Today, you will know more about the best scopes with red dot on top. Finding the perfect scope for your rifle can greatly enhance your shooting experience, especially when it combines the precision of a traditional scope with the quick target acquisition of a red dot sight. However, choosing the right setup is easier said than done because of the many options existing out there.
The best scope with a red dot on top offers unparalleled versatility, allowing for seamless transitions between long-range precision and close-quarters engagement. This dual-functionality setup is ideal for hunters, tactical shooters, and competitive marksmen who demand flexibility and performance in a single, integrated solution.
Advantages of a Red Dot Sight on Top a Scope
Having a red dot on top of a scope offers several advantages that enhance versatility and performance in various shooting scenarios:
Quick Target Acquisition
The red dot sight allows for rapid target acquisition at close ranges.
Versatility
Combining a traditional scope with a red dot sight allows the shooter to engage targets at both long and short distances without switching optics, making it ideal for diverse shooting conditions.
Enhanced Accuracy
The red dot on top of a scope can improve accuracy for close-range shots, where a magnified scope might be cumbersome or slow to use. This setup allows shooters to switch seamlessly between the scope and the red dot depending on the target distance.
Backup Option
In case of scope failure or damage, the red dot is a reliable backup sighting system, ensuring that the shooter is never left without a functional aiming solution.
Tactical Advantage
For tactical and competitive shooters, having both a scope and a red dot provides a significant advantage in terms of speed and adaptability, allowing for effective engagement of targets at varying distances.
Better Situational Awareness
The red dot allows shooters to maintain better situational awareness. It can be used with both eyes open, providing a wider field of view compared to looking through a magnified scope.
So, what are the best scopes with red dot on top?
Best Scopes with Red Dot on Top
Let’s immerse deeper into these models so that you have a better understanding of their features, pros and cons, and whether they are to your liking.
1) NcStar Gen-2 3-9×42 Ultimate Sighting System
The scope is engineered with a raised centerline height of 1-1/2 inches, matching the standard AR15 scope height. This design provides ample room for low-profile rear backup iron sights, ensuring compatibility and seamless integration.
The reticle illuminates in either blue or green, with multiple brightness settings for each color. This feature enhances visibility and accuracy in diverse lighting conditions, allowing for quick and precise target acquisition.
The Bullet Drop Compensator turret has been lowered to accommodate a lower mounting height for the Micro Dot Reflex Optic. This design improvement ensures a more streamlined profile and better balance on your firearm.
As the top contender for the best scopes with red dot on top, it features a compact and robust locking quick release mount with an improved lever mechanism. This ensures a secure attachment to your rifle and allows quick removal and reattachment without losing zero.
A quick focus eyepiece facilitates rapid diopter adjustments for a clear, sharp reticle. The lenses are fully multi-coated to enhance light collection and eliminate glare for a clearer and brighter image.
Another dope inclusion is the integrated slant cut sunshade that lens flare and protects the lens from sunlight and debris. The black anodized exterior finish provides a durable and corrosion-resistant finish.
Features
- LED illumination
- 2 inches of eye relief
- Weighs 17.3 oz
- Fully multi-coated optics
- Fixed parallax
- Quick focus eyepiece
- Black anodized finish
- 42mm objective lens diameter
- 3x to 9x magnification
- 23 x 17mm objective window size
- Second focal plane design
Pros
- Clear glass
- Durable
- Price
Cons
- Eye relief is extremely short
2) UUQ C4-12×50 Riflescope W/Laser Sight and Holographic Dot Reflex Sight
This riflescope offers 4-12x magnification with a 50mm objective lens, providing high optical clarity for detailed and precise targeting. The fully coated optics enhance light transmission, delivering bright and clear images.
It features red and green illuminated range finder reticles with five brightness levels. This illumination aids in low-light conditions, making acquiring targets in dark environments easier.
Its fast-focus eyepiece allows quick and easy adjustments for a clear and sharp reticle, ensuring rapid target acquisition and improved shooting accuracy.
