Red Dot Sights
First Things First: What is a Red Dot Optic?
A red dot sight is an optic type that is typically used at closer ranges, around 100 yards or less. They are extremely easy to use and can assist first-time shooters with more simplified aiming. Red dots are exactly how they sound, having a red dot as the reticle when you look through this device. A reticle is a dot or a line on an optical device (such as red dots, scopes, etc.) that are used as a measuring scale and help locate objects.So, How do Red Dots Work?
Red dot sights typically use a red LED. This allows the reticle to stay in alignment of your gun regardless of eye position. A red dot is composed of a tilted spherical mirror that reflects the red LED. This mirror has a specific coating that only allows red light to pass through—hence the name “red dot” sight. This allows you to easily see where you are aiming against darker backgrounds, or in the woods where it's green. The LED light consumes very little energy, allowing red dots to last hundreds or even tens of thousands of hours, depending on the brightness setting. The position of the mirror allows the viewer to see a red dot when aiming for their target, but a red dot cannot be seen from looking in on the other side, meaning it will not scare away animals because no light is given off.
What is MOA?
MOA stands for “minutes of angle.” This has to do with the size of the dot and how much it will cover at a certain distance. For example, a red dot of 2 MOA is smaller in size than a red dot of 6 MOA. 1 minute of angle is about equivalent to 1 inch at a 100-yard distance. This means that if you are shooting a gun to hit a target 100 yards away and your red dot sight is 3 MOA, all of your shots will land within a 3-inch area (given that the shooter is aiming at the same exact point on the target for each shot). A larger red dot could be helpful if you are hunting for a fast-moving target at a closer range. On the other hand, a smaller red dot will give you higher precision for long-distance shots.
How Far do Red Dot Sights Work?
Many factors affect the shooting range of a red dot sight. Some of these factors are the size of the dot, the environment, daylight availability, size of the target, and more. Typically, if you use a red dot sight without any magnification, you can easily aim at a target as far as 100 yards away, if not more.
Which Red Dot Sight is Right For Me?
There are two large factors at play when deciding which red dot sight is right for you. Either you want higher precision at further distances, or you want to hit fast-moving targets that aren’t too terribly far away. Red dots with 4 MOA or less will be ideal for target shooting if precision and accuracy are the most important to you. Red dots with 4 MOA to 5 MOA are a safe “middle” option for fast shooting and precision. Anything larger than 5 MOA is great for aiming and shooting fast, typically when hunting any fast-moving target. Regardless of what you choose, X-Vision has something for every type of hunter!
Additional Options
Red dot sights excel in quick target acquisition during the day, but fall short at night. Thermal reflex sights bridge this gap, offering that quick target acquisition along with the additional benefit of nighttime clarity. In a similarly-sized optic, a thermal sensor detects and highlights hidden and obscured targets, making target acquisition incredibly fast and convenient. This technology is exclusive to X-Vision Optics, learn more today!
