Two things surprised me when I started writing this article. The first was realizing that I wrote my first piece on red dot sights on this blog more than ten years ago (my oh my, how time flies!). The second was discovering that many people still don’t truly understand the difference between reflex, tube, and holographic red dot sight—or when to use each one.
In this article, I want to tackle this issue. I won’t go into the basics of red dot sights, because if you’re reading this, you probably already have a good sense of what they are. Instead, we’ll focus on the differences between the three main types—reflex, tube, and holographic—and weigh the pros and cons of each.
Part of the reason that got me to write this is also that I often see shooters using the wrong sight for the kind of shooting they’re doing. If you’ll allow me to take a bit of a grim angle, I’d like to give you a serious example that’s probably still fresh on most of our minds:
Think about the recent failed assassination attempt on Trump. The shooter tried to use a red dot sight, but it was the wrong type for the situation. Fortunately, the attempt failed, but it really got me thinking: if someone planning such a life-altering event can choose the wrong sight, how many people are making the same mistake in far less serious situations?
After some research (and more than a few headaches), the answer turned out to be: a lot.
The Basics
Let’s start with the basics of how these sights work. Both tube-style red dots and open-reflex sights operate on the same general principle. They use a small LED emitter to project a dot onto a piece of curved glass positioned in front of the shooter’s eye. This glass is coated with a special material that reflects the light from the LED back to the shooter.
The result? You see a red dot hovering right over your target.
Holographic sights, on the other hand, work in a completely different way. While they still give you a red dot to aim with, the technology behind them is more advanced and a bit more complicated—something we’ll dig into a little later.
For now, let’s take a closer look at each type of sight and what sets them apart, so you can figure out which one might be the best fit for your needs.
What Are Tube Red Dot Sights and When To Use Them?
The tube red dot sights were the first red dot sights, brought to the market by the Swedish company Aimpoint a few decades ago. They got instantly popular, and Aimpoint soon completely dominated the market. In fact, many people still refer to all red dot sights as “Aimpoints,” even when they’re talking about other brands—much like Band-Aid, Q-tips, and Tupperware, to name just a few.
Tube red dot sights are the most widespread and are usually used by hunters, sport shooters, and professionals like military and police forces. You might even spot smaller versions of these on handguns (Aimpoint Micro lookalikes), though they’re mostly seen on larger revolvers. For most pistols, they’re just too bulky and not commonly used.
What really sets these sights apart is their distinctive tubular shape. They’re bigger than reflex red dot sights and are typically mounted with rings or directly on a Picatinny rail, much like a rifle scope.
One major advantage of their design is that you can use them in any weather. Whether it’s snowing or raining, as long as you keep the front and rear lenses clear, the red dot stays visible and ready for action.
The typical dot size of a tube red dot sight is either 2 or 4 MOA, which gives you a clear, accurate point of aim. For those wondering: A dot size of 2 MOA means the dot covers a 2-inch diameter at 100 yards (6 cm on 100m). Similarly, a 4 MOA dot covers a 4-inch diameter at the same distance (12 cm on 100m).
Pros and Cons of Tube Red Dot Sights
So, what makes these sights popular? For starters, they’re incredibly robust and easy to mount on rifles, as they use the same mounts as regular scopes. You also get a true 1x magnification, a large viewing window, long battery life, and minimal image distortion.
Of course, they aren’t perfect. The biggest downsides are their size and weight—they’re heavier and bulkier than other types. Plus, if you pair them with a magnifier, the dot itself gets magnified, which can be less than ideal. And don’t even think about using one on a smaller handgun—they’re just too big.
What Are Reflex Red Dot Sights and When to Use Them?
Reflex red dot sights are the smallest and lightest type of red dot sights. They use a single piece of glass in an open housing, which makes them incredibly compact—perfect for handguns. In fact, their lightweight design is one of the key reasons they’re so commonly mounted on pistols.
A well-known example of a reflex sight is the Noblex Sight, formerly known as the Docter Sight.
Lately, though, there’s been a shift in the market. Manufacturers are starting to make more enclosed reflex sights, which share many of the benefits of tube red dot sights but remain smaller and lighter. Think of them as a middle ground between the two designs.
