Red Dot Sight Designs

There are basically four different design configurations:

• Reflex
• Tube
• Holographic
• Enclosed Reflex

Reflex

• Red Dot is produced by a LED emitter reflected back to the shooter’s eye by the front lens.
• Small in size and lightweight.
• Normal viewing window is square.
• Dot sizes typically from 2 MOA up to 10 MOA.
• Long battery life, up to 50,000+ hours.
• Not as durable as tube designs.
• Open design allows snow/water debris to interfere with operation.
• Very suitable for pistols and shotguns.
• Can be inexpensive.
• If used with a magnifier, the dot will be enlarged as well as the target.
• Parallax-free for practical purposes.

Holographic

• Red Dot/Reticle is produced by a laser diode projecting a hologram back to the eye.
• Will still function if the front lens is damaged or partly obscured.
• Much more expensive than Reflex or Tube designs due to complex design.
• When used with a magnifier, only the target gets larger; the dot/reticle remains the same size for precision.
• Typically more durable and optically superior due to higher cost.
• Bulkier and heavier than Reflex sights.
• Battery life is typically shorter than Reflex, around 500–1000 hours.
• Better for longer ranges with clearer, brighter reticles.
• Works better if the user has astigmatism, but does not completely correct it.
• Reticle is projected out in front of the sight, potentially making it quicker to use.

Tube

• Red Dot is created by a LED emitter.
• Tube design is better suited for harsh conditions as lenses can be easily cleaned.
• Easy to mount to dovetail rails or Picatinny systems as tube design allows use of a wide range of mounts.
• Dot increases in size with a magnifier.

Enclosed Reflex

• Same specifications as open Reflex sights.
• Does not have issues with debris obscuring the emitter, making it better for harsh weather conditions.