CTS 1500/1550 Review: Do not buy

Howdy all,
So this is my first video and I feel like I got a little wordy, but hopefully, you will find the content useful.

[@stevenkong8837]

Good information. Agree with everything. There are many red dots out there are not suitable for self defense use. Not waterproof for one, the other is some red dots have auto turn off function, but don't have auto turn on or shake awake function. The worst situation is when you need it but it doesn't work.

[@jamesh0224]

Just bought it from PSA for $69.99 and went ahead and grabbed several boxes of ammo 🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@theshootysquirrel1063]

I hope it works well for you!

[@fireaxxe]

I put a piece of 1/32" neoprene gasket material under it and snugged it down on my PSA 5.7 Rock and it is now very water resistive. I don't know if I could go swimming with it but it has survived the rain.

[@theshootysquirrel1063]

I'm glad you found a reasonable work around.

[@TheDarkmentor1988]

Thank you, you save my life and me money i was about buy a mako r7 with the red dot. But decided to buy it without the red dot thank you!

[@theshootysquirrel1063]

You are more then welcome!

[@Squiddoom]

I learned so much about red dots, so informative! You should make more videos! :3

[@603Nh_FireArms]

Heard you say NH😂 that's awesome! Born and raised here and have a 2acre Gun range myself in sanborton NH 3min from where I live😂 so I can 100% related to the lucky thing, because last year belmont fire arms was under the old owners and some days they even closed the range down early because not alot of customers were coming in so there's definitely some advantage to having your own range. Being able to train and go out and experience the different weather platforms ect. I've got some videos and shorts on my YT page as this year I've gotten really into it

[@theshootysquirrel1063]

Awesome, I can't say I was born and raised here I'm originally from Texas myself. Awesome that you're building your own range! Having your own range certainly leads to being able to do a lot more training, weather in all conditions really changes the dynamics of shooting. Gave your channel a watch!

[@billcasso5428]

Yes I thought that might happen with the battery exposed like it is. I bought a CTS1550 along with a slide for my XD9 because it was a cheap way to convert my XD9 to an optic. My XD9 has a flashlight a laser along with this co witnessed red dot. It sits in a safe next to my bed. Thanks for the video. The Holosun green dot for my 1911 cost about the same as this slide/red dot combo for the XD so unless the roof leaks I think that the XD will do OK for indoor work.

[@theshootysquirrel1063]

Thanks for the comment! And I agree, as long as it's mounted on something like a home defense handgun it should be just fine. The XD9 is a great firearm choice as well.

[@matthewbeaver5026]

Was it a 1550 or 1500?? I can't find package slides for my p7 that's not the 1500. And they are not the same sight. 1550 is 3.5 moa vs 1500 5moa.

[@jonathantello5868]

Yeah I just order mine for my xd 9

[@danc4586]

The CTS-1500 is my first red dot and it came with my S&W M&P Shield 2.0 from the performance center. Yours came on a Kimber! This is so much like when you buy a nice, new car and find that the dealer stole the alloy wheels and gave you stock rims and 20K tires. This is a cheap red dot for those new to red dots. It's like a demo version. You pretty well confirmed what I just learned to be true. At the dimly lit indoor range, the CTS-1500 works pretty well. I fired at least 200rds at this point and was very happy with it. Last weekend was an outdoor range day and I could not even find the dot in the bright sun. I want to rip the red dot off now and dump it on eBay. The going rate is around $50. Meanwhile, the fiber-optic sights are VERY nice .. so nice that I might NOT put the red dot back. I need do another few hundred rounds with no red dot just to see if I want to invest in a Holosun as those are all in the $300-400 range.

[@sudilos1172]

PSA sells it cheap, but it's a giant block. sharp edges that'll dig into your body and print easily.

[@theshootysquirrel1063]

It's certainly not great, I think it has a place for something along the lines of a range toy, but certainly not good enough for CCW use.

[@Greenmachine305]

I wouldn't buy it at any price. Great review.

[@theshootysquirrel1063]

Thank you!

[@propdoctor21564]

Interesting video and thanks for sharing... I have never had a red dot on a handgun and was not looking for one but I wanted a Ruger Max 9 and one I found locally had this red dot mounted from the factory and the price was only $30 more than one without the optic so I bought it.. I have several other guns that I carry so I may or may not carry this one or if I do may remove the optic for that purpose..

[@theshootysquirrel1063]

I feel that it's a good way to see if red dots are something you are interested in getting into. However, if I would recommend getting a different optic if it's something you are betting your life on. Thanks for the comment!

[@propdoctor21564]

@@theshootysquirrel1063After shooting it several times I realized optics on a subcompact concealed carry pistol is not something I care for in so I removed it... I also installed a Galloway Precision short stroke flat face trigger which is a major improvement.

[@pro2a532]

Well that's okay red dot for your indoor range. Especially if you bought it on sale for around 70$. That's my thoughts. In my edc gun i keep either an irons or holosun eps carry (i have few carry guns in my rotation).

[@theshootysquirrel1063]

Its absolutley fine to have as something to train with indoors or in fair conditions. But Holosuns and Trijicon are my go to's for carry optics. Thanks for the comment!

[@jaydee5156]

My go-to is typically Holosun, but I also have a couple of other brands. I'm seeing CTS 1550s for as low as $70 at some online vendors. I have a handgun that I want to try one on, but I'll have to trim the bump off the rear for it to fit. The gun is a fair-weather-only range toy that will likely never 500 rounds.

[@theshootysquirrel1063]

I'm sure it would work very well in an application like that, and even if it does go out CT seems very good with there warranty.

[@Based_Druid]

Same thing happened to mine. (Welcome to the PNW) but! Luckily it did come back on after a while, no rice necessary. Also luckily, mine came with the hellcat pro in coyote brown at the same price point as the stock black hellcat pro with no micro red dot. So-- it was free. Sort of. Had I not gone to clean my guns after shooting and just holstered it and carried it, the moment I would have realized it was out would have been the next time I drew it, perhaps when I really needed it to perform. Weather is real. I need real equipment that stands up to it, not the skim milk of micro red dots.

[@theshootysquirrel1063]

I have the same feelings about things that I carry on my person, they need to work no matter what. This might be okay for a range toy, but little more than that in my opinion.

[@joejordan6511]

Hello..very informative video .question Is the holosun that you show have the same dimensions as the ct1500?

[@chrispratt4516]

Hi Joe, The holosun has about the same dimension, however, it has a different mounting setup. So to mount it on the Mako I had to buy and adapter plate.

[@Clarkt1971]

I don’t like optics/red dot. I like light w/laser. Much better!

[@Gildedtongue]

Having a barely covered battery, and the innards covered by tape? That's not even sports-grade equipment for Airsoft; that's pretty much toy-grade construction right there.

[@cvshav]

$70 on sale at bereli

[@AlwaysReal319]

New Hampshire here and I have that red dot and it's dead already

[@theshootysquirrel1063]

It certainly isn't a good one, but if you contact CT they will send you out another one.

[@AlwaysReal319]

@@theshootysquirrel1063 yea I was thinking about it but rather not even have something so fragile upgrade from here hope all is well brother stay dangerous

[@maximous9993]

If you go from very cold damp environment into a warm environment it fogs worse than my glasses.

[@tylerdisney5833]

Hydrophobic electronic dressing may be the answer to your problem.