Non-magnified optic
A non-magnified optical sight, often simply called a non-magnified[1] or non-magnifying optic,[2] refers to a sighting system which uses windows or optical lenses, but which does not magnify what is seen through the sight. Common window or lens materials on such sights may include glass or plastic with various optical coatings.
Non-magnified optical sights are sometimes called 1×-sights, since not having any magnification at all is equivalent to multiplying with 1x ("one times magnification"). Comparatively, a 2x magnification sight increases the apparent size of objects viewed through the sight such that they appear twice as large as in real life.
Some common types of non-magnified optics include:
- Red dot sights (also known as reflector or reflex sights), which have an illuminated reticle that is partially reflected in the viewing window
- Holographic sights, which have a hologram of the reticle built into the viewing window
- 1x prism sights.[3] A prism sight here refers to a type of scope sight with a fixed (non-adjustable) magnification.[4] A non-magnified prism sight therefore has its nominal magnification set to 1x.[5]
History
The term has been used in the firearms industry since at least 1975 when the Swedish company Aimpoint introduced their Aimpoint Electronic sight,[6] which was billed as a "battery-powered, parallax-free non-magnifying electronic optical sight".[7]
The term non-magnifying optic has been used in the multigun ruleset of USPSA since the 2013 season.[8][9]
User interface
Reticles
Non-magnified optics have either an etched reticle (for prism sights) or a non-etched reticle (for holographic and red dot sights). The reason red dot sights usually do not have an etched reticle is that elevation and windage are usually adjusted by moving the projection (and not the glass). Etched reticles on prism sights may be partially or fully illuminated, while holographic and red dot reticles need to be fully illuminated.
Reticles may be simple and include just a "dot", or be advanced reticles which can include linearly graded holdovers in milliradians (mrad) and minutes of arc (MOA), or parabolically graded holdovers for cartridge specific bullet drop compensation (BDC) graded in for example meters or yards. Holographic[10] and prism sights are commercially available with advanced reticles, while commercial red dot sights are only available with simple reticles (since they are adjusted by moving the projection).
Any illumination may be powered electronically (for example via battery or solar cell[11]), by a fiber optic,[12] or fluorescence (i.e. tritium[13]).
Red is the most common reticle color for red dot sights,[14] holographic[15] and prism sights,[5] followed by green, and these two colors usually provide good visibility.
Turrets
Non-magnified optics are primarily used at short ranges (for example up to 100 meters, depending on target size and visibility[citation needed]), and therefore many non-magnified optics have capped turrets. To increase long range precision capabilities, some non-magnified optics include external turrets with bullet drop compensation markings for elevation and windage, like for examples the Aimpoint M5B red dot sight[16][17][18] and the Vortex Spitfire 1x AR prism scope.[19] For example, the Aimpoint M5B has graduations to 500 meters,[20] as an alternative to otherwise "holding over" (aiming over the target) at longer distances.
Comparison of the different types
The following section compares general advantages and disadvantages which are inherent to the three aforementioned non-magnified optic technologies (red dot sights, holographic sights and 1x prism sights).
Sights with any of the three aforementioned sighting technologies are set by the manufacturer to be parallax free at a certain distance, but in practice they are often "near" parallax free from a couple of meters (obviously, the definition of "near" parallax free depends on the specific requirements of accuracy on the target). Depending on model and manufacturer, the true parallax free distance may for example be set at 50 or 100 meters, and the parallax error will increase on distances significantly shorter or longer than that.
- Turrets
Sights with any of the three aforementioned sighting technologies can be implemented with either exposed or capped turrets (and which can be adjusted by hand or with tools). Any type may also be implemented with or without a zero stop function.
- Red dot sights need a reflective lens coating so that the illuminated reticle is reflected and becomes visible to the shooter. The coating may inherently decrease the light transmission of the optic, making the target appear darker.
- Holographic and prism sights can have clear lenses, and therefore have the potential for better light transmission.
