Theta Optics Battle Red Dot - a review
Recently we had a talk about the red dots available on the market - their pros and cons in particular construction types (check it here). Today we'll talk about the specific product - the Battle Red Dot from Theta Optics. How does the copy of one of the most popular red dots in the world work? Let's find out.
The package
The red dot is sent in an aesthetically made cardboard box. There is a lot of pictures that present the product - its measurements and specification. The package has description both in Polish and English language.
The box contains:
the Battle Red Dot with mounting ring and flip up covers
an Allen key for the mounting ring
the manual (also both in Polish and English)
3 AG13 type batteries
a microfiber cloth for the optics
The package is quite impressive - it contains everything we need to use the sight (the mount, batteries). The free flip up covers are also a nice feature - these are pretty useful in the CQB games.
The construction and quality
As I said before - the project of this product is a copy of the famous Aimpoint CompM2, which is still in use by a lot of military forces all around the world. This guarantees a high lens factor and a variety of accessories on the market - from the "honeycomb" protectors to the specialistic mounting rings.
The body of the red dot is made of aluminum. It's powder painted in the black color. The quality of the paint seems fine. On the left side of the body, you can notice the producer's logo.
However, "fine" cannot be said about the mounting ring of the red dot. If you look closely, you can spot a lot of imperfections. The paint is also much cheaper than the one used in the body. The mount is the aslope type and is secured by a screw. The screw itself has a hole for the Allen key, so you can tighten it nicely.
The flip up covers are made of rubberized. They lock in their position and open up correctly.
The switch is placed on the right side of the red dot and has 12 options:
5 for the red color
5 for the green color
2 "off" positions - one near the 5th position of red and 1st of green and the second one near the 1st position of red and 5th position of green.
Changing the positions of the switch can be felt and heard with the characteristic "click". The switch has also markings engraved on it and a graphic that shows the proper way of placement of the batteries (which is, unfortunately, reversed). On the other side of the switch, there is a battery compartment. You can fit three AG13 type batteries inside. The optic glass that will be seen by the enemy has a silver, mirror coating.
My opinion
The Battle Red Dot is for me a kind of getting back to the old days, to the start of my airsoft career, when I was using an ACM Aimpoint CompM2 on my CYMA Mp5. I don't recall it as anything good because after a few days of lying in the cupboard it stopped working (seriously) and I replaced it with the copy of Eotech 552. After a while, I was using also a lot of Micro T1 type airsoft optics or the MRO clones. These constructions gave me the thought that they are the best airsoft optics for this price.
When I was mounting my brand new Theta on my E&L M4, I was full of pessimistic thoughts. On the other side - it's no longer possible to get the G&P product on the Polish market, so it was my only possible choice. I was decided for the CompM2 clone because it just looks cool and "kosher" on the classic M4 with RIS. Otherwise, I wouldn't be selling my MRO clone.
The red dot sits on the replica properly, even during the dynamic skirmishes. The construction is quite bulky and covers a lot of the view. On the other hand - it's really sturdy.
The view from the optic is clear, however - a little smoked. The difference is marginal but noticeable. It doesn't affect the focus of the user and is WAY better than in the product that I was using a few years ago.
The dot is incredibly bright (for the airsoft product). Even during the sunny day, there is no need to go further than the 1st level of the brightness both on the red and green dot. However, this highly affects the usage of the sight in the CQB in dark rooms - it's quite uncomfortable. The other con of the sight is the size of the dot - for me, it's too big. The size of the dot increases greatly with the brightness level and it can cover the whole enemy from the distance. On the other hand - keep in mind that the original CompM2 uses the 4MOA dot, which is also pretty big.
There is no noticeable parallax effect in the Theta product. Talking about the adjustment of the crosshair it can be made both horizontally and vertically. The regulation is very smooth and you can hear a click at each rotation.
The summary
Considering the price-quality ratio, I am quite satisfied with the Battle Red Dot. It does its job exactly for the price. This Theta model is recommended for people who play mainly in the open fields during the day - I wouldn't try using it during the night or in dark close quarters rooms.
