Best in class red dot with a price to match - Aimpoint Micro T-2 1x18mm Reflex Red Dot Sight

Does the average shooter need an Aimpoint? No. Does the average driver need a sports car? No. If you're looking for the best in class red dot, you'd be hard pressed to select something else. Expect to pay the premium for a sight that's become iconic--these days that premium is about $200. But at the same time, look at other $500 sights like EoTechs falling from grace after covering up massive thermal drift issues. The reason you pay the full $750 for an Aimpoint is because you know it's bombproof. It's easy to Google all the insane stories of what this thing survives. Add to that the 50k hour battery life and you have something I'd consider more rugged than an iron sight. That's what an Aimpoint micro is, the red dot that can supplant the very role of iron sights and function better than any red dot. Even dropping your rifle on a set of aluminum irons will very likely damage them and/or affect zero. Not the case with an Aimpoint. Few red dots can claim to be as rugged. EoTechs certainly are not, but there are still great options for the average shooter. The holographic sight picture of the EoTech is hard to beat, and for a lighter duty rifle you've got a huge field of view with a crisp holographic reticle. A Vortex is almost a quarter of the cost of an Aimpoint, but still has a very long battery life. But on an Aimpoint T2, you can leave the sight on for 10 years. It's that next level of performance that makes the T1 and T2 command such a premium.

My favorite thing about the new T2 has to be the flip up covers. The rear is transparent, so if you're in a hurry you can shoot with the covers closed if you use proper technique and keep both eyes open. It really is the coolest thing and is something you absolutely have to try in real life. All in all, no deception here. A top of the line product.