A red dot scope is a type of rifle sight that projects a small red dot onto the target. This allows for quick aiming without having to line up your sights, which can be difficult when shooting at longer distances. If you are looking to improve your accuracy with this type of gun, then read on! I can explain how a red dot scope works.
What’s a Red Dot Scope?
Invention:
The idea behind the invention was simple: take an illuminated reticle and put it in front of an optical lens so that it’s visible from any distance or angle within the field of view (FOV). The first consumer hunting scopes were introduced by Bushnell in 1979 as “Dusk & Dawn Multi-X Reticles” – although they were not red dot scopes.
Categories:
There are two types of categories when you consider picking a red dot scope.
Full-Size Scopes:
The first category is a full-size red dot scope. These scopes are typically much larger than the standard rifle sight. They have been popular for years with military and law enforcement applications, but they can also be purchased by hunters who want to shoot from longer distances.
Mini Rd Dots:
Then you have mini Red Dot Scopes (RDS). Typically these come as an optic that mounts on top of your gun’s receiver or rail system, so it sits directly above the barrel. The size makes them easy to install anywhere – although most people prefer putting them on rifles over shotguns due to their weight and length restrictions when hunting waterfowl or upland game birds.
How Does a Red Dot Scope Work?
In order to understand how a red dot scope works, you need to know some basic principles of optics.
A red dot sight is an optical device that helps the user aim better at targets by projecting a reticle onto a lens in front of the viewer’s eye or onto a reflector/retroreflective screen on which the target itself is visible. This allows for quick aiming without having to line up your sights, which can be difficult when shooting at longer distances.
The technology used in this type of gun has been around since 1911 and was originally developed as an improvement over standard iron sights. It wasn’t until more modern warfare started taking place during World War II that they became useful on automatic weapons like machine guns and submachine guns, and eventually rifles. They have been used on various weapons since then, including handguns and shotguns.
What Are the Types of Red Dot Scopes?
Reflex:
Now that you know how a red dot scope works, it’s time to understand the two main types of this sight. The first is the reflex type with an open tube design and an objective lens at one end and eyepiece lenses on either side near the other end. This kind has been around since roughly 1917 when Russian inventor Nicholas Yagn got the patent for his design.
Holographic :
The second type is known as a holographic sight, which works more like an advanced reflex scope where you see two red dots instead of one on your target (hence the name). A holographic gun sight uses laser-generated illumination combined with light diffraction to create the reticle.
Red Dot Terms:
Dot :
Now that you know how a red dot scope works and the types of this sight, it’s time to learn about some terms used in reference to these sights. The first is “dot reticle,” which simply means that the aiming point on your target will be projected as a red dot.
MOA :
There is also MOA, which stands for “minute of angle” and refers to the size of your sighting circle. For example, if you are aiming at a target 100 yards away with an angular field-of-view (FOV) that covers one inch per 100-yard distance (or one inch per one-tenth of a degree), your MOA is said to be ten.
Killflash Filter :
Another term you might come across with red dot scopes is “kill flash filter,” which simply means the anti-reflective lens built into some scopes that allow for use in conjunction with night vision optics.
Magnification :
Finally, you’ll come across the term “magnification” when reading about red dot scopes. This means that your optic is capable of magnifying your target view up to some degree. For example, if it can magnify by three or four times, then this would be considered a low-power optic.
Conclusion :
Now you should have a pretty good understanding of how red dot scopes work and the different types you’ll find when shopping for one. Once again, they are most commonly used in military settings by both soldiers and law enforcement officers but can also be purchased by hunters who want to shoot from further distances.
