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Red dot sights have become very popular on rifles, pistols, and shotguns. But red dot sights have not been around all that long. In 1974, Aimpoint introduced the first red dot sight and their popularity has skyrocketed ever since. This is partly because of how compact these sights are, but also because they simplify aiming, especially when compared to open sights.
What many shooters don't realize is that all the sights commonly referred to as “red dots” are not created equal. Technically speaking, there are three different types. The term “red dot” is a catch-all phrase that includes reflex sights, prismatic sights, and holographic sights. We’ve assembled a selection of all three types of red dot sights to help you select those best suited to your needs.
Reflex Red Dot Sights
Prismatic Red Dot Sights
Holographic Red Dot Sights
Reflex Red Dot Sights
The most popular red dot sights are reflex sights. With a reflex sight the aiming point or dot is an LED (light emitting diode) projected forward onto a lens. Reflex sights also come in two varieties—either exposed or closed. With an exposed reflex sight, water, ice, snow, or debris can block the LED, and with an enclosed reflex sight the LED is protected from the elements. Reflex sights have become popular on pistols, and are quickly being adopted by turkey hunters, and can provide a redundant sight for carbines.
Trijicon RMR Dual Illuminated Reflex Sight
Specs
Magnification: None
Battery Type/Life: Battery free
Weight: 1.2 ounces
Reticle/Dot: 9.0 MOA circle in green or amber
Adjustment range/value: 150 MOA/1 MOA
Price: $856.00
Pros
Battery free
Various colors and configurations
Popular mounting footprint
Easy to adjust windage and elevation
Cons
Large 9 MOA dot
Expensive
The inherent problem with red dot sights is that they are electro-sights and require a battery to function. Batteries die and electronics can fail, but the Trijicon RMR Dual Illuminated Reflex Sight does not rely on either. The green or amber dot is powered by fiber optics that naturally adjusts for brightness during daylight hours, and the dot is illuminated by Tritium—like handgun night sights—in low light situations. The 9 MOA reticle/dot is a bit large for rifle application at distance but is about the ideal size for handguns and shotguns. This is a very rugged sight and if you prefer a smaller aiming point or battery power, electronic RMRs are available in those configurations with dots as small as 1 MOA.
Leupold DeltaPoint Pro
Specs
Magnification: None
Battery Type/Life: CR2032/300 hours (high) 1000 hours (medium) 1600 hours (low)
Weight: 2.0 ounces
Reticle/Dot: 2.5 or 6.0 MOA red dot
Adjustment range/value: 60 MOA/1 MOA
Price: $449.99
Pros
Battery change without unmounting sight
Easy to adjust windage and elevation
Option for integrated rear sight
Motion sensor technology
Cons
Limited adjustment range
Proprietary mounting footprint
One of the major drawbacks with most battery-powered reflex sights is that you must unmount the sight to replace the battery because it goes underneath. The advantage of the DeltaPoint Pro is that you can replace the battery from the top. This means you don't have to re-zero the sight every time you replace the battery. And battery replacement should be rare because the motion sensing technology turns the red dot off when the sight is motionless and turns it on as soon as it is moved. The 6 MOA version is ideal for handguns or turkey shotguns and the 2.5 MOA version is just about perfect for a carbine. It is available in black or flat dark earth and Leupold also offers a night vision compatible version for $549.99.
Crimson Trace CT RAD Micro Pro (Red or Green)
Specs
Magnification: None
Battery Type/Life: CR1632/ Red = 20,000 hours (2+ years) Green = 7,000 hours (1+ year)
Weight: 2.0 ounces
Reticle/Dot: 3.0 MOA dot (Red) 5.0 MOA dot (Green)
Adjustment range/value: Unavailable/1 MOA\
Price: $264.99 (red or green dot version)
Pros
Popular Shield RMS and JPoint footprints
On/Off motion sensor
Notch cut for handgun sight co-witnessing
Affordable w/lifetime warranty
Cons
Must remove and re-zero for battery change
Not submersible
This affordable reflex sight has proven its ability to withstand the repetitive recoil of a 12 gauge shotgun with three-inch magnum loads. The sight is built from 7075 series aerospace aluminum and is available in a red or green dot version. It has eight daylight and two night vision settings and an ambient light sensor to adjust dot brightness based on outside conditions. The sight also has a motion detector for instant on, which powers the sight down after two minutes of no movement. For handgun application, there is a notch in the rear of the sight body for co-witnessing with open sights. The sight is not submersible but does have an IPX4 rating—10 minutes of splashing water—which makes it rain or snow safe.
