What do you see through your RDS?

1405 Views 48 Replies 32 Participants Last post by SW51, 4 mo ago

Nineteen-ElevenObsession

Discussion Starter · 4 mo ago

I’ve had a few different vision corrections procedures over the years and still have a bit of an astigmatism. So when I look through my red dot sights, it’s kind of a starburst. I have trouble with thin reticles on rifle scopes as well.

But I see some of the illustrations for the dots showing a perfect circle.

Just curious, for those with “good” vision, do you see a perfect red circle? Or is it more of a “fuzzy” starburst for everyone as well?

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steelbahamut

· #2 · 4 mo ago

Bit of both depending on the day. Usually more crisp than starburst.

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azpoolguy

· #3 · 4 mo ago

I had a dot with tree roots looking at my 6moa RMR and an astigmatism. With my 2moa Holosun it’s is much more of a clean circle.

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Slapshot

· #4 · 4 mo ago

Can you change the size? I’ve found smaller is tighter. I drive my left thumb at the target which gets me amazingly close to being on target. Then I pick up the dot. I no longer have good eyesight so my apologies if this isn’t helpful.

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KineticKustom

· #5 · 4 mo ago

I too deal with astigmatism. A lot depends on which red dot it is. The green holosun reticles seem to work better for me. I did take my optic with me to the eye dr last time to see if there would be an improvement. I don’t normally wear glasses but they do help with the dot crispness. I notice also if my eyes are fatigued it makes a difference.

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gun_fan111

· #6 · 4 mo ago

If you want to see a sharp dot, take a picture of it with your phone

What I see has some of that “burst” but it is small and symmetrical so I aim for the middle of it

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2tone

· #7 · 4 mo ago

Also deal with astigmatism. It's 90% of the reason I stick to irons.

Reactions: 3

Nineteen-ElevenObsession

Discussion Starter · #8 · 4 mo ago

Slapshot said:
Can you change the size? I’ve found smaller is tighter. I drive my left thumb at the target which gets me amazingly close to being on target. Then I pick up the dot. I no longer have good eyesight so my apologies if this isn’t helpful.

I already use the 2.5 MOA dot and it’s pretty fuzzy.

Reactions: 1

Nineteen-ElevenObsession

Discussion Starter · #9 · 4 mo ago

2tone said:
Also deal with astigmatism. It's 90% of the reason I stick to irons.

Yeah I do too. I only have it in 2 guns. Was considering adding one for a .45, but if it’s never going to be “clear” for me, might as well not waste the money.

I shoot irons well enough.

Reactions: 2

Nineteen-ElevenObsession

Discussion Starter · #10 · 4 mo ago

KineticKustom said:
I too deal with astigmatism. A lot depends on which red dot it is. The green holosun reticles seem to work better for me. I did take my optic with me to the eye dr last time to see if there would be an improvement. I don’t normally wear glasses but they do help with the dot crispness. I notice also if my eyes are fatigued it makes a difference.

I have glasses somewhere lol. Maybe I’ll try them to see what the dot looks like.

I also sit in front of a computer all day...my eyes are always fatigued lol.

Slapshot

· #11 · 4 mo ago

I’m not really a fan and my EDC has FO front and plain black rear. I don’t really trust the optics but I had to try one. Love them on a rifle but I’d still rather have a scope.

Reactions: 1

oldnrusty38

· #12 · 4 mo ago

Nineteen-ElevenObsession said:
Yeah I do too. I only have it in 2 guns. Was considering adding one for a .45, but if it’s never going to be “clear” for me, might as well not waste the money.

I shoot irons well enough.

What optics are you currently using? Does this starburst happen with corrective lenses? Some people have better luck with different manufacturers as far as sharpness of reticle than others.

There is a strong liklihood that no matter what optic you try you will always have that 'starburst' sight picture.

Unless you are shooting bullseye and require exceptional accuracy; let's say the starburst on a 2.5 MOA dot doubles the size into a 5 MOA dot. That dot covers 1.25" at 25 yards if you do your part.

For a standard width 0.1" front sight post that would be 10 MOA or cover 2.5" at 25 yards.

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cundiff5535

· #13 · 4 mo ago

I also have this issue, but it’s just something I’ve learned to deal with. Enjoy shooting dots that much…

I think I recall hearing the having an enclosed emitter also eliminates starburst effect for folks with astigmatism issues. Those optics are the Acro and the Holosun 509T. I’m sure there are others, but can’t name them off the top of my head.

I also could be wrong about enclosed emitter optics, but I’m 90% sure I have this correct.

