Red dot sight on a rifle?

[Guns & Glass]

Foof Fot Thought

ALL red dots called sights are ONLY 1 X. Meaning NO magnification.

Red dots sights come in three basic formats:
1. Sights such as ACOG, Aimpoint, Burris Speed Dot, older Tasco, etc.
2. Sights that will take magnification.
3. Holographic

#1 above. H
ave longer range accuracy issues due to the way light is reflected off the back lens.
ONLY if your eye is EXACTLY in the center EVERY TIME will there be any reasonable accuracy @ 100 yds or longer.
ONLY the smaller dots will give any reasonable accuracy, which is why for years only Aimpoint, Burris, Gilmore, Leupold (made by Gilmore) made dots in 1", 3", 5". Most other were 10" or even larger.
Aimpoint had the very best accuracy due to a patented rear dual lens. Newer Burris Speed Dots are next.

#2 above.
ONLY Aimpoint, and ACOG's have magnifiers in the front objective for the best LR accuracy because of patents.

Older Aimopints and EVERY other red dot that accepts a multiplier has to have them screwed on the rear which totally defeats speed shooting. This is because it now is just like a rifle scope having a fixed eye relief.

3. Holograpics are inherently more accurate....butT you MUST pay for better quality optics, glass, mounting, adjustments, and electronics!

A few makers ACOG, EoTech, etc, have very expensive 2X, 3X, and even 4X multipliers that must be mounted behind the sight, and can besubject to washout since only the EoTech has a special designed sight hood both in the sight & multiplier. bascially both sight & multipler will cost $1,000 and more.

Simply boils down to:

> If you want rifle range accuracy....you won't get it w/cheap red dots.

> If you want to see great in low light...at rifle shooting distance...you won't get it w/red dots.

[synergy]

Foof Fot Thought

ALL red dots called sights are ONLY 1 X. Meaning NO magnification.

Red dots sights come in three basic formats:
1. Sights such as ACOG, Aimpoint, Burris Speed Dot, older Tasco, etc.
2. Sights that will take magnification.
3. Holographic

#1 above. Have longer range accuracy issues due to the way light is reflected off the back lens.
ONLY if your eye is EXACTLY in the center EVERY TIME will there be any reasonable accuracy @ 100 yds or longer.
ONLY the smaller dots will give any reasonable accuracy, which is why for years only Aimpoint, Burris, Gilmore, Leupold (made by Gilmore) made dots in 1", 3", 5". Most other were 10" or even larger.
Aimpoint had the very best accuracy due to a patented rear dual lens. Newer Burris Speed Dots are next.

#2 above.
ONLY Aimpoint, and ACOG's have magnifiers in the front objective for the best LR accuracy because of patents.

Older Aimopints and EVERY other red dot that accepts a multiplier has to have them screwed on the rear which totally defeats speed shooting. This is because it now is just like a rifle scope having a fixed eye relief.

3. Holograpics are inherently more accurate....butT you MUST pay for better quality optics, glass, mounting, adjustments, and electronics!

A few makers ACOG, EoTech, etc, have very expensive 2X, 3X, and even 4X multipliers that must be mounted behind the sight, and can besubject to washout since only the EoTech has a special designed sight hood both in the sight & multiplier. bascially both sight & multipler will cost $1,000 and more.

Simply boils down to:

> If you want rifle range accuracy....you won't get it w/cheap red dots.

> If you want to see great in low light...at rifle shooting distance...you won't get it w/red dots.

Aimpoint sells a fixed 2x red dot.

ACOG's shoot tight with less than 100% eye alignment. So you don't need it to be perfect. And are one of the best optics for fixed power available.

The Aimpoint and Eo-Tech magnifiers have mounts which pivot off the side when you don't need the magnification. They also have twist release mounts. Additionally, there are more benefits to using a red dot, than just being able to shoot from a less than perfect mount.

As for price...you could get a Aimpoint C3, with a Larue mount and Po-Boy special for about $675. Still not cheap, but not $1k either.

[Guns & Glass]

Synergy is right about the 2X. Aimpoint had dropped all built in magnification but can have some good discontinued prices on old models if you find one.

The only type of magnification available is a rear mount 3X tube that w/a sight & quality QR mount & tax can cost up to $1K.

I like Aimpoints fit up much better over the all EoTech except the newer #557since the 3X tube can butt up to the Occular which blocks out alot side & back light giving a much clearer sight picture

Had both the 2X & scarce 3X on a 7mm-08 single shot Lone Eagle, and a Weatherby handguns for ong distance varmint & deer. Finally sold them because in low light they're not as bright as a reqular low power scope.

Also had a 3X on a accurate slug gun but the 1 1/2" dot was just to fine for woods & short range hunting as it's harder to 'lock on' target since you can't shoot both eyes open as it's really a scope not a sight (1X), and they all with have a short Eye Relief like a rifle scope due to magnification when compared to a sight (1X).

ACOG's are very good, but shapes make differences as the triangle will not shot as accurate as the LAPD, or MOA dots due to eye alignment.
Alot more hunters would buy them if they could get the cost down, but w/military and law enforcements sale at record #'s they'll stay high until sales fall, or they downspec them into a hunting model.

But back to the original posters request, low end red dot sights are more often than not the best thing for hunting w/a rifle when compared to a regular low power scope.

Burris, Leupold, Meopta, and Night Force among others have been producing more quality 1X sights some illuminated, and also expanded their 1-4 X scope lines hoping to get more military & law enforcement sales. That will trickle down to hunters once they see the example.