Open or closed red dot optics; how do I choose?

[rpenmanparker]

I have red dot optics on all my pistols. I simply can't shoot well with a notch and post setup. I have two closed optics (Bushnell TRS 25s) and four open ones (two Sightmark Mini Pro Specs and two Burris Fastfire IIIs). Frankly I like them all the same. For the future would folks please chime in about what the selection criteria are between the two types? Why choose one or the other? What are the defining characteristics.?

I realize the open optics (what are they really called? reflex?) are smaller in general than the closed ones (again what is the proper term?) and they allow better sight awareness and follow up acquisition. Also it seems most close red dots are made to mount only on rail bases, not on flat mounts. So that limits them to rifles and pistols that have rails on top of the slide.

What else should I be thinking about when choosing? Thanks.

 

[Varminterror]

Personal preference is probably the biggest deciding factor for most guys, but there are a few aspects of each which make either more or less suited for different applications.

Tube type - closed - tend to be larger and often have considerably larger windows and FOV's than micro-red dots - open - but the larger bodies on the tube types generally obscures more of the external FOV. Such, the larger tube types work well for precision shooting, but may not be as fast in speed-dependent applications.

For magnifying applications, it really has to be a tube type, so for rifles, the tube types are often an advantage.

A guy can mount pretty much anything they want on anything they want, if they're willing to put in the work for it. Guys can run frame mounted bases which hold a pic rail above the slide on almost any pistol, and they can run a micro-red dot on top of a pic mount for a rifle. D&T'ing for a pic rail isn't arduous or cost prohibitive and gives access to any of them.

If I'm going fast, I like an open type micro red dot. If I'm shooting small, I like a closed tube type. That simple for me.

 

[rpenmanparker]

Thanks. Nice summary.

 

[chicharrones]

If I'm going fast, I like an open type micro red dot. If I'm shooting small, I like a closed tube type. That simple for me.

Same here.

 

[doubleh]

I find that I can get on target quicker with the tube sights than the open reflex ones. I do like the reflex ones installed on a dovetail mount. It makes a much cleaner pistol, but I still have a little trouble picking up the dot in this type sight.

I tried the Bushnell TRS 25 and returned it. The hole is seriously small compared to a couple of cheap 20 mm sighs I've tried out and I disliked it.