We have tested & used over 18 different red dot optics and ranked 9+ best red dot sights based on durability, reticle designs, battery life and cost.
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Top Red Dot Sights
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What To Look For
Top Brands
There are many different red dot sight brands in the gun world.
Here are some of the top companies you should buy from:
- Trijicon
- Aimpoint
- EOTech
- Holosun
- Vortex
- Burris
Dot Size Selection & Astigmatism
The bigger the dot, the easier it is to pick up to superimpose it on the target for fast engagement. Shooters with astigmatism like bigger dot sizes to see clearly without dealing with a smeared reticle.
The smaller the dot, the easier it is to aim precisely at a target far away without covering the target.
Faster Target Acquisition Speed
A sight with a wide field of view allows the shooter to quickly present the rifle and instantly transpose the red dot reticle on the target and aim both eyes open.
Whether you're on the move or transitioning through corners. A red dot sight is extremely fast for acquiring sight picture without using traditional iron sights.
Learn the Four P's system to shoot more flatter in our How To Shoot A Red Dot Guide
Red Dot Parallax and Eye Relief
The biggest benefit of a red dot is unlimited eye relief and parallax free, which allows the shooter focus on the target plane without:
- Aligning sights
- Eye box limitation
- Optic to eye distance
- Cheek weld position
Enclosed Vs Open Emitter
Enclosed emitter red dot sight is fully sealed to keep debris away from the optic internals.
Open emitter like the Trijicon RMR are great, but they may run into issues with the LED emitter screen getting obscured when dealing with rain, snow, mud and other debris.
Open emitter design doesn't mean it's a budget red dot sight
Red Dot Optic Mount
Use a good red dot sight mount can hold zero, and the optic height has to be tall enough to work with most shooter's cheek position.
Currently the 1/3rd cowitness mount and 1.93" height red dot sight mounts are very popular.
Most popular mounts are made to work with the Aimpoint Micro footprint such as Sig ROMEO 5, Vortex Crossfire II, Holosun 515...etc
Recoil Proof
Recoil harmonics travels down the entire gun during firing, causing a wave that can affect the accuracy of optics if not mounted properly.
High-end optics paired with a solid mount can withstand this recoil and maintain accuracy. This makes them ideal for all applications.
Battery Life
50,000 hours of battery life is the industry standard for a red dot sight even for budget red dot sights.
A long lasting battery life eliminates the need to replace the battery, and it can stay on and be ready for anything.
Extend Range With A Magnifier Scope
A red dot sight's range can be greatly increased when using a magnifier scope. The magnifier simply sits behind the red dot sight and it zooms in the image. The available magnifications are 3X, 4X and 6X. 3X is the most popular
In addition, an red dot magnifier scope can be flipped to the side, or tucked away when transitioning.
Check Out Recent Red Dot Guides
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