I've got two primary arms red dots. One is the m4 clone, the other is the multi-reticle m3 mounted clone. I like both and they seem to hold up well for the kind of use I give them. However, both seem to have a dot that is splintered. Meaning, when I look through the sight, the dot appears to be 3 dots instead of one. The dots are real close together, even overlapping each other.

It's happening on both so I'm thinking it is my eyes (Astigmatism?) and not the sight. Anyone here have an knowledge of that or has anyone had the same problem.

Thanks in advance for any helpful reply.

Doubt it's the sight? Try turning your reostat down? Didn't understand your comments about M3 or M4 clones, are these brands of sights?
Steve

I tried turning them down. M3 & M4 are models made by aimpoint. PA sells clones of those models

If I don't wear my glasses when I use my red dot, the dot looks like a boomerang with a couple of crosshatches. With my glasses, its a nice round dot.

Turning down the brightness and concentrating on the target instead of the dot can help bring things together.

I had similar issues with several brands of red dots. I took one to my opthamologist and tried several diopters until I got a round dot. In my case it was a plus .50.

Eye problems are an issue with me. I can see 50 yards (not perfect but pretty darn good) without my glasses. If I don't wear my glasses I get the same effect as you are describing with all my red dots. I have a Primary Arms Micro Red Dot with the same 4MOA as your M3. The dot is perfectly round with a clear sharp edge edge. But w/o my glasses I see multiple dots clustered. Same with my Tasco, BSA and SightMark dots. They range in size from 5MOA to 2MOA. There was a guy at the range a few weeks ago with an Aimpoint. I asked to take a peep... same as the others.

A common complaint about fuzzy dots stems from the shooter trying to focus on the dot instead of the target. Always focus down range at the target. Some have their red dots mounted forward on the rail. I suspect that would help on the focus too.

I take it that plus .50 is a lot of correction?

Okay, so that makes me feel better. I like my PA stuff and really didn't want to go spend $450 for an Eotech (even though for my battle rifle, someday I will).

Thanks ya'll for the input!

This is a common problem with cheap red dot sights.

Hold the red dot sight in your hand and rotate the sight around it's axis. Does the shape of the "dot" turn with the sight as your turning? Or, does it appear the same, even though your rotating the sight? If the former = bad sight, if the latter = bad eyes...

My Vortex ended up farther "south" than I had initially planned. You are right in that it does help w/ the focus. The big thing is that, to me, it is easier to do the two-eye open system if the optic is farther away. It becomes easier to focus on the target instead of the dot as someone opined.

Once upon a time, I was pretty good w/ an iron sighted M-14 or so thought the US Army! The only thing I can figure is that they don't make quality sights like they did 40+ years ago.

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... a little behind in my work

I have the same problem with most red dot sights. Take a look at the Trijicon RX01 or RX06. The triangle on my RX06 is perfect, and the dot on the RX01 that I looked at was much better than other red dots.

I did this and the picture is the same as I rotate the sight. Definetly the eyes are the problem. Hmmm only 40 and the eyes are going already. It's a long ride downhill.

this may sound stupid but hold the sight further from your eye.. and see if it clears up.. most red dots are not made to have the same close eye relief as a scope.. i noticed while i was using a red dot if my stock was closed that my dot was fuzzy but if i extended my stock it was sharp and clear.. hope this helps

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07/SOT2
NRA Instructor

Thanks. That is a neat test. I took off my glasses and held up a red dot seeing a cluster of multiple dots. I expected cluster to rotate as I turned the scope but it didn't.

My personal version of CSS (can't see you know what) is farsightedness, so my red dots look just find to me. Now, if I put my readers on, then they get all jabberwocky and I have to use the Force.

That test was passed along to me back when I was SURE I had a received a faulty red dot. Turns out that even a very slight astigmatism will cause the dot to appear misshapen. I do turn the intensity way down to "just visible" when I'm trying to do precision work, or sighting one in... seems to help keep the dot from "flaring"

Don't feel too bad, I have 20/15 vision after LASIK and red dots appear more like red checkmarks to me.

Evidently, it is a common problem with my $400 Aimpoint PRO and my 54 year old eyes!!! LOL!!!

I just aim the center dot at what I want to shoot.

Never heard that before. Definitely not with Primary Arms.

Bad eye vision is timeless....

My $500 Aimpoint has odd shaped dots that match my astigmatism...

Even after three years, the info is still good....

astigmatism... well documented