Welcome back, dear readers! This time around, we’ve got another review that would pique your interest.
Well, if you’re a gun geek like me, you must be aware of red dot sights that are currently prevailing in the market. They’re everywhere, with various brands and various options to choose from.
This makes you think, what’s all this hype about, right? What does it add to the value of the overall experience, and most importantly, if accuracy is the primary thing, then how far can you effectively aim and shoot after mounting it on your gun?
These are all the things well taken care of in this review. Primarily, how far can you shoot with a red dot?
It is difficult to give an exact figure because a red dot can typically shoot at 100 yards effectively. Still, other factors influence the range of the red dot, like its dot size, target size, the use of the magnifier, and some environmental factors.
How Far Can I Shoot With A Red Dot?
A typical answer to this question and that you would also find on search engines is 100 yards. I’m also telling you the same.
But the difference is that you’ve got to see that 100 yards aren’t the limit, there are many other factors involved, and this range is basically to which you can shoot effectively with a red dot.
What does this mean now? I know that’s what’s going through your head. Be patient.
Effective shooting distance means a distance where the accuracy is maximum. So, 100 yards is the distance where a red dot sight gives accuracy and precision without any magnifier.
Now, I’ll take you through the factors I’ve mentioned.
Range Determining Factors
The following factors influence the range you can shoot with your red dot sight. That means the range wouldn’t be limited to a mere 100 yards but can be more or less depending on these factors. So, let’s get into it!
1. Size of the reticle
One important factor which has an impact on the distance of the shooting is the size of the dot.
Simply stating, bigger-sized dots are well fit for closer-range shootings while smaller ones are great for long-range shootings.
Let me explain why that is so.
The Moa of a dot is what tells how many inches a dot occupies at a distance of 100 yards. For example, 6 MOA means the reticle occupies 6 inches of the target at 100 yards. Hence, the 6 moa dot covering 6 inches of the target at 100 yards would cover a large part of the bull’s eye at 300 yards. Here the accuracy is compromised.
Now, shift to a smaller reticle size like 3 moa that covers 3 inches at 100 yards. It will cover a relatively smaller area of the bull’s eye at 300 yards, sufficing for the accuracy you need.
Do you get it now? A reticle size that works great for 100 yards might not be perfect for 300 yards.
When you need to aim at a closer distance, go for a big reticle size that’s visible and faster to acquire the target, and when you aim at a far-off distance, pick a smaller reticle for more accuracy.
2. Type of red dot sight
Oh, this is where all the magic happens! What kind of red dot sight you’ve mounted on your gun? What new features does it have? Which brand does it come from?
The answers to these questions make up most of your shooting journey’s determinism.
But how does it affect the range? Well, you see some red dot sights in the market better than others. Brands keep introducing new innovative features to take the edge on the other and hike their sales.
Some of these features enhance the range that a particular red dot can shoot accurately.
Take Holosun, for instance; it has distinguishing factors like a solar panel multi-coated lens, which contribute to increasing the range.
The solar panel gauges the ambient light to shift between brightness settings automatically, resulting in better visibility that you need at longer ranges.
A multi-coated lens would allow maximum light transmission through it, again providing a visibility edge and better view.
So, all these factors that distinguish one type of red dot from another play a significant role in determining how far it would eventually shoot.
3. Target’s dimensions
The dimensions or size of the target matter as much as the size of the reticle. This means they can’t be ignored when accounting for the factors that determine how far off the sight will be able to shoot perfectly.
However, the size of the target, in this respect, is linked with the distance itself. How might you ask? A target up close appears bigger. When it’s farther, it’ll appear smaller to the viewer.
Now, if you have a fixed dot size, say 3 Moa, it’s easier to acquire the target that appears smaller at a greater distance. While when the target is up close and bigger, the 3 MOA won’t be the best pick as it would not give the required precision.
4. Environmental factors
Not just the factors related directly to the reticle and red dot sight or target themselves are to be taken into account, but the environmental factors are also really important. Everything around the shooting sight will affect the sight’s ability to shoot at a certain distance.
