I strapped on the TruGlo Dual-Color Red Dot Sight for a few trips to the range, and here’s what I found.
Best Features:
- Dual Color Options: This sight shines (literally) with its red and green dot options. I found the red dot ideal for sunny days, while the green cut through low-light conditions nicely.
- Quick Acquisition: The large 34mm x 24mm window makes finding the red dot easy and instinctive. This translates to faster target acquisition, especially helpful for close-range shooting.
- Multiple Reticle Choices: While basic, having four reticle shapes (dot, circle, crosshair, and crosshair with dot) offered a bit of customization to fit my preferences.
- Easy to Use: TruGlo gets points for simplicity. Zeroing the sight was straightforward, and the buttons for brightness and reticle adjustment are easy to reach.
Pros:
- Budget-Friendly: This sight is definitely wallet-friendly, making it a good option for new shooters who aren’t ready to invest in a high-end red dot.
- Durable: Despite its affordability, the sight feels well-built. It shrugged off the usual bumps and knocks of range use.
- Lightweight: The compact design adds minimal weight to your firearm, keeping it maneuverable.
Cons:
- Limited Brightness: While the dot has multiple brightness settings, some users (myself included) found it could be a tad dimmer on the highest setting for bright daylight.
- Dot Size: The 5 MOA dot is a good middle ground, but some shooters might prefer a smaller dot size for long-range precision.
- Not for Competition: This sight isn’t the most precise tool. If you’re serious about competition shooting, you’ll likely want to upgrade to a higher-tier red dot.
My Experience:
The TruGlo red dot sight did exactly what I expected for a budget option. It helped me acquire targets faster and improved my accuracy over iron sights. The red dot was crisp and visible in most lighting conditions, though pushing the limits in very bright sunshine.
What Others Are Saying:
Online reviews echo my experience. Many users praise the ease of use, affordability, and durability. Some reviewers with riflescopes added that the TruGlo worked well behind a magnifier for further target acquisition at extended distances.
However, some users mentioned they eventually outgrew the limitations of the TruGlo. The brightness and 5 MOA dot size weren’t ideal for everyone.
Alternatives:
If you’re looking for a similar budget-friendly option, the Bushnell TRS-25 is a popular choice. It offers a similar feature set with a slightly smaller window and a 3 MOA dot.
For shooters ready to step up in price and performance, the Sightmark Ultra Shot Plus offers a wider range of brightness settings and a 1 MOA dot for increased precision.
Works With:
This red dot sight is a great choice for pistols, AR-15s, and shotguns due to its lightweight design and versatility.
Overall:
The TruGlo Dual-Color Red Dot Sight is a solid choice for beginners or casual shooters on a budget. It’s easy to use, improves target acquisition, and feels surprisingly durable for the price. However, if you’re looking for top-of-the-line precision or compete seriously, you might want to consider sights with more adjustability and finer dot sizes.