Can someone explain my experience with red-dots

[Whiterabbit]

Hi guys,

Here's what red dots do for me:

I set a red dot on a table and point the red dot at a target maybe 10 yards away. Without touching the red dot, I move my head so the dot shifts location inside the tube or heads up display (I've tried both). What happens is that the point of aim (what the dot is covering, the target) also shifts.

I thought the point of the red dot was that as long as you could see the dot, the bullet goes where the dot is pointing at?

Distance to target doesn't seem to matter, different models didn't seem to matter. They all seem to be "shifty". Meaning I have to eyeball the dot into the center of the FOV of the sight and hope I'm "close enough".

It's never close enough.

Was I just mis-told about the concept of see-dot, bullet-hits-dot?

[Pthfndr]

Have you actually mounted it to a gun and shot with it yet? They aren't made to be mounted to a table.

[bjl333]

Have you actually mounted it to a gun and shot with it yet? They aren't made to be mounted to a table.

What caliber is the table?!?!




JK ... Go mount it and shoot it!!

The dot will be on target! As your head move you're changing the angle of the sight, when mounted on a gun the prespective will change to the point of impact. Unless you have a cheap red dot!!

[carnelianbay]

[Whiterabbit]

Have you actually mounted it to a gun and shot with it yet? They aren't made to be mounted to a table.

Why would that matter? If I said I went to the range, mounted the red dot, rested the gun on sandbags, aimed at the center of a paper target, then without moving the gun or firing a bullet, moved my head and watched the red dot shift all over the target, would that change what's going on here?

In that case, I thought the red dot was supposed to remain aimed at the center of the target, regardless of where my head goes? (as long as the red dot is visible)

[jonnietyler]

Hi guys,

Distance to target doesn't seem to matter, different models didn't seem to matter. They all seem to be "shifty". Meaning I have to eyeball the dot into the center of the FOV of the sight and hope I'm "close enough".

It's never close enough.

Was I just mis-told about the concept of see-dot, bullet-hits-dot?

What you're seeing is parallax error. Have you tried an Aimpoint red dot? Aimpoint Micro H-1/T-1's are suppose to be free of parallax error.

However, when I aim my Aimpoint Micro and move my head, the point of aim does shift slightly, but a lot less than when I try the same test with my Primary Arms red dot.

[esskay]

What you're seeing is parallax error. Have you tried an Aimpoint red dot? Aimpoint Micro H-1/T-1's are suppose to be free of parallax error.

However, when I aim my Aimpoint Micro and move my head, the point of aim does shift slightly, but a lot less than when I try the same test with my Primary Arms red dot.

FYI, none are 100% parallex free. Aimpoint says their sights are ninety-something percent though!

[ejhc11]

The only red dots with the nearest parallax are the Eotechs around 22yds, Aimpoints are set 50yds as well as most red dots on the market.

[Whiterabbit]

wow, disappointing. Maybe the best iron sights I can get my hands on is the way to go. Are there any tricks red dot manufacturers use to better ensure the user has the dot lined up in the center of the viewing window? Any tricks to minimize using the firearm in a parallax-generating position?

[HK Dave]

Try it again with something farther away. Nothing is parallax free at 10 yards.

[Whiterabbit]

Went to the range and zeroed and rezeroed at 15, 25, 50, and 100 yards on Sunday. Always seemed to be a problem. Using a cheap (and I mean cheap) borrowed red dot. tests with the good stuff was always at a shop aiming at the back wall of the shop, 10-ish yards, no distances, no mounting, no firing.

You are saying the good stuff would be parallax-free at a set distance (say, 50 yards), but show these signs of parallax both short of 50 and beyond 50? Do any red dots have adjustable parallax, or have them set for longer distances (say 100 yards)?

[K_Labs]

I have a Doctor optic knock off and it's cheap but holds just fine at the indoor range. The nearest I shoot is around 10 yards and I think the back walls is at 25 yards. Never had any issues but it was with a .22 LR and I usually get similar cheek wield. Are you using a pistol?

[Whiterabbit]

yes, a revolver. Trying to get out to 100 yards rested and trying to determine if a red dot will be better for this application than irons. I can get fiber optic front sights for $30, and Millitt rear sights (no idea if this would help anything) for something like $50 or $50+, but if they won't really help compared to OEM irons, I may as well spend many times over that value and go for a small form-factor red-dot.

IF it truly provides a benefit in terms of tight groups when rested.

[ejhc11]

The red dots do work. You may need to try zeroing them at 25yds minimum at first. For my rifles I only have the cheapy priced (Primary Arms $120, and a Tasco BKRD30 $33 Walmart) and they do help you shoot better. I rough zeroed them at 25yds then fine tuned them at 50yds and they stay zeroed for 200yds. Even my 11yo kid who never shot an AR could hit the 200yd steel plates after his 3rd shot consecutively. It was point and shoot thereafter.

[IntoForever]

Try the NcStar ones from the swap meet. Twitch and the dot drifts all over the place.