red dot sights

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It's a flat pane of glass (well flattish) and some people acquire the dot on that unit better than in a tube (I am one of those people).
The other advantage (for me) is faster acquisition and less obstruction of forward vision when bringing the gun up and whilst shooting.
One disadvantage is these are not magnified. The two I have are 3 MOA dot versions.

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One of the first required you to keep both eyes open. If you closed one, you would only see the dot, close the other and you could only see the target.

Listen to instructors, learn what they have to offer, then find what works the best for you. I use both, depending.

The sight on the Glock machinegun in this photo is one of the “both eyes” dots, can’t think of the name though.

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The other advantage (for me) is faster acquisition and less obstruction of forward vision when bringing the gun up and whilst shooting.

I never noticed a difference between tube and reflex sights as far as speed when I did military shooting. Eotechs and the like were in high demand at the time and I didn't show a preference one way or another. Ended up using Aimpoint CompM4. Payed off 10x over in durability over the Eotech during the next few years.
 
What is a reflex dot and how does it differ from any other one?

The main difference is the reflex are "open" and you look through a small window to see the target with the dot superimposed instead of looking through a "tube". For me it makes little difference, generally the tube type are larger, and less expensive. For some folks the tube is better because "looking thru the tube" helps "find the dot" for others its a "tunnel vision" that draws your focus to the dot instead of the target.

Well worth trying each type. For rifles I much prefer the tube type, for handguns the reflex type. Except for .22s where the cost advantages of the tube types are compelling.

I consider the Burris Fast Fire 3 to be the lowest cost (~$250) reflex sight worth trying (unless you get a great return policy from the vendor), whereas the tube type Bushnell TRS or several Primary Arms models are very good for <$100. I even have some $20 tube types that have performed wonderfully on .22lr pistols.
 
As much as I like Burris and respect the reputation of the FFIII, when I compared it to the Venom in person and by features it was a clean sweep. The sale price at $180 and Lifetime Warranty sealed the deal.

Same length and height as Burris, wider lens on Vortex.
1/2 oz. lighter than Burris.
Better battery life than Burris from same battery (both top change)
More windage and elevation than Burris.
Better brightness control than Burris.
Less expensive than Burris.

Now if a tube style turns out to work better, the Bushnell can be had for under $50 on sale, more for an AR appropriate model, but for that application I’d suggest a Sig Romeo for a few dollars more.



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It's a flat pane of glass (well flattish) and some people acquire the dot on that unit better than in a tube (I am one of those people).
The other advantage (for me) is faster acquisition and less obstruction of forward vision when bringing the gun up and whilst shooting.
One disadvantage is these are not magnified. The two I have are 3 MOA dot versions.

View attachment 871348
Are all the reflex dots not magnified?
 
Are all the reflex dots not magnified?

All red dots are not magnified. Can go down a rabbit hole and some tube red dot optics are 1 point some insane decimal times magnified (where 1X is standard non magnification). Red dots can be magnified, typically around 3X, by putting a magnifier behind the red dot on something like an AR with plenty of rail space.

As much as I like Burris and respect the reputation of the FFIII, when I compared it to the Venom in person and by features it was a clean sweep. The sale price at $180 and Lifetime Warranty sealed the deal.

I am getting my first optic capable pistol in just a few days. And I am already leaning towards the Venom and the Sig Romeo Zero optics.
 
In my quest to learn to shoot an AR, I took an introductory lesson in which the instructor informed me I need to keep both eyes open to properly use the red dot sight. That resulted in seeing double so I finished the lesson using my right eye only, and did the same on a subsequent range visit. I shoot my revolvers with my left eye closed also, including if I am shooting one-handed with the left hand.

While I am planning to visit an ophthalmologist to learn whether there is something wrong with my eyes that will prevent me from shooting with both eyes open, I'm curious to know whether anyone here experienced the same thing and if so whether you were able to overcome it and learn to shoot with both eyes open, and if so, how you did it.

