How to Sight in a Red Dot Scope Without Shooting

learning how to sight in a red dot scope without shooting

Are you interested in learning how to sight in a red dot scope without shooting? Sighting in a scope is the act of aligning where the scope is pointed with the barrel of the gun. The flight or direction of your bullet is dictated by your barrel, and there are no adjustments for a barrel. The reticle in your scope is the traditional crosshairs, so to speak. You need the reticle to be aimed where the bullet will hit, but the reticle cannot control the bullet in any way.

A red dot sight is an optic that uses a red laser as the reticle, and this offers shooters an easy way to learn how to sight their rifles. Learning how to sight in a red dot scope without shooting is easy to do if you take it one step at a time.

Why Do You Need to Sight In Your Rifle Scope?

preparing to use a rifle

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Sometimes we just assume that we should eye our target and the bullet will travel in a straight line from the rifle to the target. Even though our naked eyes can't perceive it, rifle bullets travel in an arc as gravity pulls them downward.

 

Sighting your rifle ensures the bullet meets the target where the scope is aimed. If your rifle is sighted at 100 yards, the arc of the bullet will meet dead on with the target from 100 yards out. Deciding a good shooting distance for your particular needs will help you decide what distance to sight in your rifle scope.

 

You may use your rifle for different tasks and types of hunting. If so, you should sight in your scope before every outing. Ammunition choices also play into the sight adjustments, so it is important to re-sight your weapon any time you change ammunition.

 

Benefits


Sighting in your scope accounts for all these variables and makes accurate shooting possible. It can also help identify problems with your weapon or with your own shooting technique.

 

Sighting in the scope will also help you determine the greatest distance at which you can accurately shoot based on your skill level and the weapon you are using. Understanding this limitation will also make hunting safer. You must always know where your bullet is traveling.

 

Finally, sighting your weapon should give you confidence that it will fire accurately. Shooting with a lingering doubt about whether the rifle will properly do its job can take the fun out of any type of shooting.

Why Sight in a Scope without Shooting?

sight in a scope but no shooting

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By now you understand the importance of sighting your rifle scope, but why would somebody want to sight the scope without shooting? Some folks sight without shooting in order to ensure safety when they are not at a proper range. Remember, you must always think about your target but also the area behind your target.

 

A more practical reason is that some thrifty shooters do not want to waste ammunition on sighting. You may have your own reasons for wanting to sight in your rifle scope without shooting, but this process, also known as bore sighting, is a quick and easy method to adjust your sight so it is aligned with the barrel of your rifle.

How to Sight In a Red Dot Scope Without Shooting

military aiming with a rifle

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You may be learning how to sight in a red dot scope without shooting because you are a new to red dot scopes or shooting in general. Others may be reviewing how to sight in a red dot scope without shooting because you've acquired a new rifle or recently changed scopes. Either way, here's what to do:

Loose Installation

Stability

Line It Up

Make Adjustments

Tighten It Down

Key Hints and Tips

two military men aiming before shooting

Image Source: Pexels

Remember, learning how to sight in a red dot scope without shooting comes down to aiming the bullseye. If the rifle is properly sighted, you can hit almost any target. Within the unit, an LED light shines onto a specially designed piece of glass and is reflected to create the reticle.


Lenses


A scope has two primary lenses: the ocular lens and the objective lense. The ocular lens is the one closest to your eye, and the objective lens is the on the target end of the scope.

The objective lense is actually the more critical piece of glass. A large objective lens allows more light into your scope. This is important because magnification will naturally make your scope dim.

A large lense doesn't increase magnification, but it is needed with increased magnification to allow proper light.

Brightness can also be affected by coating your lens. A good lense coating can also provide clarity by manipulating light spectrums. A coated lens is one with a layer of coating on the objective lens. Others will be labeled as a fully coated lens, meaning all lenses are coated.

Multi-coated lens have multiple coats applied to the objective lens, and fully multi-coated lens all lenses are coated with multiple coats.


Magnification

magnifying rifle

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Every scope magnifies, and you have to understand how much magnification you prefer. As you learn how to adjust a rifle scope, remember that your scope will only be accurate at the magnification you chose when sighting your scope.

