I’ve been wanting to do a quick review on a few of the cheapest red dots on the market. The BSA Huntsman is about as cheap as your going to find. BSA Designed the Huntsman Red Dot to be used on low recoil rifles. Perfect for your 22lr rifle or a cheap AR15 Build. If you need an affordable compact red dot for short to medium range shooting you need to consider the BSA Huntsman. Though I wouldn’t recommend the Huntsman for your primary rifle, it makes a great cheap backup red dot. Continue reading for a complete hands on BSA Huntsman Red Dot Review.
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BSA Huntsman Initial Thoughts
When I initially decided to do a review of the BSA Huntsman I didn’t have a lot of confidence in the product. Years of purchasing hunting equipment has taught me to be leery of cheap equipment. Really how much can you expect out of a red dot that’s cheaper than taking a date to the movies. On initial inspection the BSA Huntsman actually looks like a solid little red dot. A little bigger than I would have liked, comparable to the similarly priced UTG Red Dot(Which has lasted a while on my Ruger 10/22). Weighing in at a little over 5 oz the BSA Huntsman can be paired with even the lightest rifles. It wouldn’t be the best fit for lightweight target pistols like the Ruger Mark III.(Bushnell TRS-25 is a better Option)
The Huntsman really is a decent red dot for the price. On initial inspection the biggest pitfall the scope has is the mounting bracket. BSA included one of the cheapest mounting brackets I have ever seen. The bracket is basically two small brackets of metal with screws that barely grab onto the bottom of the red dot. I fumbled around with the thing for like twenty minutes before I gave up for the day. Might just be the fact that I have a fused wrist, but it took a second set of hands to secure the red dot to my AR15. After getting assistance from my girlfriend the red dot seems to be very secure. It might look secure, but the real test is if it will stay secure at the range.
BSA Huntsman Specifications
Luckily for both of our sanity BSA was nice enough to include a basic specifications chart on their website. I will only go over a few things that might interest you in their chart. Like most red dots the Huntsman has Unlimited Eye Relief. So you should be able to mount the red dot anywhere on your scope without reducing your sight picture.
The two biggest points that scare me on BSA’s Specification chart is their Parallax Setting and Day/Night Transmission%. BSA’s decision not to include light transmission data makes me question how well you’re going to be able to see in bright and dim light. Whether or not that fear is warranted I’ll see when I test the optic. You’re also going to want to notice the Parallax setting of 50 yards. Most decent red dots have a parallax free design, so the reticle isn’t affected by moving your head out of alignment. A 50 yard parallax setting is extremely concerning if you plan to shoot at an outdoor range. Most outdoor shooting ranges have at least a 50 and 100 yard range. When using the sight at a 100 yard range you are going to have to make sure your head is in perfect alignment. Otherwise your reticle is going to be slightly out of alignment.
BSA Huntsman Construction and Design
The BSA Huntsman uses a surprisingly sturdy design for the price. BSA touts steel construction with a waterproof and fogproof housing. I’m not completely sold on most cheap red dots claims of being completely waterproof, fogproof and shockproof. So submerge your sight at your own risk. That being said I haven’t noticed any real issues with the waterproofing or fogproofing.
BSA Claims this red dot uses a shockproof design. I’ve tested the sight on both my Ruger 10/22 and AR15 and it seems to hold up to those calibers. Would I mount this red dot on one of my high caliber hunting rifles? No I would spend a little more money and buy the Bushnell TRS-25 if I was looking for a cheap red dot. It might handle the recoil of larger calibers, but I wouldn’t risk ruining my hunt on a red dot I don’t 100 Percent trust. Just make sure you spend a lot of time at the range if you plan on using this optic on anything stronger than your AR15.
BSA Huntsman Red Dot Reticle and Sight Picture
The BSA Huntsman Red Dot has a surprisingly clear sight picture for the price. You can choose between three different color combinations which is a surprising feature. You don’t normally see a blue reticle included on budget optics. BSA Claims the Red Reticle is for all light conditions, Green for Dawn and Dusk and Blue for night time use. All three colors come in clear and have multiple brightness settings. If you notice slight blur in your reticle simply lower the brightness setting a little bit.
BSA Huntsman Red Dot Setup and Battery Replacement
It’s really easy to install and replace the battery in the Huntsman. Just unscrew the top of the brightness adjustment turret. Install a CR2032 battery and screw the top back on. I noticed that the lid on my battery compartment occasionally unscrews when I adjust the brightness. My fingers are big and clumsy so I occasionally grip to high on the adjustment knob.
Dialing in the sight is just like every other red dot in the world. All you need to do is adjust the windage and elevation when your at the range. I like to use the SiteLite Mag Laser Boresighter to sight in all my rifles. The SightLite Boresight can be used on all calibers from .17HMR to your 12 Ga Shotgun. If you don’t have a laser boresight you don’t know what you’re missing. Within minutes you’ll be able to sight in your scope or red dot. You’ll still need to do a few minor adjustments at the range. The Turrets on the Huntsman are very easy to adjust. Once you remove the cap you’ll have to screw the adjustment knobs with a screwdriver or spent piece of brass. You’ll notice that the adjustments aren’t as crisp as they are on more expensive sights, but they’re definitely usable.
BSA Huntsman Range Report
So the real question everybody wants to know, is whether or not the BSA Huntsman Holds Zero. After testing this budget red dot with 500 rounds mounted on my M&P 15 Sport I was pleasantly surprised. It was just as accurate at the end of the day as it was at the beginning. For the price you really can’t beat the accuracy of this red dot. The only real complaint I have is when shooting out to my 200 yard target. When my head wasn’t just right shots seemed to veer off a few inches to the left. I didn’t notice that happening at 100 yards or less or with my more expensive red dots.
BSA Huntsman Red Dot Review Final Thoughts
So it comes down to a few final thoughts in my BSA Huntsman Red Dot Review. It’s going to be hard to beat this cheap red dot at this price point. If this was the only red dot that I could afford I would be more than happy with it. Honestly how much can you expect at this price point. A red dot that holds zero and is reasonably sturdy is all that you can ask for. I would highly recommend the Bushnell TRS-25 or the Vortex StrikeFire 2 if you plan on mounting this on your primary rifle. They cost a little more money, but they’re well worth the price. For a secondary rifle or plinking rifle you really can’t go wrong with the BSA Huntsman
Please Comment Below with questions or comments on my BSA Huntsman Red Dot Review