{"id":504232,"date":"2021-03-21T02:27:05","date_gmt":"2021-03-21T02:27:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/?page_id=504232"},"modified":"2021-05-09T03:58:27","modified_gmt":"2021-05-09T03:58:27","slug":"red-dot-vs-scope","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/scopes\/info\/red-dot-vs-scope\/","title":{"rendered":"Red Dot vs Scope – Which is Better?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

If you\u2019re not sure which aiming method is best for you, we\u2019re here to fill you in on every hunter\u2019s big question: should I use a red dot or scope?<\/p>

Whether you\u2019re shooting game, heading to the range, or taking your rifle into combat, opinions on red dot vs scope are across the board. Some swear by the dot, and others say they can\u2019t shoot without a magnified scope. And then, some say it\u2019s a good idea to collect both.<\/p>

Let\u2019s break down what each option brings to the table and why frequent shooters might favor one over the other.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

What is a Red Dot and What is a Scope?
<\/span><\/h2>

To put it simply, a red dot is an illusion on your rifle\u2019s eyepiece. Through the wonders of technology, a small light projection creates this glowing dot or reticle in the center of your field of vision. This handy tool is relatively new to the shooting world. First invented by Gunnar Sandberg in 1975, it boomed in popularity by the mid-1990s.<\/p>

A scope<\/a>, on the other hand, uses no light projections or alterations to your view. It\u2019s merely a magnifying tool that helps you zoom in on your target. You won\u2019t see any crosshairs, lines, or dots over your vision, but you\u2019ll be able to get a closer look for a more accurate aim.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Pros and Cons of a Red Dot<\/span><\/h2>

To understand why hunters use a red dot, let\u2019s look at this rifle attachment\u2019s positive and negative features. Here are the reasons to buy or not to buy:<\/p>

Pros<\/span><\/h3>

First of all, there\u2019s no beating the convenience of shooting with a red dot. Like many technological advancements, it merely makes life easier when you\u2019re aiming at your target. The dot helps you pinpoint a moving subject, so you can find your shot and quickly fire off a round.<\/p>

In the heat of the moment, it\u2019s a relief to have a red dot attachment on your rifle. You won\u2019t need to bother with fussy settings or let your eyes adjust to the zoom. Simply point, line up your shot, and pull the trigger.<\/p>

Cons<\/span><\/h3>

On the downside, a main drawback of the red dot is its dependence on a battery. This technical side might come back to bite you if you\u2019re not religious about maintaining your supplies. Unless you\u2019re one to plan before going out in the field, you run the risk of the battery dying at an inconvenient moment.<\/p>

The other problem with the red dot is the slight loss of accuracy. Although it\u2019s excellent for quickly taking aim and nailing a moving target, it doesn\u2019t compare to the fine-tuned accuracy of a zoomed-in view.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Benefits and Drawbacks of a Scope<\/span><\/h2>

If you\u2019re using a scope attachment, you\u2019ll want to consider the ups and downs of this aiming device. Here are the main facts to know if you\u2019re taking a scope on your next shooting trip:<\/p>

Pros<\/span><\/h3>

Bringing a scope to the field will instantly improve your shooting versatility. You can aim at close and mid-range targets and then simply adjust the zoom to close in on far-off marks. With a magnified scope, you\u2019re much more likely to hit a target that would be difficult to see with the naked eye.<\/p>

With a scope, you can expect better accuracy and hit rate. Zooming in on the target reduces the risk of missing the shot because you get a much clearer aim.<\/p>

Cons<\/span><\/h3>

Of course, there\u2019s the downside of using a scope: no matter how far you zoom, it can still be tricky to land the shot at the exact point you want. Sure, you\u2019ll hit the target, but it\u2019s difficult to pinpoint the center of your aim.<\/p>

Additionally, shooting with a scope in a high-pressure situation might leave you frustrated with your slow aim. Adjusting the zoom setting takes time, and if you hone in too close, it can be challenging to find your target again once you\u2019ve lost sight.<\/p>

Finally, a scope will be slightly heavier than a red dot attachment. It won\u2019t be a huge difference, but if you already weigh down your rifle with other bells and whistles, it\u2019s something to consider.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Red Dot vs Scope: How Do They Measure Up?<\/span><\/h2>

So, between the red dot and the scope, which one is better? To find out, let\u2019s compare our pros and cons one more time.<\/p>

