Red Dot Sights
Over the last couple of decades, there have been several innovations in the world of firearms. However, one of the most significant developments of recent time is red dot sights and other reflex optics.
What Is a Red Dot Sight?
Red dot sights are weapon optics that project a bright dot-shaped reticle on a non-magnified lens. This reticle can be used to aim the firearm instead of iron sights, or it can be used in conjunction with your iron sights with the help of a co-witness mount. Red dot sights offer a wider field of view and allow for faster target acquisition. They are commonly used by militaries, law enforcement officials, and civilians.
What Are the Types of Red Dot Sights?
Red dot sight is a broad term that incorporates various kinds of optics. Here are the three main types of red dot sights available on the market.
- Reflex sights
- Holographic sights
- Prism sights
Reflex Sights:
Reflex sights are the simplest. They use an LED emitter, which projects the reticle onto a lens. This gives the shooter a precise aiming point. Reflex sights are usually smaller than holographic or prism sights and can also be mounted on pistols.
Holographic Sights:
Initially developed by EOTech, holographic sights use a laser instead of an LED emitter. This laser creates a holograph of the reticle inside the sight, which the shooter uses as an aiming point. As opposed to reflex sights, holographic sights display a reconstructed image of the reticle instead of directly reflecting the light into the eyes of the shooter.
Prism Sights:
Prism sights use an etched reticle, which means that they can be used without illumination as well. Unlike reflex and holographic sights, some prism sights can also be magnified up to 5x
Benefits of Using a Red Dot Sight
Ease of Aiming:
When you are using iron sights, you need to line up the front post sight with a notch or aperture in most cases. This can take time, and if you don't like the sights up perfectly, you can lose accuracy. However, red dot sights are much more straightforward and easier to aim. All you have to do is line a red dot with the intended target and shoot.
Improved Accuracy:
Red dot sights are also parallax free, which means the dot remains in the same position regardless of eye position. Moreover, unlike iron sights, you don't need to be aware of your focal plane when using them. This decreases the chances of human error and allows you to be more accurate once the red dot sight is properly sighted in.
Faster Target Acquisition:
With a red dot sight, you have a wider field of view, and since you only have to place the red dot on the target, instead of lining up two sights to get a sight picture every time you draw and present your weapon, the target acquisition is a lot faster and easier.
Better Performance in Low Light Conditions:
Red dot sights have a bright illuminated reticle in most cases, which makes aiming and shooting in low light conditions a lot easier.
Who Should Use Red Dot Sights?
Red dot sights can be useful for a wide range of shooters. They are a great addition to your home defense weapon, as they can make it easier for you to aim precisely and shoot quickly in a high-stress situation. Competition shooters also use red dot sights for their fast target acquisition ability. These sights allow them to quickly transition between different targets and win matches. Law enforcement officials and military personnel also use red dot sight, and other magnified optics as well.