Red Dot Sight

[jeffrefrig]

When I bought my 629-6 I thought I'd try a dot sight since it was drilled for a rail. I bought a rail from Weigand C.H., Inc. from PA. That went on nice and then I got sticker shock looking for a red dot sight. I found one for about $100 from a co. called ADE, just to try one out. When looking through the sight, the red dot looked like a squiggly line instead of a dot. I read the fine print and it said this is because of astigmatism in my left eye. Then I used my other eye and it did the same thing. I don't have that problem in my right eye, but whatever.
Do all these types of sights do this (with astigmatism in the eye) or is it just because it's just a cheap one? I never have had any experience with these; I just thought it would be nice to use at the range, etc. I'm iron sights on handguns and maybe a scope on a rifle or two type of guy.
It's like buying some discount store guitar for a kid to learn on...useless.
I've been meaning to inquire about this for a few months. So now I ask you guys about it. Anyone? (I hope this is the correct section to ask.)

 

[reddogs]

My leupold delta point pro looks like a starburst without glasses.Thought at first it was broken.My glasses have the astigmatism correction so it is a tiny round dot when wearing them.

 

[Rlg#17]

As with everything you get what you pay for. Red is okay, however green dots are the most visible to the human eye. I have a slight issue with astigmatism, but have never seen the squiggly line that you talk about.

Currently we own Trijicon, Holosun, Burris, and Shield RDS sights on pistols. We seem to prefer the Holosun at this time. I'm not familiar with that brand of sight, but I can tell you that from similar priced items like that, they are a waste of time.

Regards, Rick Gibbs

 

[824tsv]

I think the biggest question is will the sight hold O. As mentioned above, you get what you pay for.

 

[John_M52]

What Rick said. Leupold, Sig (Romeo), Holosun, EOTech, aimpoint.... You definitely get what you pay for. I think Holosun is the best economy sight right now. For professional work Trijicon, EOTech or a really good Leupold scope with red dot.

Turning down the intensity seems to help the starburst in some cases.

 

[jeffrefrig]

I think the biggest question is will the sight hold O. As mentioned above, you get what you pay for.

Yes, live & learn. My eyeglasses are supposed to have the astigmatism in check; I can use my phone in picture-taking mode to look through the sight and it's the correct dot. And I said red, but I do believe I bought the green. I should've sent it back in hindsight, but I didn't. Sounds like this cheap one should just go in the trash. I recently bought new glasses so I may take a look through it with them. Either way, I had planned at the time to see if I wanted to get a good one by just trying this one. My main inquiry here was to see if they all make the dot turn into a crooked mini blob if astigmatism was involved. I've never heard this mentioned in the Forum before. ADE Advanced Optics is the brand. Imported from China.
Thanks for the responses.
BTW, I just checked and these new eyeglasses do correct the GREEN dot.

 

[TAROMAN]

Those cheap RDS are often unable to withstand much recoil.
I have experience with several of the quality brands mentioned previously and will add Ultradot.
I have several of these that have stood the test of time.

 

[WR Moore]

I recall reading, but don't recall where, an article that noted that 2 MOA dots can be hard to see as round. However, depending upon your usage, larger dots can be too big at longer ranges. I've found the Trijicon 3.25 MOA dot a good choice for a handgun-unless maybe you might be planning some long range hunting.

 

[lilwoody]

Hows this fo old, old, old school red dot. Believe it or not the thing holds zero like a champ and uses no battery. Although the dot covers a foot at 100 yards and needs a bright enough ambient light to produce the dot threw the fiber.

 

[len917]

I had a red dot on my m-15 4" for 25 yds. It started to fail after a few years. Got a Truglow used that for a couple of years for 25 yds. Now my eyes a older so I took it off and removed the one on my V22 also. I am more accurate with my iron adjustable sights at 25 yds that before.
Maybe you shouldn't waste your time and money.

 

[diyj98]

I've had good luck with Aimpoints. They hold up to the big magnum handguns with zero problems.

 

[Racer X]

Quick and dirty test to see if it is the red dot or your eyes making the starburst, smear, comma etc, is to photograph the dot. Camera lenses are usually corrected pretty well. So if the pic of the dot is round, its you.

I have an astigmatism in my right eye, and my contact lenses aren't corrected for astigmatism. My glasses are. No comma with glasses, but its there with my contact lenses.

 

[BE Mike]

Quick and dirty test to see if it is the red dot or your eyes making the starburst, smear, comma etc, is to photograph the dot. Camera lenses are usually corrected pretty well. So if the pic of the dot is round, its you.

I have an astigmatism in my right eye, and my contact lenses aren't corrected for astigmatism. My glasses are. No comma with glasses, but its there with my contact lenses.

Another test of dot quality vs. vision problems is to turn the scope 360 degrees. If the distorted dot stays the same, the problem is your eyesight. If the distorted dot turns with the scope body, the problem is your scope.