Red dot sights, often referred to as 'red dots', are electronic optics designed for use at close to medium range. Typical iron sights on a firearm involve lining up a front and rear sight in order to aim at your target. 'Red dots' are simpler to use with only a single point of reference. They project an LED light onto a clear lens that is designed to only be visible when the eye is in the proper orientation in relation to the optic. In this way a red dot simulates the function of iron sights in a small effective package.

The dot projected is referred to as a reticle. The size of the reticle is measured in MOA and can vary between models and manufacturers. Standard sizes range from 2 to 6 MOA. The unit of measure ment MOA will be further explained below. The reticle can be adjusted using windage and elevation controls which allow the optic to achieve a perfect zero.

APPLICATIONS - Red dot sights can be mounted on nearly any firearm including sporting rifles, shotguns, and handguns. Red dots can be mounted to commonly used systems like picatinny rails, and for firearms where these are not present, often specialized mounting rigs exist for the express purpose of mounting optics like red dots.

ADVANTAGES - There are many perks to using a red dot sight. They perform better in low-light conditions, allow both eyes to remain open while shooting, and are more capable of fast target acquisition. Red dot sights also have tremendous battery life, often offering years of continuous use before needing replacement batteries.

REFLEX - Many red dots come in the form of a reflex optic like the ones pictured below. The category of reflex sights encompas any red dot sights that reflect a reticle onto a lens. Reflex sights are typically more compact and can be mounted directly to the firearm or on a mount that raises the optic to the shooter's preferred sightline. Reflex sights can be powered in a number of ways such as via batteries, tritium, or fiber optics. However, batteries are the most popular power source due to cost, availability, and ease of use.

PRISM - Prism, or prismatic red dots are also a popular option. These optics utilize more substantial closed housing, and begin to resemble a traditional rifle scope. Unlike reflex sights that use a mirror like lens to project and reflect their reticle, prismatic sights use a prism as their source of reflection. The pros of prismatic sights are that they can incorporate features such as magnification and a larger sight picture relative to reflex sights. On the downside, prismatic sights can experience issues with parallax and eye relief in certain situations. 

HOLOGRAPHIC - Holographic optics are like typical red dots, yet they function a bit differently. Instead of a LED emitter projecting a beam to a coated piece of glass in the front of the optic, the reticle is superimposed into the glass and is illuminated by a laser and a series of mirrors. The reticle is not actually resting on the front piece of glass, it just appears that way when aiming down the sight. This typically allows for minimal parallax and a durable construction. However, the more complex system demands a higher cost and lower battery life when compared to traditional red dot sights.

As mentioned before, the dots on a red dot sight are measured in MOA which stands for "minutes of angle". MOA is a unit of angular measurement of a circle referring to the size of a dot and how much this dot obscures within the sight picture at a distance. To demonstrate this you can hold your finger up in front of something close to you and recognize how much your finger obscures, compared to how much your finger obscures when held in between your eye and an object far away. Your finger is the same size, but due to distance, the amount that it blocks from view is different.

The primary trade off is that smaller MOA dots are less obscuring and offer a more precise feeling reticle, while a larger MOA dot is better suited for close range fast target acquisition.

A "footprint" referres to the orientation of mounting holes on the underside of the optic. Some red dot sights are compatible with multiple common footprints, some have specialized unique footprints. Footprints vary between optics and can cause confusion due to the various names and styles used by each optic's manufacture.

When deciding to buy a red dot for your firearm, it is extremely important to determine the footprint that your firearm model will accept. This can typically be found in your firearm's instruction manual or on the manufacturer's website. If you are unsure which footprint your firearm uses, contact your firearm manufacturer's customer service team to verify this information. If you purchase a red dot that features one footprint, and your firearm model only accepts another, you will be unable to mount your red dot properly.

Footprint specific mounting plates can sometimes be included with optics ready firearms, or can be purchased seperately. Mounting plates are metal plates that attach to the mounting area of your firearm on one side and are compatible with a corresponding footprint on the other. This allows you to modularly adapt your firearm to accept multiple different mounting footprints.

