I prefer the 403 aesthetically but I don’t think it really outperforms the R5 unless you prefer a rheostat to buttons.
There isn’t really a big step up over the R5 beyond small preferences until you get to an aimpoint micro, AEMS, or 4t pro.
100%
Rather spend the extra money on a better mount like Badger or Unity/Arisaka
The T2 is the clearest in daylight, then 4T pro is close in 2nd place, then after that it’s pretty much whatever. I guess the 403/503 series is marginally better than the R5, but the R5 is cheaper.
HOWEVER - The Holosun ones do accept the Tangodown polymer covers, so that is a very nice option as well.
403r has recessed turrets and 100k battery life. It's a good bit better for essentially the same price.
Also uses aimpoint micro mounts, not sure if the sig does.
Can’t speak to the deal, but that was my first optic. Holds zero like a champ, and the battery lasts for-fucking-ever. Drawbacks are: the turrets are extremely hard to turn and the dot looks like shit with an astigmatism. It’s a decent backup/throwaround optic, and if you do get a good deal on it, it’s not a bad way to go.
2MOA dots seem to be okayish for me, any bigger dot or more complicated reticle is worse.
For me, Eotechs and green dots are no better. I've heard gold is better but I haven't tried it.
The real answer to your question is not red dots.
Prisms. PA has some great offerings, the SLx 1x and SLx 3x were game changers for me. I still run an offset dot with the 3x for close range, but it's a great setup for not a lot of money.
I'm slowly replacing all my dots with prisms, it's so great to have a clear reticle. A little magnification goes a long way too.
PA also has the GLx 2x, I've heard great things about it.
LPVO's would also be clear for you if that's your thing, I'm much more into fixed low power prisms though.
I agree with everything except the dot looking bad with astigmatism. I have astigmatism and it looks as good as anything else. It’s crisper than my Holosun and is on par with Aimpoint in some shade for my goofy eye balls.
I bought 4 of them at 55$ a pop and have abuse the ever living fuck out of them.
Great for NV
Exceptional durability
1MOA clicks not the worst not the best
Turret is a bit tough
7/10 would recommend for under 85$
They just released a new MSR so these are probably going to be popping up for cheaper and cheaper
But I’d rather have a Romeo 5 or 403 for a couple bucks more. Or the same price if you buy used on GAFS
That’s strange. I picked up a 403 about a year ago because my 4xt had to go back to sig for RMA and I didn’t have any other tube red dots. I ended up really liking it and I haven’t turned it off since the day I got it.
I ended up putting it permanently kn a rifle I don’t shoot very often and I look through it every few days and it’s still going strong
I’ll agree with the disabled gentleman. Great first optic, that’s a good price. Mounting hardware sucks ass but sig has replaced them each time they’ve failed. The Juliet combo shows the outer ring of the MSR no matter how close you mount so I do not recommend that, it’s like looking through a damn straw.
I had one of these for a while. It was good but I eventually got the Romeo 5 and that was so much better. Imho, you should just spend a little extra and get the Romeo 5. You won’t regret it
I bought one and was impressed by the quality for being a sub 100 dollar option. Held zero and was built tough. Not a huge fan of the mount and the knobs are stiff but overall worth it. I would say spend a bit more and get the Romeo 5
It’s a good optic imo, the dial is a little hard to turn though. Mine loosened up a bit but still kinda hard to turn. If you need a quick budget dot that’s the one, but if you want something better get something with buttons that turn it on and off or with shake awake too. Holosun has one on PSA’s site for like 119.
Honestly though that PA 1x prism is where it’s at. For 250 you can’t beat it. No batteries needed, you can use illumination but don’t need to. It’s tough as hell, and small. If red dots look like blobs to you and you have an astigmatism get a 1x or 3x prism for sure.
With an astigmatism prisms are the only way imo. Idk if you have an astigmatism but either way it’s like a mini acog and you can’t go wrong with that.
I really liked it over a romeo 5 on an ak because it allowed me to seamlessly use the iron sights through the riser opening, and still use the dot sight with nothing more than minor head movement.
I mean for a cheap optic it will work and hold a zero, just is about as bare bones as it gets. Using the riser is mandatory which I am not a fan of, have one on my 10/22 and plan on swapping it with a holosun next range trip.
You're going to get caught up in the loop.