Changing magnifications after sighting the scope will leave it unreliable, so be sure you know what magnification you want. Biggest is not always best.

Remember, a more magnified scope will be less bright, and even the military rarely uses more than 10x power magnification. It does no good to choose a high magnification if you do not have an objective lens with the size and coating needed to provide appropriate light.


Field of View


Your field of view is basically a ratio of feet to yards that measures the width of your scope view at a particular distance. In other words, a field view of 10' at 150 yards means that, when eying a target 150 yards away, you will be able to view five feet on each side of the centered target.

This also plays into your magnification decision, because the more magnification you use, the less field of view (FOV) you will enjoy. The advantage of a broader field of view is being able to quickly locate your target.

Naturally, your eye will want to fix on a landmark, and when you do simply adjust accordingly until your target is in your sight.

Conclusion

As shooters learn how to sight in a red dot scope without shooting, rifle shooting is being revolutionized. For weekend hunters and competitive shooters alike, red dot sights give you the best potential for success.


They can be sighted more quickly than iron sights or magnified optics. Another distinct advantage is that the reticle is on the same shooting plane as the target.

Parallax is the phenomenon when the reticle appears to move as you eye your target. Red dot sighting dramatically reduced parallax. Understanding how to sight in a red dot scope without shooting is an important step to achieve consistently accurate shots. Sighting in the scope is easy if you understand the right way to do it.


Nothing is more important than your scope because it is most responsible for hitting the target. A well-adjusted scope and some practice can result in precise accuracy that is not possible without a scope or with a scope that has not been adjusted and sighted.

The Best Red Dot Sight for the AR-15 Rifle

Red dot sights are by far the most popular choice for AR-15's and other AR-frame weapons. Likewise, there are hundreds of different options available on the market. Everyone has their personal favorites, but we can all agree that it is very difficult to decide which is the best red dot sight.

In this article, we will review six of the best red dot sight products available. 

These optics are all great choices, and will serve your weapon well.

We'll discuss all of them in terms of pros and cons, and then we'll provide some buying recommendations for the best red dot sight.

Top Our Pick For Best Red Dot Sight For Ar 15 In 2019

Review of 6 Best Red Dot For AR 15 On The Market

PRODUCT PRODUCT TITLE
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Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 Red Dot Sight Riflescope

  • Extremely compact
  • Amber-Bright technology
  • Shockproof
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Vortex Optics Strikefire II Red Dot Sights

  • Extremely easy to use
  • Very durable
  • Waterproof
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Ohuhu Red Green Dot Gun Sight Scope Reflex Sight with 4 Reticles

  • Extremely small
  • Made with an Allen key
  • No eye relief and no parallax
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Holosun HS503C Paralow 133x54x72mm Circle Dot SightHolosun HS503C Paralow 133x54x72mm Circle Dot Sight

  • Durable and reliable
  • Ease of use
  • Solar power
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UTG 4.2" ITA Red/Green CQB Dot with QD Mount, Riser Adaptor

  • Waterproof
  • Fogproof
  • Shockproof
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Sig Sauer SOR52001 Romeo5 1x20mm Compact 2 Moa Red Dot Sight, Black

  • Extremely compact size
  • Very durable
  • Optical settings
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Continue reading for our full review of the best red dot sight for an AR-15.

1. Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 Red Dot Sight Riflescope

Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 Red Dot Sight Riflescope best red dot sight

Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 Red Dot Sight Riflescope

This red dot sight from Bushnell is extremely compact. It measures only 2.4 inches long, and only weighs 3.6 ounces—you'll hardly notice that it’s attached to your rifle.

And even better, this scope has unlimited eye relief. You can shoot it with your head placed wherever you want, and with both eyes open. As long as your zero is accurate, your shots will be on target. Just like with the Vortex, this allows for incredibly fast target acquisition.

In terms of light transmission, this scope also performs as well as the Vortex. It has Bushnell’s Amber-Bright technology, and the internals are fully multi-coated. The front lens is amber in color, which improves vision down the sight. However, this scope isn’t quite as bright, because the objective lens is 5mm smaller and slightly limits the amount of light that can enter the optic.

Another similarity to the Vortex is that the scope offers a high level of durability. It's waterproof, shockproof, and fog proof—which is excellent for hunting.