The RAD MICRO and RAD MICRO PRO models use the CT RAD MICRO footprint that is also compatible with the following common footprints:

1. Shield RMS

2. Shield RMSc

3. Shield RMSw

4. Shield SMS

5. JPoint

Mounting your red dot will depend on the footprint or mounting type. Some Red dots can be mounted using picatinny rails, QD (Quick Detach) mounts, or riser mounts, while others require direct mounting (where footprint comes into play). For instructions on how to mount a Crimson Trace RAD, RAD PRO, RAD MICRO, or RAD MICRO PRO, please refer to the following videos. Other red dot sights will typically follow a similar method of installation, but we recommend checking your firearm manufacturer's instructions for mounting as well as your red dot manufacturer's instructions. Some firearms do not require the use of thread locker or they may provide specific torque instructions for the mounting screws. It is extremely important to check both sources before installing your red dot to avoid stripping the mounting screws or damaging parts of your red dot or firearm.

Red dot sights, like any other optic, can be zeroed. A properly zeroed optic will ensure that your bullet will hit exactly where your reticle is aimed. The zero of a red dot can be adjusted via windage and elevation knobs or screws. Windage adjustments will move the dot left and right while elevation adjustments will move it up and down. Some windage and elevation adjustment screws will require use of a tool like a screw driver or a hex key tool, other models may not.

The process of zeroing your red dot sight will invove taking shots at a target, comparing where the bullet hits relative to where the reticle predicted it would hit, and making incremental adjustments to the placement of the dot until your bullets hit exactly where your reticle is every time. If you train your reticle on a certain spot, take a shot, and see that your bullet actually made contact slightly to left of where you aimed, turn your windage adjustment so that the dot moves slightly to the left. Continue making these adjustments with the windage and elevation adjustments respectively until you achieve zero.

Red dot sights, often referred to as 'red dots', are electronic optics designed for use at close to medium range. Typical iron sights on a firearm involve lining up a front and rear sight in order to aim at your target. 'Red dots' are simpler to use with only a single point of reference. They project an LED light onto a clear lens that is designed to only be visible when the eye is in the proper orientation in relation to the optic. In this way a red dot simulates the function of iron sights in a small effective package.

The dot projected is referred to as a reticle. The size of the reticle is measured in MOA and can vary between models and manufacturers. Standard sizes range from 2 to 6 MOA. The unit of measure ment MOA will be further explained below. The reticle can be adjusted using windage and elevation controls which allow the optic to achieve a perfect zero.

APPLICATIONS - Red dot sights can be mounted on nearly any firearm including sporting rifles, shotguns, and handguns. Red dots can be mounted to commonly used systems like picatinny rails, and for firearms where these are not present, often specialized mounting rigs exist for the express purpose of mounting optics like red dots.

ADVANTAGES - There are many perks to using a red dot sight. They perform better in low-light conditions, allow both eyes to remain open while shooting, and are more capable of fast target acquisition. Red dot sights also have tremendous battery life, often offering years of continuous use before needing replacement batteries.

REFLEX - Many red dots come in the form of a reflex optic like the ones pictured below. The category of reflex sights encompas any red dot sights that reflect a reticle onto a lens. Reflex sights are typically more compact and can be mounted directly to the firearm or on a mount that raises the optic to the shooter's preferred sightline. Reflex sights can be powered in a number of ways such as via batteries, tritium, or fiber optics. However, batteries are the most popular power source due to cost, availability, and ease of use.

PRISM - Prism, or prismatic red dots are also a popular option. These optics utilize more substantial closed housing, and begin to resemble a traditional rifle scope. Unlike reflex sights that use a mirror like lens to project and reflect their reticle, prismatic sights use a prism as their source of reflection. The pros of prismatic sights are that they can incorporate features such as magnification and a larger sight picture relative to reflex sights. On the downside, prismatic sights can experience issues with parallax and eye relief in certain situations. 

HOLOGRAPHIC - Holographic optics are like typical red dots, yet they function a bit differently. Instead of a LED emitter projecting a beam to a coated piece of glass in the front of the optic, the reticle is superimposed into the glass and is illuminated by a laser and a series of mirrors. The reticle is not actually resting on the front piece of glass, it just appears that way when aiming down the sight. This typically allows for minimal parallax and a durable construction. However, the more complex system demands a higher cost and lower battery life when compared to traditional red dot sights.

As mentioned before, the dots on a red dot sight are measured in MOA which stands for "minutes of angle". MOA is a unit of angular measurement of a circle referring to the size of a dot and how much this dot obscures within the sight picture at a distance. To demonstrate this you can hold your finger up in front of something close to you and recognize how much your finger obscures, compared to how much your finger obscures when held in between your eye and an object far away. Your finger is the same size, but due to distance, the amount that it blocks from view is different.

