Hey there, fellow hunters and gun enthusiasts! Joel Mccartan here, your trusty night vision gear expert. Today, we’re diving deep into the age-old debate: holographic sights vs red dot sights. If you’re in the market for a new optic to up your hunting game, you’ve probably found yourself torn between these two popular options. Fear not, because by the end of this article, you’ll have all the info you need to make the right call for your specific needs.
what the heck is the difference between holographic and red dot sights anyway?
While they may look pretty dang similar to the untrained eye, there’s a whole lot of complex technology that sets these two apart.
Red dot sights are the simpler of the two. They use an LED light source to project an illuminated red dot reticle onto a specially coated glass lens. That red dot acts as your aiming point, allowing you to quickly acquire targets and make precise shots. The coating on the glass is the secret sauce here – it reflects the red light from the LED but lets all other light pass through unimpeded. That’s how you can see the bright red dot superimposed over your unobstructed field of view. Pretty nifty, right?
Holographic sights, on the other hand, are a bit more complex under the hood. Instead of an LED, they use laser technology to create a hologram of the reticle that appears to float out in front of the optic. I know, it sounds like science fiction, but stick with me. The laser light is transmitted through a holographic recording medium, which then redirects the light waves in a way that creates a three-dimensional image. When you look through a holographic sight, you’re actually seeing a hologram rather than a simple projected dot.
So why does this matter?
Well, the reticle is one of the biggest practical differences you’ll notice between red dots and holographic sights. Red dot reticles are typically just a single dot, usually 2-4 MOA in size. Some fancier models may have a small center dot surrounded by a larger circle, but in general, you’re dealing with a very basic aiming point.
Holographic sights, on the other hand, are known for their more complex reticles. The most iconic example is the classic EOTech reticle – a 68 MOA circle with a 1 MOA dot in the center and a variety of hash marks around the edges. This setup creates an extremely fast sight picture for close-range shooting, with the large circle acting almost like a secondary aiming reference. But thanks to the 1 MOA center dot, you can still utilize the sight for precise shots at longer distances.
Personally, I’m a big fan of the EOTech-style holographic reticle. It allows for extremely fast target acquisition in close-quarters hunting scenarios, but doesn’t sacrifice midrange accuracy. The 68 MOA circle is large enough to easily catch the eye, even when you’re snapping the gun up quickly. In fact, some experts estimate that the ring can cover about 50-75% of a deer’s vitals at common hunting distances. But if you do need to reach out further, that crisp 1 MOA center dot is there to help you make a precise shot.
Another factor to consider is speed and field of view. Both red dots and holographic sights are very fast optics compared to traditional iron sights or magnified scopes. When you’re out in the woods and a whitetail steps into your shooting lane, every split second counts. Both optics allow you to keep both eyes open, maximizing your situational awareness and letting you snap onto the target rapidly.
However, many shooters report that holographic sights have a slight edge in speed, especially in dynamic hunting situations. The holographic reticle appears to be superimposed on the target itself, almost like a heads-up display. Your eye doesn’t have to shift focus between the reticle and the target – they appear as one. With a red dot, the dot often appears to be hovering in front of the sight, meaning your eye may have to briefly adjust focus as you transition from the optic to the target downrange.
Holographics also tend to have a slightly wider field of view thanks to their rectangular window design. Many red dots use a round tube housing, which can create a slight tunnel vision effect. Now, the difference is pretty minimal in practice, but that extra bit of peripheral vision can absolutely be an advantage, especially if you’re doing any hunting from a treestand or in thick brush.
What about battery life?
Even the best sight in the world is useless if it goes dead right when that trophy buck of a lifetime steps out, right? Well, this is one area where red dots have a major leg up on holographics. Because of the efficiency of LEDs, many quality red dots can achieve absolutely insane battery life, often rated for 50,000 hours of continuous use at a medium brightness setting. That’s nearly 6 years without ever touching the battery!
Holographic sights are a bit more power-hungry due to their laser-based design. Most holographics top out around 500-1000 hours of use on a single battery. Now, that’s still plenty for most hunters – it’ll get you through several seasons even if you forget to turn the sight off a few times. And higher-end holographics like EOTechs have automatic shutoff features to prevent accidental battery drain. But there’s no denying that red dots are the kings of battery life.
That being said, if you’re using the sight as a defensive or competition tool that absolutely cannot fail, the crazy long runtime of a red dot is pretty dang appealing. An Aimpoint or Holosun in a weapon-mounted safe means you can leave the optic on and ready to go 24/7 for years without worrying. Toss a few spare batteries in your hunting pack and you’re set for a long, long time.
what about durability?
Any sight you’re going to strap onto your hunting rifle needs to be built like a tank. When you’re tromping through the backcountry, your gear is going to get knocked around, soaked, frozen, and generally abused. The last thing you want is for your expensive optic to give up the ghost when you need it most.
In general, both red dots and holographics are extremely durable. Most quality models are machined from aircraft-grade aluminum and built to very demanding mil-spec standards. Waterproofing, fogproofing, and shockproofing are all pretty much table stakes for any decent sight these days.
