Crosman Red dot sight

The Crosman Wide View Red Dot comes sealed in one of those indestructible blister packs, and assuming you ever manage to get it out, it weighs just a few ounces, which brings versatility in itself. First impressions are of a very neat little sight and whilst it’s obviously of simple construction, made down to that crazy asking price, it could prove the perfect shooting partner for those on a budget.

Specification

Usual tech spec takes a bit of a back seat here as the whole idea is that this model is simplified. Crosman calls it an ‘enhanced open reflex sight’, and it even comes supplied with one CR2032 battery, neatly stowed underneath at the front. The first job is to pull off the rubber cover and remove the plastic tab from the battery. Now we can clamp the sight in place. The integral mount base is metal and designed to fit conventional 11mm dovetail rails. Just nip up the two cross head screws and the job’s done. I used my trusty old HW77, and given the system allows unlimited eye relief, mounting up is easy.

Switched on

Next, just nudge the rightmounted switch to ‘on’and you’ll see the red dot illuminated. Whilst Crosman advise that the unit performs better in low light, I zeroed in daylight on quite a bright day and the red dot is obvious and easy to see. However, it is quite bright with a fresh battery and no adjustment is possible for brightness, so the dot appears larger. I suspect as the battery weakens, the dot will become more subtle, but as its stands, I set up a 2” dark target at 25 yards and this worked well.

There are no turrets as such with this sight. Instead, easy-to-use finger knob adjustments are incorporated. Turn the wheel at the rear, clearly marked for direction, to alter the point of impact, either up or down, and likewise the small side adjuster (mounted front right), to alter windage.

In use

Those adjusters turn easily, but with no discernable increment stages, adjustment isn’t too precise and needs care. Once my zero was close, any further adjustment needed to be tiny and keeping a note of where the settings were, wasn’t easy. The rear adjuster also moved a little too easily, so in use, I would paint small markings on the wheels, and once the zero was set, place a piece of tape over them to keep everything locked. But hey - remember it’s twenty-odd quid!

Those negatives apart, quick target acquisition and the usual free feel of the red dot system, coupled with ¾” groups over 25 yards, left me in no doubt that this Crosman sight is a whole lot of fun for peanuts! Just remember to switch it off.

Perfectly suitable for pistols and rifles, this Crosman Wide View sight is great fun and an easy gift at the price. It also represents a perfect introduction to the world of red dot systems.