Once upon a time, a red dot sight meant exactly that—a sight that projects an illuminated red dot as an aiming point onto an objective lens. It is now a generic term most shooters use to describe a type of weapon sight that uses any illuminated color aiming dot or another shape for the reticle. Many red dot sights will illuminate green and offer different reticle choices other than just a dot with an outer ring. The appeal of the red dot sight is its simplistic operation and accuracy. Beginners to professional competitors thoroughly appreciate all the benefits illuminated dot sights give them.

There are a few different types of red dot sights—reflex, tube, prismatic, and holographic. The difference in the types is how the sight works to project the reticle. Reflex and tube sights use a reflective glass lens and an LED, prismatic sights use prisms and holographic sights use a laser. Sightmark makes three of these sights—reflective, prismatic, and tube.

Dot sights offer shooters a great advantage—speed! Target acquisition with these types of optics is quicker and far easier than with iron sights or magnified scopes. That is because they can reflect the reticle’s projection in parallel with the sight’s optical axis, ensuring the point of aim and point of impact always coincide. They are designed so the reticle is always in focus when pointed at your target. There is no aligning of sights and no adjusting for different distances. The dot stays in focus no matter the distance of the target.

Using Your Red Dot for the First Time

Turn on the unit and check to make sure it is working. Depending on the environment, adjust the brightness of the reticle using the knob or brightness adjustment buttons. If you are shooting indoors or in low-light situations, your reticle will appear fuzzy or have a halo effect if it is too bright. Alternatively, if you don’t have the brightness up high enough outdoors or in bright light, your reticle will disappear.

Mounting

Sightmark reflex, red dot and prismatic sights offer unlimited eye relief. Eye relief is the distance between the eyepiece and what your eyes see in the field of view. Red dots can be placed anywhere on your that gun that is most comfortable for you and reduces your line of sight the most. For many, this is centered above the AR-15’s ejection port.

When you have mounted, checked and corrected the brightness, you’re ready to shoot. (Always know your target and what’s behind it!)

1. Look at your target.
2. While remaining focused on your target, bring your gun up to the shooting position.
3. Keep both eyes open.
4. You will see the reticle move onto your target as you are bringing up your gun to shoot.
5. Fire when the reticle meets the point you want to hit.

Once you have used your red dot for the first time, you will be able to quickly engage a target every time after.

Aiming a red dot is simple and fast. The reticle corrects itself and they are virtually parallax-free. Parallax is the visual movement of the reticle in relation to the target. When you move your head, the reticle will appear to move. Parallax is caused by the reticle not focusing at the same distance as the target. Sightmark’s dot sights are parallax-free anywhere from 10 to 25 yards to infinity. No sight is 100% parallax-free, as parallax will occur at closer distances.

Dot, reflex and prismatic sights are made for close quarters, close range, and for self-defense. They allow you to keep focused on the most important part—the target. With fast target acquisition and an accurate point of aim and shot placement, you hit exactly where you need to, exactly when you need to.

These sights offer an advantage over others because they allow you to remain situationally aware. You still can see your surroundings with their wide field of view and while aiming with both eyes open. When using a reflex sight with both eyes open, your dominant eye views the reticle and the target while the non-dominant eye is only viewing the target.  If the reflex sight’s line of sight to the target becomes blocked by debris, the dominant eye still sees the reticle.  The brain will continue to overlay the images of both eyes, and in this case, the reticle image of the dominant eye will be overlaid with the target image of the non-dominant eye.

Undoubtedly, red dot and reflex sights help you be a better shooter. They fit on any gun with a rail—handguns, shotguns, rifles…even bolt-action. Even though most reflex sights, apart from Sightmark’s prismatic sights, do not magnify, there are many units that are magnifier-compatible, as well as night vision-compatible. This versatility allows you to engage targets at further distances over 50 yards, as well as getting a close-range night vision scope for a very affordable price.

Unless you are long-distance precision shooting, there is no reason not to have one. With a red dot, you’ll spend more time hitting targets and less time wasting ammo.

Reflex, tube, prismatic, holographic? Which one did you choose and why? Tell us what you like and don’t like about it below in the comments.

Night vision optics like Sightmark’s Photon RT digital riflescopes and the sensors used in these devices have come a long way in a short period of time. Traditional night vision optics generally referred to as Gen 1, Gen 2 and Gen 3, have lost a ton of ground to digital night vision over the past several years, partly because of improved imaging and partly because of versatility.

While traditional night vision devices would have suffered irreparable damage if used during daylight, today’s digital riflescopes are perfectly compatible with daytime use. In fact, Sightmark Photon RT series digital scopes incorporate a special scope cover with a peephole designed to allow the perfect amount of light into the optic for crisp, richly contrasting digital imaging.

Hunt till You Drop!

Why is this important? It’s critically important, at least to Texans and an increasing number of forward-thinking states, because hunters can now use digital scopes like the Photon to hunt deer during daylight hours, then shift automatically to night hunting for feral hogs, predators and varmints. Like weekend-warrior football, playing both offense and defense, I like to call it “iron man hunting.” Honestly, if you can handle it, your hunt can last a solid 24 hours… or longer. Hunt until you drop!

Until recently, the Sightmark Photon XT 4.5×42 was a favorite digital night vision riflescope among hunters. For a mere $500, you could have quality digital night vision, also compatible with daytime hunting, with imaging on par with Gen 1+, encroaching on Gen 2. Hunters jumped at the game-changing opportunity. Even better, the Photon XT included video-out capability, so hunters enjoyed more success and were capturing memories forever. Unfortunately, the video quality could be better, and people have struggled with finding seriously reliable DVR recorders capable of handling recoil.