However, if we had to give a slight edge in durability, it would go to holographic sights. And that’s thanks to one key design difference – the lack of a front lens. You see, red dot sights rely on that specially coated front lens to collimate the LED light into a clean dot reticle. If that front lens gets cracked, obscured with mud/snow, or otherwise compromised, the sight becomes basically unusable until you can clean or replace the lens.
With a holographic sight, the laser diode and holographic film are contained inside the housing, with nothing but a plain glass or polycarbonate window in front. Even if that front window gets damaged, the hologram is still projected forward and remains visible (though your actual view may be obscured). In extreme cases, EOTechs have been documented functioning with the front window completely blown out!
Additionally, the major holographic players like EOTech and Vortex use incredibly beefy housings to protect the complex internals. EOTechs are known for surviving all kinds of insane torture tests – explosions, fire, stomping, you name it.
Again, any quality optic should be plenty durable for 99% of hunters’ needs. But if you absolutely need bombproof reliability for a hard-use defensive carbine or a backwoods hunting rig, a holographic sight is about as rugged as it gets.
Of course, with great durability often comes greater size and weight. This is one area where red dots have a definite practical advantage over holographic sights. The simpler electronics package means red dots can be extremely compact and lightweight. Many are small enough to fit on a handgun slide! Even full-size red dots tend to be a bit lighter and more streamlined compared to holographics.
Holographic sights, with their more complex laser assembly and chunkier housings, tend to be on the bulkier side. A standard EOTech weighs around 11 ounces, while a comparable Aimpoint red dot comes in around 5-6 ounces. For most hunters mounting the sight on a standard rifle, this difference in size and weight is negligible. But if you’re trying to build the lightest possible varmint rifle or need something ultra-compact for a turkey shotgun, the red dot is probably the way to go.
What about magnification and night vision compatibility?
Again, red dots and holographics are very similar in this regard. Both are non-magnified optics, meaning what you see through the window is a 1x view of the world, just like your naked eye. If you want a bit of magnification for longer shots, you can always pair either type of sight with a separate magnifier that flips in behind the optic.
Most red dots and holographics also offer night vision settings these days. If you run night vision goggles or a digital NV scope, you’ll want a sight with extra-dim settings that won’t blow out the sensitive tubes. Look for models with specific “NV” modes or 10+ brightness settings to ensure compatibility.
And remember that with night vision, you’ll probably want a bit longer runtime than you would in the daylight. Luckily, many red dots last so absurdly long that even if you leave it on the NV setting 24/7, you won’t have to change batteries more than once every few months, if that. But even the relatively shorter runtime of holographics is usually plenty long enough to get you through a full night of hog hunting without fail.
Finally, let’s talk about the elephant in the room – price! There’s no denying that quality holographic sights are generally more expensive than red dots. You’re paying for that advanced laser technology, hardcore build quality, and combat-proven pedigree. A flagship model like the latest EOTech EXPS3 or Vortex Razor AMG UH-1 will run you north of $600 typically.
Solid red dots can be had for a lot less coin. The cheapest ones on Amazon are under $50, though I’d be wary of trusting those no-name brands for anything more than a toy. For a reliable entry-level red dot from a reputable manufacturer, you’re looking at $150-200 for something like a Vortex Crossfire, Sig Sauer Romeo5, or one of the budget Holosun models.
However, if you step up to the higher end of the red dot market with an Aimpoint CompM4 or Trijicon MRO, you’ll be spending $400-600, right in line with a good holographic. At that price point, it’s really more about which feature set you prefer rather than one being “better” than the other.
So, after all that, what’s the final verdict? As usual, it depends! If you want the absolute fastest, most intuitive sight picture and don’t mind spending the money on a premium optic, a holographic sight is tough to beat, especially for close to midrange hunting and defensive use. The EOTechs and Vortex Razor have proven themselves in countless military operations and 3-gun competitions.
On the other hand, if you prioritize light weight, compact size, long battery life, and a more budget-friendly price, the red dot is probably your best bet. Something like an Aimpoint PRO, Trijicon MRO, or Holosun 510C is rugged, reliable, and dead simple to use. The shorter learning curve and cheaper entry point make red dots the default choice for many hunters.
At the end of the day, the best hunting optic is the one that feels most natural to you and enables you to shoot quickly and accurately under pressure. If you get a chance, I highly recommend visiting a local range or sporting goods store where you can handle and test fire different red dots and holographics side by side. Compare the sight pictures, glass clarity, reticle designs, control layouts, and overall feel to see which one speaks to you.
Whichever route you go, just don’t skimp on quality. Even a small bump in price gets you a massive jump in reliability and performance. Remember, this is a tool that you’re trusting to help fill your freezer and maybe even save your life in a pinch. It’s okay to spend a little more for something you’ll use and abuse for years or even decades.
I hope this guide has helped demystify the differences between red dots and holographic sights. As always, if you have any other questions or need help picking the right optic for your specific hunting setup, don’t hesitate to reach out. At NightVisionGears, we have decades of experience with both styles of sights and we’re happy to walk you through your options.
Stay safe out there and happy hunting!
Joel