Why You Should and Shouldn’t Use a Red Dot Sight Laser

When you’re considering whether you should use a red dot sight laser, there are a few benefits and disadvantages you should consider. Red dot lasers are not all that they are cracked up to be, but there are still some great reasons to use one.

Why You Should Use a Red Dot Sight Laser
Aimpoint, Bushnell, Truglo, and BSA rely on red dots. It puts the red dot and target on the same optical plane. It’s much like the way a scope works. The difference is that for a scope, you need to put your head on the stock in the exact right place to position the crosshairs where you want to shoot. If you don’t do this, you could end up shooting inaccurately. The red dot solves that problem. You don’t have to worry where you put your head. You simply place the dot where you want to shoot and pull the trigger.

The other benefit is that you can install the red dot in many places. You can place it ahead of the receiver. You can put it way out on the barrel, too. It’s up to you, and it won’t affect your shooting.

Why You Shouldn’t Use a Red Dot Sight Laser
While the red dot takes the complexity out of placing your head in the right place, it’s still not as precise as a scope can be when shot correctly. This is because of the subtension, which is the space between the target and red dot. Most of the subtends of red dots are set at 4 minutes. Using 2-minute dots will provide better precision.

The other downside is the magnification. It doesn’t magnify. You may need that shooting into the distance. One brand will magnify, however. The Leupold CQ/T can magnify 1X to 3X.

One of the reasons many people will not use red dots is because it relies on battery. The fear that the battery will die when you need to use it is enough to cause some people to run to the scope. The problem is extremely rare, however. The battery life can last 600+ hours, and some brands will last for at least 50,000 hours.

Is the Red Dot Sight Laser Worth It?
After reading the advantages and disadvantages of the red dot sight laser, you’re probably wondering if it’s worth it. The red dot laser is worth it IF you need a way to shoot accurately quickly. When you don’t have time to adjust your head on a scope, the red dot could come in handy. It’s also great for those who don’t want to deal with the exact positioning of the scope. More experienced users will likely enjoy the scope more because they find it more precise since they know how to use it correctly.