I shot service rifle competition for years and was taught shooting both eyes open (iron sights) was advantageous. Had previously learned to shoot as a kid and just naturally had done so closing non-dominant (ND) eye, so had to "un-learn" that "bad" habit. Found it easiest to do so with the opaque tape on left (non-dominant) lens. Before long, I no longer needed the tape, but that was with young, healthy eyes.

We learned that squinting the ND eye places a bit more strain on the D eye, and I believe that to be true, but if you must, squinting the ND eye, while contributing to eye strain when shooting long strings, does not, IMO, affect accuracy for shorter shot strings. So, close the ND eye if you must, it shouldn't be all that big a problem. After shooting both eyes open for so many years w/irons, it was easy to transition to shooting both eyes open w/scopes.

When my eyesight began to deteriorate and I could no longer see iron sights, had to hang up my favorite service rifle and shoot front & rear aperture in order to continue to compete, but missing my old Garand, motivated me to mount an optic on it, starting out with the Burris FFII. That was better than irons, but the dot was not perfectly round, so put a Millett (tube) red dot http://www.millettsights.com/scopes/sp-series-red-dot/ which gave me a sharper dot on the rifle but still no magnification, the need for which increased with time. Finally found the Primary Arms 3X prism scope. https://aimsurplus.com/primary-arms-3x-compact-prism-gen-ii-scope-w-acss-5-56-reticle/

The reticle is a bit busy, but does a lot of neat stuff once you get familiar with it and it was designed for mounting on an AR.

Regards,
hps
 
Red dots can be magnified, typically around 3X, by putting a magnifier behind the red dot on something like an AR with plenty of rail space.
Have never used a magnifier. Assume magnifier placed behind the red dot would increase the size of the dot as well as target. If that is correct, would magnifier mounted in front of red dot keep dot size smaller while magnifying target?? Reason I ask is that was one of the issues I had with the Fastfire when shooting paper, dot so close to eye covered more target than I liked.

Regards,
hps
 
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BTW, I have setup my non-glassed ARs with co-witness folding iron sights and red dots. I found that I can make the red dot less "sparkly" & more focussed-looking by simply viewing it thru the rear aperture sight. I find that handy when target shooting. ;)

This is how I have my AR's set up. I have tried regular scopes, but I shoot more accurate with irons. I have a decent RDS absolute co-witnessed with my irons, so it basically just illuminates the ball on my front sight post.
 
Thanks to everybody for all the input. :)


I do have drusen. One reason I think it might be physical is that the distortion my left eye sees on the Amsler grid is more serious, larger and not in the same place as the distortion my right eye sees, and if I look at it with both eyes, I see the same thing as with the right eye alone. So I think maybe at close distance my brain ignores what the left eye (which is my non-dominant one) sees. Also I do not see stereogram images.

I think the instructor said I am supposed to be looking at the target. If I tape over the safety glasses over the left eye, that would mean I would be using the right eye to look at both the target and the sight, which is exactly what I'm doing if I close the left eye. So I'm not following how this would help. What am I missing?


Thanks for the moral support. :) I'm fine with closing the left eye if that's the only way I'll be able to see to shoot, but the theory that you can put rounds on target faster because you don't have to use the sight to aim (hope I'm saying this correctly) is attractive enough that if I could do it I would like to be able to.

No, I was seeing two dots.
You'll either have to shut the left eye or use some sort of occluder, be it tape, black-over lens, pirate patch (ARRRRGH, matey!) or whatever method you choose. Your AMD in the left eye is most likely what's causing the the distortion when using both eyes; the drusen is an added aggravation. FWIW, I scan with both eyes open with a red dot or peep sights on an AR, but shoot with the eye the same as the shoulder the gun is on. (I shoot off both shoulders) I mostly shoot off the right shoulder, and am left eye dominant. My left eye is shut when I shoot off the right shoulder.

