Looking for a budget-friendly red dot sight without splurging? Check out the Primary Arms Classic Series Reflex Sights. Its second generation just came out and offers great value for its price point.
TL;DR: Pros/Cons of the Gen 2 Mini/Micro
Pros:
- Price point - It’s only $150.
- Value adds - It comes with dust covers and the Mini has a pic mount.
- Glass - For what you pay, the glass is clear and doesn’t tint or distort.
- Lifetime warranty - PA has great customer service, so doing a warranty is no hassle.
Cons:
- Bottom-mounted battery - Personally I find it annoying to take the dot off and on to change a battery.
- Brightness - The reticle doesn’t get as bright as a Holosun, and the reticle laser isn't protected by glass but again its price vs features.
- Screws - The Mini only comes with 1 set of 6/32x7.75mm screws, so you might need to find the correct size screws depending on your firearm.
Classic Series Overview
There are two options for the pistol red dots in the Classic Series. The Mini Reflex Sight is for full-size pistols and features an RMR footprint like Holosun’s 407C and 507C. The Micro Reflex Sight is for compact carry pistols and features an RMSc footprint similar to Holosun's 407K and 507K, but it has the rear holes unlike the K series, meaning it is a true RMSc and will fit directly on a Glock 43x or Hellcat.
Both come with a 3 MOA red dot with 10 illumination settings that last up to 40K hours on medium. The battery is a CR2032 and is bottom-mounted, which, while not ideal in my opinion, is tolerable given the price point. The housing is made of 6061 aluminum, ensuring durability.
Gen 1 vs Gen 2
The difference between generations primarily lies in the battery-saving capabilities. The 2nd generation now features Autolive technology, similar to Holosun’s shake awake. This feature turns off the reticle after 3 minutes of inactivity and reactivates with motion, significantly conserving battery life.
Previously, the Gen 1 version would turn off after 12 hours of illumination continuously running, and to turn the reticle back on you would have to manually press one of the brightness buttons on the side.
What is very nice though is Primary Arms decided to keep the 2nd generation price point the same as the 1st generation, so there is no additional cost.
What’s In The Box?
The Mini Reflex Sight comes with some value adds, including a picatinny rail mount and a dust cover. The Micro Reflex only comes with a dust cover and does not come with a picatinny rail mount. Those value adds are great for a budget-focused red dot because those have to be purchased separately with any Holosun red dot. The Mini Reflex only comes with 1 set of screws, 6/32x7.75mm, so you might have to find a set that works for your set up. The Micro however comes with 3 sets of screws M4x8mm, M3x10mm, and 6/32x13mm.
Mini Unboxing
Micro Unboxing
Additional Features
The reticle on its max setting isn’t anywhere close to Holosun’s reticle brightness, which is something I’ve had customers also mention with the Gen 1 optics. Again though for the price point, you get what you get and don’t get upset.
Additionally, the Classic Series has a lifetime warranty backed by Primary Arms, offering peace of mind for buyers. PA has great customer service, so it’s not a hassle to submit a claim when needed, unlike other manufacturers.
Conclusion
For a red dot sight that is sub $200, the Primary Arms Classic Series Sights are a good choice that punches above its price point. Let us know in the comments your thoughts - are you excited about the 2nd Generation? Do you have it on your daily carry? Would you be interested in a comparison between the 407K/407C?
 |
Introducing the Gen 2 Primary Arms MRSC Micro Reflex Sight—the next evolution in compact red dot sights specifically designed for mounting on pistol slides.
|
 |
Introducing the Gen 2 Primary Arms MRS Mini Reflex Sight—the next evolution in compact red dot sights specifically designed for mounting on pistol slides.
|
