Holographic Sight Vs Red Dot- Which Optical Sight is Better

A Red Dot and a Holographic Sight operate in two distinct ways, and their mode of image transmission is what sets them apart. Red dots usually operate with an LED emitter that sends beams towards the front glass, the latter is normally coated to prevent the dot from reflecting to the eyes. The Holographic sight, on the other hand, uses mirrors and lasers to send the hologram back to the shooter, but never uses the front glass.

So while you are still deciding whether you will settle with a holographic sight or a red dot, it is important to know that both of these units are fast, however, they do have some major operability and functional differences, some that we will discuss in the excerpt below. The units are also differently priced, with the red dot retailing at a fair price and the complicated Holographic sight getting a higher price tag.

What are the differences between the Holographic sight and the Red Dot?

Holographic Sight vs Red Dot- How do they compare?

• NVD compatibility and the brightness settings

If you are looking to acquire a professional sight, night vision compatibility is a must to which end the Aimpoint has dedicated up to 4 settings to be used with the night vision equipment, and 6 settings dedicated to daylight use. The EOTech Holographic sight, on the other hand, is not equipped with the night vision settings but you get up to 20 levels of brightness settings.

Now for as much as the holographic sight does not have the night vision settings the various brightness levels, can be adjusted to resonate with the existing environment. And the one thing that you can be sure of as you adjust the settings for accurate target acquisition in the low light environments, is that the 68MOA ring will always be present with the relevant intensity, the same cannot, however, be said for the red dot as it is not very clear.

In light of the above, the Red dot sight is the better unit because it has incorporated up to 4 dedicated levels of the night vision settings, the above can, therefore, assure you of precision even in the thick of the night.

• Waterproofing and submersion

Sights that are submersible in water or ones that cannot be used in humid environments tend to be very rigid and thus sensitive during use. No shooter wants to deal with a sensitive sight, so if it cannot be submerged in water then it would be much better if it was waterproof. Both the red dot and the holographic sight are waterproof thus you can carry and use them even when there is slight rain.

Now when it comes to submersion, it tends to be a whole other level of functionality with regard to how deep you can submerge your sights without compromising on its effectiveness. The difference between these two optical sights is quite huge, as the red dot offers the best levels of submersion at 150 ft while the holographic comes out as a recreational unit given that it can only be submerged up to 10ft.

• Weight

It is quite interesting that the holographic sight weighs more when compared to the red dot, given that the latter has more external features, from the front and the rear caps, to the battery compartment and the large objective lens diameter, which is known to add on the existing weight of the optical sight.

For the holographic sight we can, therefore, say that it is heavy because of its bulky structure first in the area around the lens and secondly, you will see that it has incorporated an aluminum hood, and at the back, there is an elongated part labeled as the removable battery compartment. The objective lens is small meaning that achieving effectiveness might not be the easiest thing with the Eotech optical sight.

We, therefore, conclude that the Aimpoint red dot sight is the better optical sight because apart from sporting a trendy design it is light in weight automatically becoming a favorite optical sight for a good number of long-range shooters and hunters.

• Objective lens diameter

Understanding the relevance of an objective lens in your optical sight will help you settle with a sight that suits your style. A larger objective lens diameter admits light into the sight consequently providing the shooter with a larger field of view, while a small diameter objective lens admits in less light thus a small field of view, well the above can be limiting for some shooters.

The Aimpoint Red Dot, therefore, is the best unit as it has been equipped with a 38mm objective lens and you can therefore be sure of being provided with a larger field of view. The above will, also, ensure that you have relevant information as regards the surrounding environment and target acquisition will be a breeze.

Holographic sight vs Red dot- A Comparison Overview

Holographic sight

EOTECH 512 Holographic Sight

• EOTECH 512.A65 - Holographic Sight in Black with 68 MOA ring & 1 MOA dot reticle
• Mount - Compatible with both 1" Weaver and MIL-STD 1913 Rails
• Adjustable Brightness - The 512 has 20 brightness settings for use in any lighting scenario
• Water Resistant - The 512 is water resistant to 10 feet (3m)

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The EOTech Holographic weapon sight is a bit toned down as regards functionality. Not to doubt its effectiveness, however, because it is constructed with durable aluminum on the exterior, it can be used underwater but only up to 10 ft. And the best-incorporated feature of the sight is that it will furnish the users with up to 20 levels of brightness settings, some that come effective in the low light conditions.

Pros

• The mount is in-built and comes with the relevant tools
• Sight acquisition with the unit is a breeze
• It is fairly priced

Cons

• The reticle is fuzzy
• Doesn’t have the night vision settings

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The Red Dot

Aimpoint PRO Red Dot Reflex Sight with QRP2 Mount and Spacer - 2 MOA - 12841

• Designed to deliver premium performance under harsh conditions
• 2 MOA dot with 4 Night and 6 Daylight brightness settings
• Up to 3 years of continuous operation using one DL1/3N battery (included)
• Front and rear flip-up lens covers included; In-service and battery change date decal

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Aimpoint has done it again with the Aimpoint red dot reflex sight, and apart from the obviously attractive aesthetics, this sight is equipped with a battery that will give you a good service for 3 solid years but at setting 7 of 10. The sight is highly functional thanks to the 4 dedicated night vision settings, and the large diameter objective lens, which offers a wide field of view.

The unit has incorporated the front and rear cover caps which help protect your sight’s lenses when not in use. The external study build makes the sight useful in harsh environments without compromising on performance.

Pros

• The red dot is reliable
• Offers value for money
• Offers a great field of vision

Cons

• Not convenient for the long term

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Conclusion

Now the good thing about the Holographic sight is that it is highly functional in that it can still enable you to see your target even it is partially shattered or when the sight window has been obscured by ice or mud. The same goes for the red dot, as it can be used underwater up to 150ft, has a large objective lens necessary for target acquisition, and comes equipped with 4 dedicated night vision settings.

Final Verdict: So which is better, the Holographic sight or the Red dot?

The Red Dot Sight is the better unit because it is submersible up to 150ft and can be used with the night vision devices.

FAQ’s

1. Which range works best with the EOTECH 512 Holographic Weapon Sight?

The Eotech 512 is at its best when shooting targets that are within a 200-yard range.

2. Which distance works best with the Aimpoint PRO Red Dot Reflex Sight

The Aimpoint pro red dot reflex sight works best at 100 yards.