- Weather
In fine weather, everything’s cool, right? No problem shooting. And target acquisition at 100 yards feels like a breeze.
But, trouble attacks when the weather denies being in your favor.
There’s fog or smog, compromising visibility. That’s the condition when even a 100 yards distance won’t give you effective shooting results.
This is why previously mentioned innovations are important, especially the ones that help the visibility factor.
- Lighting conditions
Shooting in broad daylight is no biggy, but the visibility quotient starts to go down when the sun sets.
In such a situation, the effective distance range also decreases exponentially. Night vision optics prove to be the best acquaintances in such conditions.
- Target’s surroundings
Are you familiar with the word camouflage? Yeah, you thought right. This phenomenon comes into play in the sense of range determinism.
Suppose the target is surrounded by objects similar to its color, such as a wild boar in the woods. In that case, the surroundings will make it harder to spot it since the brown boar would get camouflaged with the trees’ trunks, soil, etc. Hence, you need contrast for better visibility.
Also, the contrast between reticle and environment matters a lot. A green dot wouldn’t be visible on a hunting track in the woods, so red is the best option.
So, there should be a contrast between the target and its environment and the reticle and environment.
5. Magnifier
Red dots are great on their own, no doubt. But adding magnifiers with red dots increases their range.
Magnification is the key when it comes to hitting the bull’s eye. While red dots are not enabled with this feature, we use a magnifier that slides off if you want to take a break from using it or at closer range shootings.
Using a magnifier, hence, evidently increases the range you can shoot up to. With a 3x magnifier, the effective shooting range of 100 yards easily goes up to 200-300 yards.
It happens because the magnifier makes the target appear close; for example, a 3x magnifier would cause the target at 300 yards to appear bigger.
6. The shooter
Last but certainly not least, the shooter matters a lot. The world’s smartest invention is also a useless rock in the hands of an amateur. And this is a game of pros.
Shooting and aiming require much practice and command. Any optic is as accurate as the shooter behind the lens. If the shooter is well-trained, he can easily acquire a target at more than 100 yards by the same red dot an amateur would find hard to.
Also, the visibility factor is very dominant. A person with 6/6 vision has a better chance of gaining accuracy at longer ranges than someone with troubled eyesight.
Endnote
So, we have established that although the effective shooting range with a red dot is 100 yards, numerous factors can increase or decrease this range.
- A smaller reticle works best for long-distance shooting, while a larger one performs best at closer ranges.
- Red dot sights with more innovative features are likelier to have increased shooting range.
- The dimensions of the target and its proximity to the shooter also affect the range.
- Environmental factors like fog, nightfall, etc., can cause low visibility, affecting effective shooting distance.
- There needs to be a contrast between the target and its environment and the reticle and environment.
- Using a magnifier can increase the accuracy at long ranges.
- A trained shooter with uncompromised eyesight is likelier to get accurate aim at a distance of 100 yards or even more.
Lastly, it all comes down to how much you practice with a certain optic and if you choose the right one.
So, research and go through reviews like ours to gain more insight about firearms and their accessories.
This brings us to the end of this review. I hope your questions have been answered and you enjoyed reading this review as much as I had fun writing it. I’ll see you in the next review. Till then, happy shooting!
FAQs
Is 3x magnification any good?
Yes, of course, it is. 3x magnification means that the target appears to be 3x closer. Say you’re aiming at something 300 yards away; if you put a 3x magnifier, it will appear at a mere distance of 100 yards. This would provide maximum accuracy and speed for target acquisition. I highly recommend it. Also, slide it down if you don’t want it or are shooting at close range; no issue.
Which is better: red dot or scope?
The magnification factor makes scopes more accurate than red dot sights. A typical red dot is a 1x optic, while a rifle scope can go up to 40x.
Which reticle is better for astigmatism: red or green?
If you’re someone with astigmatism, I suggest going for a green reticle sight because the green dot puts less strain on the eyes.
