PAO Multi Reticle Red/Green Reflex Pistol and Rifle Sight

› Reflex sights are a really neat alternative to a full-size scope, and with no body tube to worry about, many models can be incredibly light. On test here is the PAO Multi Reticle Red/Green Reflex Sight, and whilst that’s quite a long name for such a little device, there’s no doubting that for the measly sum of 30-odd quid, we are on the face of it getting quite a lot for our well-earned readies!

PAO
PAO (Professional Airgun Optics) is a brand distributed by The Shooting Party, and whilst they are synonymous with fairly budget hardware, this reflex sight still seems a steal at the price. At just 3.7” long, and weighing a whisker over 4oz, it really is the perfect add-on for when a conventional scope could just be too much. A tactical bullpup, where space is at a premium, is the perfect example, but sometimes we just don’t want to unbalance a combination. There’s also a lot to be said for fun shooting, where the fast and instinctive target acquisition offered by the humble reflex sight takes some beating.
Open the box, and inside alongside the sight, there are a couple of Allen keys, a lens cloth, a small slide-on lens cover for the front screen, one CR2032 3v lithium button cell battery, and an instructions leaflet. The sight that arrived for testing came supplied with a Picatinny base, but the base can be specified as dovetail if you wish.

Construction
The all-metal construction, apparently in aircraft grade aluminium, means this sight has a robust feel to it, and whilst my model came black anodised, it can also be specified in a sand finish, which looks quite flashy. It comes specified as fogproof, waterproof and shockproof too, which is all reassuring.
For the test, my intention was to mount the sight on my old Airmasters HW77, but since this had dovetails, it was necessary to fish out my trusty Sportsmatch conversion blocks and bolt the sight straight onto those. Apparently, there are PAO snap-fit mount adjusters available, for a more budget solution, but the Sportsmatch blocks are a class act. Now, with regards to the positioning of this sight, there’s plenty of flexibility, since there is effectively no eye relief to worry about, and that’s why it’s also specified for pistol use.

Familiarisation
With everything locked into place, switch on the sight using the rheostat dial on top. Set to ‘G’ for green, or ‘R’ for red, and these act as the off switch. Dial through to any of the five brightness levels in each colour thereafter. Windage and elevation are clearly marked and are adjusted using the larger Allen key. The click values are specified as 1 MOA, although on my test example, they did feel a little vague. That said, the adjustment came in fine, and given that RRP, again, just what are we expecting?

Choices, choices
This sight, as the name suggests, allows the user to switch, at the click of a button, between four different reticle designs. These include a circle dot with four guide dashes (top, bottom, left and right), the floating dot within the four pointers, the dot within a split circle, and a simple floating dot. Just use the small lever at the rear of the unit to switch between each one. It’s a brilliant feature, and on test it worked really well. As mentioned, select the colour and level of brightness, and bear in mind that the freshness of the battery can make a difference, as can obviously the time of day.
On test, for the record, and shooting in daylight, I used red on level 5 with ease.
The dot seemed precise in use, but with no magnification, the type and colour of the target will make a big difference. For a guide, on test, shooting at 2” Jack Pyke Spot Shot (Shoot-N-C-style) targets proved ideal, and the dot fitted perfectly within the dark disc when viewed at 30 yards. We can’t expect the same level of precision as a magnifying scope, but what the reflex sight gives us is super-fast target acquisition and freedom, with no constraints as to eye relief. It’s not even too critical to keep the head in the same position or centralise the reticle in the screen, to a degree, which is both surprising and liberating. Basically, get the dot on the target and pull the trigger!
For ultra-precision, all the usual rules of shooting are best adhered to, but what I’m saying is this sight is remarkably forgiving when shooting quickly and instinctively.

Verdict
Suitable for pistols or rifles, this super-neat PAO Multi-Reticle Reflex Sight is the perfect companion for a multitude of airguns, and with a current retail price of a little over £33, it’s an affordable choice for anyone who needs an instant sighting solution. It really is great fun, brilliant value, and highly effective.