Red dots are becoming increasingly popular due to their ease of use among other things. But one thing remains a huge problem for its teeming users – its lack of magnification.
Red dots do not come with magnification which means shooting at distances farther than 100 yards would be a challenge. This notwithstanding, people still love to use this sight because it is fast and easy to use. The users, however, are restricted to using their red dots only for short distances. With a red dot magnifier, this restriction is lifted, and shooters can now use their red dots across several distances.
Since the biggest challenge with a red dot is the lack of magnifiers, using an external magnifier that works perfectly with red dots will put this problem to bed once and for all.
Don’t get this wrong, the lack of magnification on a red dot is even an advantage in some scenarios. Red dots are fast since and their speed of use is further helped by their lack of magnification as you have minimal adjusting to do. If speed has a huge effect on your shooting you may want to stick to just red dots.
The good news is that manufacturers of these magnifiers know the value of speed when shooting. That is why magnifiers are made in different forms like flip-up and side-mounted. This is so you can still quickly use just the red dot when speed becomes more important.
A magnifier helps you see objects closer through your scope than the normal eye, and this shows that it is even vital for short distances as you can get better precision and ultimately better shots when using a magnifier with your red dots.
There are so many magnifiers in the market now, and it would be a big challenge for you to go through each one in search of the best magnifier for your red dot sight. This is why we took the liberty of testing out some of the top magnifiers out there and coming up with our list of tested and trusted magnifiers for your red dot.
Do you want to know the magnifiers that made the cut? Here you go…
Best Red Dot Magnifiers
- EoTech G33 – Our top pick
- Aimpoint 3X Magnifier
- Vortex Optics VMX-3T – Best value for money
- Sig Sauer Juliet4
- Primary Arms 3x Gen IV
Like I promised earlier, I’ll be sharing the list of tested and trusted magnifiers you can use for your red dot to improve the accuracy of your shots across multiple distances. These magnifiers cut across several brands, price ranges, and features. So whatever your needs may be, you’ll most likely find what you’re looking for in this list.
Without further ado…
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
 | EoTech G33 | • Quick target acquisition system • Great optics • Durable | View Price |
 | Aimpoint 3X Magnifier | • Super durable • Twist mounting system • Lightweigh | View Price |
 | Vortex Optics VMX-3T | • Magnification of 3x • 30mm objective lens • Button activated swing mount | View Price |
 | Sig Sauer Juliet4 | • Magnification of 4x • Side flip • Easily detachable mount | View Price |
 | Primary Arms 3x Gen IV | • Magnification of 3x • Affordable • Long eye relief | View Price |
1. EoTech G33
On the top of our list is the EoTech G33 magnifier. It is compact and lightweight which is vital for magnifiers seeing that they would be attracted to a rifle holding a sight already among other things. This would help reduce the bulkiness of the whole setup and make it easier to carry around.
It uses a fast-transitioning mount that makes it easy for you to move the magnifier to the side when you want to utilize the speed of the red dot alone. This feature is called Switch to Side (STS). The magnification of this magnifier is fixed at 3x which is ideal for several short to medium-range distances. This is not all, and it has a quick-release feature that allows you to detach the magnifier instead of moving it to the side.
Even though the EoTech G33 magnifier is built to be used for the EoTech holographic sights, it can also be used for other sights from different brands too. This makes it a versatile magnifier. Its objective lens diameter is 25mm, which may not be the biggest but considering its magnification, you’ll get the best out of it. Its lenses are fully multi-coated for better light transmission.
One thing that is greatly overlooked in this scope is its durability. Suppose you shoot in areas with a high level of rainfall and humidity. In that case, you’ll know the need for a magnifier that can be used in these conditions without issues. This EoTech G33 magnifier is submersible in up to 33ft and is rugged in its build as it is made with aluminum and a rubberized armor coating.
It features an adjustable dipper and a tool-free adjustment system which means fast aiming and shooting. It has a good FoV to help you better view your target surroundings and make better decisions.
Pros
- 3x magnification
- Great mounting system
- Quick target acquisition system
- Great optics
- Durable
Cons
- Expensive
2. Aimpoint 3X Magnifier
In general, Aimpoint is a well-known optics brand making excellent products for your arsenal. This Aimpoint magnifier comes with a fixed 3x power and can even be used as a handheld monocular.
Aimpoint’s optics are as durable as it gets and this magnifier is no different. It is made from reinforced aluminum, coated with matte black finish, hard anodized, and finally covered in a shock-absorbing protective rubber cover. All these give you an absolute beast when it comes to the durability of this magnifier. Solid all around and almost indestructible. But that’s not even all…
They are gas-purged and sealed to keep them waterproof. It is submersible in up to 3ft.
It has impressive clear glass, a 20mm objective lens that is multi-coated for better light transmission, and an anti-glare coating to reduce light reflectiveness. This works with the matte black finish to keep your position hidden.
Its mounting system is a peculiar one as it is quite different from what is easily obtainable from other magnifiers. It is made as a temporary solution instead of a permanent shooting sight attachment, and this is why it uses a twist mounting system. Twisting the magnifier completely detaches it from the mount. While other magnifiers look to flip up and down and move to the side when not in use, this magnifier completely detaches from the mount.