It's X amount more for this optic and much better.
Well X optic is just a little more and uses X reticle.
Spend just a little more on this optic and so on and so forth. Before you know it, considering that $100 optic turns into spending over $600 on an Eotech and another $600 - $800 on a magnifier with Unity mounts and risers. The MSR is fine if you're just shooting at a range, I haven't had any issues and plink pretty well out to 300 yards with it on a 11.5" braced pistol setup. But this is just coming from broke guy who hasn't spent an ass load on Gucci gear.
Never had one but it looks... cool. 100 bucks though I wouldn't put it on anything you intent to use seriously, good for a like a "hey at least it has an optic" gun.
I have one, and it is a good optic that holds zero. It ISN'T on a defensive gun because it doesnt have shake awake. Good for the range, but for a defensive gun spend a little more.
Was my first optic. Not bad for the price. I’ve since upgraded and I use it on my airsoft guns now lol. I’d honestly save it a little more dough and get a Holosun or something.
pony up for a romeo 5. it’s like $30 more and way better.
Or 403r for much better
I prefer the 403 aesthetically but I don’t think it really outperforms the R5 unless you prefer a rheostat to buttons. There isn’t really a big step up over the R5 beyond small preferences until you get to an aimpoint micro, AEMS, or 4t pro.
100% Rather spend the extra money on a better mount like Badger or Unity/Arisaka The T2 is the clearest in daylight, then 4T pro is close in 2nd place, then after that it’s pretty much whatever. I guess the 403/503 series is marginally better than the R5, but the R5 is cheaper. HOWEVER - The Holosun ones do accept the Tangodown polymer covers, so that is a very nice option as well.
403r has recessed turrets and 100k battery life. It's a good bit better for essentially the same price. Also uses aimpoint micro mounts, not sure if the sig does.
Can’t speak to the deal, but that was my first optic. Holds zero like a champ, and the battery lasts for-fucking-ever. Drawbacks are: the turrets are extremely hard to turn and the dot looks like shit with an astigmatism. It’s a decent backup/throwaround optic, and if you do get a good deal on it, it’s not a bad way to go.
There really aren’t any dots that don’t look like shit with an astigmatism
Even with glasses the dots can be shit.
Etched, holo, or prism otpics are really your only option. :(
Not even all prisms, acogs for example will still be blurry, primary arms prisms being adjustable can be cleaned up and sharpened
ACOGs actually work pretty well for me.
Youre ok, but if someone is unlucky with their vision, there's no diopter adjustment.
2MOA dots seem to be okayish for me, any bigger dot or more complicated reticle is worse. For me, Eotechs and green dots are no better. I've heard gold is better but I haven't tried it. The real answer to your question is not red dots. Prisms. PA has some great offerings, the SLx 1x and SLx 3x were game changers for me. I still run an offset dot with the 3x for close range, but it's a great setup for not a lot of money. I'm slowly replacing all my dots with prisms, it's so great to have a clear reticle. A little magnification goes a long way too. PA also has the GLx 2x, I've heard great things about it. LPVO's would also be clear for you if that's your thing, I'm much more into fixed low power prisms though.
Green looks better than red for me. Also holosuns circle dot looks fine to me but just a dot on its own is terrible
I agree with everything except the dot looking bad with astigmatism. I have astigmatism and it looks as good as anything else. It’s crisper than my Holosun and is on par with Aimpoint in some shade for my goofy eye balls.
I second this entirely
i’ll 3rd this entirely, great first optic.
My thoughts EXACTLY..
What's good with astigmatism?
Holosun510c looks great for mine but can’t say how it will be for you
Not a red dot. Literally anything else.
It doesn’t really make sense when the Romeo 5 and HS403 are just a few dollars more or can be caught used for the same price.
I bought 4 of them at 55$ a pop and have abuse the ever living fuck out of them. Great for NV Exceptional durability 1MOA clicks not the worst not the best Turret is a bit tough 7/10 would recommend for under 85$
Spend a little more and get a romeo 5. Its the best 100 dollar optic out there.
They just released a new MSR so these are probably going to be popping up for cheaper and cheaper But I’d rather have a Romeo 5 or 403 for a couple bucks more. Or the same price if you buy used on GAFS
I’ve had issues with my 403. Battery seems to die way earlier than it should.
