TFB Review: Meprolight Tru-Vision SR Red Dot Optic
I've been on a bit of an optics kick lately, adding various sighting solutions to my firearms. When the opportunity came to test out Meprolight's Tru-Vision SR MIL-STD Red Dot Optic, I jumped at the chance to see how this would perform on an equally unique looking firearm. After spending a full day at the range in Minnesota's wonderful 30-degree windy weather, I can say with confidence that this red dot delivers on its promises. Let's dive into the details.
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Specifications: Meprolight Tru-Vision SR
The Tru-Vision SR features a micro-chassis design that protects the electronics from damage in harsh conditions. It's built to be shockproof and waterproof, with a compact and lightweight form factor that still provides a large viewing window. The optic includes selectable reticles, offering either a 2/65 MOA Speed Ring or a 2 MOA dot, giving shooters options based on their preference and application. Here's the rundown on the specs:
- Weight: 10 oz (283.5 g)
- Dimensions: 2.8" x 2.2" x 2.6" (71.1 mm x 55.9 mm x 66.0 mm)
- Display Window Dimensions: 29x20mm
- Reticle: Selectable 2/65 MOA Speed Ring or 2 MOA dot
- Reticle Color: Red
- Windage/Elevation Adjustment: 0.5 MOA
- Manual Brightness Levels: 12 Day + 4 Night
- Automatic Brightness Levels: 8 Day
- Power Supply: 1x CR123 Battery
- Weapon Mount: Picatinny Rail Quick Release (MIL-STD 1913)
- Height over bore: 1.93" for use with lights and lasers
- Environmental: MIL-STD-810 qualified
The Tru-Vision SR has an MSRP of $599.99, which puts it in the same price bracket as competing optics. For the money, you're getting a MIL-STD qualified optic with some useful features like the dual reticle system, shake awake functionality, and the 1.93" height that works well with today's popular setup of having lights mounted at 12 o'clock. While not inexpensive, the price seems fair given the build quality and feature set. If you need a duty-grade optic that can take abuse, the value proposition makes sense.
“The Mepro Tru-Vision™ SR MIL-SPEC red dot sight featuring dual selectable reticles —2/65 MOA Speed Ring or 2 MOA dot. A micro-chassis protects the electronics from damage in the harshest of conditions. It is shockproof, waterproof, and durable. At only 10 oz., the compact, and lightweight design creates more space for co-mounting magnifiers, laser pointers, IR pointers, etc. on your picatinny rail.
Energy-efficient, it has 4- or 8-hour sleep mode as well as full on Shake Awake for LE and home defense use. The single CR123 battery provides thousands of operating hours.
The Mepro Tru-Vision™ SR also features an automatic brightness control system ensuring clear visibility of the red dot in any lighting condition. User can manually control the 16 brightness settings (12 daytime, 4 nighttime) or use the 8 automatic brightness settings.”
First Impressions/Unboxing: Meprolight Tru-Vision SR
The Tru-Vision SR comes in a tasteful modern package, with presentation that reminded me of an Apple product – it's clearly part of the experience. Inside the box, you'll find the optic, a soft cover, display stand, one battery, lens brush, and a lens cloth. It's a complete package with everything you need to get started.
My first challenge came when installing the battery. I struggled to turn it on until I realized I was actually holding it backwards. The Tru-Vision SR has a unique profile that's different from most red dots of a similar silhouette on the market. While most optics have their slope facing one direction, this one faces the opposite way, which can be initially confusing.
Once powered up, I took note of the clarity of the glass and the crisp reticle. The optic's construction feels solid without being excessively heavy. The QD mount attached firmly to my rail without requiring any adjustments, which was a pleasant surprise.
One feature that caught my attention was the adjustment screws for windage and elevation. They're slotted, so you'll need a tool, but they're large enough that a small coin would likely work in a pinch. I always keep a screwdriver in my range bag, so this wasn't an issue for me. After spending time with tiny adjustment screws on pistol red dots, the size of these was a welcome change.
Range Time: Meprolight Tru-Vision SR
I tested the Tru-Vision SR on two different firearms: a META Tactical APEX chassis with a PSA Dagger compact 9mm, and a Zastava M70. The Minnesota weather wasn't doing me any favors with temperatures around 30 degrees and wind, but it provided a good test of the optic's performance in less-than-ideal conditions.
With the APEX setup at 15 yards, I managed to get a decent 3-inch group with 5 shots. Moving back to 25 yards, my group opened up significantly to about dinner plate size. Concerned that the optic might be the issue, I quickly switched it to my Zastava M70. This is where the QD mount proved its worth – being able to quickly transfer the optic with cold, numb fingers was a mercy.
On the M70 at 25 yards, I immediately got a tight 1.5-inch group with 5 shots. This confirmed that the Tru-Vision SR was doing its job perfectly fine – the accuracy issues were with the APEX chassis setup, which is more of a fun gun than a precision instrument.
I tried both reticle options during testing but spent most of my time using the combined 2/65 MOA Speed Ring. The reticle remained visible and clear throughout the day in various lighting conditions.
One surprising aspect was the automatic brightness adjustment. Typically, I turn this feature off on optics I own because the constant refresh can be annoying or laggy. However, the Tru-Vision SR's auto-brightness system transitioned seamlessly between lighting conditions without any jarring changes. I found myself shooting in and out of covered areas as well as the wind blowing clouds in front of the sun. It was subtle and effective enough that I actually left it on throughout testing.
I didn't have a chance to thoroughly test the shake awake and sleep mode features prior to my range session. These weren't my top priorities for the initial testing, so I'll have to evaluate them at a later date.
Night Vision Mode
The Tru-Vision SR has a large NV button to activate a dedicated night-vision mode for use with such devices. I don’t have a night-vision headset to test this, but Josh C., our editor-in-chief, has been testing both the Tru-Vision SR and the budget NVG50 night-vision monocular from Good Nite Gear.
Josh cloistered himself in a dark room with the NVG50 and an AR with the Tru-Vision SR mounted. First, he looked through the Tru-Vision SR via the NVG50, and the bloom completely blew out the reticle.
Pressing the NV button for “over three seconds” (In Josh’s testing, 5 seconds was the most reliable count) dramatically dims the reticle, making it difficult to see with the naked eye, but perfect for night vision tubes or sensors.
While night-vision mode is a bit finicky to enable (reasonably so), a single press of the large NV button turns it off.
Final Thoughts: Meprolight Tru-Vision SR
The Tru-Vision SR proved to be a solid performer in real-world conditions. Despite the cold and wind, it provided a clear sight picture and held zero throughout testing. The unique shape takes some getting used to, but doesn't detract from its functionality in the least.
What I appreciated most were the practical features – the large adjustment screws, responsive buttons, and reliable QD mount. These aren't flashy selling points, but they make a difference when you're actually using the optic in the field.
In closing, I want to say thank you to Meprolight for allowing TFB and myself the opportunity to try out their Tru-Vision SR MIL-STD Red Dot Optic. That is greatly appreciated. Also, we would like to know what all of you guys and gals think. Do you believe that the Tru-Vision SR is worth spending your money on? Would you mount this on your tactical rifle? Would this be your go-to optic for your home defense gun? Let us know all of your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.
Staff Writer: TheFirearmBlog & AllOutdoor.com | Certified Gunsmith | Published Author | Firearm History Enthusiast
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