I also took a look at most people’s go to for pistol red dots: Cowan of sage dynamics. There was a Bushnell. It failed.
Granted, he tests things hard. But, others pass. They just cost more
2 Likes
I’m starting on a 10/22. Had to pull the peep sight, but the rail I got blocked that anyway. If I like it I’ll see what I can find to fit a hard sight somewhere. 'Cause I’m that kind of guy. It is an open high mount, but the base is like 1/4" thick on top of a 1/4" rail, so…? We’ll see.
If I’m impressed, I’ll probably try it on a Mini-14 sooner or later.
3 Likes
That was what got me poking around for reviews before I considered even a bargain to be worth my time. Bushnell is one of many OG brands with generational reputations for mid-range to premium quality which I perceive to have been sold and reinvented as “value” product lines ranging from budget to single-use quality. Once upon a time you couldn’t go wrong with a Bushnell binocular or spotting scope. Now they are pretty much Tasco, and I don’t run into anyone serious who would put them into a top ten choice list at any price range.
But times change, and these dots are a different sort of product — so I’m willing to look at what kinds of tests and conclusions others might offer up.
4 Likes
Right. I agree that Aaron gives serious, consistent, and compelling evaluations. Of pistol dots, mostly.
So his evaluation is not about the specific sight being discussed, nor any rifle sight. The RXS-250 is “a” Bushnell product. One which happens to be nothing like the TRS-26 in many regards. Cowan actually said that the RXS-250 was an outstanding product — except that it broke and lost zero dropping the gun 5ft onto concrete. Fine — that’s his gold standard.
The TRS-26 is completely different structurally — the RXS-250 review provides no insight about whether the 26 would break in the same drop. Or if any of the sights he reviews would survive if dropped under the weight of a long gun.
I don’t care. I’m an old guy who learned a long time ago to not drop guns or optics — for safety and financial reasons. But if I break something I’ll replace or change it. I expect to have additional insight by the time that happens. I’m not packing up hardware to head for the Siege of Leningrad. If the Battles of Lexington come here, I’ll run what I brung and hope to get by.
4 Likes
Don’t think you can go wrong with it for $45. I would lean towards something a little more robust with an auto on, or at least no auto off, for a defensive weapon. But at the very least it seems like a very good fit for red dot practice with the 10/22.
5 Likes
IMO, I would like a lower mount. Put the dot on anything you like. I think it’s a nice red dot. If you do put on a different rifle record the adjustment changes so if you put it back on the first rifle, you won’t have to site it in again because I found the Repeatability of the weaver type mount to be very good. PS: factory parallax is set for 50 yrds/ms. Have fun.
3 Likes
3 Likes
The red dot set up, on my rifle, can be adjusted from a dim red dot to an intense red almost ACOG style sight, it’s zeroed for 50 yards and 200 yards
That’s for my AR-15 in .300 Blackout.
Same set up on my AR-15 chambered in 5.56.
I tend to shoot very hot rounds
3 Likes
My son’s been looking into the Strike Fire II Red Dot System for his AR 15.
2 Likes
I got a Vortex monocular last year and I like it.
3 Likes
I get that. Might change someday, but I’m not using long guns as primary defense. If I have time and need to fish it out of the safe and charge it, I’ll have time to turn it on. My main interest is to support weaker eyes no longer able to get a sharp sight focus. I expect most anything will be as robust as the old 4x sporting scope I probably got for $24 in 1980.
The default is automatic off 12hr after on; the alternate setting is manual on/off.
My thought also. But Midway didn’t have them, and list is another $30+ship. I decided I could explore options after working with what’s in the box for a while. Thanks for calling attention to the parallax.
Seems about what I’d want for the .22, but I’ll have to see if it behaves well enough for .223 distances.
A different torture test at 08:30… 
I want to reinforce that I’m nobody, and have no business recommending anyone to buy this dot or any other. My intention was just to call attention to the promotion so anyone who already knows they want a TRS-26 might save a few bucks — or anyone looking for a cheap dot to maybe bat up a league if they can run through their market analysis promptly.
5 Likes
That looks too nice to shoot, I’m not a AR person but I like the look.
PS: the higher mount will be better with that stock, I think you lucked out.
2 Likes
As if…
That’s not my AR, it’s the “cover photo” which is the default live link to a review of the TRS-26 from
704 TACTICAL. Never seen him before, but I got a kick out of his style.
My install is a bit more old school…
5 Likes
I bet that you have zero cheek weld.
Well, I can’t mash my cheekbone down, but I can anchor my jaw pretty solid — more like a shotgun than a rifle. We’ll see. I have near zero experience with a heads-up firing position from a rifle, but
- not sure how I would shoot the dot and a backup sight without moving my head;
- cheek weld seems less important than stable hold when not trying to make a 3pt sight picture;
- I do ok with no face contact on a handgun or stockless long gun.
The $10 rail was cheap and necessary. $30 + shipping to replace the unevaluated mount included takes a lot of the “bargain” out of a $45 impulse buy. If there was an either/or mount choice, I would have gone low, but there might be non-OEM solutions I’d like better. There’s time to figure all that out. 
4 Likes
Exactly.
3 Likes
I have one on an AK 47 and it has proved adequate for several years. Having said that, If i had to pick up one weapon to defend my land and family, it would be an AR with a Trijicon MRO.
2 Likes