Enhance Your Accuracy: A Comprehensive TruGlo Red Dot Review

Are you looking for an affordable red dot sight that won’t break the bank? The Truglo Red Dot Sight is an affordable and exceptional optic meticulously engineered to revolutionize your shooting experience. Whether you’re an avid hunter, involved in precision shooting, or simply an enthusiast who enjoys hitting the range, the Truglo optic can be the true game-changer to take your target acquisition, accuracy, and overall shooting performance to unprecedented heights.

As firearm enthusiasts, we understand the significance of having a reliable sighting system that goes beyond traditional iron sights. Red dot sights have become increasingly popular due to their ability to provide a clear sight picture, quick target acquisition, and precise aiming. The Truglo Red Dot Sight is no exception and stands out among its competitors for its unique features and exceptional build quality.

Please join us as we examine the Truglo Red Dot Sight from all angles, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses to help you make an informed decision before investing in this exceptional optic. Stay tuned for an in-depth analysis of its features, performance, and overall value for money. Remember, accurate shooting starts with the right optic, and the Truglo Red Dot Sight may just be the missing piece to unlock your shooting potential.

Quick Overview

Truglo Red Dot is equipped with a bright, crisp 5 MOA dot reticle, that ensures pinpoint precision shooting whether you’re using it on a rifle, shotgun, handgun, or even a crossbow. The eye relief and field of view allow for quick target acquisition, eliminating the need to align multiple sight points. This electronic sight boasts multi coated lenses, maximizing light transmission and providing a clear and distortion-free sight picture.

Crafted with aircraft grade aluminum, the Truglo sight is capable of withstanding some recoil. Its design and compatibility with Weaver-style rails make it easy to mount on various firearms, while the adjustable brightness settings ensure optimal visibility in any lighting situation.

Brief History

Truglo, a renowned name in the world of optics, has firmly established itself as a reputable manufacturer of quality shooting accessories like riflescopes and red dots. With a rich history spanning several decades, Truglo has consistently delivered innovative and reliable products that have become trusted companions for shooters around the globe. Founded in 1993, Truglo initially focused on manufacturing fiber optic sights, quickly gaining recognition for their exceptional brightness and durability. Over the years, the company expanded its product line to include a wide range of optics and shooting accessories, catering to the evolving needs of shooters across various disciplines.

From red dot sights to scopes, lasers, and archery accessories, Truglo’s dedication to innovation and customer satisfaction is unwavering. By combining cutting-edge technologies, premium materials, and rigorous testing, Truglo continues to push the boundaries of what shooters can achieve. Let’s find out what the Truglo red dots can do!

TRUGLO 30mm Dual-Color Dot Sight Review

Lenses

The TruGlo Red dot sight is equipped with high-quality lenses that offer enhanced optical performance. The sight has a multi coated lens. This multi-coating helps to reduce reflections and glare, resulting in improved light transmission and clarity of the sight picture. The multi coated lenses of the TruGlo sight play a crucial role in providing a clear and bright view of the reticle, even in varying lighting conditions. The anti-reflective coatings help to minimize stray light from bouncing off the lens surfaces, which could otherwise cause unwanted glare and reduce overall visibility.

The combination of a multi coated lens and the anti-reflective work together to provide shooters with a high-quality sight picture, allowing for fast target acquisition. Whether shooting in bright daylight or low-light conditions, the lenses will ensure superior optical performance.

Reticle Size

The Truglo 30mm sight features a 5 MOA reticle specifically designed for quick target acquisition. It’s important to note that the 5 MOA reticle size may not be the best choice for longer-range shots beyond 75 yards.

The 5 MOA red dot reticle can present challenges when it comes to shooting accuracy at extended distances. The physical size of the reticle may obstruct precise aiming, even at the lowest brightness setting. While the 5 MOA reticle size may be a matter of personal preference, it’s worth considering that it can limit the sight’s efficiency beyond 75 yards.

That being said, there are benefits to the size of the reticle. For close-quarters applications, such as home defense, a larger reticle size can provide quick target coverage and facilitate accurate shooting at short distances. Each MOA translates to one inch at 100 yards, so a 5 MOA dot at 100 yards covers 5 inches of the target. This larger size can be advantageous in scenarios where fast target acquisition is crucial.

