Tacticon Predator V4 Red Dot Review — Budget Price, Premium Features

We're up at the ranch with the Tacticon Predator V4, their RMR-footprint pistol red dot. About a week ago we reviewed their Apex Predator V3 rifle optic and absolutely loved it, and Tacticon sent us another dime piece. This one fits directly onto RMR-cut slides, or with a plate onto your Glock MOS or whatever you're running — I've got it on my Dagger with suppressor-height sights.

The glass is really clean and clear. It's bright as daylight out here and I can see that reticle clear as day out to probably 200 yards, with no distortion on the reticle itself. There is some slight distortion at the very outer edges of the glass, and a little bit of a bluish hue — but anybody who's used a Trijicon RMR knows all about blue glare, and personally I don't mind it at all. I actually think it helps me pick up the red reticle better.

Reticles: you get three — a 2 MOA dot, a 32 MOA circle, and the circle-dot combo. You guys know me, I'm a huge fan of the circle dot; the target acquisition on it is fantastic for home defense, target shooting, range days, whatever. There are eight brightness settings, and the motion activation is real: it shuts off after three minutes at rest and wakes at the slightest movement. I tested that by accident — set it down, walked off to set up the range, came back, tapped it, and boom, on in a split second.

The housing is 6061 aluminum with subdued markings — an embossed Predator V4 on top and a small Tacticon logo on the side. Brightness adjustments sit on both sides, dot adjustments up top and on the side, and it sits flush enough that my suppressor-height sights see straight through for a co-witness, which I absolutely love. In the box you get the dust cloth, allen tool, and a protective cover.

My one real gripe: the battery is housed underneath the optic, so you have to pull it off the gun to change the battery. Is it a big deal? With a 50,000-hour rating you're doing it maybe every five or six years — but it's a hassle, and most companies are moving to top-loading batteries for a reason.

At the range this thing shot great. Clarity was on point, the circle dot was perfect — could not get any better — acquisition was easy, no shake, and it never lost zero. Side note that has nothing to do with the optic: my Dagger was extracting shells straight back into my face. It was hitting my hat. Holy crap, I was catching brass everywhere. The optic, though? At $299 minus whatever sale Tacticon's running — they've got 40% off going right now — this lands you Trijicon RMR and Holosun 507C-class features for $160 to $190. Really, really love it.