What is the best way to position a red dot sight on the 15-22?

How do you know which rail setting to put it on?

Which RDS specifically?

For an H-1 or a clone of the Aimpoint Micro, it should rest just above the ejection port. Depending on the mount it should more or less have the edge of the mount on the edge of the rail on the upper, before the rail on the handguard starts.

KBK

It depends on what else you have on your gun. If you have flip up sights or a magnifier you will have to leave room for the on your rail. Red dots usually have unlimited eye relief so the distance they are from your eye does not matter. Most people put the red dot sight above the ejection port. It will be mostly a matter of preference. Put it on near the ejection port and see how you like it. You can move it later if you find a need to.

Like Kayback said.

The idea here is to have it as far forward on the receiver as possible (better repeatable aiming) while off the flexing handguard.

Like this --



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In my opinion, it goes wherever you want it. Red dots will work the same regardless of where on the rail it is positioned (but will need to be re zeroed if you switch its position).

It all comes down to where you like it best. Try different spots on the rail at the range, from all the way back to all the way forward. You'll find out what you like.

I, like others have said, would keep it on the picatinny rail on the receiver portion.

Several people here have documented that the front portion of the rail can flex.

+1 for what phil said - it gives you the longest "sight radius" without being on the handguard which can flex.

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od: xd9 3"&4", 15-22, 1911 .22

Not that my post will add any value to this thread, but RDS is a purty fancy word.

Sight radius has no meaning unless you're talking about separating the front and rear sight. Moving a red dot position does not change any radius.

Having the sight further away, as suggested, MAY make it easier to focus on, but I doubt it will make much difference for that. It will make the dot a bit smaller, which may be better. It also will reduce the field of view of the red dot, which normally will NOT be a good thing.

Anyhow, IMHO, while iron sights should be separated as far as possible for best/longest sight radius, and a magnified scope must be mounted so as to produce the proper eye relief, a red dot is very open to location, which is why they work well on rifles AND pistols, with greatly varying distances to the eye.

While I agree that the RDS should stay on the upper receiver, you can find examples of weapons where the they are placed further forward. I have seen them on the front handguard/quad rail of an AK47. They also mounted further forward on the M-14.

i used "sight radius" even though i knew it was the wrong term because i was lazy. the way i see it, further away from your eye will give you better accuracy (less movement off target, smaller dot, etc.) and that is what i was referring to. as for field of view - with both eyes open and having it further away, it would block less of my vision. eye relief should matter less for red dots than scopes? these arent hard facts, just my thoughts on the subject.

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od: xd9 3"&4", 15-22, 1911 .22

Somewhat smaller dot, I should think. I don't see the less movement off target, but maybe.
I would block a little less, but it would block more areas close to the target, which might affect quick target acquisition. As I said, it would probably be better for target shooting, maybe not quite as good for combat simulation. Certainly small differences in all, though. Location is far less critical with red dots than with scopes or iron sights.
Definitely. They claim pretty much infinite eye relief.

Actually, if you use a red dot like it's supposed to with both eyes open, and you put it as far forward as possible, it will take up less of your field of view even in CQB. While it my seem like it would cover up more of a closer target, the target itself will also be larger since it's closer....

As others have said, most AR15 users put it as far forward on the receiver rail as possible. You have to try different things to see where it suits your eyes the best. One other thing to consider is weapon balance. Although a red dot doesn't weigh much compared to some of the other components, just one ounce being shifted around can affect how the weapon handles since it moves its' balance point. Most people like AR15's to balance somewhere between the grip and magazine. Since the 15-22 is such a light firearm, weight being shifted around would be more pronounced.

The RDS gets moved to the front on a lot of tactical rifles. That leaves space for a magnifier or night vision scope, both need to be closer to the shooters eye due to eye relief restrictions.

Yes, but the area it covers is closer to the target, and the field of view within the sight is smaller. For example, I find quick target acquisition slower with my pistol than with my rifle, because of how far away the pistol's red dot is. Maybe that's just me.

Target acquisition with your pistol can be slower because your pistol doesn't have a cheek rest. Putting your melon on the rifle stock immediately gets you close to alignment with the optic and helps keep your head and optic moving together compared to your pistol with hands/optic and head wandering around independently.

Field of view isn't an issue with a 1x red dot optic when used with both eyes open. Struggling with field of view is a symptom of using only one eye which isn't taking full advantage of the optic design.

Interestingly enough on another forum I go to someone had a RDS mounted WAY forwards on a SCAR's monolithic upper rail. The advice given was to move it back, as the closer to the eye it is, the easier transitions between targets is. He did, and he said he definitely got faster times with the sight further back.

With something like the AK, you don't have much choice. It is gas tube rail or handguard rail or nothing much else. Everything else will mean an incorrect cheek weld.

With the AR, over the ejection port is more or less the standard because it works best there. Best compromise of speed and useability. You could have it all the way back, and forgo irons, but that's getting a little silly.

KBK

That's what I found, too. I believe it's the larger field of view. Just try "aiming" a 40x spotting scope, compared to 20x. The larger field of view helps a lot.