- Reticles
- Red dot sights in practice only feature a simple illuminated dot, and rarely feature more advanced reticles (due to technical constraints since the projected dot normally is being moved during zeroing). This is also why red dot sights in practice rarely have any reticle (simple or advanced) etched to the glass.
- Holographic sights are commercially offered with either simple or advanced reticles.
- 1x prism sights are commercially offered with either simple or advanced etched reticles,[21] and usually have less reflections coming from the illuminated reticle, which could be preferable to shooters wearing prescription eyeglasses.[5]
- Diopter adjustment
Only 1x prism sights feature diopter adjustment, which is preferable to shooters with astigmatism.[5]
- Exit pupil and eye relief
- Red dot and holographic sights have unlimited eye relief. This generally makes it easier to find the sight picture from different shooting positions and generally makes them faster in use.
- 1x prism sights have a limited exit pupil and eye relief[22] (similar to scope sights) which makes placement of the eye more critical (both back and forth and sideways).
See also
- Iron sights, collective term for non-optical non-magnified sights using shaped alignment markers
- Telescopic sights (also known as scope sights) commonly refers to optical sights with adjustable magnification. Some types of scope sights with fixed magnification are called prism sights. Note that optical sights with fixed magnification other than 1x (such as 0.75x, 2.5x, 3x or 6x) do not constitute a non-magnified optic.
References
- ↑ USPSA-3-Gun - San Luis Obispo Sportsmens Association
- ↑ USPSA Rifle, Shotgun and Multigun Rules, March 2020| APPENDIX D3, Limited Division, page 101
- ↑ The Prism Scope vs The Traditional Red Dot Sight - Monstrum Tactical "A prism scope (sometimes also referred to as a prismatic scope) is a scope that uses a glass prism to focus an image as opposed to traditional rifle scopes which use a series of lenses"
- ↑ Red dot vs holo vs prismatic sights
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Prism Scopes - Tactical Rifle Scopes - Rifle Scopes - Optics-trade
- ↑ "Aimpoint, History". Archived from the original on 2014-10-25. Retrieved 2011-07-29. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Turn on to Electronic Sights - Shooting Times
- ↑ 2013 USPSA Rifle Shotgun Multigun Rules 1-1-2013final, page 64, Appendix A3 LIMITED DIVISION, Rifle, Optical sights: Yes, 1 Non Magnifying
- ↑ 2014 USPSA Rifle Shotgun Multigun Rules, page 64, Appendix A3 LIMITED DIVISION, Rifle, Optical sights: Yes, 1 Non Magnifying
- ↑ Red Dot Sights / Reflex Sights & Holosights Explained
- ↑ American Rifleman | Trijicon Sealed Reflex Sight
- ↑ American Rifleman | On The Range With The RMR
- ↑ "Which Pistol Red Dot Sight Should You Get? | Warrior Poet Society". Archived from the original on 2020-11-28. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
- ↑ American Rifleman | The Basics of Laser Sights
- ↑ Red Dots vs Holographic Sights: What's Best For You? - Pew Pew Tactical
- ↑ New Aimpoint CompM5b Adds Ballistic Drop Compensation | RECOIL
- ↑ Aimpoint CompM5b: a unique red dot sight with ballistic compensation | all4shooters
- ↑ SHOT 2020 New Aimpoint Comp M5B RDS Revealed -The Firearm Blog
- ↑ Review: Vortex Spitfire Prism Scope - AllOutdoor.com
- ↑ SHOT SHOW 2020 - Aimpoint Comp M5b - YouTube (explanation at 1 min 12 s)
- ↑ What Is a Prism Scope? Doing Away With Traditional Lenses to Focus an Image – Best Rifle Scope
- ↑ Prism scopes - Optics Database - SageRatSafaris.com
External links
- Vortex Nation Podcast: Comparison of red dots and prism scopes - YouTube
- Unmagnified Optics: Red Dot Vs Holographic Vs Prismatic Sights - AmmoLand.com
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