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In the world of short to medium-range optics, there are two main categories you can pick from: holographic sights and red dot sights. Whether you’re kitting up a handgun, shotgun, or carbine, both are upgrades over traditional iron sights. By increasing your target acquisition speed, giving you a wider field of view, and providing a simple reticle to aim easily, you can instantly become more effective with your weapon of choice by attaching one of these optics. While some refer to any non-magnified rifle scope as a “red dot sight,” this isn’t accurate, as holographic weapon sights work differently. If you’re unfamiliar with gearing up your weapons and how these optics work, it can be difficult to decide between getting a holographic sight or a red dot sight, especially considering how many of each are on the market. Don’t worry; I’ll walk you through the basics of each type so that you can make an informed decision.
How Do Holographic Sights & Red Dot Sights Work?
First, it’s easier to decide on an optic when you fully understand how it works. Red dot sights are the simplest to deal with. A red dot sight uses a small, powerful light (usually an LED) that shines toward a reflective piece of glass, giving you a dot to aim your shots. This also means that the battery life for most red dot sights is impressively long, with some offering several thousand hours of uptime. Despite the name, a red dot sight can have either a red or green dot, and the reticle doesn’t have to be a dot. Various reticles, including small crosshairs, circles with a dot in the middle, and other options, are available.
On the other hand are holographic sights. Initially developed by EOTech and presented in 1996, holo sights pack much more technology. Instead of reflecting an LED onto a clear piece of glass, they use a laser and a variety of mirrors to create a holographic reticle that appears ahead of the front lens. Compared to red dot sights, one downside is that the laser uses a lot more power, so the battery life is much lower. You can expect most holographic sights to last about 1,000 hours before you need to replace the battery. This hologram is helpful for several reasons. First, it superimposes itself over your target so it is easier to see. Additionally, if the front lens cracks or debris blocks part of it, you can still see the reticle, which makes holo sights perfect for law enforcement and military situations.
Size Matters: Comparing Red Dot and Holographic Sights
Since red dot sights have only a few components and the technology is relatively simplistic, manufacturers have mastered making them as small and form-fitting as possible. There are micro red dot sights available, like the Trijicon RMR family, that mount cleanly and evenly on the slide of a handgun, as well as larger ones that are made to be durable and fit on the rails of an AR 15, carbine, or tactical shotgun. Check out the SIG SAUER ROMEO lineup if you’re looking for an RDS that doesn’t break the bank or stick out like a sore thumb on your rifle.
Holographic sights are larger than red dot sights across the board. As mentioned, they have many more components, and manufacturers haven’t yet perfected making them as small as possible. For example, check out the Vortex Razor AMG holo sights. While they function well, they weigh more and look chunkier than red dot sights. This is why holographic sights are primarily used on carbines and shotguns, as these weapons have large receivers that can easily accommodate the optics. Generally, they don’t look right or can’t fit on handguns, so this is a big problem if that’s what you’re looking for.
Are Red Dots or Holographic Sights More Accurate?
An acronym for “minutes of angle,” MOA is an angular measurement of 1/60th of a degree. Put simply, 1 MOA gives you a 1-inch bullet spread at 100 yards, while 2 MOA gives you a 2-inch spread at 100 yards. This may not sound like a significant variance, but without magnification at 100 yards, it can be tricky to keep your shots on target. To supplement this, some people opt to put magnifiers on their weapons, which lets you extend your effective range.
Usually, both red dot and holo sights are non-magnified, so they are primarily used for close-quarters and medium-range engagements. Most red dot sights have between 2 MOA and 4 MOA. The precise, powerful lasers used in holographic sights allow manufacturers to create sharp weapon sights with as low as 1 MOA. This is much lower, especially at range, so you can count on your optic remaining accurate over longer distances. Therefore, magnifiers are even more effective with holo sights, as your reticle has less variance.
A common myth in the gun industry is that magnifiers do not work correctly with red dot sights. The myth goes that putting a 3x magnifier before a 2 MOA red dot sight would effectively create a 6 MOA sight since the dot is 3x bigger than the target. This is not true. The magnifier makes everything you see through the red dot sight three times bigger, including the image and the reticle. Since this scaling is the same across the board, you still have a 2 MOA optic. This is the same for holographic sights, as the hologram doesn’t defy the laws of physics. You can expect your reticle to scale evenly when looking through a magnifier.