Shooting with a red dot, you\u2019ll enjoy these perks:<\/span><\/h3>
  • Quick aiming capability<\/li>
  • Easy to pinpoint where shot lands<\/li>
  • Helps track moving targets<\/li>
  • No need for eyes to adjust to zoom<\/li>
  • Useful in high-pressure scenarios<\/li>
  • Lightweight<\/li><\/ul>

    If you opt for a scope instead, you\u2019ll do better in these areas:<\/span><\/h3>
    • Improved overall accuracy<\/li>
    • Versatile shooting at different distances<\/li>
    • Hits far-off targets<\/li>
    • No battery needed<\/li>
    • High hit rate<\/li>
    • Heavier weight<\/li><\/ul>

      \u00a0<\/p>

      Essentially, in a scenario where you\u2019re shooting a long-range target that isn\u2019t moving fast, the scope will be your best bet. It can handle all distances and has an unbeatable hit rate.<\/p>

      However, it\u2019s critical to consider that most situations are more complex than merely picking off a still target from the horizon. Whether you\u2019re using your rifle in combat or stalking jumpy prey that could leap out in front of you any minute, the red dot is the versatile option that covers many possibilities.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

      Our Best Bet: Go With a Red Dot<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>

      Every hunter will have their own opinion on the red dot vs scope debate. You\u2019ll meet plenty of seasoned shooters who swear by a magnified scope. It\u2019s hard for some people to part with the faithful technology that got them through decades of great hunting trips as the traditional option.<\/p>

      However, there\u2019s no denying the accuracy you\u2019ll get when you use a red dot. Whether you\u2019re shooting moving targets, tracking uphill or airborne prey, or expecting a sudden shot, the red dot is the most reliable option.<\/p>

      Downfalls and all, the red dot is the rifle attachment we prefer. Just remember to keep that battery charged before you head out.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t
      <\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t
      \t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\"Joseph\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t

      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJoseph Fox\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t

      Joseph Fox writes on a variety of topics ranging from reloading ammunition to gun cleaning. He has been featured on various publications like thetruthaboutguns, Sofrep & many more. Joseph is also the founder of\u00a0Gunloading, where he reviews different types of reloading & firearm products available on the market.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t
      <\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1003,"featured_media":0,"parent":504200,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"yoast_head":"\nRed Dot vs Scope - Which is Better?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/scopes\/info\/red-dot-vs-scope\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Red Dot vs Scope - Which is Better?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/scopes\/info\/red-dot-vs-scope\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"GUNLOADING\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-05-09T03:58:27+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/scopes\/info\/red-dot-vs-scope\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/scopes\/info\/red-dot-vs-scope\/\",\"name\":\"Red Dot vs Scope - Which is Better?\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2021-03-21T02:27:05+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-05-09T03:58:27+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/scopes\/info\/red-dot-vs-scope\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/scopes\/info\/red-dot-vs-scope\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/scopes\/info\/red-dot-vs-scope\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Scopes\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/scopes\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Scopes – Informational Content\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/scopes\/info\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"Red Dot vs Scope – Which is Better?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/\",\"name\":\"GUNLOADING\",\"description\":\""Load The Guns!"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/#organization\",\"name\":\"GUNLOADING\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Fichier-3.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Fichier-3.png\",\"width\":3056,\"height\":644,\"caption\":\"GUNLOADING\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Red Dot vs Scope - Which is Better?","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/scopes\/info\/red-dot-vs-scope\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Red Dot vs Scope - Which is Better?","og_url":"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/scopes\/info\/red-dot-vs-scope\/","og_site_name":"GUNLOADING","article_modified_time":"2021-05-09T03:58:27+00:00","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/scopes\/info\/red-dot-vs-scope\/","url":"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/scopes\/info\/red-dot-vs-scope\/","name":"Red Dot vs Scope - Which is Better?","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/#website"},"datePublished":"2021-03-21T02:27:05+00:00","dateModified":"2021-05-09T03:58:27+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/scopes\/info\/red-dot-vs-scope\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/gunloading.com\/scopes\/info\/red-dot-vs-scope\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/scopes\/info\/red-dot-vs-scope\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Scopes","item":"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/scopes\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Scopes – Informational Content","item":"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/scopes\/info\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Red Dot vs Scope – Which is Better?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/","name":"GUNLOADING","description":""Load The Guns!"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/#organization","name":"GUNLOADING","url":"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Fichier-3.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Fichier-3.png","width":3056,"height":644,"caption":"GUNLOADING"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/504232"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1003"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=504232"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/504232\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":504685,"href":"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/504232\/revisions\/504685"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/504200"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunloading.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=504232"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}