EXPS 3-0 has corrected that and has tested one of the best at minimizing effect of parallax. 

I too liked the EoTech reticle, or at least never found anything that I didn't like.

I wouldn't mind trying a T-2 or a CompM5, but those things are pricey.  I have two T-1s and I don't see myself needing to upgrade. 

I haven't really tried the MRO much, but I've heard good things.  I wouldn't mind trying one for a while as well. 

I have astigmatism. My contacts and glasses correct for it.  While even the 2 MOA dot can tend to bloom for me, I've never really noticed it being bad.  Some have reported that the dot looks like a " , " , but I haven't really noticed.  I zeroed my CompM4s this past weekend and when I zero, I dial it down to where I can barely see it and I recall the dot looking pretty crisp.  But yeah, the 1 MOA dot for the EoTech I always thought was super crisp, even with the brightness on the higher settings. 

Aimpoint micro series is hard to beat in terms of ruggedness and reliability.  Always on feature is fantastic for home defense and I'm currently running a T2 on my AR.  I love Eotechs when the company doesn't lie their fucking balls off about thermal drift factors but as far as I know the problem is fixed on newer models.  It's really hard to beat their holographic reticle for both speed and precision and it's astigmatism proof.

Was using a Trijicon MRO for a while but the dot isn't nearly as crisp as the T2.  The blue tinge didn't bother me.

Wait, "was" using?  So you got rid of it?  Or at least replaced with a T-2? 

Wow, big ballin'!   

While I'm not too concerned about the thermal shift nor parallax issues, from reviews I've seen/read, the EXPS 3-0 has corrected that and has tested one of the best at minimizing effect of parallax. 

I too liked the EoTech reticle, or at least never found anything that I didn't like.

I wouldn't mind trying a T-2 or a CompM5, but those things are pricey.  I have two T-1s and I don't see myself needing to upgrade. 

I haven't really tried the MRO much, but I've heard good things.  I wouldn't mind trying one for a while as well. 

I have astigmatism. My contacts and glasses correct for it.  While even the 2 MOA dot can tend to bloom for me, I've never really noticed it being bad.  Some have reported that the dot looks like a " , " , but I haven't really noticed.  I zeroed my CompM4s this past weekend and when I zero, I dial it down to where I can barely see it and I recall the dot looking pretty crisp.  But yeah, the 1 MOA dot for the EoTech I always thought was super crisp, even with the brightness on the higher settings.

The thermal shift was real.  Left my AR out in the sun when we had one of our shoots, think my zero moved about 3 inches at the 40-50 yards we were shooting at.  That's some crazy shit and for me was unacceptable... still haven't washed the taste out of my mouth lol.
 
I've got the same astigmatism, completely corrected with my glasses but it's not too bad without them.  Definitely notice it less on the aimpoint.

Wait, "was" using?  So you got rid of it?  Or at least replaced with a T-2? 

Wow, big ballin'!   

Yeah man, was my last purchase before Zoey crashed the party lol.  I've always loved their micros, finally decided to pull the trigger.  Also funny, I left the MRO on an AR I sold someone so I need to get that back lol... Maybe I'll let Bill try it out, I think he's still looking for a red dot for the DD AR he won at the FNRA dinner.

The thermal shift was real.  Left my AR out in the sun when we had one of our shoots, think my zero moved about 3 inches at the 40-50 yards we were shooting at.  That's some crazy shit and for me was unacceptable... still haven't washed the taste out of my mouth lol.
 
I've got the same astigmatism, completely corrected with my glasses but it's not too bad without them.  Definitely notice it less on the aimpoint.

Yeah man, was my last purchase before Zoey crashed the party lol.  I've always loved their micros, finally decided to pull the trigger.  Also funny, I left the MRO on an AR I sold someone so I need to get that back lol... Maybe I'll let Bill try it out, I think he's still looking for a red dot for the DD AR he won at the FNRA dinner.

Ya.  I wasn't saying that the thermal shift issues wasn't real.  I actually had perfect opportunities to test that as well.  In a class I took in Alaska, it was around 10 F in the morning and then the snow stopped and sun came out and it was 40-50s by the end of the day.  Crazy weather!  We had been shooting out to 200 that day as well. 

I've been interested in the T-2, but can't justify the upgrade from the T-1s I have.  Maybe if I could sell one of them for even half of what I paid for them, I would consider.  But then again, that's very much a "want" and not a "need". 

Bill hasn't gotten a red dot on that AR yet?  Isn't it like 3 years old?  Well, since you're such a nice guy, maybe you should loan it to him for testing, for like the next 5 years.   

