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If you’re trying to decide between a red dot or a scope…
…there are a few factors you need to take into consideration.
And look I get it, I understand the struggle that goes into picking an optic for your rifle…
…I mean, there are so many cool options to choose from, and you just want to pick the perfect one for your AR 15.
But really, the decision to go with a red dot or a scope starts to become easier once you understand the strengths and weaknesses of both choices…
So in this article, I’m going to compare the two by looking at where they stand in the following 4 categories…
- Speed
- Accuracy
- Weight
- Reliability
So, give me your full attention if you’re ready for the Scope Vs Red Dot comparison… because here it is…
Red Dot Vs Scope: Who has the edge in quickness…
So, if you’re looking for maximum speed you’re probably thinking about cranking off fast shots at relatively close ranges.
And for shooting at 100 yards and in the faster optic has to be the reflex sight.
When you think about it, it’s pretty clear that red dots are simply built for speed…
To start, they have unlimited eye relief and most are parallax free. So gaining a sight picture from almost any head position is fast and easy.
Also, most red dots have a fast and simple dot reticle or a reticle actually designed to shoot quickly…
…and because the reticle is bright red, it draws in your eye for fast shots when you look through it.
You also get a pretty large field of view when looking through a red dot, which can be helpful when transitioning between different targets…
…and they have no magnification. So, with a little bit of practice, you can actually aim while keeping both eyes open.
On the other hand, magnified scopes tend to be slower…
You see, scopes often have critical eye relief, which means your eye needs to be just the right distance from the rear lens to see clearly through the optic.
For example, if you bring up your rifle quickly, and your head is slightly in the wrong position, you might not even be able to see through your scope.
Now, mounting your scope to fit your body properly can be a big help here, but it’ll still be a little bit slower than a red dot, especially when shooting from awkward positions.
In addition to that, magnification level is a big factor as well…
You see, if you have a variable optic and the low end of the magnification is at 6 power (pretty common for high powered scopes)…
…unfortunately, you’re going to be really slow if you try shooting at close targets.
You might not even be able to find them because the field of view of a scope narrows when the magnification level goes up.
Now another common type of magnified optic is something like a 3-9 power scope.
With this set up you can make shots at targets up close, but having even a little magnification can still slow you down.
At the bottom end, if you have a variable scope that starts at 1 power (LPVO Optic)…
…and goes up to 4, 6, or 8 power, then you’re finally starting to get close to the speed of a reflex sight.
The reason why is because at 1 power you have more generous eye relief and a bigger field of view than at the higher power levels (click here for the best low power variable optic).
This can translate into faster shooting, but you’ll probably still be shooting just a little bit slower than you would with a reflex sight.
So in conclusion, the speed winner is a red dot even though you start to come close to it with a 1 power scope.
Red Dot Vs Scope: Which Will Help You Shoot More Accurately?
There are some really gifted shooters out there that can make accurate hits with either of these two sighting systems.
But one of the keys to having pinpoint accuracy (aside from focusing on trigger control) is how well you see the target.
For this reason, the scope has to take the advantage in the accuracy category.
Here’s the deal, imagine that your target is a 6-inch steel plate at 200 hundred yards…
Now, assuming that you have stability and proper trigger control… which optic is going to give you the advantage when you try to hit that target?
Obviously, it’s the optic that has magnification!
You see, even though it is possible to make that shot with a reflex sight…
…the better you can see your target, the easier it’ll be to aim.
Now, it is possible to extend the range of your reflex sight by mounting a magnifier behind it.
But even then, you might only get to 3 power when you could have much more magnification by using an actual scope.
So in the end, a scope will help you shoot for accuracy better than a reflex sight.
Red Dot Versus Scope: Which Optic Is Chunkier?
You need to be careful when adding accessories to your gun…
The weight can start to add up quickly, and there’s no reason you should be running around with a 10-pound rifle.
Luckily, we’re living in a good time…
Right now technology is improving at a really fast rate, and companies that manufacture optics are making their products lighter and lighter.
This is true for both reflex sights and magnified scopes. But even though both are coming down in weight…
…reflex sights are much lighter than scopes.
Let’s Compare The Numbers…
If you go with a micro red dot (like what I recommend here) your sight is going to weigh between 3.5 and 4.5 ounces.
To me, that’s a pretty small penalty in weight especially when you consider how much a red dot enhances your ability to use the rifle.
On the other hand, a good magnified scope is going to weigh much more (and don’t forget about the weight of the scope mount too).
Of course, it will depend on the manufacturer and the particular features offered by that scope (like illumination), but…
…the weight range could be around 15 ounces on the low end going up to 25 ounces at the high end. And honestly, it could end up being much higher than that…
So there really is no comparison here because, in terms of weight, the reflex sight is a much lighter option.
Red Dot Vs. Scope: Which Will Be Ready When You Need It?
This is an interesting question because reflex sights and scopes are both built to be tough optics today.
But I’m gonna give the slight edge in reliability to the scope, and here’s why…
A red dot is an electronic device that relies on battery power and everybody knows that batteries will eventually run out.
Now, even though some red dot sights have amazing battery life that can last for years… if the batteries die, the sight is no longer usable.
A scope has a reticle that’s etched into the glass. So it needs no batteries to allow you to aim, and I think that makes it just a touch more reliable.
However! You can easily make this a non-issue…
All you have to do is add back up iron sights (BUIS) to your rifle!
You see, if you run BUIS along with your reflex sight, you’ll still have a way to aim your firearm even if your battery dies.
In addition to that, there are many people that run back up iron sights with their magnified scopes too.
I think that’s less necessary, but if it helps you feel more confident in your rifle, I say go for it.
So, while I do think a scope is a little bit more reliable because it doesn’t require battery power…
…any reliability concerns pretty much disappear when you put back up iron sights on your rifle in support of your optic.
So To Sum It All Up…
Red dots are faster than scopes…
But a variable scope at 1 power can start to approach the speed of a reflex sight.
Scopes allow you to see your target better…
This can be a huge help when trying to shoot accurately at distance.
Reflex sights are much lighter than scopes, and it’s important to consider weight when outfitting your rifle.
Scopes are a little bit more reliable than reflex sights. But if you add back up iron sights to either set up, your overall system will be ready to go when you need it.
So, Which Is The Better Option?
Well, that depends on how you’re going to use your rifle!
- If you’re looking for a lightweight package that shoots quickly up close, go with a red dot.
- If you intend on making precise shots at targets in the distance, put a scope on your rifle.
- If you want a combination of both, use a 1 powered variable scope or get TWO rifles!
Now guys…
…neither a red dot or a scope is going to make up for poor shooting fundamentals…
So, if you are looking to improve your accuracy…
I have a FREE guide that shows you how to improve your shooting without leaving your home or spending a dime…
If a very simple exercise, and I use it myself to continue my own improvement…
So to gain access to that just click on the link below…
Again, it’s 100% Free and very easy to do…
Farewell, and have fun at the range!
-RDshooters