Triangle Tactical Podcast and Blog on Guns, Gear, and Competition Shooting
I recently picked up a Primary Arms Micro to go along with my Bushnell TRS-25, and I was very surprised to see that they are very similar. This post isn’t going to be a review of the Primary Arms Micro, as I haven’t zeroed it, or even shot the rifle with it installed, so I cannot say anything about the durability of it.
After comparing the two, I noticed that some of the parts on them are identical, such as the elevation and wind-age caps, brightness adjustment knob, front and rear lenses, etc. Primary Arms does make a Micro with a fixed base, and a angled elevation knob, and I would guess that it, and the Bushnell are the exact same optic, just with a different name on the side.
Anyways, the Primary Arms Micro appears to be good quality, and the removable base is a nice feature that allowed it to use any number of Aimpoint Micro mounts on the market, whereas the Bushnell TRS-25 only has a couple of mounts available, one of which is cheap junk, and the other costs as much as the optic itself.
Anyways, here are the pictures. I did the best I could for lighting with what I had in the house, and I don’t think the pictures turned out too bad for being taken with my phone…
The above picture shows the two together with the adjustment knob on each. Notice the similarities of the knobs.
Again, notice the knobs, and the lens size/color. Almost identical.
Emitter placement, knobs, etc. All identical.
Just for kicks, I’ll toss up a couple pictures I took of just the Primary Arms Micro as well. The dot appears a little more defined with the Primary Arms, and maybe a little smaller as well. It is definitely a keeper.
Addendum: Ok, so I’ve had time to go zero the Primary Arms Micro Dot, and it’s just fine, however I have a couple of small gripes:
1. The o-rings on the elevation and windage knobs are complete garbage. One o-ring on the elevation knob broke in half while I was unscrewing the cap. There was a smaller o-ring inside the caps to create a better seal, but these o-rings were super loose, and I ended up losing one of them at the range. So, first range trip with the Primary Arms micro dot, and I’m down two o-rings.
2. When comparing this optic to the Bushnell TRS-25, I am noticed that the clicks for the elevation and windage knobs are not as tactile as the TRS-25, which has nice clicks that I can hear, and feel when making adjustments. The Primary Arms Micro does not have any feel, or click when making adjustments. Not a huge deal, but I prefer a click.
3. The Primary Arms brand mount is just ok. It is a whole world better than the UTG junk that I used with the Bushnell TRS-25, but the hardware, specifically the QR mechanism is a little fiddly to use. Its functional, and being that it came with the optic, I still feel that it is a good value.
Final Thoughts:
Neither of these optics represent a high end, “go to war” optic, but for the weekend warrior, they represent a good value. Being that the TRS-25, and the Primary Arms Micro are about the same price, I would wholeheartedly recommend the Primary Arms Micro over the Bushnell TRS-25 because of the mount. The TRS-15 is severely limited in mounting options, whereas the Primary Arms Micro will use any number of Aimpoint Micro mounts. I’m convinced that internally these are exactly the same optic, so I expect the actual performance of them to remain similar.
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run that pa!!! i have one on my spike m4 and love it…have about 500 rounds with it on there and it holds zero…even took it off to sight in my magpul buis and remounted with no change in zero….
If your going to base the judgment on mounting options it would be wise to note that the TRS-25 has a mount made by Daniel Defense specifically for the TRS-25
Also note that the TRS-25 isn’t a re-brand clone originating from China. The Primary Arms red dots are simply a $20 optic that has the PA logo printed on it and they’re sold at a premium price ($90+). The CEO even admitted this himself.
The TRS-25 however is an American designed, original product (not a clone) that is manufactured in China and held to higher standards.
You can buy the exact same optic of primary arms without the name on Ebay for $20 bucks. The same can’t be said of the Bushnell TRS-25. That again is because it’s an original product.
First off- all these budget red dots are MADE IN CHINA( UTG, Millet, Vortex, Primary Arms)
Secondly Marshall of Primary Arms has NEVER said his company makes $20 RDS and jacks up the price- IF you knew anything about commercial production, you’d know cost to manufacture and sales costs are different ( a ford focus doesn’t actually cost $15k to build!)
I have done business with Primary Arms for nearly 5 yrs and the company has integrity and good customer service! Their micro is a aim point knock off and they admit it – it also runs at 60% of what my aim point micro can for only 1/4 of the price( less battery life and I don’t think it can take the hard abuse of my street cop/ army acceptable aim point )
From my experience, the PA micro red dot is the flat out EQUAL to the TRS 25. Both are for target practice, close up home defense, and can take minor bangs and bumps
Yes and no on the Bushnell and Daniel Defense. DD did (but no longer) market a mount specifically for the TRS-25, but it’s the same US-made mount from Alamo Four Star. It’s great product, like the TRS-25 itself. That said, I love my TRS-25, but it isn’t really all that special compared to a lot of well-made Chinese-made red dots. The reason some Primary Arms-based sights are available at a lower price, unbranded, is just because they aren’t an exclusive retailer for those manufacturers. Bushnell limits distribution channels for the TRS-25, so they aren’t sold unbranded at lower prices. If the factory could sell them direct or via wholesalers in the US, we would see them for $30, too. In fact, if you shop carefully, you can find the TRS-25 for about $50 USD and I doubt the retailers are losing money. A lot of these red dots are made by a company in Zhejiang, China, though I haven’t been able to determine if Bushnell is using them as their supplier. Primary Arms, I’m fairly certain, has several of their models made there.
I have a Arsenal sgl107fr with a trs25 on a ultimak rail,the sight gets very hot and I shoot alot but cant kill the sight.I have a trijicon,aimpoint,eotech,and burris mtac so I have some quality sights.The trs does everything I expect iit to do,I cant say its as good as those mentioned above but it sure takes more abuse being on a Ak gas tube.I reccomend this sight.