Ya.  I wasn't saying that the thermal shift issues wasn't real.  I actually had perfect opportunities to test that as well.  In a class I took in Alaska, it was around 10 F in the morning and then the snow stopped and sun came out and it was 40-50s by the end of the day.  Crazy weather!  We had been shooting out to 200 that day as well. 

I've been interested in the T-2, but can't justify the upgrade from the T-1s I have.  Maybe if I could sell one of them for even half of what I paid for them, I would consider.  But then again, that's very much a "want" and not a "need". 

Bill hasn't gotten a red dot on that AR yet?  Isn't it like 3 years old?  Well, since you're such a nice guy, maybe you should loan it to him for testing, for like the next 5 years.   

lol I probably would do a "long term loan", Malia says I have a bad habit of giving my stuff away.  But no he just won it last November.  Was the HRA gun that we raffled off.

lol I probably would do a "long term loan", Malia says I have a bad habit of giving my stuff away.  But no he just won it last November.  Was the HRA gun that we raffled off.

Anything else you looking to give away?   

Anything else you looking to give away?   

Think I got some holsters lololol

I like the Eotech EXPS, but it goes through batteries quick.

I like the Eotech EXPS, but it goes through batteries quick.

Yeah, the battery life is definitely a trade-off for the Eotechs.

I like the Eotech EXPS, but it goes through batteries quick.

Yeah.  I don't recall the 512 eating through AAs that quickly, but I heard that the XPS series does go through them pretty quickly.  I have a good amount of CR123s for other things already, so hopefully can hopefully go through old stock. 

The EXPS came in last night.  Super fast shipping from OpticsPlanet.  Ordered super early Monday am, shipped out within hours.  Arrived in a little over 48 hours! 

Waiting for the upper to come back from having the muzzle device pinned/welded.  Hope to get the red dot zeroed this weekend. 

I was checking the EXPS out last night and the cover for the battery compartment was frozen.  I thought I was going to break the slot on the battery compartment cover.  I need a coin to replace the batteries on the Aimpoint Micro, but not sure if a quarter will be enough to open this one. 

OP, you're going to get a dozen recomendations.  For me it boiled down to the auto on/off feature that SIG Romeo5 has.

You touch the rifle, it turns on.  No movement for 2 mins, it turns off.  Extending battery life to 3 years or so. 

If I were to use my rifle for SD, i won't have time to turn the red dot on.  More important time spent pulling the charging handle.

And the Romeo5 is pretty cheap compared to others.  My AR has 1 and so does the wife's.

OP, you're going to get a dozen recomendations.  For me it boiled down to the auto on/off feature that SIG Romeo5 has.

You touch the rifle, it turns on.  No movement for 2 mins, it turns off.  Extending battery life to 3 years or so. 

If I were to use my rifle for SD, i won't have time to turn the red dot on.  More important time spent pulling the charging handle.

And the Romeo5 is pretty cheap compared to others.  My AR has 1 and so does the wife's.

Thanks.  In my case, I pretty much had my mind made up and was more or less starting a discussion to see what other's thoughts are.  That said, my mind isn't so made up that I won't try other things.  Like I mentioned above, I've been wanting to try other dots, like the Holosun and the newer Vortex UH-1.  Personal preference is a big thing as well as budget.  When I first got into ARs, the main choices I had were EoTech or Aimpoint.  I'm like to try out and decide for myself, so I ended up with a 512 on one gun and a T-1 on a second gun.  However, that was also when I had more gun funds to experiment like that. 

I've heard of good feedback on the Romeo5.  I've also seem the auto-on function as well as the mounting hardware fail.  That said, I've seen plenty of EoTechs and Aimpoints fail too. 

Both haven't failed yet, thanks now Murphy's gonna drop a bomb on the wife and I.  Good thing we got back up sights on both AR's.

What made me stay away from EO Tech was the price.  I'm not going to be in the bush, so I don't need a super weather resistant red dot.  If I were in the bush or LE, I would go with EO Tech.  The only other sight that was in the budget was the Hi-Lux red dot.  It stays on for 2-3 years.

I still use the CompM2 that I bought used about 15 years ago.  Still works great though I wish it had a smaller dot.  I'll replace it later when it breaks.  Probably never.

Zipps, you coming HDF shoot on Sat?  I know you mentioned you wanted to try my Gamma 556 comp.

Thinking of trying the Vortex “Huey” UH-1. It’s been getting quite good reviews and can be had for a decent price. I have other guns with “proven” red dots, so would be good to try against those.