Monkey Paw from United States, CA Public Profile

This is an incredibly simple optic that feels well built. Very easy to actuate the controls. The reticle really shines under illumination but will work without batteries. The real benefit here is adjustable diopter that works for people that have problems picking up a normal red dot that just floats in space. For the price in 2024/25 I don't believe this can be beaten for $200. The case looks like it can take some battle damage but as this is designed for the commercial market I don't know how this performs under high temperature variance as well as wet/sandy/muddy conditions. Ships with a functional anti reflection honeycomb as a nice bonus.

Who is this for? You are in the market for a under 150yd close range optic that would have an emphasis for fast target acquisition maybe hog hunting or as a shotgun optic. If you like red dot sights you might just love an illuminated etched reticle as I find it much easier to get a quick sight picture.

I'm really torn on this optic. At the price point the glass clarity seems pretty reasonable. The eye relief feels generous, but the eye box on this thing is narrow compared to a bushnell trophy 3x9 (for reference). If you are not directly behind this thing you are not getting a good sight picture. Speaking of sight picture the FOV feels a bit tight compared to other low power optics I've tried out; if you ever used a scout scope it's kind of like that. Weight is extra nice at the 7 ounce range which won't upset any setups and doesn't take up too much real estate on a top rail.

I might send this thing back but it does feel like an glass upgrade compared to other under $100 low power optics.

Scope caps - standard cover for under $100 optics
Scope Rings - I would replace these.

The rubber contour grips which ship with contour buckmarks work for some people but not all. Hogue has a $70 solution for you. The grip swap installs in seconds with the only tool needed is a flathead screwdriver. It changes the silhouette of the pistol for the better in my opinion.

But how does it feel in hand? I wear a glove size 4 and for me the fit is perfect. If you have smaller/medium hands and felt the original grips were a little thick then the Hogue G10 grips will shave off a few millimeters on either side. You also get a noticeable weight reduction by a few ounces. The balance becomes slightly top heavy compared to stock, but the improved ergonomics is an excellent trade. The G10 also feels much more secure/ better grip texture than the original grips.

I'd like these better if they were cheaper; if you could someone get these used for like $35 it would represent one of the best changes you could do to the contour grip.

Verdict - Full recommend; wait for sale or buy used.