Top 5 Best Red Dots for Crossbows – (2023 Reviews & Guide)

Are you ready to upgrade to the best red dot for your crossbow? Whether you’re a hunter, hobbyist, or someone who owns a crossbow for home defense, we’ve got you covered in this guide. Red dot sights and scopes are perfect for crossbows because they give you superhuman accuracy at close range. Consequently, red dots are perfect for newcomers and veterans alike. For example, someone who is new to hunting with a crossbow will quickly find success sooner because of how easy a red dot is to use.

Another great advantage of using a red dot is for home defense. You don’t have to be a professional to lock onto your target with pinpoint accuracy using one. This is especially useful since new owners worry about missing their first shot. With a red dot, you give yourself the best chance of connecting on every shot, including your first.

So, with those thoughts, let’s go over our top picks. We arranged our picks to start with the best of the best before working our way down the price ladder. No matter your budget, you’ll find the perfect match below. Just keep in mind that when choosing a red dot, you get what you pay for. Personally, we wouldn’t journey any deeper into the budget realm than our final pick.

Best Crossbow Red Dot Reviews

In each review, you’ll discover helpful tips and key features to consider for each sight and scope. Since red dot tech can quickly get complicated, we did our best to keep it simple. In other words, you don’t have to be an expert to understand how to choose the best red dot sight for your crossbow from our guide.

#1) Trijicon RMR Type 2 Adjustable LED Reflex Sight

For the money, Trijicon’s RMR gives you the most value for a premium sight. Yes, it’s not cheap, but considering that red dots can hover near 1000 bucks, the RMS is our top-rated premium pick based on quality vs value. First, the RMR won’t come with the disadvantages of cheap optics such as glare in bright light, fuzzy dots, or unacceptable battery life.

In fact, Trijicon’s RMR delivers the complete opposite. Currently, this model is available in 3.25 MOA and 6.5 MOA. Both sizes are suitable for crossbows. For your reference, the higher the minute of angle (MOA) the larger the dot. Larger dots are advantageous for locking onto moving targets at close range. For this reason, folks with poor eyesight and people who own a crossbow for self-defense benefit from the larger 6.5 MOA.

Several of the features that truly set this sight apart from inferior sights are the incredibly low weight of just 1.17 oz with battery, tough forged aluminum housing, impressively long 4-year battery life, and user-friendly controls with 8 brightness settings. Lastly, Trijicon is one of the most trustworthy optics brands, and it backs the RMR with a lifetime warranty.

Pros

Cons

#2) Vortex Optics Venom

Our favorite mid-range to premium optics brand is Vortex Optics. Currently, the Venom sight is the best one available for crossbows. Similar to the Trijicon RMR sight, the Venom is available in both 3 MOA and 6 MOA, making it perfect for crossbow uses. Hunters are especially good candidates for the Venom because they’ll find that the optics are clear & bright.

Firstly, the Venom weighs just about as much as Trijicon’s RMR at 1.1 oz without a battery. Secondly, it’s also super low-profile, which makes it easier to store in your crossbow case while attached. Third, the Venom sports an impressive battery life of up to 30,000 hours on low and 150 continuous hours on high. Long gone are the days of worrying about your sight’s battery dying in the field.

As for materials and optics, Vortex built this sight with rugged aluminum housing, a wide FOV, and its Premium Wide-Field Lens for edge-to-edge clarity. Lastly, the Venom sight offers 10 brightness settings, parallax-free performance, unlimited eye relief, and it comes backed by Vortex’s fully-transferrable unlimited lifetime warranty. All in all, you really can’t go wrong by choosing this red dot.

Pros

Cons

#3) Burris FastFire 3

Another top-notch reflex sight for crossbows is Burris’ FastFire 3. The FastFire 3 is Burris’ most popular red dot for a reason. Because it offers excellent clarity and performance in the mid-range price category. First, keep in mind, this is a reflex sight similar to the Trijicon RMR. With this type of red dot, you have the ability to take accurate shots with both eyes open. Clearly, this is advantageous in home-defense situations and when hunting at close range.

Next, the FastFire is available in both 3 MOA and 8 MOA, so if you prefer a larger dot than our first two picks, the 8 MOA is an excellent alternative. Beyond the dot, the FastFire 3 is super versatile and ready to mount to just about any crossbow. If you choose it without the Picatinny mount included, it weighs just .9 oz. As a result, it won’t affect your bow balance.

Regarding battery life, we like that the FastFire features an automatic time-out feature after 8 hours. With this feature, battery life is up to 5 years. Although, the approximate battery life rating is 5,000 hours. Finally, Burris added its Hi-Lume multicoating for clearer vision, no glare, and better performance in low-light conditions. Plus, Burris matches Trijicon and Vortex with its Forever Warranty.

Pros

Cons

#4) TruGlo 30 mm Crossbow Red-Dot Sight

Now, a great budget alternative to our first three picks is TruGlo’s crossbow red dot model. Currently, this is the best red dot scope for a crossbow for under 100 bucks. Usually, we don’t consider optics in this price category, but TruGlo did manage to make a winner here for a very affordable price. Hunters and beginners will both find value here because of the unique set of features offered by this model.

First, the Descending Diameter Dots reticle allows you to switch between 5, 3.5, and 2 MOA. This allows you to focus on targets at close range with the 5 MOA dot and targets at longer distances with the 2 MOA. However, the drawback is that the view is more obstructed since there are 3 dots rather than a single dot. The good news is that you’re able to sight in at multiple distances similar to a traditional sight with multiple pins, which is a nice feature for crossbow hunters.

A couple of final considerations concern the weight and battery life. Compared to the mini red dots above, this red dote scope is heavier at 9.6 oz, and the battery life is shorter. Outside of those considerations, TruGlo does back this sight with a competitive lifetime warranty, and it’s built to perform in all weather conditions with flip-up lens caps.

Pros

Cons

#5) Feyachi RS-30 Reflex Sight

Finally, if your goal is to get your foot in the door, this budget reflex sight will get you there. Good candidates for this sight are occasional users, hobbyists, and people who bought a bow for security purposes. On the other hand, intermediate and seasoned hunters are more likely to be let down by this sight, especially if they used an Aimpoint, Vortex, or Trijicon red dot before.

Several of the advantages of choosing this model for the beginner are the wide FOV provided by the 42 mm lens, the multiple reticles, and the ability to keep both eyes open since it’s a reflex sight. Additionally, if you’re brand-new to red dots, this is a good budget choice to test the waters without breaking the bank. Then, once you get the hang of using it, you’ll more than likely want to upgrade to one of our top three picks.

A handful of final highlights are clear vision during daytime, brightness adjustments, ease of installation & sighting in, the included rear iron sight, and its durable aluminum alloy construction. A couple of final drawbacks are the likelihood of slightly tilted reticles, and it uses three LR44 alkaline batteries rather than a single lithium battery. All things considered, with the right expectations, this budget, user-friendly red dot delivers.

Pros

Cons

Bottom Line

Depending on your taste, choosing the best red dot for your crossbow may or may not be easy. If this is your first red dot and you only occasionally use your bow, you’re more likely to be satisfied by budget red dots. If you’re a seasoned hunter who knows optics, then stick with brands such as Trijicon and Vortex. Those two brands manufacture professional quality glass that’ll last you a lifetime while maintaining its integrity.

Finally, it’s important to consider the dot size because you don’t want to go too low. Typically, 3 MOA or higher is good for most crossbow uses since you’re locking onto targets at close range. Also, if you want to be able to take your shot with both eyes open, then choose a reflex sight. It’s the easiest to use and allows you to maintain your peripheral vision even after you acquire your target.