The unit is made from T6061 aluminum and is 1200G shockproof. It has passed rigorous waterproof and fogproof tests, ensuring reliable performance in all weather conditions. The scope is also filled with dry nitrogen to prevent internal fogging.
The scope features windage and elevation adjustments with 1/2 MOA audible-click stops and fingertip turrets. These precise adjustments allow for fine-tuning accuracy in the field.
The Picatinny mount makes the scope easily mountable to any 22mm rails (Picatinny or Weaver), providing a secure and stable attachment to your firearm.
The integrated holographic dot reflex sight offers unlimited eye relief and a wide field of view, competing with high-end reflex sights. This feature enhances situational awareness and allows for quick target engagement.
The detachable green laser sight, with a rat tail remote switch, can reach distances over 300 meters. This addition provides an extra aiming point for rapid target acquisition and is especially useful in close-quarters situations.
Features
- 6061-T6 aluminum formation
- Fast focus eyepiece
- 100% waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof
- Optics are fully coated
- 1/2 MOA windage and elevation adjustments
- 50mm objective lens
- Unlimited eye relief
- Easily mountable Picatinny mount
Pros
- The optics are very clear
- Easy to set up
- Dead-on accurate
Cons
- Heavy
3) XOPin 4-16×50 AO Riflescope Combo
The XOPin 4-16×50 AO riflescope combo includes five levels of red and green illuminated adjustments, enhancing visibility and target acquisition in dark environments. This illumination feature ensures a clear sight picture regardless of lighting conditions.
It is designed with high-grade, fully coated optical lenses for bright, clear images regardless of the lighting environment. The 50mm objective lens not only improves optical performance but also adds a unique aesthetic to the scope.
This incredible combo is crafted from a high-quality matte black finish, making the scope durable and stylish. It is dry nitrogen-filled, making it 100% waterproof, shockproof, and fogproof. This ensures reliable performance in various environmental conditions.
The 1/4″ fingertip resettable windage and elevation adjustments provide precise control over aim and accuracy. This allows for fine-tuning to ensure that every shot counts.
The red laser has a reaching distance of about 100-200 meters, making it perfect for short to mid-range targeting. The detachable green laser features an independent switch, offering additional versatility, and can be easily detached when not needed.
The scope also has a wide field of view and comfortable eye relief to enhance situational awareness and shooting comfort.
Features
- The scope has a 50mm lens diameter
- 3 to 3.4 inches of eye relief
- 1/4 MOA windage and elevation clicks
- Laser sight has a 26mm tube diameter
- Adjustable windage and elevation
- Aluminum build
- The dot illuminates in red and green
- Unlimited eye relief
- The LED flashlight has 5 modes
- 65mm laser length for the laser sight
Pros
- User-friendly and intuitive
- Easy to zero
- The scope is clear
Cons
- None
4) Bushnell TRS-26 1×26 Red Dot Scope
The Bushnell TRS-26 completes this review of the best scopes with red dot on top. It gives shooters a versatile and reliable aiming solution with a host of user-friendly features.
One standout highlight is its user-selectable auto-off timer, providing flexibility for various applications. Users can easily toggle the auto-off timer on or off according to their preferences, ensuring readiness at all times.
The 26mm objective lens excels at light gathering and offers a wider field of view than many other enclosed reflex sights, enabling quicker target acquisition and improved visibility.
The innovative point-source RCLED system projects a precise 3 MOA dot onto the glass. Unlike older systems, this technology minimizes light wastage and reduces the need for additional components, resulting in enhanced efficiency and performance.
Furthermore, the TRS-26 boasts robust construction with an IPX7 waterproof rating, ensuring reliable fog-free operation even in the most demanding conditions. It is nitrogen-purged and completely sealed for moisture-free performance even when fully submerged up to 1 meter, guaranteeing durability and longevity for any shooting adventure.
Features
- 3 MOA dot
- Up to 50,000 hours of battery time
- User-selectable auto-off timer
- Waterproof construction
- Shockproof
- Nitrogen purged for fogproofing
- Big 26mm lens
- It runs on a CR2032 battery
Pros
- Get on target fast and cleanly
- Huge battery life
- Robust build
Cons
- The auto-off makes the sight unsuitable as a HD optic for home defense
Choosing the Best Scopes with Red Dot on Top
When looking for the best scope with a red dot on top, consider the following key features and factors to ensure you get a high-quality, versatile, and reliable setup.