Mounting reflex sights on rifles or handguns is fairly straightforward. They attach via a mounting interface which is usually flat and held in place with a combination of pins and screws, giving a sturdy fit. You can read more about mounting interfaces of red dot sights here: Footprints/Mounting Standards on Red Dot
Pros and Cons of Reflex Red Dot Sights
So, what’s really so good about reflex sights?
Their small size and weight are huge advantages, especially when you need them on something compact, like handguns.
Another feature that sets reflex sights apart is the shape of the viewing window, which is usually square (or at least square-ish) rather than circular. Older models had smaller windows compared to tube sights, but modern versions have managed to increase the size of the window while keeping the weight down.
You’ll typically find dot sizes of 3.5 and 7 MOA, though you can get them as small as 2 MOA or as large as 10 MOA, depending on your needs. They’re even popular on shotguns, proving just how versatile they are. Many newer models also feature a ring around the red dot for faster shot placement.
But there are a few downsides to having a reflex red dot sight. If snow, water, or debris gets between the glass and the LED emitter, the dot becomes unusable, which can be a problem in rough weather. They’re also not as durable as their tubular counterparts—get them banged up against a hard surface, and you’re looking at potential damage.
Lastly, some models, like the Docter Sight, have a slight magnification (around 1.07x), which might be noticeable if you’re expecting a true 1x view.
What Are Holographic Red Dot Sights and When to Use Them?
Holographic red dot sights are a bit of a rare breed, and the undisputed leader in this category is Eotech. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more successful holographic sight from any other brand. A big reason for this is that the U.S. military uses them, and that’s a huge stamp of approval. Once the military adopts a piece of gear, it tends to take off in a big way.
What can be confusing to some is that holographic red dots can sometimes look quite similar to reflex sights, especially to enclosed reflex sights. But they are not the same and they don’t work in the same way.
So, how do holographic sights work? Instead of using a small LED emitter to reflect light like reflex or tube sights, holographic sights project a hologram of the reticle onto the glass. The shooter looks through this holographic sight onto the target.
Pros and Cons of Holographic Red Dot Sights
One of the main advantages Holographic sights have over other red dot sights is that when you use a magnifier with a holo sight, the dot itself doesn’t get bigger—only the target does. This makes them especially popular in professional circles where precision matters, and it’s one of the reasons why the military uses them. Being able to rapidly change from a magnified to an unmagnified view is a major advantage for a soldier in the field. Thus the combined use of holo sight and magnifiers on flip-to-side mounts is extremely popular.
Another “pro” of holo sights is that the viewing window on these sights is typically square and offers excellent optical clarity, usually far superior to reflex sights.
However, holographic sights come at a cost—literally. They tend to be more expensive than reflex or tube sights, and their users are almost exclusively professionals like military and law enforcement. These sights are also too big and heavy to be used on handguns. Hunters also use them very rarely.
Conclusion: Which Red Dot Sight is Best?
So, which red dot sight is the best? Well, it depends on what you’re using it for. 😊
For handgun shooters, reflex sights are the top choice. If you’re into sport shooting, a reflex sight with a larger window can give you better visibility. And for professional users, enclosed reflex sights offer that extra bit of durability.
For hunters, it’s a bit more situational. It’s important to note that not every hunter needs a red dot sight. In most cases, a rifle scope is a much more obvious choice.
But if you’re participating in driven hunts—especially in winter—a tube red dot sight is your best bet. Why? Because when your sight gets dunked in snow (and it will), you can just wipe the lenses clean and keep going. Open reflex sights, on the other hand, need to be cleaned more thoroughly, which can slow you down. For high stands, reflex sights can also work, but the tubular design shines in tougher conditions.
As for the military and police, it often comes down to the specific mission. If you’re using a magnifier, a holographic sight is ideal because the dot won’t magnify along with the target. For extreme durability or freezing temperatures, a full-size tube red dot might be the better option. But remember, professional users don’t always get to pick their own gear—it’s usually chosen for them.
