Red Dot Sights
Red dots sights are arguably the most popular type of sights out there, mostly because of how affordable and easy to use they are. It’s a type of reflex sight that projects an illuminated red dot as the aiming reticle. It is widely used by gun enthusiasts and hunters of all stripes, for few other sights can alleviate the target acquisition process the way red dots can.
How Do Red Dot Sights Work
Red dot sights work by projecting a beam of light onto a glass lens, which then reflects the light back to the shooter's eye. A new and improved sighting innovation, the LED reticle, has revolutionized the reliability and versatility of sights. Unlike traditional optical elements, the LED requires no extra components to focus light behind the reticle, making it incredibly energy efficient. Its "dot" shape also simplifies the sight, eliminating the need for a complex optical reflector. While more intricate patterns like crosshairs or concentric circles require more sophisticated optics, the simple LED reticle does its job with exemplary effectiveness.
Red Dot Sights on Various Firearms
Red dot sights are most commonly used with shotguns and handguns but are sometimes also mounted on rifles, especially AR-15-styled ones. The major advantage of these sights is that they offer an unobstructed view of the target and can be used in low-light conditions, making them well-suited for tactical situations. Furthermore, they provide fast target acquisition and improved accuracy over traditional iron sights, which makes them a great choice for competitive shooting, especially speed shooting sports. The lack of magnification on the major part of red dot sights spares the shooters the problem of parallax effect and eye relief.
Here, on Gritr Sports, you can choose from a vast selection of red dots for a wide variety of firearms. You can choose from red dots for AR-15, pistols and shotguns. We work with industry leaders like Sig Sauer, Truglo, Burris, Trijicon and others to bring you only the highest-quality goods.
How is a red dot sight different from other types of sights?
Red dot sights are a type of non-magnifying reflector sight that uses an illuminated red dot as an aimpoint instead of a complex reticle (like with some other reflex sights). They provide a wide field of view for target acquisition (unlike riflescopes), do not require the user to align any components (like iron sights) and offer adjustable brightness settings for different lighting conditions.
What is a red dot sight good for?
Red dot sights are excellent for close-range shooting applications such as hunting or tactical shooting. They offer improved accuracy, and faster target acquisition and are easier to use compared to other types of sights, making them a popular choice among shooters. Additionally, many red dot sight models feature adjustable brightness settings which can be used in different lighting conditions.
Is a red dot sight better than a scope?
It depends on the application. A red dot sight is better than a scope in close-range shooting applications as it allows for faster target acquisition and is easier to use. On the other hand, scopes are more suitable for long-range shooting due to their magnifying capabilities.
Can red dots be used for hunting?
Yes, red dot sights are suitable for hunting applications, given you are not shooting from a long distance. Red dots might be particularly useful for close- and mid-distance shooting.