Red dots with diopter adjustment?

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bikemutt

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I've done some searching to see about finding red dot sights that may have diopter adjustment, came up with only a Leupold model that doesn't specifically say it does so in the specifications.

The problem I have with red dots is the "dot" isn't a dot for me, it's a blurry star burst at best. I understand that finding the correct light intensity level is vital but that really makes no difference with what I see. It's may be related to the fact that I'm farsighted in my dominant right eye. When I peer through using my nearsighted left eye, by golly, it is a dot after all. I don't wear prescription glasses.

Anyone run across a red dot sight that allows for dot focus?
 
You're doing it wrong.:neener: The dot is not supposed to be stared at, it is supposed to be in focus in the same focal plane as the target. Look at the target and the dot should be a dot. If you are looking at something close, you will have a blurry dot. Good luck.

LNK
 
You're doing it wrong.:neener: The dot is not supposed to be stared at, it is supposed to be in focus in the same focal plane as the target. Look at the target and the dot should be a dot. If you are looking at something close, you will have a blurry dot. Good luck.

LNK
I wish it were so, I've tried what you suggested and the dot is still not a dot :(

Maybe I'm not cutout to be a red dot user.
 
Sorry to hear that. Are you using the Leupold, or are you using something else? I would have someone else look through it to see if maybe the sight is bad. I have a Vortex Strikefire, an Astigmatism, and am far sighted, and just about 50, and my Vortex works great.(other than the switch getting turned on in the safe sometimes). Good luck.

LNK
 
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Sorry to hear that. Are you using the Leupold, or are you using something else? I would have someone else look through it to see if maybe the sight is bad. I have a Vortex Strikefire, an Astigmatism, and am far sighted, and just about 50, and my Vortex works great.(other than the switch getting turned on in the safe sometimes). Good luck.

LNK
It's ironic that you mentioned the Vortex Strikefire. My main range bud has the same problem as I do with these red dots, we've both tried Primary Arms and Aimpoint H-1, in fact, he bought my Aimpoint thinking he could make it work and is now selling it. Anyway, I suggested he visit a local big box store where he could examine a variety of optics. He emailed me later in the day to say he had found one that actually works for him, the Vortex Strikefire.

I think maybe a Strikefire is in my future :)
 
I wish it were so, I've tried what you suggested and the dot is still not a dot :(

Maybe I'm not cutout to be a red dot user.

I am nearsighted and use either progressive or line cut trifocals. The dots in red dots are a tad blurry for me too. For quick shooting, its not noticeable. For precise aiming it is very noticeable to me. For my vision, it has nothing to do with focusing on the dot or on the target because my eyes can't change focus anyway due to age.

Basically, I just turn the dot down and use the top of the dot like a front post sight using 6 o'clock hold for precise aiming. That's for dots on guns used for target use. For the "defense" type gun and red dot I sight it in the normal red dot way.

It's not perfect, but I get by. I would love to use a red dot with diopter adjustment like on a scope.
 
I feel your pain. I too wear progressive bifocals. My eyes can not adjust fast at all. I wish I could get new eyes, but I will have to make do with the ones I have. Good luck with your quest for a dot that works for you.

LNK
 
I've tried what you suggested and the dot is still not a dot

Take a photo of the dot with a digital camera, if its a dot you've got serious astigmatism, or less likely, higher order vision aberrations.

But again, you don't focus on the dot, you look through it and focus on the target -- this is counter to the "focus on the front sight" that has been drilled into you all your shooting life. OTOH its while they rule in CQB as I don't care you you are its damn hard to focus on the front sight instead of the threat when the bullets might be flying both ways!
 
Is this for a close shooting handgun / carbine or for a long range rifle?
Obviously the clearer the dot appears, the better it is.
But dot scopes were invented for more of a fast sight reference, than for precise aiming.
Like LNK and Wally said, try focusing on the target more than the the dot.
Just use the dot to reference that you are on target.
That's pretty much how they are best used.
 
I was worried about this same issue I'm 50+ and wear bifocals. I've got a Lucid HD 7 that works pretty well for me. The plus is that it has 4 different reticles so I can move from dot to circle to either of the other two. I've been using the circle dot as it suits me better than just a dot.