Understanding the relationship between MOA size and target coverage, it becomes apparent why a 5 MOA dot may not perform as effectively as a 2, 3, or 4 MOA dot beyond 75 yards. However, the choice of MOA size ultimately comes down to individual usage and preference. If the 5 MOA dot works well for you and your intended applications, then you can stick with this red dot; otherwise, you’ll have to get another sight.

Reticle Color

The Truglo sight’s dual reticle color feature offers significant advantages and can be considered a major selling point for the sight. The ability to choose between green or red reticle color provides benefits that many shooters may overlook.

In terms of target acquisition, red dots have been scientifically proven to catch the eye faster than green dots. They are particularly effective for quickly acquiring targets during daylight conditions or in environments where the surroundings are predominantly green. The red reticle excels in situations where speed is crucial.

On the other hand, the green dot offers a more relaxing experience for the eyes, reducing the effects of eye fatigue. This is particularly important for extended shooting sessions or situations where prolonged focus is required. Eye fatigue can significantly impact accuracy and shooting performance, making the green dot a valuable feature. Moreover, the green dot is advantageous for nighttime use. Green light is known to be more visible to the human eye in low-light conditions, making it easier to acquire and track targets in dark environments. By utilizing the green dot option, shooters can enhance their performance in low-light scenarios while prolonging the battery life of the sight.

Individuals who suffer from astigmatism can also benefit from the green dot. Astigmatism causes vision distortion or blurriness, and staring at a red dot for an extended period can lead to headaches. The softer and gentler nature of the green dot can alleviate these issues, allowing individuals with astigmatism to engage in shooting activities comfortably for longer durations.

Battery Life

The TRUGLO 30mm Dual Color Dot Sight offers impressive battery life, ensuring extended usage without the need for frequent battery replacements. Many users have reported using a single CR2032 battery for up to 6 months straight, a testament to the sight’s energy efficiency.

The green dot is particularly advantageous for nighttime use and requires less power. The combination of efficient battery usage and the choice of the green dot as a superior color make the TRUGLO sight a reliable companion for extended shooting sessions or situations where battery conservation is important. Whether you’re engaging targets in dimly lit environments or participating in prolonged shooting sessions, you can trust that the sight will maintain its functionality without draining the battery unnecessarily.

It’s worth noting that individual usage patterns and brightness settings can influence battery life. Adjusting the brightness to the appropriate level for the lighting conditions at hand can further optimize battery usage. Additionally, it is advisable to turn off the sight when not in use to conserve power.

Durability

The TRUGLO red dot scope is built with less durability and more weather resistance. The sight is designed to withstand unfavorable weather elements. When it comes to durability, the TRUGLO sight has moderate shock resistance ability, even though it is made with aircraft grade aluminum. The sight is built to be waterproof, protecting the scopes internal components from moisture and allowing for reliable performance in rainy or wet conditions. This waterproof feature ensures that the sight remains functional even when exposed to rain, splashes, or other water-related elements.

Furthermore, the TRUGLO 30mm Sight is fog-proof. It is equipped with internal mechanisms that prevent internal fogging, ensuring clear visibility and target acquisition even in humid or cold environments. This fog-proof design eliminates the possibility of obstructed sight picture caused by internal condensation, providing consistent performance regardless of weather conditions.

Eye relief and Parallax

The TRUGLO electronic sight offers unlimited eye relief, which means that shooters have the flexibility to position their eyes at various distances from the sight without experiencing any loss of sight picture or clarity. This unlimited eye relief allows for comfortable shooting positions and accommodates different shooting styles and firearms.

However, it’s important to note that the sight is not parallax-free. Parallax refers to the apparent movement of the reticle in relation to the target when the shooter’s eye is not perfectly aligned with the sight’s optical axis. In other words, if the shooter’s eye is not precisely centered behind the sight, the reticle may appear to shift or move in relation to the target.

To mitigate parallax error with this sight, shooters need to ensure they are looking through the central columnar portion of the sight. By aligning the shooter’s eye with the sight’s center, they can achieve the most precise and accurate aiming. It’s crucial to position the dot as close to the center of the view tube as possible to minimize parallax effects.

Ease of Zeroing 

The TRUGLO Red Dot Sight offers ease of zero, making it a user-friendly option for shooters. Zeroing refers to the process of aligning the point of aim with the point of impact, ensuring that shots consistently hit the intended target at a specific distance. The windage adjustment, which allows for side-to-side alignment, is often found to be accurate right out of the factory. This means that minimal or no adjustments are required for windage, saving time and effort during the zeroing process.

