Pinty is a company I had never heard of, but when they contacted us about a review, I said sure and quickly ordered one of their Pro Series red dot optics. Pinty is a budget-based importer of optics. While I assume they are made in China, neither the website nor the optic actually says ‘Made in China.’
The Pinty Pro series sites are priced very affordably, and this specific model, a 1×30 2 MOA red dot with a laser costs $79.99.
The Pinty Pro Basics
The optic is an AR height optic that allows for an absolute co-witness with AR height sights. I popped this on a CZ Scorpion S2 Micro because I’m also reviewing that gun, and ammo is scarce right now. The little Scorpion pistol needs nothing more than a red dot, so it seemed like a perfect pair.
The Pinty Pro 1×30 red dot comes in a rather nice polymer case. It’s like a cheaper version of what Trijicon does for their optics. Inside is an Allen wrench, battery, and lens cloth. No instructions or documentation were included. Also, the box lists the objective lens as 29mm, but the website lists it as 30mm, so who knows.
Mounting and zeroing the red dot reticle was very quick. I used Armscor 147 grain ammo and zeroed the site at 25 yards. A 9mm like the Scorpion zeroed at 25 yards gives you an effective zero to 50 yards. This is the best BZO I’ve found for 9mm type subguns.
The Pinty Pro Laser
Zeroing the visible laser was nowhere near as easy. Sometimes adjusting the top adjustment for the laser would adjust the left and right bearing of the laser as well. Eventually, I got the laser zeroed to the dot, but then had a better idea. Why not make the laser more valuable than just a secondary primary dot? I’m not a huge visible laser fan, but I found a use for this particular one.
We all know about mechanical offset and height over bore and how a 50-yard zero will affect close-range shooting. At 5 to 15 yards, my shots are all landing low with the optic’s zero. To make the visible laser more handy, I zeroed it for 5 to 15 yards, so I had close-range precision.
That means when I looked through the optic, I saw two dots. I used the high red dot for my 20 to 50 yard zero, and the low dot for my close-range shooting at 5 to 15 yards. That turned out to work well…once I finally got the laser zeroed.
The red dot itself has six brightness settings and gets surprisingly bright and is perfectly suited for shooting in bright Florida afternoons. Adjusting the red dot brightness is very simple, and there is an easy up and down button. The dot itself isn’t exceptionally crisp and looks a bit star-like, but it’s still quite easy to see, and for close-range shooting. It works well. The 2 MOA red dot is perfect for precise shooting and would work well with a magnifier.
The visible laser seems to be equal in size and brightness to the reticle when it’s set at the highest brightness level. At anything beyond 15 yards during the middle of the day, the dot is tough to see. My offset idea proved to be one of the more useful things you can use this laser for.
Reliability
The Pinty Pro and the Scorpion Micro were being reviewed side by side, but the Pinty Pro didn’t make it through the entire testing procedure. About 200 rounds in, the dot kept randomly turning off during the recoil impulse of the weapon. It would only shut off when the gun was fired.
I assumed this was due to a bad battery connection so I changed it and ensured the battery cap was tight. I left the laser on, and when the reticle went off, the laser would stay on. The problem didn’t seem to be a battery issue, but some other internal electronic issue.
Between two and three hundred rounds, the red dot turned off a half dozen times. After that, I got annoyed and just removed it. It held zero, and the visible laser never turned off, so there is that.
The Scorpion Micro is a blowback 9mm, but that shouldn’t be enough recoil to break an optic. If the Pinty Pro was put on a SCAR 17, then I could see why the optic might fail. Pinty rates the site for .223 and .308. A 9mm subgun is a much softer shooter.
The good news: I dropped the optic onto concrete from shoulder height several times and could never get it to shut off. It kept on working just fine.
I’m blissfully ignorant of why recoil would cause it to shut down while a chest-high drop and impact doesn’t. In the end, this isn’t an optic I’d trust for much beyond a .22 LR and plinking.
Specifications: Pinty Pro 1x30mm Red Dot with Laser
Magnification: 1X
Objective Lens: 30mm (box lists it at 29mm)
Brightness Settings: 6
Shock Resistant: Hold recoil from caliber .223/5.56 and .308/7.62
Waterproof: 30CM for 30mins at 45 ℃
Fogproof: Yes, Nitrogen Filled
Weight: 8.25 ounces
MSRP: $79.99
Ratings (out of five stars):
Ergonomics * * * * *
I have no major complaints about the Pinty Pro’s ergonomics. The buttons are tactile and provide great feedback. The optic is relatively lightweight for a combination red dot and laser, even with its integral mount.
Reliability * *
Two stars here because it held zero and the visible laser worked. The problem was the optic randomly shutting off after firing. As a result, I wouldn’t use it for anything beyond plinking.
Ease of Use * * *
Zeroing the laser is a pain when the laser jumps around randomly with vertical adjustment. The red dot is easy to adjust and easy to see. Once you’re zero’d, the sight holds it.
Overall * *
The Pinty Pro isn’t an optic I can recommend. It’s not reliable enough, and that makes it more of a toy than a serious firearm optic. The laser is fun, though.