Burris FastFire E
Specs
Magnification: None
Battery Type/Life: CR2032/60,000 hour life
Weight: 2.45 ounces
Reticle/Dot: 3.5 MOA red or green dot
Adjustment range/value: 100 MOA/1 MOA
Price: $420.00
Pros
Enclosed from the elements
Long run time
Auto-brightness reset
Battery change without loss of zero
Cons
Substantially larger than exposed emitter reflex sights
Another drawback to conventional reflex sights is that the LED emitter is exposed to the elements. That means if dirt, water, ice, or snow covers the emitter, you will not have a red dot to aim with. This is why many who run a reflex sight on their handgun equip it with backup iron sights. The Burris FastFire E circumvents this emitter blocking problem by being fully enclosed. The FastFire E has a 3.5 MOA dot that is always on with an estimated 60,000 hour life. The FastFire E also has nine brightness settings, and with its automatic brightness reset, it can instantly adjust to changing light conditions. The FastFire E utilizes the Aimpoint ACRO mounting footprint.
Prismatic Red Dot Sights
Prismatic red dot sights are somewhat like riflescopes but have fewer lenses and are more compact. A prism inside a prismatic sight flips the image, so it does not appear upside down. The reticle in prismatic sights is etched on glass, which means it can be made in any shape or configuration and can also be illuminated. A prismatic sight will also have a set eye relief like a traditional riflescope. The most important difference is that a prismatic sight can provide magnification without an additional optical magnifier.
Vortex Spitfire HD GEN II 3X or 5X Prism Scope
Specs
Magnification: 3x
Battery Type/Life: CR2032/175 hours at medium setting
Weight: 10.3 ounces with battery
Reticle/Dot: 1.0 MOA illuminated red dot with black trajectory references
Adjustment range/value: 250 MOA/1 MOA
Price: $579.99 ($649.99 for 5x version)
Pros
Reticle offers trajectory compensation
Fog proof, waterproof, and shock proof
Twelve brightness settings
Auto shutoff
Cons
Rail mount only
The Vortex Spitfire HD Gen II is best configured for use with an AR-style carbine. The mount that comes with the sight places the sight at the correct height, and the AR BDC4 reticle offers trajectory correction for the 5.56 NATO/223 Remington out to 650 yards for a 55-grain FMJBT bullet at 3050 fps. A version with 5x magnification that’s about an ounce heavier is also available, and it has a mounting platform for a reflex sight on top of the sight body. Either version of the Spitfire HD Gen II would work for hunters and could be ideal on a coyote AR-style rifle. The sight comes with a multi-height mount system that allows for a low mount or for co-witnessing with AR-style battle sights.
Burris RT-5 Prism Sight
Specs
Magnification: 5x
Battery Type/Life: CR 2032/Unavailable
Weight: 9.5 ounces
Reticle/Dot: 0.86 MOA red dot with black trajectory/windage references
Adjustment range/value: 70 MOA/1 MOA
Price: $564.00
Pros
Ballistic reticle
Automatic shut off
Night vision compatible
Integrated mount
Cons
Limited adjustment range
Rail mount only
The Rt-5 Prism Sight from Burris is specifically configured for use with an AR-style carbine. It offers 5x magnification with a 2.6 inches of eye relief and the Picatinny rail mount is integral to the sight’s body. The MIL-style reticle offers windage and trajectory correction out to 600 yards, it has four daytime and three night vision illumination settings, and an automatic shutoff. Considering its 5x magnification, this sight is compact at only 4.25 inches long and weighs less than 10 ounces. It should serve the recreational or competition shooter well and has practical application for hunting on an AR15 or AR10.
Holographic Red Dot Sights
A holographic or “holo” sight has a photograph of a reticle sandwiched between layers of glass. The holo sight uses a laser projected onto the glass to illuminate this reticle. Since the reticle is a hologram, it can be in any shape. A holo sight is a non-magnifying sight that can be paired with a separate optical magnifier. EOTECH currently dominates the holographic sight market, offering 16 diverse models and compatible tip/flip-off magnifiers.
EOTech EXPS3-0 Holographic Weapon Sight
Specs
Magnification: None
Battery Type/Life: CR 123/1000 hours at no. 12 setting and room temperature
Weight: 11.2 ounces
Reticle/Dot: Circle 1 Dot, Dot, Circle 2 Dot, Circle 4 Dot/1 MOA dot/s, 68 MOA ring
Adjustment range/value: 40 MOA/0.5 MOA
Price: $789.00
Pros
Twenty daylight brightness settings and 10 night vision settings
Ballistic reticle options
Magnifier compatible
Quick detach integrated rail mount
Cons
Limited adjustment range
Rail mount only
The holographic red dot sights from EOTech are popular in the military and law enforcement communities. They’ve proven to be rugged, offer a large viewing window, and are compatible with tip/flip-off magnifiers for longer-distance shots. The EXPS3 is one of EOTech's most compact holographic sights, partly because it runs off a single battery. Two of the reticle options (Circle 2 Dot and Circle 4 Dot) offer additional aiming points inside a 68 MOA ring for trajectory compensation. One reticle (Dot) has a single dot, and the remaining option (Circle 1 Dot) has a single dot inside a 68 MOA ring.
The quick release mount positions the sight for co-witnessing with AR-style open sights, but the sight is also compatible with a turkey/home defense shotgun with a rail. The primary advantage of the holographic sight over the reflex sight is the larger viewing window and reticle diversity.
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