On the other hand, this scope starts to lag a little behind the Vortex is in its accuracy. The reticle of this optic— which is a simple red dot— is 3 MOA in size. It's a pretty large reticle, and at longer distances, the target might completely be covered by the reticle. As you can imagine, that makes it difficult for precise shooting at longer ranges.

Overall, this is an excellent value for the product. It's a quality scope and will serve your AR-15 well. While some have experienced issues with the newer version of this scope, we did not have any problems with ours. It was bright and easy to see the field of view.

2 .Vortex Optics Strikefire II Red Dot Sights

Vortex Optics Strikefire II Red Dot Sights best red dot sight

Vortex Optics Strikefire II Red Dot Sights


I’m sure you’ve heard of Vortex Optics—they are well-known and respected throughout the industry. They produce many different optical products, including rifle scopes and tactical-style red dot sights. The brand offers an excellent combination of quality and affordability.

The Strikefire II is an internal reflex sight that has very bright red or green reticle. It's super easy to use and offers relatively accurate shooting. The entire system is designed for AR-frame weapons, so it's naturally a great choice.

The optic measures 5.6 inches long and weighs 7.2 ounces. The objective lens is 30 millimeters, and the internals are fully multi-coated, which allows maximum light transmission: it makes the scope very bright and easy to see through.

When you’re looking down the optic, there is no parallax, and red dot provides unlimited eye relief, which allows for easy shooting with both eyes open. The reticle is a simple dot, but there are 10 brightness levels, and you can choose between red or green. The lowest settings are night vision compatible and it makes the sight acquire its targets quickly.

When you power the scope up with the rear-facing controls, it instantly reverts back to the previous brightness setting. If you accidentally leave the power on, it will automatically turn off after 12 hours—significantly increasing the battery life.

The scope itself is also very durable. It is waterproof, shockproof, and fog-proof. The optic is made from an aluminum alloy and has been given a hard anodized finish to match. This optic would be great for hunting or any other outdoor shooting, because of how durable it is. Another aspect of the durability of this scope is that it holds your zero for thousands of rounds.

It super easy to make adjustments with this scope and each click results in a ½ MOA movement; it makes your point of impact move by half of an inch at 100 yards. For an AR-15, this is an incredibly precise adjustment, which allows for very accurate shooting.

Overall, this sight is really easy to use, and it's packed with features. It offers the best bang for your buck. We discovered that it was simple and enjoyable to shoot, and we are able to shoot accurately with it.

3. Burris Fastfire III With Picatinny Mount 3 MOA Sight

best red dot sight burris fastfire

Burris Fastfire III With Picatinny Mount 3 MOA Sight

The Burris Fastfire is great if you have multiple firearms you’d like to interchange it with. It works well on hunting rifles, shotguns, and handguns. Not only that, it’s equipped for increased target acquisition.

It’s easy to remove the mFounts, and the Fastfire’s recoil tolerance is top-notch. It can endure the recoil of a 0.45 semi-automatic handgun with ease.

Furthermore, this product lets you change the dot’s elevation without using any other equipment. You can set it on auto-bright or manually adjust the brightness yourself.

For the cost, the Burris Fastfire III is an awesome value. Plus it provides perfect alignment with the target and hits directly where the sight is pointed.

The only downer is that you won’t get a good mount from this sight if you want to put it on a revolver. You’d do better using another product that’s more specific to your needs.

4. Holosun HS503C Paralow 133x54x72mm Circle Dot Sight

best red dot sight Holosun HS503C Paralow 133x54x72mm Circle Dot Sight

Holosun HS503C Paralow 133x54x72mm Circle Dot Sight

This sight from Holosun is a very basic red dot sight. However, don’t let that turn you off from how high quality it is. It's actually one of our favorite red dot sights, despite its simplicity.

The optic measures 5.24 inches long, and weighs in at a tiny 4.25 ounces. As you can see, it’s a really small optic. It’s an internal reflex style red dot, which means that it’s a small tube with two lenses and the actual reticle is inside the tube, between the lenses. The dot is red, and the scope has no magnification.