I think the instructor said I am supposed to be looking at the target. If I tape over the safety glasses over the left eye, that would mean I would be using the right eye to look at both the target and the sight, which is exactly what I'm doing if I close the left eye. So I'm not following how this would help. What am I missing?

You look through the red dot sight, not at it. That red dot should be 'floating' on the target.

That is incorrect most are under 2. but anytime you put multiple planes of glass together you are going to get magnification.
Incorrect. You may get magnification, but they can be ground to cancel out any magnification. Don't believe me? Look through a pair of optometrist's loupes, a +3.00 Diopter one and a -3.00 Diopter one. The resulting magnification is zero, or as commonly known, 1x. Your choice of words using 'planes' of glasses is interesting, considering a 'plano' lens is the industry term for a lens with zero power throughout the entire lens, generally understood as a lens with a front curve and back curve both of 6, with the surfaces being on the same parallel, that is no induced prism. It can however refer to a lens with zero power throughout the entire lens with any base curve, as long as the corresponding back curve is identical and they are parallel.
Poorer quality optical instruments are more likely to have unwanted magnification from poorly finished lenses.
 
A2 iron sights.

I've got a pistol grade dot sight, but neither of my uppers is a flattop, so it doesn't get much use.

I no longer have a decent place to shoot a rifle, so I haven't shot one in years.
I know one person isn't comparable to another but I'm curious what distance you can shoot accurately using the iron sights. I did try just looking through the ones on a different AR last time I was at the range and was pleasantly surprised that I could see better than I expected.
 
That is incorrect most are under 2. but anytime you put multiple planes of glass together you are going to get magnification.

Nope. Red dots are far closer to 1X than they are 2X. Took a long boring afternoon one time and determined that Aimpoints are well below 1.1X.

Have never used a magnifier. Assume magnifier placed behind the red dot would increase the size of the dot as well as target.

That is correct. Magnifier placed behind the red dot will make the dot larger. The larger the dot (3 MOA vs 6 MOA for example) the more you notice. But it maintains accuracy. Placing the magnifier in front of the red dot would keep the superimposed dot between your 2 eyes the same size. But negatively affect accuracy.
 
I know one person isn't comparable to another but I'm curious what distance you can shoot accurately using the iron sights. I did try just looking through the ones on a different AR last time I was at the range and was pleasantly surprised that I could see better than I expected.

Lots of variables beyond the shooter there. Most folks don't realize just how accurate iron sights can be. Scopes only assist the shooter in seeing his/her target; irons can be shot almost as accurately as a scope, given correct size target to aim at. While this 3" spotter is not visible @ 600 yards w/naked eye, it is placed in each consecutive bullet hole in the 36" aiming black which is clearly visible at that range.
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Regards,
hps
 
I know one person isn't comparable to another but I'm curious what distance you can shoot accurately using the iron sights. I did try just looking through the ones on a different AR last time I was at the range and was pleasantly surprised that I could see better than I expected.

I came into the military at the weird "golden era" where red dots were new, untrustworthy, and we still shot with iron sights. The site at the time was the Aimpoint CompM2. Battery life was terrible so practicing with backup iron sights was important and crucial. I know one soldier whose battery died on a range qualification and he completed the course using his backup sights, just as they were intended. The backup sights of the day, then and now, are Matech rear sights to work with the A2 front site.

https://www.brownells.com/rifle-par...15-usgi-backup-iron-rear-sight-prod26575.aspx

To answer your question, I was rather comfortable shooting 300 meters with iron sights. Had red dots not been introduced, I likely would have still gone to DM school shooting iron sights out to 600 meters. The Marine Corps qualify at 500 meters for their qualification. Many variables come into play such as caliber and shooter ability. Give 2007 me an AR with irons and shoot 300 meters on a 12" target, I would laugh and score perfect. Now? I wouldn't be able to from lack of practice.
 
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