For elevation adjustment, some users have found that slight adjustments are needed to achieve their desired zero. This is not uncommon, as individual shooting preferences and ammunition variations can affect the bullet’s trajectory. When I zeroed the TRUGLO sight on my weapon, I used 5-shot groups and made incremental adjustments based on the point of impact. I was able to achieve a proper zero within 20 shots.

Lens Cover

The TRUGLO sight comes equipped with two lens caps, which provide protection for the lenses when the sight is not in use. These lens caps offer convenience and ensure that the lenses remain free from dust, debris, and scratches, preserving the clarity and functionality of the sight.

The lens covers are designed with a flip-up feature, allowing shooters to easily access the sight when needed. In scenarios where pinpoint accuracy is not critical, such as using the sight on a home defense firearm, shooters with the transparent lens cover can opt to leave the cover down for quick target acquisition and engagement. This is particularly beneficial when there is a need to grab the firearm and engage a threat rapidly.

While using the sight with the lens covers down can be convenient, it’s important to note that it may introduce slight distortion to the dot. However, this distortion is generally minimal and does not significantly impact aiming accuracy, especially at close distances commonly encountered in home defense situations. Shooters can still effectively engage targets, even if there is a slight distortion in the dot.

Adjustment Knobs 

The TRUGLO 30mm Red Dot is equipped with user-friendly adjustment knobs that allow shooters to make precise windage and elevation adjustments.

To control the brightness settings and power the sight on or off, there is a single dial that serves multiple functions. This dial not only allows users to adjust the reticle’s color and brightness but also serves as the power switch. The dial clicks into distinct positions, making it easy to select the desired color and brightness level. This intuitive design enables shooters to quickly adapt to changing lighting conditions and tailor the reticle’s visibility to their preference.

For windage and elevation adjustments, the TRUGLO sight features dedicated adjustment slots that require a flat head screwdriver or even a common item like a dime to make the necessary changes. The adjustment slots come with protective covers to prevent accidental changes to the zero settings, offering added peace of mind during shooting sessions.

The distinct clicks of the adjustment knobs provide tactile feedback, allowing shooters to count and track the number of adjustments made. This precise mechanism ensures that shooters can confidently make incremental changes to their windage and elevation settings, maintaining consistency and accuracy in their shots.

Brightness

The sight provides shooters with a versatile range of brightness settings for both the green and red dot colors. With five brightness settings available for each color, shooters can easily adjust the reticle’s brightness to suit their specific lighting conditions and shooting preferences.

At a higher brightness setting, it is important to note that some distortion may occur. As the brightness level increases, the dot may start to exhibit some glare and become slightly oblong in shape. However, it is worth mentioning that this distortion is generally minimal and does not significantly impact the sight’s overall performance or the shooter’s ability to aim accurately. In indoor environments with decent lighting, such as an indoor range, the sight’s brightness setting can often be adjusted to a lower level while still maintaining a clear and visible dot. 

Mounting

The mounting process for the TruGlo sight is straightforward and user-friendly. I was able to easily mount the sight on a Ruger 10/22 with a synthetic stock. The mounting was easily accomplished using the weaver style rails that come with the firearm and the weaver base that is attached to the sight itself. The sight is securely attached to the firearm using two thumb screws, which can be easily tightened by hand without the need for any additional tools.

Once the sight is properly mounted, it holds securely, providing a stable and reliable attachment. This ensures that the sight remains in place during shooting sessions, even when subjected to recoil and other potential vibrations.

Gun Platform

The Truglo red dot scope is primarily designed and optimized for use with smaller caliber or low recoil weapons like the .22 rifles, air rifles, and rimfire rifles. Its compact size, lightweight construction, and versatile features make it an excellent choice for these gun platforms. Truglo specifically recommends its use with these types of firearms, as they generally produce lower recoil forces compared to centerfire rifles or shotguns.

It’s important to note that Truglo sight may not be durable enough to withstand sustained recoil from centerfire rifles or shotguns. The significant recoil forces generated by these firearms can potentially damage or compromise the sight’s functionality over time. Therefore, it is advised to exercise caution and avoid using the Truglo on high-recoil firearms. For weapons with considerably higher recoil forces, it is recommended to opt for a more robust and rugged optic specifically designed to handle such conditions. Truglo offers a range of other optics, such as their Tru-Brite series or Tru-Tec series, which are better suited for centerfire rifles and shotguns due to their enhanced durability and shock-resistant designs.