When most people hear the term “red dot sight,” they think about an external reflex sight. An internal reflex sight works pretty much the same, but the reticle and lights are all on the inside. In my opinion, they are more durable and reliable than external reflex sights, and I think they look a little better.

The pros of this optic are it's ease of use, solar power, and durability.

When we say the ease of use, we mean it in so many different ways. For starters, firing it is a breeze, and the reticle is simple. It’s a basic dot reticle or a circle/dot combination, which makes it super simple to acquire targets and shoot accurately.

The optic is also  adjusted, as most red dots are. All you have to do is open the turrets, and use the simple mechanism to move the reticle. You can clearly to hear and feel the clicks, and it gives you peace of mind in that zero.

Another component of its ease of use is how straightforward it is to install the optic. It has a crossbar style mount, meaning that you can mount it to either Picatinny or Weaver style rails.

The solar power also aids in the simplicity of the scope. Solar energy is something not commonly used in optics. For us, we really liked the feature. The reticle brightness adjusts to the light outside, and when it’s bright enough to power the solar panel, the optic stays on the entire time. As you can imagine, this makes it so simple to use.

This scope also has a battery backup, when it’s not bright enough out to use solar power. The battery life is fantastic, and the scope automatically turns off after a waiting period.

The con of this optic is that it's quite pricey, and it isn’t the most precise optic available. The cost is primarily due to the solar power, and similar optics without this feature are less expensive —based on my research. But in our opinion, it’s worth the extra money.

5. UTG 4.2" ITA Red/Green CQB Dot with QD Mount, Riser Adaptor

best red dot sight UTG 4.2" ITA Red/Green CQB Dot with QD Mount, Riser Adaptor

UTG 4.2" ITA Red/Green CQB Dot with QD Mount, Riser Adaptor

The UTG 4.2-inch ITA scope is affordably priced, but it offers some decent features. While it isn’t the highest quality scope available, it definitely works for basic tactical uses and range shooting. You wouldn’t shoot in competitions with it, but it's doable.

It measures 4.17 inches long and weighs 9.8 ounces. Similar to the last optic, it’s a standard red dot with no magnification. However, it's different because it has a T-style reticle, which is either red or green.

The highlights of this product are its simplicity and durability. While the optics of the previous sight are better quality, this scope is average—for basic shooting, it works just fine.

The ease of this scope is similar to the Holosun— therefore, we won’t repeat the same features. However, this product has a quick detach base, allowing you to flip a lever to remove it from a Picatinny rail.

As with the Holosun, UTG is also a durable optic. It’s waterproof, fog-proof, and shockproof, and the internals are durable enough to withstand the recoil of multiple weapons. Plus, you can use it on shotguns and rifles with large calibers as well.

Unfortunately, the downside is that the reticle isn’t as simple to operate, isn’t bright enough, and it's not precise. I prefer the circle/dot combination reticle over the T-style—it makes the target acquisition slightly slower, and it's harder to get an accurate shot.

Speaking of the reticle, on bright days it can be challenging to see. The red dot works better than the green dot, but both are hard to view when it’s sunny outside.

Plus, the adjustments of this optic are low as well. If you’re shooting at longer distances, it’s challenging to be accurate with this scope. The reticle is large, and you can’t adjust it properly.

6. Sig Sauer SOR52001 Romeo5 1x20mm Compact 2 Moa Red Dot Sight, Black

best red dot sight Sig Sauer SOR52001 Romeo5 1x20mm Compact 2 Moa Red Dot Sight, Black

Sig Sauer SOR52001 Romeo5 1x20mm Compact 2 Moa Red Dot Sight, Black

Last up, we’ve got an excellent optic from Sig Sauer. Similar to the previous two optics, this one is an internal reflex sight that is very compact in nature and has no magnification range.

It only measures 2.47 inches long and weighs only 5.1 ounces. As you can see, this is a tiny optic. It’s got a simple 2 MOA red dot style reticle, and really does have some great features. In regard to optical clarity, this may be my favorite on the list.

The biggest advantage of this weapon—other than it's compact size—is its durability, MOTAC, and optical settings. As with all of the other optics, this one is very durable. However, Sig takes it to another level by guaranteeing that the optic is IPX-7 rated.