Optical Quality and Clarity
Ensure the scope has fully multi-coated lenses for maximum light transmission and reduced glare. It should also be made with high-quality glass to provide clear, sharp images.
Magnification Power
Secondly, consider the magnification when purchasing the best scopes with red dot on top. A versatile magnification range like 1-4x or 3-9x allows for effective targeting at both close and long distances.
A wide field of view at lower magnifications aids in quick target acquisition.
Red Dot Sight Features
The red dot sight should have multiple brightness settings to adjust for different lighting conditions. It should also have a clear reticle that can be easily seen in various light environments.
Additionally, the red dot should be securely mounted and easy to access without obstructing the scope’s view.
Build Quality
Consider the quality of construction when looking through the best scopes with red dot on top. The scope and red dot should be made from durable materials like aircraft-grade aluminum. This ensures durability and longevity, making the optical investment worth it.
Also, ensure the scope is waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof to withstand various environmental conditions.
Adjustability
Look for precise, easy-to-use windage and elevation adjustments with tactile and audible clicks. Fast execution is essential on the field or at the range, and the last thing you want is a setup that is difficult to use. Zero reset and locking turrets are vital as they help maintain zero and make adjustments easier in the field.
Tips When Using a Scope with Red Dot on Top
Increase your reflex sight’s magnification power with a magnifier on
Equipping riflescopes with magnifiers is a solution that many shooters and hunters have found to increase the magnification power of their small red dot optics. It is meant to be used on small optics for medium ranges.
This configuration is great as it allows you to simply flip it to the side once you are done using it.
A small optic is more worth it with higher scope magnification power
A small optic performs best in short ranges. Therefore, it makes more sense to pair it with a higher magnification scope to fully utilize both pieces of gear.
This kind of setup provides more versatility, but only if your accessories can provide a vast range. A combination of a scope and a red dot can perform optimally if the scope itself has been designed for long-range shooting.
It is advised to get a scope that offers more than 4x power.
Between Dot and Magnification, Which Is Best?
The choice between a red dot sight and magnification depends on the shooter’s intended application and preferences. Red dot sights excel in scenarios requiring rapid target acquisition and close to mid-range engagements, offering a simple, intuitive aiming solution with both eyes open. Conversely, magnified optics provide enhanced precision and versatility for longer-range shooting, allowing for precise shot placement and target identification. While red dot sights offer speed and simplicity, magnified optics offer increased accuracy and the ability to engage targets at greater distances.
Are There Disadvantages of a Scope with Red Dot on Top?
While a scope with a red dot on top can offer several advantages, there are also some potential disadvantages, such as:
Added Weight and Bulk
Adding a red dot sight on top of a scope increases the firearm’s overall weight, which can affect handling and fatigue during prolonged use. The additional optic also adds bulk to the setup, making the firearm less streamlined and more cumbersome, particularly in tight or dynamic shooting situations.
Complexity
With two optics, there are more components to manage, maintain, and keep zeroed. This can complicate the setup and require more attention to detail. In addition, switching between the scope and the red dot sight requires practice and familiarity, which can be challenging in high-stress situations. It may also slow down target acquisition if not practiced regularly.
Potential for Misalignment
Ensuring both the scope and red dot retain their zero can be challenging. Any impact or rough handling could potentially knock one or both out of alignment. The red dot sight needs to be securely mounted. If the mounting system is not robust, it could lead to shifts in zero or even detachment during use.
Conclusion
The best scopes with red dot on top have undeniable advantages such as versatility for engaging targets at diverse distances, rapid target acquisition, and better situational awareness, they also present some drawbacks like increased weight and complexity.
Ultimately, the decision is hinged on your preferences, shooting needs, and willingness to manage the added components. We hope this guide has been helpful and served as a compass toward making a wise decision.