The Red Dot Explained

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Intensity Settings When and why to adjust the red dot intensity setting

Aimpoint red dot sights are designed for the user to easily adjust the intensity of the red dot to accommodate different lighting conditions, from dusk till dawn.

Adjusting the intensity can result in an apparent change of the size of the red dot.

Some shooters prefer to increase the intensity of the red dot in a situation where fast-moving targets require extremely fast target acquisition.

Similarly, decreasing the intensity can make the red dot appear smaller and provide better precision for longer shots.

©Vildmarken

Red Dot Sizes Why different MOA sizes?

The dot in red dot optics is measured in MOA, which stands for "minutes of angle" - a unit for angular measurement of a circle.
It refers to the size of the dot and how much it covers at a certain distance.

 

A smaller red dot covers less of the target than a larger one. However, a larger red dot can be advantageous for moving targets.

1 MOA equals 1/60th of 1 degree.

 

2 MOA

The small dot does not obscure the target, even if the target is compact and far away.

If necessary, you can increase the intensity to over expose the dot, making it look little bit bigger. The target will be easy to see.

4 MOA

The 4 MOA red dot offers a perfect balance between the ability for close-up shots as well as engaging targets at a distance with maintained precision. The 4 MOA red dot could also be a solution if you have difficulties with seeing the smaller 2 MOA dot as round.

6 MOA

For close and fast-moving targets where the shooter might only get a split second to line up a shot, the 6 MOA dot is the optimal choice. The dot is big, bright, and easy to find encouraging fast target acquisition every time. Perfect for IPSC disciplines, dog handlers, etc.

How much does the red dot cover at certain distances?

DOT SIZE5 M 15 M25 M50 M100 M
2 MOA0,3 cm0,9 cm1,5 cm3 cm6 cm
4 MOA0,6 cm1,8 cm3 cm6 cm12 cm
6 MOA0,9 cm2,7 cm4,5 cm9 cm18 cm

1 in at 100 yards = 3 cm at 100 meters.
This means that the dot size will appear to be 1 inch in diameter on a target 100 yards out.