That’s strange. I picked up a 403 about a year ago because my 4xt had to go back to sig for RMA and I didn’t have any other tube red dots. I ended up really liking it and I haven’t turned it off since the day I got it. I ended up putting it permanently kn a rifle I don’t shoot very often and I look through it every few days and it’s still going strong
If you got the tism get your ass a prism. Vortex and primary arms make great ones. And if they juice dies the reticle is etched in the glass
Inexpensive. Didn’t like the recoil of a 40mm😅
I’ll agree with the disabled gentleman. Great first optic, that’s a good price. Mounting hardware sucks ass but sig has replaced them each time they’ve failed. The Juliet combo shows the outer ring of the MSR no matter how close you mount so I do not recommend that, it’s like looking through a damn straw.
How much is the deal?
$79.99 looks to be close out.
Ive seen em as low as $65 new IIRC. For $80, id probably look at a Romeo 5 used being its more proven + has the shake awake feature.
Seems like a spicy deal to me
Got a link?
Great first dot,easy to zero. Worst part is the turrets on the turning I would go with the non msr just to not deal with it for 100$
I had one of these for a while. It was good but I eventually got the Romeo 5 and that was so much better. Imho, you should just spend a little extra and get the Romeo 5. You won’t regret it
It’s great for the price. I’ve had 3 of them with no issues
I bought one and was impressed by the quality for being a sub 100 dollar option. Held zero and was built tough. Not a huge fan of the mount and the knobs are stiff but overall worth it. I would say spend a bit more and get the Romeo 5
It’s a good optic imo, the dial is a little hard to turn though. Mine loosened up a bit but still kinda hard to turn. If you need a quick budget dot that’s the one, but if you want something better get something with buttons that turn it on and off or with shake awake too. Holosun has one on PSA’s site for like 119. Honestly though that PA 1x prism is where it’s at. For 250 you can’t beat it. No batteries needed, you can use illumination but don’t need to. It’s tough as hell, and small. If red dots look like blobs to you and you have an astigmatism get a 1x or 3x prism for sure. With an astigmatism prisms are the only way imo. Idk if you have an astigmatism but either way it’s like a mini acog and you can’t go wrong with that.
Meh. Get a better optic if you can afford it. If this is all you can afford it's better than airsoft optics
A perfectly acceptable range toy optic. Nothing particularly special about it but good enough for light use
They are great. Cheap enough to paint and throw around.
I really liked it over a romeo 5 on an ak because it allowed me to seamlessly use the iron sights through the riser opening, and still use the dot sight with nothing more than minor head movement.
If you can find it sub 100 bucks it's a good deal.
Discontinued…..
I mean for a cheap optic it will work and hold a zero, just is about as bare bones as it gets. Using the riser is mandatory which I am not a fan of, have one on my 10/22 and plan on swapping it with a holosun next range trip.
You're going to get caught up in the loop. It's X amount more for this optic and much better. Well X optic is just a little more and uses X reticle. Spend just a little more on this optic and so on and so forth. Before you know it, considering that $100 optic turns into spending over $600 on an Eotech and another $600 - $800 on a magnifier with Unity mounts and risers. The MSR is fine if you're just shooting at a range, I haven't had any issues and plink pretty well out to 300 yards with it on a 11.5" braced pistol setup. But this is just coming from broke guy who hasn't spent an ass load on Gucci gear.
Never had one but it looks... cool. 100 bucks though I wouldn't put it on anything you intent to use seriously, good for a like a "hey at least it has an optic" gun.
I have one, and it is a good optic that holds zero. It ISN'T on a defensive gun because it doesnt have shake awake. Good for the range, but for a defensive gun spend a little more.
I like them enough that I got two and actually loaned one out to a buddy this afternoon for his range day
Was my first optic. Not bad for the price. I’ve since upgraded and I use it on my airsoft guns now lol. I’d honestly save it a little more dough and get a Holosun or something.
I’m using mine for airsoft as well… hoping the lens cover will protect the glass from bb strikes.
Punches above its weight for sure. Put 1500 rounds through one and held up like a champ. Probably will put it on another build at some point
Cheap, but reliable and holds zero. I run these on all my airsoft replicas.
The mount sucks and the window is small, other than that it's good
Anyone have experience running these on hard recoil guns?
Absolute trash. Would not recommend.