Are you looking for an optical ar15 red dot sight with high value but low budget? If yes, you must read my this post. I've had many bad experiences purchasing low budget red dot sights, had to return it , then try again and again. It is really tough to find the best reflex sight under $100. But I will make this be easier!
Is $100 Enough For a Quality and Durable AR15 Red Dot Sight?
Yes. With the improvement in electronic reflex sight technology, It’s becoming easier to innovate. With the optimization in production process, the marginal cost of production is becoming lower.
That said, We can choose a quality red dot sight for ar 15 less than 100 dollars. There is some way to go with a $450 red dot sight, so It will be important to temper your expectations.
What are the important tips to Choose a Best Red Dot Sight For AR15 Under $100
- Low-power consumption for long battery time.
- HD Glass make the red dot as clear as possible.
- Hold up to strong recoil, withstand >800g
- 3+ Years Warranty
Now, I've try and test a lot of high value but budget-friendly red dot sights, you can have a dependable red dot that make shooting more accuracy on for under $100.  We will cover four of the most popular budget red dots and rank them in reliability, clarity, mounting options, and more.
Primary Arms MD-RBGII Click(Know More)
This is a premium optic at a very competitive price. I mounted it to my AR and co-witnessed it with my iron sites. I've had it at the range twice now, and put a few hundred rounds down range each time. It was easy to zero it and it has held its zero perfectly. The red dot is clear and bright. It is easy to acquire and has little to no parallax. Perfect for range and home defense.
Pros:
- Rugged and Durable
- The 2 MOA dot is crisp and clear
- The wind and elevation adjustment screws are easily accessible and click when you turn them to lock in place
- It comes with a double cap rubber cover that protects it from dust and scratches and can easily be removed fast
Cons:
- The wind and elevation screws are too big
- Compared to the overall size, the red dot window is very small at 0.6 inches diameter.
- Â It does not have an auto shut off feature so at some point in time you will store it without turning it off and the battery will be depleted
- It has 11 steps of brightness but the first 3 steps are useless
 AT3 Tactical RD-50 Click(Know More)
Overall a great sight for the money. Brightness settings all work well, sturdy construction. Attached it to my rifle via UTG Super Slim Riser, zeroed it, & 300 rounds later, point of aim = point of impact. However the “up to 50,000 hour” claim is total BS. I used it for maybe 3 hours on a mid range setting, then after putting it up it got bumped and was on at its lowest setting for about a day and a half.
Pros:
- Rugged and Lightweight
- Got it zeroed quickly
- The wind and elevation adjustment screws are easily accessible and click when you turn them to lock in place
- Good quality lens.
Cons:
- It does not have an auto shut off feature so at some point in time you will store it without turning it off and the battery will be depleted
- Can tend to “starburst” which can be annoying in the sight picture at times.
Bushnell TRS-25Â Click(Know More)
Bushnell was a good brand. This is a classic red dot sight at a very good price. Yes, you will want a much more expensive one for serious tactical sharpshooting, this has a 3 MOA dot that will cover a target at longer distances. But it is easy to sight in, provides a very clear and visible dot and, with the right size riser, co-witnesses on my AR extremely well.
Pros:
- Bushnell brand name.
- Lightweight & Sturdy
- Batteries very available and cheap
- Incredibly easy to zero
- Holds zero after thousands of rounds
Con's
- Brightness adjustment knob is a little stiff ( but will prevent it from accidentally turning on)
- Brightness knob notches are muddy and impossible to tell exactly where it is
- You will see in green if you use this red dot like a scope.
- Could have an auto shut off feature, but not the end of the world
- Lens quality is poor, has noticeable staring of the dot on anything
Cyelee T2 Red Dot Sight Click(Know More)
For the cost you get a good red dot that stays on zero, is pretty durable, and has excellent battery life.  Used it on a Ruger PC9 Carbine that has more than 1000 rounds through it, and has been dropped and tested for sight alignment with no change. The glass is clear and the dot is as large and bright as you need (both night and day), Rugged enough to survive most common applications and conditions.
Pros:
- Very affordable price
- Very Compact & Sturdy
- Incredibly easy to zero
- Holds zero after thousands of rounds
- Crisp, very bright red dot.
- Added one more glasses to protect objective lens
- Have an auto shut off feature
- Uses the most common and inexpensive battery
 Con's
- Can tend to “starburst” which can be annoying in the sight picture at times.
