MCG Tactical Stinger Review: The $79 “Not-EOTECH”
I think we’ve all been there, or maybe the rest of you just have better taste than I do - Budget Optics. How cheap is too cheap? About a month ago, I was given the opportunity to test just one, but two MCG Tactical Stinger Combat Optics, which claim to be built to Mil Spec Precision so that they can survive the roughest conditions. Additionally, they claim in their copy that “it’s the same elite optic trusted by special ops, now available to civilians at a fraction of the cost.” Today, we’ll evaluate not only those claims but how the optic itself has actually performed so far.
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MCG Tactical Stinger Review: The $79 “Not-EOTECH”
MCG Tactical is a tactical gear company based in Texas that has been operating for over seven years. Their mission is to provide high-quality, tactically inspired products shipped directly from their fulfillment center in Plano, Texas. The company focuses on offering reliable gear for hunters, shooters, and outdoor enthusiasts, emphasizing craftsmanship and durability. MCG Tactical operates a customer support center with English-speaking agents available Monday through Saturday, and maintains a 60-day, no-questions-asked return policy to ensure customer satisfaction. They also highlight that their products are not shipped from China, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that their products aren’t produced in China. I can’t make an entirely accurate estimation on the origin of the manufacturing of the Stinger since it features no “made in” markings anywhere on the product that I can see.
Out of the Box Impressions
When I received both optics, right out of the box, the Stinger feels fairly well-made, but it's obvious that the optic isn’t anodized, but instead covered in a tough paint. The housing is supposed to be both shockproof and fog-resistant, and built to withstand harsh environments and rough handling. Yet, at just 6.9 ounces, it's about 2-3 ounces lighter than the optic it’s desperately trying to imitate. On that note, I don’t think this particular one is a real holographic sight, but is instead more closely related to a regular red dot using an LED emitter (which you can easily see inside the housing & you cannot see the laser diode source anywhere in the housing of a genuine EOTECH sight), projecting the reticle onto the glass. Although the sticker on the side claims the Stinger is a laser product.
I was looking for an optic to torture on my “Diablo Brake” SBR, and the Coyote Tan finish of my test unit offered a nice balance of color to the already bastardized parts bin SBR that I was going to use to test out this optic. Installation was quick and hassle-free, and the mount held tight without any wobble or movement after installing the battery and zeroing the optic.
Optics and Reticle Features
Product Specifications
- Reticle: Red/Green Precision Circle Dot (1 MOA Center Dot)
- Brightness: 8 Levels (Manual Adjustment)
- Housing: MIL-SPEC Aluminum Alloy, Shock & Fog-Resistant
- Magnification: 1x with Unlimited Eye Relief
- Construction: Military-Grade Aluminum Housing
- Weather Resistance: Fogproof & Shockproof
- Weight: 6.9 oz
- Mount: Integrated Rail Mount – Fits Picatinny, Weaver & MIL-STD 1913 Rails
- Battery: CR123A (Included); Auto Shutoff After 2 Hours
- Adjustment Increments: 1/2 MOA Windage & Elevation
- Finish Options: Coyote Tan or Tactical Black
A neat feature that the Stinger has is a dual-color reticle system. The optic enables switching between a red or green circle-dot reticle, which is handy if you want to quickly adapt to lighting and environmental conditions. The reticle for both the red and green optics is slaved together using the same set of risers, with a reticle similar to the EOTECH one featuring a 65MOA circle with a 1 MOA center dot.
The dot features 8 manual brightness settings, featuring a similar button layout to the EXPS2 series, but humorously, the NV button, instead of instantly giving you a night vision compatible setting, is instead the button that cycles the reticle color. There are no real night vision settings on the MCG Tactical Stinger.
Battery Life and Power
The Stinger runs off an included CR123A battery. Over the last month of regular use, the battery has lasted and maintained the brightness setting even after being left on a handful of times - the sight comes with an included 2-hour auto shutoff if there is no input from the user during a 2-hour window. I’d estimate that the optic’s smart auto shut-off after two hours of inactivity helps preserve power for a casual range day, but would not strike me as the type of “auto off” feature you’d want on a duty or patrol rifle. The rechargeable battery option is cool, but I’m personally a fan of disposables and carrying spares - that being said, after a month of use, I haven’t needed to replace the battery yet, and the reticle hasn’t started to dim significantly yet.
Performance in Field Use
Taking this optic out for some plinking and drills at least demonstrated that the optic won’t fall apart from “regular use”. My guns ride in the back of the truck up lots of poorly maintained logging roads and, as a result, get subjected to a lot of vibration - which can easily knock cheap optic mounts out of alignment, ruining your zero. Luckily, I haven’t encountered any loss of zero ieeus, but I am admittedly not bashing these optics around like I would any of my ACOGs. At least not yet.
Target acquisition was good on overcast days and okay on bright sunny days, with the reticle always crisp to my eye yet hard to pick up in harsh lighting - especially with brightly lit and colored targets. Recoil-induced zero disruption was nonexistent, and the optic held its alignment through my range sessions, with quite possibly the loudest and most obnoxious brake I have been using for the setup.
My Initial Value Assessment
One of the most impressive aspects is the price: the Stinger Combat Sight retails for $79—an absolute bargain considering I’ve tried my fair share of cheap Amazon-grade optics and seen more than a few of them fall apart just from “normal” use. Some people likely are trepidatious of purchasing what is essentially a mystery meat (likely Chinese-made) EOTECH knockoff that costs less than $100, but as far as that class of optic goes, this one is far from the worst example if you’re on an extreme budget and don’t mind cutting a few corners when it comes to the implementation.
Final Thoughts
The MCG Tactical Stinger is far from perfect, and an optic this affordable has to have cracks somewhere—even if they’re not immediately obvious. The Stinger is no exception, and I actually want to continue testing both of these optics on different platforms to see where the wheels start to come off on these budget optics.
If you’re morbidly curious and just looking for a range-worthy optic for a gun that’s missing a piece of glass, this is an affordable option that can at least get you there for less than a Benjamin.
While it may not have every high-end feature or the versatility of pricier optics, the Stinger delivers fundamental performance at the very least. In short, an optic this affordable has to have cracks somewhere—I’ve just yet to get to where this one starts to fall apart, but we will get there!
Reloader SCSA Competitor Certified Pilot Currently able to pass himself off as the second cousin twice removed of Joe Flanigan. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ballisticaviation/
More by Luke C.
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I have two of these EOTech knockoffs from MCG, and really like them. They seem to hold zero and have minimal glare. I agree they are not true holographic sights, but for the price, they seem to work even better than I imagined they would.
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