The Dagger Defense red dot sight is a very popular model that comes at a really good price. This unit offers a good quality-price ratio, and it uses both a green and a red dot to allow you to acquire your targets quickly and easily.
One of the advantages of using this model is that it comes with everything you need to set it up on your AR15 directly out of the box. The sight is compatible with the Picatinny rail, so it won’t need an additional mounting platform. To install the sight on the AR’s rail, you will need an Allen wrench, but the manufacturer included one in the package.
Another advantage is that this model offers you the possibility to choose between having the reticle illuminated in green or red. This is not only a matter of aesthetics. Changing the color of the reticle can help you spot it easier in certain scenarios and environments, thus making it easier for you to acquire your target and aim.
A good thing about the Dagger Defense red dot sight is that it’s made out of aircraft-grade aluminum. Not only will this allow the sight to withstand the AR’s powerful recoil, but it will also allow it to withstand the usual wear and tear it will experience in the field without losing it’s zero. The sight’s aluminum casing is compact, and it will take up a small space on the rifle’s Picatinny rail, allowing you to mount other accessories on the rail as well.
This red dot sight can co-witness the stock iron sights of the AR15 if you install it directly on the flat top rail. Co-witnessing the iron sights is a good thing to do when you’re using a battery-operated red dot sight, as otherwise, the batteries can run out and leave you without an aiming solution. However, if you co-witness the iron sights, you will be able to use them directly in the eventuality of a power shortage on your red dot sight.
The Dagger Defense has an open design that allows you to use the sight while still being very aware of your surrounding. This design, combined with the fact that the unit is parallax free, will allow you to make accurate shots at all times, and change from one target to another without any problems.
However, because this unit has an open design, it’s more vulnerable to the action of the elements. The sight is waterproof, so you will be able to use it in damp conditions, but the rain cover it comes with is narrow, so you will have to swipe the lens from time to time to get the water off. This can be an inconvenience because the red dot won’t appear very clear when the lens is wet, so you might have some difficulties making accurate medium or long-distance shots.
As far as the red dot is concerned, this unit uses four reticles to help your aim. One of them is a large 3 MOA dot that’s perfect for close quarter encounters, one is a small 1 MOA dot that’s better suited for mid to long-range shooting, one is an encircled dot, and the last one is a crosshair. All of them can be colored in either green or red, and you can change the light intensity for every one of them, no matter which you use. The reticle is bright enough to see in sunny days, and its easily noticed when you’re shooting in low-light conditions or at night.
The Dagger Defense sight uses a single CR2032 battery that should last for a long time. However, multiple customers complained that their packages did not contain a battery, so you might have to purchase a separate one if you’re unlucky.
All in all, the Dagger Defense red dot sight is a versatile model that comes at a great price. This unit is small and durable, and most importantly, it’s cheap. This sight’s price-quality ratio is very good, making it a nice choice for both experienced and inexperienced shooters.