Reactions: 2

Nineteen-ElevenObsession

Discussion Starter · #14 · 4 mo ago

oldnrusty38 said:
What optics are you currently using? Does this starburst happen with corrective lenses? Some people have better luck with different manufacturers as far as sharpness of reticle than others.

There is a strong liklihood that no matter what optic you try you will always have that 'starburst' sight picture.

Unless you are shooting bullseye and require exceptional accuracy; let's say the starburst on a 2.5 MOA dot doubles the size into a 5 MOA dot. That dot covers 1.25" at 25 yards if you do your part.

For a standard width 0.1" front sight post that would be 10 MOA or cover 2.5" at 25 yards.

Leupold DPP.

I had never tried with corrective lenses as I don’t wear them. I have ICL lenses implanted.

But I did finally find some glasses I had made a few years back for a vision test. They did sharpen up the dot a bit, but they’re also not glasses I’d take to the range.

All in all, I’m happier with iron sights and it’s still my preferred sight choice.

The red dot is kinda cool, but I also don’t often shoot past 15 yards so I’m not really getting an advantage it’s the rds. I’m also not often shooting transitions, so once again there isn’t much advantage for a static target.

gun_fan111

· #15 · 4 mo ago

cundiff5535 said:
I also have this issue, but it’s just something I’ve learned to deal with. Enjoy shooting dots that much…

I think I recall hearing the having an enclosed emitter also eliminates starburst effect for folks with astigmatism issues. Those optics are the Acro and the Holosun 509T. I’m sure there are others, but can’t name them off the top of my head.

I also could be wrong about enclosed emitter optics, but I’m 90% sure I have this correct.

Getting a 509T on Mon or Tue, will be interesting to see if that has less burst than the 507c and k I have. Will post back if I remember to

KineticKustom

· #16 · 4 mo ago

I think one can learn to live with the starburst, unless it’s really bad. I still see a massive benefit. On a rifle you have the option of some of the prism optics. They should be better. Did I read polarized glasses might help as well? I can’t remember.

kfive

· #17 · 4 mo ago

Starbursts with anything more than 2MOA here. When I’m outside shooting the starburst with 2+ MOA clears up significantly for me.

If you’re comfortable aiming with a chevron instead of a dot, primary arms made holosuns with an “ACSS Vulcan” reticle for 507C, K, and 509T too. The top tip of the chevron zero’d at 25 yards makes the bottom part of the top tip 50 yards, and the bottom of the legs of the chevron 100yards but I’m always surprised how little I have to adjust to hit 100 out that I don’t really rely on that, just nice to have.

Costs the same, I run them on every pistol now that’s consistently capable of hitting 50 yards+, easy to pick up without the “big ring”, comes in red or green. My first thought when I tried one was based on my concern that the chevron would occupy a large portion of my sight picture but it’s actually pleasantly smaller than I thought it would be. Doesn’t obstruct at all. The giant ring (thought to help new shooters locate their sight picture) I can turn off so it’s just the chevron.

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KineticKustom

· #18 · 4 mo ago

kfive said:
Starbursts with anything more than 2MOA here. When I’m outside shooting the starburst with 2+ MOA clears up significantly for me.

If you’re comfortable aiming with a chevron instead of a dot, primary arms made holosuns with an “ACSS Vulcan” reticle for 507C, K, and 509T too. The top tip of the chevron zero’d at 25 yards makes the bottom part of the top tip 50 yards, and the bottom of the legs of the chevron 100yards but I’m always surprised how little I have to adjust to hit 100 out that I don’t really rely on that, just nice to have.

Costs the same, I run them on every pistol now that’s consistently capable up hitting 50 yards+, easy to pick up without the “big ring”, comes in red or green. My first thought when I tried one was based on my concern that the chevron would occupy a large portion of my sight picture but it’s actually pleasantly smaller than I thought it would be. Doesn’t obstruct at all.

View attachment 1193862

I’ve really been wanting to try this specific reticle.

kfive

· #19 · 4 mo ago

KineticKustom said:
I’ve really been wanting to try this specific reticle.

while I can’t see it through your eyes, it’s clear and crisp without even the slightest starbursting whatsoever for me. Like not even a single twinkle.

just hard to “try it out” unless you buy and have it shipped if a shop doesn’t have them in person and you don’t live near primary arms.

KineticKustom

· #20 · 4 mo ago

That’s the only problem with that particular reticle. Kind of hard to get your hands on to try it out. I try to envision how it would look based on the angles of my holosun donut reticle in green and it’s pretty darn clear.

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