Is this what a Red Dot is supposed to do?

[RussellC]

This is another instance of me "discovering" something that is probably this item's intended use anyway. While playing with the red dot on my AR, trying to figure out bore sighting and so forth I made the "discovery" and am inquiring if this is the way these are supposed to be used and I am the last to figure it out, or if it is unusual.

First I used a small laser boresighter that is shaped like a .223 cartridge. First I adjusted the front sight and mag pul rear sight to align with the lazer dot. I then adjusted the red dot to the same place. I figured this would at least get me on paper and can adjust it properly once at the range. Ok, remove bore sighter.

Playing around with it I found that if I had the red dot on the target and opened my other eye, I could see the red dot still on the target, as if it were a crimson trace type laser. Oddly, opening the other eye shows the red dot right on target.

I am right handed and left eye dominant and at first I thought it was a play on that, or some other stupid human trick. Then it occurred to me, "you idiot, this is probably exactly how this is supposed to work."
Previously, I just assumed you look through it one eyed, like a scope, place red dot on target and pull trigger. So is it a trick that if I open the other eye and can "see" the dot floating on target, or is this the design idea? Really like the idea of using it both eyes open and seeing the dot on target (at close distances anyway) like a laser sight!

Russellc

 

[basicblur]

Well you got me cornfused with the use of the word "other" when describing which eye...

If you cover the front of the scope, you'll find you'll still see the red dot on target even though you can't see thru the scope.

Do a little searching for "Bindon Aiming Concept" and all will be illuminated?

 

[tuj]

yup you'll see some people shooting when the lens cap on their red dot on. The brain puts the dominate eye's sight picture over the top of the information that your other eye is seeing and through the magic of neurons, the two pictures combine.

 

[RussellC]

Ok, let me clear up my mess, I normally shoot rifle right handed. With red dot, like a scope, I open right eye, close left. However, While being right handed I have a left master eye. When I shoot pistol, I hold gun in right hand but use left eye, or both open, or with right partially open.

Now, when I use red dot as I related I typically would close left eye, peer through scope with right eye. What I have noticed is that if I re-open the left eye, I see the full field of view, with the red dot on the target, like I was using a laser sight.

Odd, but it doesnt seem to be because of the master eye, as it isnt looking throuigh the red dot, but it still brings the image of the red dot right onto the target. Very cool effect, as looking through the sites/red dot it IS on target.

Sounds like I am far, far from the first one to notice this. I will read the supplied material, and thanks for the responses!

Russellc

 

[RussellC]

@ Basicblur: Thanks for the response, I did a little editing of the original and posted a little more to clarify. You are of course correct, even if I leave the scope cover on the front end and only open the cover for the eyepiece, I STILL see the dot on the target! Very neato. Well, I guess this was only news for me, but maybe someother new person will see it and learn this fun fact.

Russellc

 

[RussellC]

yup you'll see some people shooting when the lens cap on their red dot on. The brain puts the dominate eye's sight picture over the top of the information that your other eye is seeing and through the magic of neurons, the two pictures combine.

I guess it works both ways, as my dominate eye is the left one, only right (non dominant) eye is looking through the red dot device.

Russellc