Sightmark RT digital riflescopes are successors to the long-reigning Photon XT. Sightmark’s new Photon RT digital line of optics includes an improved sensor and 640×480 AMOLED display for detailed imaging for both day hunting, as well as night hunting. The Photon RT also features built-in video recording, an increased detection range compared to Sightmark Photon XT scopes, more powerful onboard infrared illumination, and Stream Vision App-compatible WiFi for viewing the display on a connected smartphone or tablet, remote control, transferring files, and downloading firmware upgrades. The Sightmark Photon RT digital riflescope even includes onboard video, eliminating the need for problematic DVRs, or pesky cables and really improves video quality.

Iron Man Hunting… Just How We Like it in Texas

If you’re down our way and think you’re up for a little iron-man hunting yourself, think about what types of optics may best fit your needs. It certainly makes sense to consider a day/night rifle scope designed for both day and night use to eliminate unnecessary trips in and out of the woods to change equipment.

Do you use a digital night vision scope when you hunt during the day? If so, tell us your experiences about it in the comment section.

(MANSFIELD, TEXAS 2017/10/20) – Sightmark is proud to introduce the highly-anticipated Photon RT. The successor to the Photon XT, one of the most popular night vision scopes ever, the new Photon RT series of digital night vision riflescopes improves upon the XT generation with an upgraded core and new, user-friendly features while maintaining the same simplicity and durability that made the Photon XT line so successful. The Photon RT series consists of 4 models: Photon RT 4.5x42S (SM18015), Photon RT 4.5×42 (SM18016), Photon RT 6x50S (SM18017) and Photon RT 6×50 (SM18018).

Designed for day and night use, new Photon RTs feature an upgraded 768×576 CMOS sensor, with 40% higher resolution over the Photon XT series and a detailed 640×480 LCD display. Serious hunters are sure to appreciate integrated built-in video recording, with sound capabilities, and 2x digital zoom. Ideal for hog and predator hunting at any hour, Photon RT series digital night vision riflescopes also feature a power input compatible with power banks via microUSB and work with the Pulsar Stream Vision app to allow remote viewing on phones and other smart devices.

While all Photons come standard with a built-in IR illuminator, dedicated hunters will welcome the invisible 940nm IR illuminator, standard on non-‘S’ models; this IR light does not produce a red glow when viewed directly. A side weaver rail on the Photon allows shooters to attach additional accessories or IR lights to increase performance and application uses. Continuing to keep the user in mind, Photon RTs also boasts 6 reticle options, one-shot zeroing, IP55 water-resistant protection and a recoil rating up to .375. All Photon RT models come standard with carrying case, USB cable, spare battery container, battery container pouch, lens cloth and user manual. Photon RTs are revolutionizing the affordable night vision optics game.

To celebrate its 10th Anniversary, Sightmark adds carbon fiber special edition to Ultra Shot series of reflex sights.

(MANSFIELD, TEXAS 2017/06/09) – Hunters, competition shooters and law enforcement have come to trust Sightmark’s Ultra Shot M-Spec series to help them make their mark. Now, this dependable line of reflex sights is adding a new variant to the mix: introducing the Ultra Shot M-Spec FMS Carbon Fiber Reflex Sight (SM26015).

Taking advantage of the same robust optical design as other M-Spec models, the all-new Carbon Fiber FMS is a special offering for Sightmark’s 10 year Anniversary and features a carbon fiber protective hood, helping it weigh-in 30% lighter than other popular reflex sights at just 7.1 oz. Boasting a 65 MOA circle dot crosshair with 2 MOA central dot reticle, the M-Spec Carbon Fiber is as durable as they come with a scratchproof lens, cast magnesium alloy housing, IP68 waterproof rating (submersible to 40 ft.), Interlok™ internal locking system and a recoil rating up to .50 caliber.

Night vision compatible, the Carbon Fiber M-Spec co-witnesses with night vision devices and select magnifiers. An advanced, true color anti-reflective lens coating improves low light performance and helps with night vision compatibility as well. The sight’s unique motion-sensing auto-on feature automatically shuts the M-Spec off if it sits motionless for more than 5 minutes. Ideal for use on AR15s and MSRs, the Ultra Shot M-Spec Carbon Fiber is equipped with unlimited eye relief and a parallax-corrected optical lens system, allowing shooters to sight accurately from 10 yards to infinity. Built to adapt to any environment thrown its way, this reflex sight offers 1,000 hours of battery life off a single CR2 battery. The Carbon Fiber M-Spec FMS includes neoprene cover, adjustment tools, battery and manual.

(MANSFIELD, TEXAS 2017/05/15) – When low light conditions hinder your close- to mid-range shooting, Sightmark’s new ReadyFire G6 Laser Sight (SM25008) allows for lightning-quick target acquisition. Ideal for tactical, home defense and hunting applications, the ReadyFire G6 easily mounts to any firearm with Weaver/Picatinny attachments.

The Sightmark ReadyFire G6 delivers an ultra-bright, 515nm 5mW green laser able to be seen 50 yards during the day and an impressive 300 yards at night. This ergonomic laser features a low-profile design and finger adjustable clicks for incredibly quick and easy adjustments. Perfect for the AR-15 and MSR platforms, the ReadyFire G6 allows users to choose between push button and pressure pad operation.

Featuring an aluminum construction and matte black finish, the IP55 water-resistant ReadyFire G6 is ready to stand up to your most demanding shooting tasks. Two CR123A batteries help the ReadyFire G6 laser last up to 8 hours. This close- to mid-range laser attachment is operable at temperatures ranging from 0°F to 120°F, making it the perfect accessory for almost any shooting scenario.