The MOTAC is a Sig creation. Essentially, the optic is motion activated and will turn on when it senses motion, and turns off when it doesn’t— It’s that simple. It saves a lot of battery. I still prefer the solar power of the Holosun, but by a very slim margin.

Another advantage of this product is that it has two night vision settings to go along with its eight standard settings. It has a wider variety than the other optics mentioned.

Just like the other sights on the list, the red dot is large, and the adjustments aren’t that precise. It's difficult for longer range shooting, but it works for CQB style shooting, and casual range use.

Buying Recommendations for the best red dot sight

Now that we’ve discussed the scopes, let's go over some buying recommendations.

Simply put, the Vortex is the best of the group.

If you are going to be shooting in low-light conditions or under night vision, the Vortex is the right choice. It will allow more light to pass through, and will be easier to see down.

For hunting, the Bushnell and the Vortex are both great options, because of  how durable they are.

The Advantages Of Using A Red Dot

The primary advantage of using a red dot sight over other optical scopes is that it’s more affordable. Not only that, but they’re a lot safer than sights that use holographic technology. Unfortunately, if a holographic sight breaks, your eye could potentially come into contact with the laser and cause damage.

Another great benefit of red dots is that it spots targets quickly. The scope accommodates a variety of firearm sizes, and it helps you precisely view your target with both eyes.

What To Look For When Buying The Best Red Dot Sight

Luckily, one red dot sight fits a variety of AR-15’s within the same class—which helps you save money on buying multiple equipment. With that said, you want to choose one that’s durable, has good performance, and is interchangeable.

You can find a cheap red dot for about fifty bucks, but we’d advise you to stay away from those. Primarily because  you’ll find yourself replacing it regularly—it’s best to invest in a quality dot and save yourself the headache.

In regards to the MOA  dot size to get, 4MOA will due for professional shooters. It usually does well on multiple types of guns, especially rifles. On the other hand, if you’re a private consumer range, 2MOA to 3.5MOA is the best fit.

Lastly, you have to make sure you get a size you’re comfortable with. A dot that’s too large makes it difficult to see the target clearly, and one that’s too little is distracting.

Final Thoughts On The Best Red Dot Sight

Hopefully, our review of the best red dot sight was useful to you. When considering some of the things that we mentioned, it should be easier for you to select an optic for your weapon.

Buying a the best red dot sight for your AR is an overwhelming experience. Choosing one of these, especially the Bushnell or the Vortex, will be a great choice for you.

For range shooting, either of these two options is a great choice. They are both good optics, but the Vortex may be slightly more accurate, especially at longer distance.

Unlimited Guide to Red Dot Sights (Definition/Type/Pros And Cons)

Red dot sights are extremely common on many modern rifles.

While they are extremely simple sights, most people do not understand exactly how they work.

Red Dot Sights in use

Red Dot Sights in use

Curious about the basics of red dot sights? Look no further. In this article, we will go over the types of red dot sights, how they work, pros and cons of red dot sights, and potential uses.

Red dot sight is NOT exactly a specific type of sight; it is more of a general term.

The term “red dot sight” is used to describe any number of electronic weapon optics that utilize a red dot as an aiming point.

Green dots are also extremely common in weapons optics that would usually be referred to as a “red dot sight.”

Types of Red Dot Sights and How They Work

The different types of red dot sights have been written about on this website before, but I will give a very brief refresher of each, if you want to find more, click here

  • The first type is a prism sight. Prism sights are very small and utilize a prism to focus the image you see down the scope, rather than the traditional series of lenses. They are often called “red dot sights” because of the illuminated reticle they commonly have. Generally speaking, they offer a small magnification.
  • Reflex sights are the most common type of red dot sights. Exposed reflex sights have an aiming point that is projected from the rear of the sight onto one single aiming window. They are extremely small, as they only have one small window. When you think of a “red dot sight,” odds are you are thinking about an exposed reflex sight. Internal reflex sights have two lenses, and the rear one projects the aiming point onto the forward lens. They are a tube shape.
  • Holographic sights are similar in appearance to exposed reflex sights. They differ in that they essentially use a picture of a reticle sandwiched between glass layers. EOTech owns the patent on holographic sights.

I already have post compare red dot vs scope, You should read it if you are confusing about this. 

