No batteries … no parallax error … shoot with both eyes open? Sign me up!
After using a Bushnell TRS-25 for a few weeks, I really liked the idea of using an optic that allowed me to shoot with both eyes open. Being a cheap, entry-level optic, the TRS-25 does not have an auto-shutoff and has poor battery life. There were multiple times where I found myself with a dead battery – not an ideal situation when you need to depend on a firearm. This had me looking for a situation where a dead battery wouldn’t be a problem, but would allow me shoot with both eyes open.
We have tested the SeeAll Opensight Mk1 Rail Sight on several firearms and calibers. Under the right conditions, I’ve enjoyed shooting it with .22LR, .300 BLK, .223 and 20 gauge firearms.
- No Battery: Having an optic that doesn’t have dead batteries can save even more time! Over the years, I’ve replaced countless batteries, due to not turning off an optic.
- Both Eyes Open: This sight can be used with both eyes open, allowing for quicker sight acquisition and better situational awareness.
- (Virtually) No parallax error
- Reticle: Very bright and visible in the sun or when there’s a light source nearby
- Size: 1″ wide x 2.25″ x 1″ tall (.75 inches taller than the rail it is mounted on). Requires a 1 inch long rail for mounting and weighs 2 ounces.
- Mounting System: The Mk1 Rail Sight slides onto a 1913 picatinny rail, but does not ‘squeeze’ the rail like most accessories do. Instead it has two set screws that push down on the rail, pushing the sight up so that the bottom lip on the sight grabs the underneath of the rail. This also means that you can’t just pick a spot on your rail and place it … it needs to slide onto an open end of a rail, which may require you to remove other items that you’ll already monunted.
- Sight adjustment: There are no tactile or audible clicks when adjusting the sights … you’re essentially just moving a set screw in or out. This makes fine tuning more difficult.
- Hard to see in dark: If there’s no light source in the room, the MK1 is much like traditional sights — you can’t see them. In a self-defense scenario where you have a weapons light, you’d be fine, but if you’re hunting or in a situation where you can’t use a light, the sight is pretty much useless.
- “Long” Range Accuracy: For the first couple of years that I owned this sight, my testing was limited to 50 yards or less. Up to about 50 yards, I can ring steel without issue, quickly transition from target to target, however, I’ve found it difficult to shoot decent groups at anything beyond 25 yards or so. I believe this is due to the reticle design + sight picture. For starters, the sight hides the bottom half of the target. Not a big deal at close ranges, but a limiting factor when shooting more than 25 yards or so. The reticle is a line across the top edge of the Edge Glow Polycarbonate block (antifreeze green part of the sight), with a triangle near the center. When aiming, you need to align the reticle’s line with the top edge of the clear glass (which magnifies the line and triangle). This is somewhat tedious and definitely not as easy as it would seem when trying to hit a small target or shooting at a distance.
BOTTOM LINE
- I REALLY wanted this sight to work as advertised, but in most cases, I don’t think I would use it as the primary sight on a firearm. After initially using the SeeAll Opensight, I was impressed and had plans on possibly using them on a couple of different firearms setup for SHTF/Survival situations, when batteries could become scarce.
- I own both the SeeAll Opensight Mk1 Rail Sight and SeeAll Opensight Mk2 Tritium Night Sight (review will be posted). I’m not exactly sure what I will end up doing with them, but I could possibly see using this style of sight as an offset/backup sight on a firearm with a magnified optic, using them on a self-defense shotgun, or possibly using them on a handgun that will be used at 25 yards or less.
- Looking at the reviews on the SeeAll website, most buyers seem to love these optics. As time allows, I’ll give them another shot to see if I am missing something.
I have additional photos that I will post after I’ve had a chance to edit them. Here’s what I have for now:
