Category - Sights

Types of Sights

When hunting or shooting at a target, accuracy is paramount. A rifle sight is a great accessory that can help provide that accuracy. But, not all sights are the same. Similar to scopes, there are a lot of different rifle sights out there with each one being designed for a specific purpose. Let’s take a look at the different types of sights out there and what they’re used for.

Iron rifle sights

Of all rifle sight types, open or iron sights are the most common (and the oldest). They have been with us for literally centuries. You get a rear sight (generally a circle or a window) and front sight. They don’t have any fancy magnification and using them is simple. They are extremely durable and can be used for all kinds of close distance shootings. And the best part is that there’s literally no maintenance with these types of sights.

Most rifles come with iron sights as their primary and factory system for acquiring targets. Some users like to replace these with aftermarket models or add optics. Quick piece of advice: get good with the iron sights first, and then you’ll be on your way to becoming phenomenal when better optics are added.

Red dot sights

In this case, we can see a piece of plastics or glass that has a red dot projected in the center. The dot displays the point of impact. Sights of this kind have batteries but can help you acquire a target within seconds. There is no magnification present but some models do have it. For some, this is the most appealing rifle sight out there. Admittedly, they are cool, but in my opinion, sometimes their functionality is a bit overstated as everybody gets overtaken by the “cool” factor.

These are small sights that have been used by different law enforcement units all over the globe. They are ideal for several purposes such as when clearing a room, short distance shooting, and similar purposes.

Laser sights

As the name suggests, here a hunter will use a laser to project a dot on the target itself. These are very accurate sights that are ideal for indoor use. They are impossible to see at daylight or at long distances. Hunters rarely use them, but those who hunt varmints do use laser sights given they are normally shooting at closer distances.

Laser sights are well-known and popular mostly as a result of Hollywood. Hollywood likes to show a sniper using a laser sight to hit a target at impossible distances. In reality, this is all dramatized as these sights aren’t used for that type of thing at all.

Scopes

Scopes are also known as telescopic sights and are the most advanced, the  accurate, and expensive of all rifle sights. They use lenses in order to zoom the target and can help boost your accuracy to the max. These models can help you shoot targets out past 1000 yards.

Scopes come in different shapes and sizes and are used for different applications. There’s a number of different types you can use. Similar to sights, most of them are suitable for just one or two purposes at a time.

Conclusion

We hope you were able to learn a little bit more about the different types of rifle sight types out there today. All things considered, the best one is the one that you can be the most accurate with. With this in mind, you need to evaluate your own needs, goals, and targets in order to choose the best sight for you.