3 MOA or 6 MOA

[Cigar Guy]

I wear glasses for reading only. None while shooting.
I will be shooting 3-15 yards at bullseye 99% of the time at an outdoor range in the Florida sunshine. I like to do accuracy stuff, dot torture,etc...
Not a whole lot of speed stuff, but some.
This is for a 9L CORE. I'm thinking 3 MOA but want your opinion.
Mark

 

[zymurgeist]

For short range a 6 moa reticle is fine. It only become a problem at long ranges when the dot obscures the target. Technically a 3moa dot is more accurate at shorter ranges but can be more difficult to see. You best bet is to look at examples of both outdoors in bright sunlight and decide before you buy.

 

[MichiganScott]

If you choose the dot of sufficient size you can use it the same way competitors use aperture sights. You get a circle within a circle sight picture where you have even amounts of bullseye around the dot like a donut. It's actually easier to shoot tiny groups that way than if you choose a MOA dot and try to center it in a much larger bullseye.

 

[clarkz71]

The 6 MOA is perfect for what you want.

I thought it would be too big, but was wrong.

The Vortex Viper is adjustable and can be powered off
& also has a 14 hour auto power off.

 

[Jerryatric3]

Have the Trijicon RM01, 3.25 dot, on mine and love it. Self adjusts and bright sun is not a problem. Thought 3.25 might be too small but it's perfect.....for me.

 

[clarkz71]

Have the Trijicon RM01, 3.25 dot, on mine and love it. Self adjusts and bright sun is not a problem. Thought 3.25 might be too small but it's perfect.....

I'm sure the dot is adequate, but I like the option of choosing
brightness level. The RM01 doesn't have that option.

 

[Jerryatric3]

I'm sure the dot is adequate, but I like the option of choosing
brightness level. The RM01 doesn't have that option.

All depends on what the pistol is used for. Mine is my nightstand gun as well as fun target/plinker. When things go bump in the night I don't want to be turning it on and adjusting brightness with little micro buttons. Think the question was on dot size...3.25 works well for me for target or self/home defense.

 

[clarkz71]

When things go bump in the night I don't want to be turning it on
and adjusting brightness with little micro buttons.

The dot stays on for 14 hours, unless you manually power it down.
I always power it on at bedtime. "Just in case"
No adjusting brightness either.
One push of the button and you're at the last setting.

In fact, either the up or down button powers the dot on, so in the dark
just push either one by feel.

And the buttons are hardly "micro"

Think the question was on dot size...3.25 works well for me for target or self/home defense.

And I agreed it was adequate for target, but if you do some research,
for defense and speed situations, the experts recommend a bigger dot.

This is what I've read in much research.

 

[jim46ok]

For short range a 6 moa reticle is fine. It only become a problem at long ranges when the dot obscures the target. Technically a 3moa dot is more accurate at shorter ranges but can be more difficult to see. You best bet is to look at examples of both outdoors in bright sunlight and decide before you buy.

I had same concerns with my Burris FF3. Remember, that a 6moa dot will obscure about 4 times the area a 3moa will. Just like a 2" pipe will pass about 4 times the water than a 1". Draw it on paper if you don't believe it......

 

[clarkz71]

I haven't looked through a 3 moa optic.

What I can say, is the 6 moa on the Viper appears to be the same
size as the 2 moa on my Aimpoint Pro as I look through it on my Colt M4

The pistol red dot obviously is closer to the eye then the carbine
but that's how it looks to me for reference.