Advantages of Truglo Red Dot Sight

Affordable

The Truglo Red Dot is reasonably priced, making it a budget-friendly option for those looking for a reliable sighting system without breaking the bank.

Clear Sight Picture

The sight provides a clear and crisp view of the target, allowing for quick and precise aiming. This helps shooters acquire their target faster and increases accuracy.

Versatile

The Truglo Sight can be used on various firearms, including rifles, shotguns, handguns, and even crossbows. Its adaptability makes it suitable for different shooting activities and gun platforms.

Quick Target Acquisition

With the Truglo sight, shooters can acquire targets rapidly, thanks to its bright and precise 5 MOA dot reticle. This feature is especially beneficial in scenarios where speed is essential, such as home defense.

Dual Reticle Color

The sight offers both red and green reticle color options. Red is excellent for quick target acquisition in daylight, while green is more relaxing to the eyes, reducing eye fatigue during extended shooting sessions. Green is also advantageous in low-light conditions and for those that have astigmatism.

Disadvantages of Truglo Sight

Limited Long-Range Performance

The 5 MOA reticle size of the Truglo sight may not be ideal for long-range shots beyond 75 yards. The larger reticle can obstruct precise aiming at longer distances. However, it can still perform well for close-quarters shooting.

Some Brightness Distortion

At higher brightness settings, the dot may exhibit some glare and become slightly oblong in shape. This distortion is generally minimal and does not significantly affect aiming accuracy, especially in well-lit indoor environments.

Limited Durability for High-Recoil Firearms

While the sight is built with aircraft-grade aluminum, it is not recommended for use with high-recoil firearms like centerfire rifles or shotguns. Sustained recoil from these firearms may potentially damage or compromise the sight’s functionality over time.

Not Parallax-Free

The Truglo sight is not parallax-free, meaning the reticle may appear to shift if the shooter’s eye is not perfectly aligned with the sight. Shooters need to ensure they look through the center of the sight for the most accurate aiming.

Commonly Asked Questions about Truglo Sight

What is the TruGlo Red Dot, and how does it work?

The TruGlo is a type of optic that you can attach to your firearm, like a rifle or handgun. It helps you aim and shoot more accurately. The sight projects a small red dot onto a special lens, and you align that dot with your target. When you look through the sight, you’ll see the dot on top of your target, making it easier to aim accurately.

How accurate is the TruGlo sight in different shooting conditions?

The sight is designed to be accurate in various shooting conditions. It provides a clear sight picture and quick target acquisition, which means you can aim faster and more precisely. Whether you’re shooting in bright daylight or low-light situations, the sight helps you see and aim at your target better.

Is the TruGlo sight suitable for both beginners and experienced shooters?

Yes, the sight is suitable for both beginners and experienced shooters. Its user-friendly design and clear sight picture make it easy for beginners to improve their shooting accuracy. Experienced shooters can also benefit from its quick target acquisition and precise aiming, enhancing their shooting performance.

Can I adjust the brightness and size of the red dot reticle?

Yes, you can adjust the brightness of the red dot reticle on the sight. It offers multiple brightness settings, so you can choose the level that works best for the lighting conditions you’re shooting in. However, the size of the red dot reticle is fixed at 5 MOA, and you cannot adjust it.

Are there any alternative sights that offer similar features to the TruGlo Red Dot?

Yes, there are other sights available that offer similar features to the TruGlo Red Dot. Different brands have their own red dot sights with varying prices and features. It’s always good to compare and consider alternatives to find the sight that best fits your needs and preferences.

Is the Truglo Red Dot suitable for use with pistols?

The Truglo Sight can be used with pistol caliber carbine. It is designed to be versatile and compatible with various firearms. Its lightweight construction makes it a good choice for pistol shooters looking to improve their aiming and target acquisition.

How long does the battery last?

The battery life of the Truglo Sight is impressive. With the single CR2032 battery in the sight, you can use it for about 6 months straight, depending on usage patterns and brightness settings. The sight’s energy efficiency, especially when using the green dot option, allows for extended usage without the need for frequent battery replacements.

Can the Truglo sight handle high-recoil firearms?

The sight is primarily designed and optimized for use with smaller caliber or low-recoil firearms like .22 rifles, air rifles, and rimfire rifles. It may not be durable enough to withstand sustained recoil from high-recoil firearms like centerfire rifles or shotguns.