Though it may seem a bit overwhelming at first with how many red dot sights there are to choose from, when it comes down to it, there aren’t really that many differences in red dot and reflex sights. Picking a red dot sight is easier than choosing a magnified riflescope—which can feel like the options are endless. After breaking down a few features, buying a reflex sight should be a simple process.
What Are Red Dot Sights Good For?
Red dot and reflex sights are relatively simple, intuitive aiming tools and after deciding on how much you want to spend (your budget) and the type of reflex sight you want (open or tube), which features suit your needs—
size, type of illumination, weight, construction, etc.—it will come down to deciding which size dot is best.
Good for rifles, pistols and shotguns, dot sights are a highly effective aiming tool for CQB, close to medium ranges, competition and self-defense. The biggest advantage of a red dot over any other optic or sight is the ability to acquire and hit a target incredibly quick. The size of the dot directly relates to how quickly you can locate the dot in the unit’s head’s up display and how much target area the dot covers. Both these things can significantly affect your accuracy.
Top Red Dot Sights from Sightmark
Ultra Shot R-Spec Reflex Sight
The Ultra Shot R-Spec Reflex Sight offers rapid target acquisition with a wide-angle lens system and customizable reticle options. Its durable aluminum housing and protective shield ensure reliability in various conditions.
Mini Shot M-Spec M2 Solar
The Mini Shot M-Spec M2 Solar combines solar technology with battery power for extended operation. Its compact design is ideal for pistols and AR platforms, offering a 3 MOA red dot reticle for precise aiming.
Volta Solar Red Dot Sight
The Volta Solar Red Dot Sight features dual power options, utilizing both solar and battery energy sources. Its robust construction and 2 MOA red dot reticle make it suitable for a variety of shooting applications.
Understanding MOA in Red Dot Sights
The illuminated red or green dot of a red dot/reflex sight is measured in MOA—minutes of angle, a unit for angular measurement of a circle. 1 MOA equals approximately 1 inch at 100 yards. A 2 MOA dot would appear 2 inches wide at 100 yards, and so on. Therefore, the smaller the MOA, the finer the dot—and the more precise your aiming can be at distance.
Small vs. Large Red Dot MOA: Which Is Right for You?
Smaller dots—1 to 2.5 MOA—are ideal for precise shots at longer distances. These are commonly used in tactical and competition settings where precision matters. However, they can be harder to pick up quickly, especially in bright environments or for those with vision challenges.
Larger dots—4 to 8 MOA—are faster to acquire and best suited for close-range shooting, such as self-defense, steel competition, or hunting fast-moving targets. These dots may sacrifice precision for speed but shine in fast-paced scenarios.
Popular MOA Sizes and Their Applications
1 MOA dots are typically found on high-precision red dots and often paired with a 60 MOA circle to aid in acquisition. These are great for long-distance shots but require good eyesight and steady aim.
3 MOA dots strike a balance between speed and precision, making them the most popular for both self-defense and competition. A 3 MOA dot is easy to see and doesn’t obscure too much of the target even at mid-range distances.
5 MOA and larger are great for handgun use or CQB (close quarters battle) scenarios where target acquisition speed is critical. These sizes are also beneficial for shooters with astigmatism or limited vision.
How Sightmark Designs Its Red Dots
We designed the Ultra Shot and earlier red dot models based on available dot sizes and market feedback. Since then, we’ve adopted innovations like solar technology, improved battery life, and reticle customization.
About five years ago, we asked AR15.com and Sightmark Pro Staff members which reticles they preferred. Sightmark Product Development Director Jonathan Horton explains, “Most of our red dots are 3 or 5 MOA which is easy to acquire and still have on-target accuracy at 50 or 100 yards, even with a magnifier. Going bigger is good for short range but you’re covering a lot of your target anything over 50 yards. If we do a smaller aiming dot than 3, it does provide better accuracy out to 100 but we usually design a larger circle-dot around the dot for better acquisition at close range.”
Who Uses Red Dot Sights?
Most shooters purchase a red dot sight for its original intention—quick target acquisition in a self-defense situation. However, red dots are also increasingly popular among:
- Turkey hunters needing fast target visibility
- Steel and speed competition shooters
- Home defense setups
- AR users and tactical rifle setups
- Handgun carriers and concealed carry pistols
At the end of the day, choosing the size of the illuminated dot reticle depends on your primary use and the firearm you're mounting it to.
8 comments
What do you recommend for a AR12 for self defense and a Beretta 9 mm model 92FS for self defense.
I am looking for a dovetail mount and green dot sight (5 to 6 moa) that will fit on my older Glock 17 gen 2.
Greetings, Mr. Rego!
You asked for a red dot recommendation for your M&P Shield and Sig P365 pistols. First, you should know that red dots are only mountable on pistol footprints they’re compatible with. Now, if your pistol slides are optics-ready, it’s likely that both the M&P Shield and Sig P-365 will have RMS-C footprints.
If your pistols are optics-ready with this particular cut, I highly recommend the Mini Shot A-Spec M3 Micro or the Mini Shot M-Spec M3 Solar. Both have very long battery lives and auto-brightness reticles that become brighter or dimmer depending on your lighting environment. I sincerely hope I’ve been helpful. Please feel free to ask any questions you might still have!
I am looking for a red dot optic for both my older M&P Shield and my Sig P-365. I mostly practice at shorter distances – maybe 20 yards max. I would appreciate any advice. Thanks!
Here at Sightmark, we believe in catering to our customers’ specific needs. You asked what type of red dot would be good for your Browning BPS 12ga. We recommend the Mini Shot M-Spec FMS Reflex Sight. This compact but powerful reflex sight is larger than a micro red dot but smaller than an ultra shot. It also sits low to the bore, making it perfect for shotguns like yours. This optic is compatible with all Picatinny mounts, but if your rifled barrel has a dovetail sight, we recommend buying an adapter for compatibility.