Of optics and knockoffs.

[Garaballo]

So I was at the range the other day, testing my cousin's (R.I.P) Mendoza .22lr, with a bushnell 4x32 scope I bought for it, when I started to talk to a guy that want's to buy a red dot for his 10/22, he commented me about a funny looking red dot that he wanted to buy, just a few hours he showed me a picture of it:

first thought... It's a Docter knockoff.

I asked the brand and he didn't knew, I knew it wasn't a JPoint

But only because it didn't have the logo. but it still amazed me that such knockoffs ran arround.
After a search on the internet I spoted AT LEAST 3 other knockoffs of dubious quality.

I know the Jpoint is not made the same as the Docter, Jpoint being acrylic etc, with the statement that it provides "better weight saving" and I'd suppose it's true until certain point, but how about reliability?
If I remember correctly, George made a review of an ACOG knockoff about a year ago, it didn’t lasted more than a shotgun round.
If used with .22lr rounds, would it make a difference? I have a Tasco red dot and it has endured in my cousins rifle, given the price paid, I’d state that it has served it’s purpose, but I’d like to know a more educated opinion on the matter, I might as well end up buying one if the opinions of them are favorable enough.

(For the record, the optic on my Mossberg was an Aimpoint Micro T-1 before I sold the complete package)

[GeorgeHill]

For these little red dots, there are a few companies that are actually building them... but everyone else is slapping their names on them.  Most of these little guys are going to be just fine.  But you gotta remember that you get what you pay for.  If it's 50 bucks, it is probably only worth 20.
Take that for what it's worth.
Burris, Doctor, PFI, and others are good to go.  If it's 150 bucks or more, it's probably worth buying.  If it's less, probably not.

[Vern357]

The best knock off's out there are Primary Arms.  But even he has said that they all roll off the same factory line, it's the internals and QC that you pay extra for.

Worth checking out, I have one of their scopes and value wise it is a good deal.

[GeorgeHill]

Well just coming from the Same Factory doesn't mean all that much.  Different units are built to different specs.  The thickness of the window, the seals, the light diode, the vibration insulation, the coatings on the lenses... all manner of differences.  To say they are all the same would be like saying that the Ford Pinto and the Ford Mustang were the same just because they came "out of the same factory". 

[Garaballo]

I talked to the guy, it's gonna buy it, I'll be checking it out,

one thing that noted is that it has an ugly "off" switch, which the docter hasn't, maybe it's a sign that it does not shares any of the internals and thus, even lower quality, hope it's not one of those.

I'm amused by this, mainly because while we cannot easly get the real things, this knockofs seem to please some pepole arround, and thus, I want to check that out.

[Precious Roy]

I'm dying to put one of those itty bitty red dots on a Browning Buckmark or SW22A.  I think that would make for a nifty little setup.

[Garaballo]

Update:

The 40$ sight failed after 10 .22lr rounds.

I'll wait for the 150 burris holosight

I'm dying to put one of those itty bitty red dots on a Browning Buckmark or SW22A.  I think that would make for a nifty little setup.

That's exactly what the guy did, it didn't lasted a mag, but the setup is VERY nice. I'd suggest sticking to the brands GH mentioned, instead of getting a knockoff.

[GeorgeHill]

 
Toldja.
 

[Garaballo]

Well, look what popped on youtube today when I logged in.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/tbUr4w64lxM&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18&amp;rel=0&amp;fs=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/tbUr4w64lxM&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18&amp;rel=0&amp;fs=1</a>

GH, you never did a side by side right?

[GeorgeHill]

No... no side by side needed.  That unit - which I still have - is just complete and utter junk.  Why I still have it?  I've just not shot a bullet through it yet.

[Garaballo]

Well, yeah, but for the uneducated, the old fashioned, and all those internet ignorants who have yet to see thru an ACOG...

(I include myself in the uneducated :/ )