Most airsoft replicas come with iron sight and they are just fine, especially for new players. But maybe you were thinking about upping your game and getting some of the available airsoft optics like red dot sights. In today’s article, we’re going to give you answers regarding red dot sights, like what are they, how do they work, and do you really need one.
Red dot sights are attachments for airsoft replicas, or to be more precise very simple optics intended to be used at closer ranges that allow faster target acquisition and shot adjustment than iron sights. Commonly used for close-quarters combat, they are not magnified so they can be used with both eyes open. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes with different reticle options, and different color options. Should you get one depends on your gameplay style and the type of airsoft replica you use.
Before purchasing a red dot sight it is important to understand your gameplay style and limitations of your airsoft replica so you can select proper optic for you. In the rest of the article, we’ll take a look at different optics available and tell you a little more about red dot sights, like how they work, what should you look for when buying one, different types, and benefits of using red dot sights so you can make an easier decision. Let’s start.
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Which Type of Airsoft Optics Should I Get?
Before we talk more about red dot sights there is one important thing we need to clear and that is which type of airsoft optics you should get. So how to choose a proper optic for you? It actually depends on your gameplay style and the type of airsoft replica you use.
For start, if you’re a beginner, we recommend that you use your replica with default iron sight to get more familiar with your gun. After several matches, you’ll have a much clearer picture of how you use your replica on the battlefield. Then you can decide which type of optics you want. Airsoft optics are attachments that can enhance your gameplay, of course, if you select the correct optic for your gun and play style. If you play with common AEG it doesn’t make sense to put a magnifying scope on it as it won’t make your replica shoot more accurate or further. So it’s pretty important to understand your gameplay style and preferences and limitations of your replica in order to select proper optic. Once you decide to get an optic there are a couple of different options – small magnifiers, large magnifiers, and red dot sights.
If you’re the type of player that plays a lot of CQB red dot sights may be the type of optics for you. They allow you to be as flexible as you can on the battlefield without sacrificing your speed. Small airsoft magnifiers are optics with a magnification of 4x and lower. Small magnifier will mostly benefit players who have replicas that allows them to make longer-range shots but are still able to operate in a close-combat environment. Before you put a small magnifier on your replica make sure that your gun has enough range otherwise it doesn’t make sense to use it. If you need both, red dot and magnifier, or can’t decide, you can get flip-down sight which allows you to move the magnifier out of the way and use the red dot or you can get a docter sight which mounts on top of your magnifier. Large magnifiers are optics with a magnification greater than 4x. They are usually used by snipers and allow you to make a precise shot from greater distance but are useless in CQB.
Whichever type you get we suggest that you invest in lens protectors like Lexan shield or mesh kill flash which will prevent a BB cracking your lens. So if you still think red dot sight is for you, continue reading.
What Are Red Dot Sights And How Do They Work?
As we already said red dot sights and other holographic sights are just simple optics without magnification that gives players an aim point in the form of an illuminated reticle, mostly red or green dot. They are intended to be used at closer ranges (commonly for close-quarters combat) and allow faster target acquisition and shot adjustment. As they are not magnified they can be used with both eyes open. This is also the reason why they are called red dot optics or red dot sights and not scopes. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes with different reticle options, and different color options, like red, green or blue.
So, how red dot sight work? The glass lens reflects the light emitted from an LED onto it, creating a reticle. It is projected in such a way that wherever you point your rifle the dot follows. It’s like a laser sight that only you can see.
Different red dot sights run on different batteries. Bigger sights can be bulkier but also tougher while small sights can be more agile and weight less but are also more fragile. They also mount in different ways, but mostly they use accessory rail. If you play with a mask, you’ll want to get a riser to ensure your red dot sight sits high enough so you can see through it. Red dot sights also vary in quality and cost – you get what you pay for. But remember that airsoft is just a game so often cheaper options are enough for most players.
Types Of Red Dot Sights
There is a couple of different red dot style optics – reflex, mini reflex, tube, mini tube, and holographic style red dot sight. Open reflex red dot sights give a player an unobstructed view because there is no tube or casing around the lens which allows him to keep his eyes both on the target and surrounding area. The large tube red dot sight is pretty durable due to its one-piece tube design which also allows the use of different accessories like a kill flash or lens covers. Small tube red dot sight falls somewhere in between open reflex and large tube red dot sights.