Like others have said don't stare / focus on the dot, look at the target and let the dot cover it. This may be a stupid question but are you leaving both eyes open when using the red dot?
 
I've done some searching to see about finding red dot sights that may have diopter adjustment, came up with only a Leupold model that doesn't specifically say it does so in the specifications.

The problem I have with red dots is the "dot" isn't a dot for me, it's a blurry star burst at best. I understand that finding the correct light intensity level is vital but that really makes no difference with what I see. It's may be related to the fact that I'm farsighted in my dominant right eye. When I peer through using my nearsighted left eye, by golly, it is a dot after all. I don't wear prescription glasses.

Anyone run across a red dot sight that allows for dot focus?
It does sound like you're focusing on the dot rather than the target. Wouldn't hurt to have your eyes checked, there might be an issue that needs correcting. I wear bifocals, I have red dots on rifles and one pistol. When I'm looking through the upper or distance part of my glasses and focused on my target I superimpose the dot on the target, staying focused on the target, and the dot is also in focus. If I look through the optic without my glasses both the target and the dot are fuzzy, if I look through it using the reading part of my glasses the dot is fuzzy then also.
 
I have the same problem. My red dot had to be a single dot to be useable at all. It still is not perfect. My ophthalmologist said that I have an astigmatism. He also said that if I wore the proper corrective lenses, the problem will go away. I might do the glasses soon.
 
not going to happen. there's a reason red dot sights don't have a diopter. they are basically a tube with a lens in the front and another in the back. if you put a diopter in the mix,funny things will happen and something will always be out of focus.

what you need is a 1x prism scope. this is not just a tube with 2 lenses. Vortex has the Spitfire 1x prism scope. Burris has another called AR-1x and Leupold has 1 called 1x prismatic.

there's also a couple of Russian ones too but you'd have to make sure you get the ones that have a diopter as not all of them do.

keep in mind that you will have an eye relief with a 1x prism sight/scope,so think about that in relation to your mounting needs. true red dot sights have "unlimited" eye relief.
 
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I have a similar issue, my Astigmatism makes the dot blurry, however for fast target acquisision you are just looking through the sight, both eyes open, and not focusing on the dot. The blurry dot is not an issue.

If I want to take a more accurate shot I simply flip up the rear peep sight, for some reason this causes the dot to clear up and I can use it more like a scope that a red dot.
 
what you need is a 1x prism scope. this is not just a tube with 2 lenses. Vortex has the Spitfire 1x prism scope. Burris has another called AR-1x and Leupold has 1 called 1x prismatic.

there's also a couple of Russian ones too but you'd have to make sure you get the ones that have a diopter as not all of them do.

keep in mind that you will have an eye relief with a 1x prism sight/scope,so think about that in relation to your mounting needs. true red dot sights have "unlimited" eye relief.

That Leupold seems like the perfect answer for me. Now, if I could justify paying for it! :D
 
I have the same issue for an entirely different reason. After cataract surgery at the relatively young age of 51, I had retinal swelling that resulted in permanent scarring of my retina. The eye can be corrected to about 20-25 at best.

Because of the scarring on my retina, all of the red dot optics I've tried bloom horribly. I have only tried sub-$200 optics, but they all looked the same to my bad eye. I finally tried a Vortex Strikefire, and found that I get nearly zero blooming of the dot when I use the green dot mode. Maybe it's the wavelength of the green light vs the red, but it is MUCH clearer than the red light.

Not saying it will fix your problem, but it worked great for me. You may want to look through one at a retailer and see if it suits you.

Good luck.
 
I have the Strikefire and the Aimpoint Patrol Pro. The Strikefire is a good deal for the money, but the Aimpoint is a superior red dot. It's not NEARLY as good of a deal per price point as the Strikefire however. The Strikefire does come with a magnifier....I'm curious if that would make a difference for you?

The nice thing about the Aimpoint is the smaller dot...makes it less likely for me to stare at it and instead allows me to focus on my target. I put the Aimpoint on my 6920, and the Strikefire on my Beretta Storm.
 
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