Durability of Red Dot vs. Holographic Sights: Which is More Reliable?
There is a ton of variance in how durable red dot sights are. Generally, you get what you pay for. Some of the cheapest options are not rated highly in terms of durability, with a few even being only rated for airsoft guns. Now, if you’re looking for a stylish, helpful optic for your airsoft battles, that’s no problem. However, for actual firearms, even a small amount of recoil can damage internal components, cause the optic to lose zero, and eventually stop it from working correctly. If you’re looking for a durable red dot, check out Holosun. We even have a helpful Holosun How-To Guide reviewing some of their most popular optics.
Comparatively, holographic sights are more durable. As previously mentioned, debris, damage, and weather conditions don't affect your aim nearly as much since the reticle is projected in front of the lens. While this can still throw your aim off, using the sight after the glass is broken is an incredible advantage for extreme circumstances. This is why holographic sights are widely used in the military, as they can withstand plenty of damage while still functioning correctly.
Improving Target Acquisition with Red Dot and Holographic Sights
Both sights increase your target acquisition speed, especially over iron sights. Red dot sights work well because they put a sharp red or green dot reticle right in front of you, allowing you to keep both eyes open as you scan downrange for your targets. The downside is that the dot can sometimes confuse your eyes. Your brain must choose between focusing on the dot or the target, which takes longer. Another area for improvement with red dot sights is that they can be difficult for people with astigmatism to use. This condition causes lights to be blown out slightly or appear with halos. Holographic sights do not have this problem, as the laser doesn’t react the same way as the diode.
Holographic sights are similar, but the sight projection in front of the lens can further improve target acquisition. By superimposing the holographic reticle over your target, your brain doesn’t have to choose which to focus on. Instead, your eyes focus on both, giving you better accuracy and allowing for more situational awareness.
How Expensive Are Red Dot Sights and Holographic Sights?
This is the big one for most people, and it is no secret that holographic sights are more expensive overall than red dot sights. That said, there is a wide range of prices for red dot sights. You can get them for as low as $50 and as high as over $1,000. Quality holographic sights usually hover around $500-$600. While this costs much more, you can expect more from these weapon sights.
If you’re looking for a high-quality red dot sight that isn’t prohibitively expensive, check out the Vortex StrikeFire. I use this red dot sight on my main build. It performs well, has excellent battery life, and you can swap between 10 intensity levels. This is even night vision compatible at the lowest intensity levels, which lowers the brightness of the center dot to not interfere with your NVGs.
For holographic sights, you can’t go wrong with the original EOTech holographic sights. They started the holographic sight trend and have come close to perfecting it ever since. The XPS2 and EXPS3 are particularly popular, and you can even get them in bundles with a magnifier and quick detach lever.
Which Weapon Sight Is Right for You?
The best red dot sights or holographic sights depend entirely on your needs. Picking between them is tricky, even with all this info, as each type of sight has pros and cons. Go with a red dot sight for a reliable, simple, easy-to-use option. This is especially recommended if the purchase is your first close-quarters optic, as you can get an inexpensive option to figure out what you do and don’t like. So when should you get a holographic sight? Realistically, whenever you want. Let’s face it: tricking out your weapons is fun and makes them look cool, so that’s always a pretty big draw when it comes to holographic weapon sights. More seriously, pick one up if you want the most tactical advantages. Holographic sights take the cake for the field of view, target acquisition, durability, and accuracy. They’re perfect for tactical operations, intense training, and everything.
If you’re looking for an excellent red dot sight or holographic sight, shop from our top brands, like Leupold, AimPoint, and Swampfox. After you choose your following optic, our team at OpticsPlanet wants to help you complete your kit. We have all the ammo you could need, from rifle ammo to 9 mm Luger to shotgun shells. If you want more ways to customize your AR 15, check out our AR 15 parts and muzzle devices. And, if you need a red dot sight mount to attach your new optic, we have you covered.