Difference Between Red Dot Sights And Holographic Sights In Airsoft
While real steel holographic sights, like the ones from EOTECH, differ from red dot sights in a way they work and are usually very expensive, airsoft holo sights are not an actual holographic sight. Simply, it’s just a red dot sight made to look like a holo sight with a special reticle and some customization options, like brightness or color of the reticle. They also have some advantages. While they are smaller and lighter than bigger tube red dot sights they still have a metal shell around the lens protecting it from impacts.
Should You Get Red Dot Sight For Airsoft? Do You Really Need One?
While some players view them as nothing more than one more attachment for the looks, they have some benefits. Target acquisition is much faster with red dots than iron sights. They allow you to aim more quickly without having much effect on your peripheral vision because you can use it with both eyes open. You see, if you use iron sights for aiming your vision is worse than when using red dots. Iron sights are typically composed of two-component sights (a rear sight and a front sight) so you need to focus on aligning them together and you pretty much only see what you are shooting at. When using red dot sights with both eyes open you will have a much bigger picture. A red dot sight also allows you to aim at less than perfect angles as you don’t need a perfect alignment to hit your target.
If you zeroed them properly, red dots are quicker than iron sights and give you that first shot accuracy. Also, they add to the level of realism and some airsoft players are claiming that is much easier for them to target their opponents than with iron sights.
What Should I Look For When Buying Red Dot Sight For Airsoft?
When choosing a red dot sight you want to make sure you get one with a solid construction, one that has a nice bright dot that you can adjust for windage and elevation and one that has a limited parallax. If you’re not familiar, parallax is an optical illusion that happens when the position of your reticle changes as the position of your eye changes. You can find more information here. Most real steel sights are corrected for parallax to a certain distance and the same goes for good quality airsoft replicas. But if you decide to get a cheaper option you’ll find there is no or very limited parallax correction which makes them less useful for use on the airsoft field.
- Zero magnification – when purchasing red dot sight, you’ll want something without magnification to ensure rapid target acquisition.
- Reticle intensity or red dot brightness – simply, the brighter the reticle, the easier it is to use the red dot sight during the day. Most red dot sights are highly visible in indoor environments.
- Solid construction – recoil on airsoft replicas isn’t the concern for red dot sights like in real firearms, but get a red doth with decent construction to avoid damage from drops and bumps.
- High riser – as we said if you play with a mask, you’ll want to get a riser to ensure your red dot sight sits high enough so you can see through it.
- Keep it cheap – you’ll be using it for a game and in a life or death situations. While we don’t suggest getting the cheapest option out there, you also don’t need to spend a fortune on it. Something around $40 should be just fine. Of course, if money is not the problem, go ahead and get the most expensive option :).
Can I Use Real Weapon Optics On Airsoft Replica And Vice Versa?
Yes, you can use real gun optics on airsoft replicas as long as you get one that matches your gun. Real gun optics will give you better performance and their build quality is much higher than the ones made for airsoft. But they are pretty expensive so if you don’t already own one, I don’t think it is worth spending all that money.
And if you were wondering can you put airsoft red dot sight on a real gun, the answer is yes but I wouldn’t recommend it for real functional use because they aren’t designed to be used with real guns. Airsoft red dots are of much lower quality than real steel counterparts and they are not built to handle the recoil of real gun. So if you use them on real firearms they will break down quickly.
Can I Leave The Battery Inside The Red Dot Sight?
If you were wondering can you leave the battery inside the red dot sight when you’re not using it, it actually depends. Some electronics, especially cheap and poorly made options, have problems with leaking when keeping the battery inside. If you have a decent dot sight from well-established brands than you can leave the battery inside. But if you own some cheap red dots they can drain your batteries or even worse make it leak. Of course, this is not a rule so I would say leave the battery inside. But don’t forget to turn off the sight when you’re not using it so that you don’t waste battery.
Summary
A decision which optic should you get depends on your gameplay style and preferences and the type of airsoft replica you use, close-combat AEG, or some longer-range rifle. Red dot sights and other holographic sights are not magnified and intended to be used at closer ranges. While they aren’t the essential piece of airsoft equipment they also have some benefits as target acquisition is much faster with red dots than iron sights. They allow you to aim more quickly without having much effect on your peripheral vision because you can use it with both eyes open.
So if you decided to get the red dot sight there are a couple of brands we can recommend that are known for good optics, like Primary Arms, Aim Sports, Vortex, or Lancer Tactical. And in our newest article, you can read our airsoft red dot sight buying guide together with the list of the best (affordable) airsoft red dot sights.