You can look at this from both a pro and con angle as it can both be beneficial and annoying. Nevertheless, you do not need to re-zero your scope when switching between the 3x power of the magnifier and the 1x power of the red dot.
This magnifier is perfect for Aimpoint sights which are mostly used for tactical shooting and self-defense. They can however be used for hunting among other things.
Pros
- magnification of 3x
- No need to re-zero when switching between 1x and 3x
- Super durable
- Twist mounting system
- Lightweight
- Can be used as a monocular
- Shock-absorbing protective cover
Cons
- lack of a flip mount system
- Short eye relief
3. Vortex Optics VMX-3T
Our best value for money magnifier. This vortex Optics magnifier has a magnification of 3x, amazing features, and is sold at an affordable price, all these make it an absolute bargain in the industry.
It is a flip-up optics that engages and disengages at a push of a button. Easy to use and understand, this vortex magnifier is head and shoulders above other magnifiers in its price range. It comes with a fixed magnification of 3x to help improve the accuracy of your shots across short to medium-range distances.
Vortex VMX-3T is an upgrade to the VMX magnifier earlier released. It has an objective lens diameter of 30mm which is larger than most of the already listed magnifiers. This allows for better light transmission into the tube. Its lenses are also fully multi-coated with the special vortex group of coatings for protection and good light transmission.
Its body is made from quality machine aluminum and nitrogen-purged to keep moisture from entering and fog from forming inside the tube and obstructing your view. This also means it can be used in wet conditions without any fear of damage. It has an FoV of 38.2 inches at 100 yards and an eye relief of 2.2 inches.
The mount can be made to swing to either side of your weapon by the push of a button to give you room to work with just the red dot.
It might not be the best magnifier out there but it stands tall among magnifiers in its price range. If you’re looking for a bargain while being able to enjoy great features, this might just be what you’re looking for.
Pros
- magnification of 3x
- 30mm objective lens
- Button activated swing mount
- Durable, waterproof and fogproof
- Doesn’t require special sight-in
Cons
- Short eye relief
4. Sig Sauer Juliet4
With a slightly higher magnification than most of the already-listed magnifiers at 4x and an objective lens of 24mm Sig Sauer’s Juliet4 magnifier is taking its place on our list of top magnifiers for your red dot. And no, it didn’t make our list for just its higher magnification. As you’ll see in a short while, this magnifier can hold its own when compared to some of the more popular magnifiers.
Sig Sauer is a new name when it comes to the magnifier market and even optics in general, but that didn’t stop it from making this amazing magnifier with great aesthetics.
Made specifically for military operations and tactical shooting. This magnifier is a little on the high side, but its effectiveness cannot be questioned. Nor is its durability as it is made from aircraft-grade aluminum for optimum durability. It is also IPX8 rated and can be used comfortably in wet conditions. It can be submerged for up to 1 hour at meters. There is also a fog-resistant feature attached.
Its mounting system allows the magnifier to be moved to the side when you want to make use of the quick targeting of the red dot sight. The mount is easily detachable.
Its optics are clear and crisp and fully multi-coated with Sig Sauer special coating, which contains a dielectric coated prism, a coated HDX glass. It uses a Power am 90 degrees mount with adjustable height spacing.
Pros
- magnification of 4x
- Side flip
- Easily detachable mount
- Protective lens covers
- Durable, waterproof and fogproof
- Dielectric coated prism
Cons
- Not compatible with MRO
5. Primary Arms 3x Gen IV
This magnifier is our most affordable option in this list of the best red dot magnifiers. Primary Arms is a well-known optics brand that has been producing amazing optics for years now. They are also known to produce affordable optics and it is no surprise their product is our most affordable at under $200.
Lightweight at just 7.9 ounces, wide field of view of 38 feet at 100 yards, and a long eye relief of 2.64 inches, all of these at an affordable price. It has easily adjustable elevation and windage turrets that are capped when they are not in use to protect them.
This magnifier does not come with a mount so when you get one, you’ll be getting a heavier magnifier. That notwithstanding, it is still a decent weight compared to others in this list.
Its magnification is fixed at 3x and its objective lens is 24mm with a multi coated glass that improves the light transmission through the tube and protects the glass from damage. There is an integrated diopter for fast focus on your targets.
It is also advisable to stick to the gen IV model of this scope as even though it may be slightly more expensive than older models, it is super effective and an upgrade to the older models.
Rugged design that makes it shockproof, waterproof, and fogproof. A rubber armor sleeve covers the body and protects it from impacts.
Pros
- Magnification of 3x
- Rubber armor sleeve
- Durable, waterproof, shockproof
- Affordable
- Long eye relief
- Features an integrated diopter
- Easily adjustable elevation and windage turrets
Cons
- Does not come with a mount
- Short warranty
Finally
If you’re worried about choosing the best magnifier for your red dot, worry no more as everything has been laid bare in this list. You can finally unlock the full potential of your red dot sight with a magnifier for added precision. Select the magnifier that resonates best with your needs and enjoy.