What Are Pros and Cons of Red Dot Sights

Why is Red Dot Sight Good?

The biggest pros of red dot sights are the versatility and the ease of use.

Pros of red dot sights

Pros of red dot sights

No matter what type of shooting you are doing, there is a red dot sight that will meet your needs.

There are magnified red dot sights as well as non-magnified red dot sights.

There are battery operated red dot sights as well as sights that do not require batteries.

Red dot sights are extremely easy to use. Once you have zeroed the sight, it’s as simple as point and shoot.

As opposed to iron sights, where you have to line up the rear sight and the front sight, red dot sights are extremely easy to use.

Reflex sights and holographic sights in particular are easy to use, because you can shoot them with both eyes open.

Red dot sights vary significantly in price. There are entry level red dot sights available at extremely affordable prices, while some of the higher quality sights are much more expensive.

More expensive sights, such as an EOTech holographic sight, will have a smaller MOA measurement.

So What's MOA?

MOA, or minutes of angle, is a measurement of the size of the reticle.

1 MOA commonly translates to 1 inch at 100 yards. A smaller MOA means that the reticle will cover less of targets at greater distances, allowing you to get a more accurate shot.

What's downside of Red Dot Sights?

The cons of red dot sights are kind of dependent on the type of red dot sight.

Prism sights have a smaller eye relief, meaning your eye has to be closer to the scope to accurately aim.

Reflex sights aren’t available with magnification, unless it is a completely separate scope.

Holographic sights are expensive.

Uses of a Red Dot Sight

As previously mentioned, red dot sights are extremely versatile.

They can be used for any number of different types of shooting. For just casual shooting, you would be fine with any number of red dot sights.

For accurate distance shooting, you would be better off with a prism sight or a holographic sight.

For hunting, any type of red dot sight would excel, as long as it is waterproof.

Related: If your own an ar15, i highly recommend you buy the best ar15 scope. I like to use an scope than red dot,

Conclusion

Overall, red dot sights are an excellent sight for the modern rifle.

The three different types all vary slightly, but are similar in that they use some type of dot type reticle for aiming.

While each type has its pros and cons, rest assured that there is a red dot sight available that will meet your needs.

While older shooters may not agree, red dot sights are the rifle sights of the future.

Share that article if you think it's good.

The Difference Between Reflex Sight vs Red Dot? The Truth You Should Know

Ever wondered whether a red dot sight vs a reflex sight will be better for your rifle?

For starters, most people are confused about the difference between a red dot sight and a reflex sight. But what is the truth?

“Red dot sight” IS NOT a specific type of sight.

It is actually a general term that is used to describe any kind of weapon optic that uses a red dot as an aiming point. In place of red dots, some sights have green dots or similar electronic images, such as a crosshair, as an aiming point.

There are three different types of “red dot sights”:

  • Prism sights
  • Reflex sights
  • Holographic sights

Each of which is slightly different. As you can see, a reflex sight is actually a type of red dot sight. The two are somewhat interchangeable. When the average person thinks of a “red dot sight” they are commonly thinking of an exposed reflex sight, which we will talk about later.

In this article, we will go over some key similarities and differences between the different styles of sights.

By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of various weapons sights. So now, we're going to find each type of red dot sight. Related that, if you are planning buy a red dot, read my article about best red dot sights for AR 15, you will find the good one for your AR

1. Prism Sights

What is A prism sight?

A prism sight is a short, tube-style optic.

While traditional rifle optics use a series of lenses, prism sights use a prism to focus the image you see down the scope.

As a result, a prism scope is much smaller than the traditional rifle scope.

Vortex Optics SPR-1303 Spitfire 3x Prism Scope with EBR-556B Reticle

Vortex Optics SPR-1303 Spitfire 3x Prism Scope with EBR-556B Reticle

The pros of a prism scope are that they are commonly available with a small magnification and they allow for either etched or illuminated reticles.

The biggest downfall is the smaller eye relief, which means that your eye has to be closer to the optic to pick up a proper sight picture.

Prism scopes are somewhat more expensive than reflex sights, but the prices have been on the decline.

