Sight questions from a real newbie

Bonzai · November 28, 2011, 04:07 PM

Could someone possibly explain the difference in the following three sights and help me with the advantages and disadvantages of each.
30 mm red dot sight
30 mm 2x red dot sight
red dot open 4 reticle

Thanks in advance

AirborneMosinFan · November 28, 2011, 04:11 PM

The red dot is simply that one red dot. The red dot x2 is two power magnification so it's alittle zoomed in. The 4 red dot just means you have four setting to choose from most likely from a light red dot to a bright red dot. The 30 mm refers to how wide your viewing window is.

wogpotter · November 28, 2011, 04:32 PM

Almost

Most red dots allow the brightness to be changed in several steps, mainly to allow the dot to show up clearly under different lighting conditions.

"OPEN" refers to a glass plate out in the open as opposed to a tube with the reticule inside it, a bit like a regular telescopic sight tube. The 4 reticules are usually 4 different patterns of projected image. Depending on who makes them the choices vary. I have one that is a dot (.), a "T" shape(T), an upside down "V" (^) or a dot over the inverted V. (sorry I have no way of faking that last one for you.

What's the advantage? Mostly personal preference. I like the dot over a V because it grabs my attention faster than just a dot, but has the accuracy of a dot. It also lets me have 2 sighted in distances, one for the dot, another for the tip of the "V".

Here's my open 4-reticule sight. It is actually a holosight, not a red dot, but it's close enough to illustrate the point. It is big, there are many others much smaller.

& this is what it looks like with the dot over a ^ in use. The blur is a camera effect only. You use it with both eyes open, but the camera can't do that only having one lens. Holographic sights make the lit up part look as though it is out beyond the end of the gun & sight just floating in space, but you can't see that with a camera either.

AirborneMosinFan · November 28, 2011, 04:36 PM

I bet the v would be easy to spot in a hurry. I'd like a upside-down v like a military acog for mine I'm going to look into one of those.

wogpotter · November 28, 2011, 04:51 PM

Yes the small dots don't really grab me, & the big ones that do aren't accurate IMHO.
The "T" which is actually 3 lines with a dot where they meet, or the dot over a V is my second & first choice, a plain V would be my third with the dot alone coming in last.

AirborneMosinFan · November 28, 2011, 04:53 PM

What's it on?

wogpotter · November 29, 2011, 10:06 AM

It is a Russian "Kobra", originally made for the AK series with a side mount, but also was available with a rail mount for the Picatinny rail used by the West. The topcover mount is an ARMS #4 for the FAL. These are hard to find nowadays & so fetch a premium price, somewhere in the $300 range I think!

The more modern, more compact ones are actually better as this is so tall I need a riser to get a good cheek weld. It is incredibly tough though so I keep it!

AirborneMosinFan · November 29, 2011, 01:15 PM

Or 7.62?

wogpotter · November 29, 2011, 01:22 PM

7.62X51 NATO aka .308 Winchester or 7.62mm NATO.

AirborneMosinFan · November 30, 2011, 02:59 PM

I thought that mag looked a bit big, I just assumed when you said ak family. I want one even more now

November 28, 2011, 04:07 PM	#1
Bonzai Junior Member Join Date: October 31, 2011 Posts: 8	Sight questions from a real newbie Could someone possibly explain the difference in the following three sights and help me with the advantages and disadvantages of each. 30 mm red dot sight 30 mm 2x red dot sight red dot open 4 reticle Thanks in advance

November 28, 2011, 04:11 PM	#2
AirborneMosinFan Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2011 Location: Kelly nc Posts: 137	Here it goes The red dot is simply that one red dot. The red dot x2 is two power magnification so it's alittle zoomed in. The 4 red dot just means you have four setting to choose from most likely from a light red dot to a bright red dot. The 30 mm refers to how wide your viewing window is. __________________ "To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace." - General George Washington

November 28, 2011, 04:32 PM	#3
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	Almost Most red dots allow the brightness to be changed in several steps, mainly to allow the dot to show up clearly under different lighting conditions. "OPEN" refers to a glass plate out in the open as opposed to a tube with the reticule inside it, a bit like a regular telescopic sight tube. The 4 reticules are usually 4 different patterns of projected image. Depending on who makes them the choices vary. I have one that is a dot (.), a "T" shape(T), an upside down "V" (^) or a dot over the inverted V. (sorry I have no way of faking that last one for you. What's the advantage? Mostly personal preference. I like the dot over a V because it grabs my attention faster than just a dot, but has the accuracy of a dot. It also lets me have 2 sighted in distances, one for the dot, another for the tip of the "V". Here's my open 4-reticule sight. It is actually a holosight, not a red dot, but it's close enough to illustrate the point. It is big, there are many others much smaller. & this is what it looks like with the dot over a ^ in use. The blur is a camera effect only. You use it with both eyes open, but the camera can't do that only having one lens. Holographic sights make the lit up part look as though it is out beyond the end of the gun & sight just floating in space, but you can't see that with a camera either. __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.” Last edited by wogpotter; November 28, 2011 at 04:49 PM. Reason: found a beter picture of the reticule

November 28, 2011, 04:51 PM	#5
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	Yes the small dots don't really grab me, & the big ones that do aren't accurate IMHO. The "T" which is actually 3 lines with a dot where they meet, or the dot over a V is my second & first choice, a plain V would be my third with the dot alone coming in last. __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.”

November 28, 2011, 04:53 PM	#6
AirborneMosinFan Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2011 Location: Kelly nc Posts: 137	That is a bad ass looking red dot. What's it on? __________________ "To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace." - General George Washington

November 28, 2011, 04:36 PM	#4
AirborneMosinFan Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2011 Location: Kelly nc Posts: 137	Didn't know that one. I bet the v would be easy to spot in a hurry. I'd like a upside-down v like a military acog for mine I'm going to look into one of those. __________________ "To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace." - General George Washington

November 29, 2011, 10:06 AM	#7
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	It is a Russian "Kobra", originally made for the AK series with a side mount, but also was available with a rail mount for the Picatinny rail used by the West. The topcover mount is an ARMS #4 for the FAL. These are hard to find nowadays & so fetch a premium price, somewhere in the $300 range I think! The more modern, more compact ones are actually better as this is so tall I need a riser to get a good cheek weld. It is incredibly tough though so I keep it! __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.”

November 29, 2011, 01:15 PM	#8
AirborneMosinFan Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2011 Location: Kelly nc Posts: 137	Does it shoot 5.45 by 39 Or 7.62? __________________ "To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace." - General George Washington

November 29, 2011, 01:22 PM	#9
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	7.62X51 NATO aka .308 Winchester or 7.62mm NATO. __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.”

November 30, 2011, 02:59 PM	#10
AirborneMosinFan Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2011 Location: Kelly nc Posts: 137	I'm very familiar with 7.62x51 I thought that mag looked a bit big, I just assumed when you said ak family. I want one even more now __________________ "To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace." - General George Washington