whats the point of large red dots?

Jahnj0584

Jahnj0584

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Im looking at a RDS for my lil badger, and in MY mind it would make more sense to have a "small" dot then a larger one. I'm seeing 3,4 even 5 moa dots offered, which at 50y would be 2.5" right? For my use (bush hunting for rabbit) that could mean the difference between hit and miss.

So, please educate me why you would want a large dot. Self defense/close quarters and quick target acquisition use? Are the dots transparent so no matter what you can still aim for "center"?
Thanks
 
I suppose it has to do with size of what you need to place bullet in to?? For many years we used a Weaver K3 scope with a 3 MOA dot, to hunt deer. So dot was 3" at 100 yards - a deer's kill zone about 12" or so - worked very well. Likely not optimum for a 1" diameter gopher's head at that range though. So, need to match your sight (reticle) to what size that is important to hit and desired range??

Some might find it useful if that dot reflects the accuracy capability of the rifle+load+shooter - if 5 shots groups at 100 yards are 4 MOA, then a 4 MOA dot should cover where shots likely to land.

I have one Burris scope with an unusual (to me) reticle - is called "peep plex" - so four normal looking cross hairs that meet in a small circle at intersection - perhaps 2 MOA diameter circle - and circle has hole in it - so like a front peep sight. You can see through the centre of that circle. Depending how you sight it in, how accurate your load+rifle+you are, seems to work very nicely. Is currently installed on a 7x61 Sharpe and Hart chambered rifle.
 
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I started out with peep sights on rifles , and a couple hand guns.
I have a red dot sight on a 1911 with a large dot, 6mm.
It is good for speed shooting at steel, but for bulls eye ,it is too large.
I have a cheap tasco one with a fine 1mm , or so it would be good on a small rifle, but out side on a handgun , the dot is too small. and too hard to see in the sun.
I have a nice small red dot I picked up , 3mm I think I was going to mount on my SIG, but my hands are going and sold the sig, so don't think that will happen
If you are action shooting , get a larger dot, target shooting , smaller.
 
I picked up a Burris Fastfire in 2MOA for my 10/22. That equates to 1MOA at 50 and .5MOA at 25 which is good enough for knocking the head off a ruffly or a snowshoe.
 
I put a Primary Arms red dot on my little Badger and it has a 2 MOA dot that you can adjust the intensity of, it works quite well for my needs which is mainly grouse. I agree that it's more difficult to be precise with a larger dot especially on smaller targets like grouse, rabbits, etc.
 
Jahnj0584 said:
Im looking at a RDS for my lil badger, ... (bush hunting for rabbit) ...
Click to expand...

It depends on what you want from the sight. There are many great writeups on the interwebs about pros and cons of the different size and types of dots.

Quick and dirty summary: Larger dots are generally faster/easier to acquire, easier to see at lower brightness settings, and less prone to showing distortion (for less-than-perfect lighting/brightness situations, and for shooters with astigmatism). The tradeoff is accuracy, of course.

For your application, as others have said you'll probably want around a 2MOA dot (and with an enclosed emitter).
 
Red dots are great I try to put them on most of my guns.

It’s not complicated big dots are better for fast target acquisition closer range but long range they are less precise as the dot can obstruct ones view(though some people can make it work with enough practice), a small dot is like a laser beam but you notice movements of the gun and body a little more, consider the size of the target and the range you expect to be shooting at and go from before choosing the dot size.

If you are shooting under 60 meters a bigger dot is usually fine.

There, it’s the same with a non illuminated reticle if the reticle is huge fast short range, if the reticle is small better for long range precision.
 
I tried hard to like red dots when I started shooting, but I just find them horrible if you are looking for accuracy. Look into the 1-4 1-6 LPVOs they can come in FFP with thin crosshairs, far more accurate.
 
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