Prism sights are ideal for the average target shooter or distance shooter. When using a prism sight, it is harder to reacquire the target due to the eye relief. For someone who is trying to shoot targets at extended distance, the magnification and precision of a prism sight will be perfect.

2. Reflex Sights

What is the Reflex Sights?

Reflex sights use a lens that functions somewhat like a mirror.

Field Sport Red and Green Reflex Sight with 4 Reticles

Field Sport Red and Green Reflex Sight with 4 Reticles

The aiming point is projected forward onto a lens, which reflects it back and allows you to see the red dot.

This type of reflex sight, commonly referred to as an exposed reflex sight, has a very distinct look.

There is no tube-shaped sight, only a small, clear window that the user can see the aiming point on.

However, there is a second type of reflex sight, which is tube shaped.

Tube type is the type of reflex sight will have TWO different lenses, and the aiming point is projected forward from the rear lens to the forward one.

The beam of the light is contained within the tube. Additionally, this type of reflex sight could use tritium in place of a battery powered light beam.

The biggest advantage of a reflex sight is the lack of an eye relief.

This means that your head can be positioned anywhere, you can keep both eyes open while using the weapon, and it is extremely easy to reacquire targets.

Reflex sights are also generally somewhat cheaper than prism sights. Another pro of a reflex sight is the fact that some are available for battery-free use. The one downfall of the reflex sight is that they aren’t magnified, however, some reflex sights are sold with a paired scope that doesn’t have an aiming point.

Reflex sights are an excellent option for many different weapons uses. They are excellent for home defense or tactical uses, some hunting, and for any type of general shooting. For the average rifle user, a reflex sight is what I would recommend.

3. Holographic Sights

So what is Holographic Sights?

Holographic sights are not as common as reflex sights or prism sights.

EOTech 512.A65 Tactical HOLOgraphic AA Batteries Weapon Sight

EOTech 512.A65 Tactical HOLOgraphic AA Batteries Weapon Sight

A holographic sight essentially uses a picture of a reticle that is in between glass layers.

EOTech has the patent for holographic sights, so they are the only type you will see. They have a rectangular field of view and a very small reticle for aiming, which allows for more accurate shooting.

The pros of an EOTech sight are that they are extremely precise and accurate, and they are easy to use.

Similar to the reflex sights, they allow for you to shoot the weapon with both eyes open and easily reacquire targets.

The only con of EOTech sights is the price. While they aren’t much different than the basic exposed reflex sight, EOTech sights are much more expensive.

An EOTech sight costs roughly 10 times what a cheap exposed reflex sight will cost. While they are certainly better quality, my opinion is that the difference between the two isn’t enough to justify spending that much more money.

However, I would recommend EOTech sights for anyone needing extremely accurate shooting abilities, such as a competitive shooter.

There’s a reason that they are so popular with the United States military. EOTech sights are very precise, and will allow for more accurate shooting over distance.

Conclusion

Overall, reflex sights are often what people consider to be a “red dot sight,” despite the fact that there are THREE different styles of red dot sights.

Most people don’t know, but “red dot sight” is more of a general term than a specific kind of sight.

Reflex sights are the most common and the least expensive, but are somewhat limited. Dependent on your needs, a simple reflex sight will probably meet your needs. Prism sights are often magnified, so they are better at longer distances, but they have an eye relief. Holographic sights are similar to exposed reflex sights, but are much higher quality at a much higher cost. Exposed reflex sights can have an additional scope added, to allow for magnification.

All in all, given today’s technology, there is a reflex sight available that will meet your shooting needs, at a more affordable cost.

Red Dot vs Magnified Scope. Which Is Better for Your Rifle?

One of the more common issues of discussion among frequent shooters is that of red dot vs scope.

Red dot vs Scope

Red dot vs Scope

Many hunters wonder which one is better for what type of situation, and if there is ever a time when they should be partial to both.

Personally, I’m a big fan of modern technology when it comes to guns, so the red dot puts me in a sort of heaven.

But today we’ll look at the what red dot and scope are, and what are the differences between them.

What is a Red Dot and what is a Scope?

So what is the red dot?

Simply put, a red dot is like an optical illusion. Inside a tube or other enclosure on top of the gun, a red dot will be projected onto a screen.

