Trijicon MRO Review (With Real Pictures and Video of This Red Dot Sight)

If you're in the market for a red dot sight, the Trijicon MRO is one of the most common options you'll see recommended. I'll quickly admit that it's my favorite optic currently available, but for the record I purchased it myself and have no relationship with the company.

In this Trijicon MRO review, I'll explain why I think it's the best red dot sight for the money and go over some of the features that set it apart from its competitors. This review also includes real pictures and video so you can get a clear sense of what it's like to use this product.

Trijicon MRO Key Information

Before fully getting into this Trijicon MRO review, here's a quick table of some key features:

Features	Trijicon MRO
Red Dot Sight	Trijicon MRO
Battery Life	50,000 Hours on Setting 5 of 8
Battery Type	CR2032
Dot Size	2 MOA
Night Vision Compatible?	Yes, 4 NV Settings
Objective Lens Size	25mm
Weight	5.8 oz w/ Lower 1/3 Mount
Dimensions (L x W x H)	2.6" x 1.7" x 2.73" w/ Lower 1/3 Mount
Elevation and Windage Adjustments	0.5 MOA
Waterproof	To 100 Feet
Operating Temperature Range	-60°F to +160°F
Housing Material	7075 (T6) Aluminum
Quick Attach/Detach Mount	Optional and Standard w/ MRO Patrol Model
Brownells Price	From $419.99 w/o Mount
Amazon Price	See Price on Amazon

Sight Picture and Using the MRO

Now that I've covered the basic details of the MRO, let's cover what it actually looks like when using the optic.

Trijicon MRO Sight Picture resized

The MRO has a pretty huge 25mm objective lens. When you combine this with its short length and fairly streamlined design, it has in my opinion the best sight picture of any red dot sight, perhaps with the exception of some reflex sights primarily designed for pistols.

You can see the majority of the area you're focused on through the sight, rather than in your peripheral. Compared to its closest competitor (in terms of price, reliability, and durability) the Aimpoint PRO, the MRO obstructs far less of your what's in your peripheral. If you're interested in a full comparison, check out this article on the Trijicon MRO vs Aimpoint Pro.

Note: The dot size in the pictures looks far larger than in real life, but these pictures should still be helpful in getting a sense of the sight picture.

The Trijicon MRO is also the most versatile optic I've used in terms of the positions you can confidently shoot with it from. The dimensions of this sight allow you to see the 2 MOA red dot from some very strange shooting positions. This makes it a great choice for competitive shooting and even tactical applications.

It also has the least tubing effect of any rifle/carbine red dot sight I've used. By tubing effect, I mean how some optics make it feel as if you're looking through a tube. In other words, with some optics you see the sides of what you're looking through.

Check out the short video clip below (with no sound) for an idea of what I'm talking about.

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Windage and Elevation Adjustments

This sight has 0.5 MOA adjustments, as is typical of most red dot sights. The adjustments are not covered, however they are recessed in turrets. I've had no issues with mistaken adjustments.

While this is a silly reason to like the MRO, I was excited when I was able to ring steel at 100 yards out of the box without making any adjustments. I had no problems further dialing it in after that.

Last to note in this section of the review is that my MRO has always done a great job of holding zero.

Durability and Reliability

Aside from actually seeing what it looks like to use this red dot sight, I'm sure your other most pressing concerns that led you to this Trijicon MRO review are its durability and reliability.

Historically, Trijicon has been known for their ACOG fixed magnification scope, their RMR pistol reflex sights, and their tritium pistol night sights (which we've covered in the best Glock night sights).

First used by the U.S. military in 1987, the ACOG is the most battle proven optic of any still used in combat today. It's known to be nearly indestructible.

Trijicon's RMR reflex sights have been the go red dot sights on pistols for competitive shooters, law enforcement, military members, and civilians since their inception in 2009.

My point for bringing up the history of other optics made by Trijicon is that I believe they've held the MRO to the same standards of these famous other famous products of theirs. In fact, the MRO has met the same durability standards as the ACOG (MIL-STD-810G).

Trijicon MRO Mounted to AR-15

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Battery Life

Not only is the MRO likely capable of withstanding any punishment you throw at it, but you also shouldn't have to worry about it running out of power. It can handle 50,000 hours of continuous use on one CR2032 battery at brightness position 5 of 8. In my experience, this setting is bright enough for indoor use and most outdoor use.

Mounted to my home defense rifle, I always keep my MRO on at position 5. This means I won't have to worry about remembering to turn it on if I should ever need to use my set up for self-defense. Considering what a high pressure situation that would be, I'm happy I've removed one potential unnecessary mistake.

The 50,000 hours is longer than the Aimpoint PRO (30,000 hours) and matches the longevity of most of Aimpoint's other red dot sights.

Mounts

When purchasing the MRO from Amazon, you have the ability to choose between these mount options:

No Mount
Low Mount
Lower 1/3 Mount
Full Co-Witness Mount

I chose to go with the standard lower 1/3 mount. Unlike the levered mounts, the standard mounts are skeletonized so you can see through them. With that said, I'm sure some of you who plan to use this on multiple guns may want to opt for a Trijicon levered mount or an aftermarket option.

Value

As I said early on in this Trijicon MRO review, I believe this is the best red dot sight for the money on a value per dollar basis. I's as durable and reliable as many of the highest end Aimpoint red dot sights, while being around the same price as the Aimpoint PRO. Then you also have to remember that the MRO has arguably the best sight picture of any red dot sight.

While there are cheaper red dot sights available, they don't match the battery life, durability/reliability, or sight picture of the MRO.

Trijicon MRO Red Dot Sight

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Trijicon MRO Review Summary

Put simply, I think the Trijicon MRO is the best all around red dot sight. It's prefect for home defense, duty, and competitive shooting. It's a true 5 out of 5 stars for me.

Historically, I used Aimpoint red dot sights for serious use, but after purchasing the MRO I have no plans of switching back.