Red Dot Sight or Green Dot Sight? How Do I Choose?

Louis: So, shooters should select different sights for different shooting scenarios?

Stephen: Yes, for example, when shooting in a forest or green background, would you choose a red dot sight or a green dot sight?

Louis: I would choose a red dot sight because the green dot blends with the environment, making it difficult to see.

Stephen: Exactly, compared to green dot sights, red dot sights provide richer colors. When using a red dot sight against a green background, as shown in Figure 1, your eyes can quickly capture the red dot, while the green dot blends with the environment, making it difficult to quickly aim at the target.

Louis: I understand, so red dots are more suitable for shooting activities in green backgrounds, like hunting.

Stephen: That's right.

Louis: I have a question. Because I have astigmatism, the dot I see when using a red dot sight is blurry (as shown in the figure below). Do green dot sights have the same issue for astigmatism sufferers?

Stephen: That's a good question. Many people have astigmatism, and red can be tiring on the eyes, so the phenomenon you mentioned is common with red dot sights. However, green is less tiring on the eyes, making green dot sights very friendly for astigmatism sufferers.

Louis: I see, so for astigmatism sufferers, choosing a green dot sight would provide clearer imaging?

Stephen: Yes, red light has a higher wavelength and frequency, quickly attracting attention to the eye, helping you quickly capture the target, but if the aiming time is longer, the eyes may become fatigued; whereas green light stimulates the eyes less, making it easier for the eyes to see clearly.

Louis: Then can red and green dots be used with night vision goggles?

Stephen: For night vision, I think red dots are more suitable. Red can form a clear contrast with dark colors like blue or black, making the red dot very visible at night or in low light conditions. However, in bright light environments, the visibility of the red dot will be greatly reduced, making it difficult to capture the target.

Louis: Why is green dot not recommended for night vision?

Stephen: Green dots can sometimes be used for night vision, but it depends on the type of night vision device. If your night vision device has ANVIS (Aviator's Night Vision Imaging System) lenses, then the green dot will not be visible at all; but when it is paired with other night vision devices, the green dot can be easily displayed. So, to combine green dots with night vision, you must first communicate with the night vision product manufacturer to confirm its compatibility.

Louis: I understand now, wow, I've learned a lot today!

Stephen: Do you understand now? What did you learn about red dots?

Louis: Yes, the advantages of red dot sights are: they can be used in most shooting scenarios, suitable for quickly capturing targets and shooting in low light conditions, and also suitable for night vision; the disadvantages are: in bright light, it's difficult to capture targets with red dots, and it's not recommended for shooters with astigmatism.