The primary trade off is that smaller MOA dots are less obscuring and offer a more precise feeling reticle, while a larger MOA dot is better suited for close range fast target acquisition.

A "footprint" referres to the orientation of mounting holes on the underside of the optic. Some red dot sights are compatible with multiple common footprints, some have specialized unique footprints. Footprints vary between optics and can cause confusion due to the various names and styles used by each optic's manufacture.

When deciding to buy a red dot for your firearm, it is extremely important to determine the footprint that your firearm model will accept. This can typically be found in your firearm's instruction manual or on the manufacturer's website. If you are unsure which footprint your firearm uses, contact your firearm manufacturer's customer service team to verify this information. If you purchase a red dot that features one footprint, and your firearm model only accepts another, you will be unable to mount your red dot properly.

Footprint specific mounting plates can sometimes be included with optics ready firearms, or can be purchased seperately. Mounting plates are metal plates that attach to the mounting area of your firearm on one side and are compatible with a corresponding footprint on the other. This allows you to modularly adapt your firearm to accept multiple different mounting footprints.

The RAD MICRO and RAD MICRO PRO models use the CT RAD MICRO footprint that is also compatible with the following common footprints:

1. Shield RMS

2. Shield RMSc

3. Shield RMSw

4. Shield SMS

5. JPoint

Mounting your red dot will depend on the footprint or mounting type. Some Red dots can be mounted using picatinny rails, QD (Quick Detach) mounts, or riser mounts, while others require direct mounting (where footprint comes into play). For instructions on how to mount a Crimson Trace RAD, RAD PRO, RAD MICRO, or RAD MICRO PRO, please refer to the following videos. Other red dot sights will typically follow a similar method of installation, but we recommend checking your firearm manufacturer's instructions for mounting as well as your red dot manufacturer's instructions. Some firearms do not require the use of thread locker or they may provide specific torque instructions for the mounting screws. It is extremely important to check both sources before installing your red dot to avoid stripping the mounting screws or damaging parts of your red dot or firearm.

Red dot sights, like any other optic, can be zeroed. A properly zeroed optic will ensure that your bullet will hit exactly where your reticle is aimed. The zero of a red dot can be adjusted via windage and elevation knobs or screws. Windage adjustments will move the dot left and right while elevation adjustments will move it up and down. Some windage and elevation adjustment screws will require use of a tool like a screw driver or a hex key tool, other models may not.

The process of zeroing your red dot sight will invove taking shots at a target, comparing where the bullet hits relative to where the reticle predicted it would hit, and making incremental adjustments to the placement of the dot until your bullets hit exactly where your reticle is every time. If you train your reticle on a certain spot, take a shot, and see that your bullet actually made contact slightly to left of where you aimed, turn your windage adjustment so that the dot moves slightly to the left. Continue making these adjustments with the windage and elevation adjustments respectively until you achieve zero.

Red dot sights, often referred to as 'red dots', are electronic optics designed for use at close to medium range. Typical iron sights on a firearm involve lining up a front and rear sight in order to aim at your target. 'Red dots' are simpler to use with only a single point of reference. They project an LED light onto a clear lens that is designed to only be visible when the eye is in the proper orientation in relation to the optic. In this way a red dot simulates the function of iron sights in a small effective package.

The dot projected is referred to as a reticle. The size of the reticle is measured in MOA and can vary between models and manufacturers. Standard sizes range from 2 to 6 MOA. The unit of measure ment MOA will be further explained below. The reticle can be adjusted using windage and elevation controls which allow the optic to achieve a perfect zero.

APPLICATIONS - Red dot sights can be mounted on nearly any firearm including sporting rifles, shotguns, and handguns. Red dots can be mounted to commonly used systems like picatinny rails, and for firearms where these are not present, often specialized mounting rigs exist for the express purpose of mounting optics like red dots.

ADVANTAGES - There are many perks to using a red dot sight. They perform better in low-light conditions, allow both eyes to remain open while shooting, and are more capable of fast target acquisition. Red dot sights also have tremendous battery life, often offering years of continuous use before needing replacement batteries.

REFLEX - Many red dots come in the form of a reflex optic like the ones pictured below. The category of reflex sights encompas any red dot sights that reflect a reticle onto a lens. Reflex sights are typically more compact and can be mounted directly to the firearm or on a mount that raises the optic to the shooter's preferred sightline. Reflex sights can be powered in a number of ways such as via batteries, tritium, or fiber optics. However, batteries are the most popular power source due to cost, availability, and ease of use.