This dot, which is sometimes a line, reticle, or other red honing notation of some kind, appears to be at the same distance as the target. The goal is two-fold:

  • Help the shooter identify the distance between him or herself and the target
  • Improve accuracy and eye line by focusing on the dot

What about a scope?

Contrast this with a scope, which is purely meant to magnify the target and increase the line of sight on it by the shooter.

There is no red line or marking of any kind, it’s basically the same as looking through a telescope, magnifying glass, or other optical funnel.

Here is a great video on the subject:

What are the Pros and Cons of Red Dots and Scopes?

Pros and Cons of the Red Dot

There is a reason why red dot scopes have become so heavily used in the military and other high-pressure, intense situations. It is because in short range, rapid fire scenarios, the shooter can aim quicker, follow a moving target with more accuracy, and generally increase their odds of a hit.

The Rifle with Red Dot

The Rifle with Red Dot

The tube of light hits the concave glass lens. The light the shooter sees is the reflection of that light and for field situations, it really helps with accuracy and tracking.

I find that the red dots also help a lot with pinpointing an area on the target that I want to hit while the target is moving. Perhaps that’s because I can make the dot hit that spot for at least a brief second.

No matter the reason, I can’t get that perk with a scope or without using any magnification at all. I also like the ability to subtend either 2, 3, or 4 minutes at 100 years. I most often use the 2 minute option, but have found myself at 3 several times.

On the downside, red dots don’t help as much as a traditional scope with overall accuracy.

You’re also dealing with a battery that may cause issues. This isn’t going to be a problem for those shooters who are fanatical about maintenance and double checking that everything is ready to go before heading into the field.

You should choose one of the best red dot for ar 15, the best quality red dot has been list on that article, move on and get one for your. 

But if you’re sloppy, you may be caught off guard with no dot when you need it most. Here is a video on using a red dot scope:

What About the Magnified Optic Scope?

The biggest plus to using a scope instead of a red dot is that many of them have variable power settings, and can be adjusted much easier than the red dot devices.

The rifle with Magnified Scope

The rifle with Magnified Scope

Another plus is that the scope is more versatile for both close and long range shooting situations. The varied settings of the scope allow for easy adjustment to fit your specific circumstance.

The scope is, overall, better for accuracy and hit percentage.

On the negative side:

I seem to find it difficult to hit a target at the exact point I’m shooting for. While the scope brings the target into focus well, it does little to help shooters hit a precise point beyond making that point larger in their field of view.

Additionally, I find scopes to be harder to adjust my eyes to specifically because they don’t really do anything other than magnify and focus. I appreciate them holding zero, and am not trying to say I don’t find any value in magnified optic scopes. But for specific shooting in high-pressure situations, they fall behind.

Here is a video on how to sight your rifle scope.

Situational Comparison between Red Dot and the Magnified Optics Scope

Let’s go over a couple of scenarios here and decide whether the red dot or the scope is better.

Scenario 1: Short range white tail hunte.

  • The short range gives to the red dot.
  • The quick movement and easy startling of the animal gives to the scope. This is close- I’ve noted red dots ability to move quickly, but because the accuracy is better overall with the scope, it wins this point
  • The ability to hit the body where you prefer gives a point to the red dot here
  • Overall winner: red dot

Scenario 2: long-range hunt or hunt of target at higher elevation than the shooter

  • Need for increase accuracy gives a point to the scope
  • The flying target or uphill moving target definitely goes to the red dot, because you can follow the part of the target that you wish to hit with a higher degree of precision
  • The parallax issue comes into play here as the target moves further away or changes elevation. The red dot, as long as it is in view, can stay over the target and reduce the effect of the parallax issue. Point to the red dot
  • Overall winner: red dot

Conclusion

Now, obviously there is a lot of my personal experience and opinion in this article.

Long-time scope users will come forward saying that the long-distance competition should have gone to the scope. They are correct assuming that their comfort level with the scope is much higher than with the red dot. Other than that, I fail to see how the scope would win.

Overall, I like the red dot much better because of the parallax issue and short distance accuracy. I keep good track of my battery power and other small details, so I never have any problems there.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. Go ahead and throw your comments in the section down below, and please share on social media. Let’s get a good conversation going!

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