The red dot for rifle
The red dot is a sight for firearms, also known as a reticle. Its principle is that it projects a light point onto a lens, in front of the shooter's eye. Unlike a laser pointer, it is not projected on the target and is much more discreet.
Advantages of the red dot viewfinder
The principle of the red dot viewfinder is to produce a collimated image, i.e. a beam of parallel light rays and an image projected to infinity. The shooter then has the impression that the reticle is on the target.
The second advantage is that the reticle does not make any enlargement. It is not necessary to close an eye to get in line with the aiming point. By having both eyes open, the shooter can contemplate his surroundings normally and the distance and depth to the target are not distorted. This makes aiming easier and allows the shooter to fire faster. The red dot sight avoids the need to place the eye close to the aiming device and reduces the risk of injury if the recoil induced by the use of the weapon is significant.
Finally, as mentioned above, since the red dot sight is not projected on the target, its discretion is a great advantage. In leisure mode, in the case of use in paintball, the shooter equipped with a red dot sight minimises the risk of being spotted by a member of the opposing team whom he has targeted or by his partners. The red dot sight is also suitable for use in low light conditions.
Choosing the right model
In leisure mode, the red dot viewfinder is quite suitable and there are no good or bad models. The criteria that will make you choose one or the other are the preferred frame of use.
In the case of use for long-range shooting, with targets at more than 80 metres, it is advisable to use a 2 MOA (Minute Of Angle) reticle. The MOA is the unit of measurement for the size of the red dot, which will be more or less important depending on the distance.
It is possible to choose between models that offer parallax compensation. Parallax is a change in the incidence of observation. In this case, this change will occur when the shooter moves his head. The sensation obtained will be that the reticle is close to the point of impact even if the angle of view changes. However, it should be noted that the parallax correction is not perfect. This option is to be preferred when you know what you are worth as a shooter.
The size of the sight is to be taken into account. The larger the sight, the brighter the light and the clearer the field of vision. For a long weapon such as a pellet rifle, it is an advantage to have good eye clearance.
Finally, the type of mounting of the red dot is also important. The majority of red dots are designed to be mounted on a Picatinny rail. If you have an unconventional system, there are modular models that will also fit.
You should also choose a red dot that has a good autonomy. The smaller models can unload very quickly and "let go" of you in the middle of the action, which is never pleasant.
Mounting the red dot on his rifle
If you have a weapon with a Picatinny rail and you choose a dedicated red dot, assembly is simple. The red dot is installed by sliding on the rail and then screwing. The ease of assembly is important to check during the purchase.
It may be interesting to buy a red dot with a modular base in case you change weapons and the new one does not have a Picatinny rail.
Setting the red dot
To properly adjust the red dot, once mounted, point it at the centre of a target by looking through the viewfinder. When you raise your head, you should see that the red dot is in the same place. If corrections are necessary, they are made via the adjustment wheels on the device. These adjust the horizontal and vertical position of the red dot. When the adjustments are made beforehand, you are sure to hit the target each time and do not have to readjust afterwards.
Clean it after use
Avoid cleaning the lenses with your fingers at all costs. Normally, a cloth is provided with the purchase. If you do not have it handy, use a soft cloth. Mist the lenses and dry them with the cloth. For the other parts, you can dust the dirt with your fingers and clean with a cloth. Never fail to be careful.