PRISM - Prism, or prismatic red dots are also a popular option. These optics utilize more substantial closed housing, and begin to resemble a traditional rifle scope. Unlike reflex sights that use a mirror like lens to project and reflect their reticle, prismatic sights use a prism as their source of reflection. The pros of prismatic sights are that they can incorporate features such as magnification and a larger sight picture relative to reflex sights. On the downside, prismatic sights can experience issues with parallax and eye relief in certain situations. 

HOLOGRAPHIC - Holographic optics are like typical red dots, yet they function a bit differently. Instead of a LED emitter projecting a beam to a coated piece of glass in the front of the optic, the reticle is superimposed into the glass and is illuminated by a laser and a series of mirrors. The reticle is not actually resting on the front piece of glass, it just appears that way when aiming down the sight. This typically allows for minimal parallax and a durable construction. However, the more complex system demands a higher cost and lower battery life when compared to traditional red dot sights.

As mentioned before, the dots on a red dot sight are measured in MOA which stands for "minutes of angle". MOA is a unit of angular measurement of a circle referring to the size of a dot and how much this dot obscures within the sight picture at a distance. To demonstrate this you can hold your finger up in front of something close to you and recognize how much your finger obscures, compared to how much your finger obscures when held in between your eye and an object far away. Your finger is the same size, but due to distance, the amount that it blocks from view is different.

The primary trade off is that smaller MOA dots are less obscuring and offer a more precise feeling reticle, while a larger MOA dot is better suited for close range fast target acquisition.

A "footprint" referres to the orientation of mounting holes on the underside of the optic. Some red dot sights are compatible with multiple common footprints, some have specialized unique footprints. Footprints vary between optics and can cause confusion due to the various names and styles used by each optic's manufacture.

When deciding to buy a red dot for your firearm, it is extremely important to determine the footprint that your firearm model will accept. This can typically be found in your firearm's instruction manual or on the manufacturer's website. If you are unsure which footprint your firearm uses, contact your firearm manufacturer's customer service team to verify this information. If you purchase a red dot that features one footprint, and your firearm model only accepts another, you will be unable to mount your red dot properly.

Footprint specific mounting plates can sometimes be included with optics ready firearms, or can be purchased seperately. Mounting plates are metal plates that attach to the mounting area of your firearm on one side and are compatible with a corresponding footprint on the other. This allows you to modularly adapt your firearm to accept multiple different mounting footprints.

The RAD MICRO and RAD MICRO PRO models use the CT RAD MICRO footprint that is also compatible with the following common footprints:

1. Shield RMS

2. Shield RMSc

3. Shield RMSw

4. Shield SMS

5. JPoint

Mounting your red dot will depend on the footprint or mounting type. Some Red dots can be mounted using picatinny rails, QD (Quick Detach) mounts, or riser mounts, while others require direct mounting (where footprint comes into play). For instructions on how to mount a Crimson Trace RAD, RAD PRO, RAD MICRO, or RAD MICRO PRO, please refer to the following videos. Other red dot sights will typically follow a similar method of installation, but we recommend checking your firearm manufacturer's instructions for mounting as well as your red dot manufacturer's instructions. Some firearms do not require the use of thread locker or they may provide specific torque instructions for the mounting screws. It is extremely important to check both sources before installing your red dot to avoid stripping the mounting screws or damaging parts of your red dot or firearm.

Red dot sights, like any other optic, can be zeroed. A properly zeroed optic will ensure that your bullet will hit exactly where your reticle is aimed. The zero of a red dot can be adjusted via windage and elevation knobs or screws. Windage adjustments will move the dot left and right while elevation adjustments will move it up and down. Some windage and elevation adjustment screws will require use of a tool like a screw driver or a hex key tool, other models may not.

The process of zeroing your red dot sight will invove taking shots at a target, comparing where the bullet hits relative to where the reticle predicted it would hit, and making incremental adjustments to the placement of the dot until your bullets hit exactly where your reticle is every time. If you train your reticle on a certain spot, take a shot, and see that your bullet actually made contact slightly to left of where you aimed, turn your windage adjustment so that the dot moves slightly to the left. Continue making these adjustments with the windage and elevation adjustments respectively until you achieve zero.