Compact vs long tube type red dot vs 1x prism?

[Flashpoint]

There are 3 types of optic that seem to me do the same thing, so I'd like someone to point out what the advantages/disadvantages of each of them are:

Standard compact red dot like this:


Then there is the larger tube type red dot that I believe is still just flat glass:


And finally a 1X prism scope that uses lenses, but for what? Now you have eye relief issues to deal with. Couldn't they have printed that reticle on flat glass?


I've always wondered what the difference was with the top two (I generally go with the more compact style) but now I'm seeing 1x prism scopes as well.

 

[Combat Diver]

Bigger the glass, the larger field of view when looking through it. Son has a Vortex Strikefire that IIRC is on par with my Aimpoint Comp2. Just got a Aimpoint T1 that I just got the mount and planned on zeroing tomorrow. Whichever you choose, shoot with both eyes open for and just look through and place dot on target. That's the key for shooting this fast. Other then that is personal preference.

CD

 

[Tim]

Prism is all I shoot due to astigmatism. Red dots are blurry and nearly unusable for me.


Also, a prism is not dependent on battery or electronics.

 

[Flashpoint]

Bigger the glass, the larger field of view when looking through it. Son has a Vortex Strikefire that IIRC is on par with my Aimpoint Comp2. Just got a Aimpoint T1 that I just got the mount and planned on zeroing tomorrow. Whichever you choose, shoot with both eyes open for and just look through and place dot on target. That's the key for shooting this fast. Other then that is personal preference.

CD

It doesn't look to me like the longer tube has larger glass, and even if it did, why would you need the longer tube?

 

[Average Joe]

The Vortex Strikefire II was the competitor of Aimpoint M62. That was before the Aimpoint T-1 series technology. The Vortex Crossfire and Sparc AR are competitors with the Aimpoint T-1 series. My opinion the biggest differences and advantages are for prism optics. For red dots, differences between tube sizes come down to size, weight and battery life advantages. Prism versus red dot @Tim pretty much summed it up. My eyes aren't what they used to be and the red dots are now distorted, still usable but they don't offer me to use them for precise shot placement. Then there's the battery issue, prism sights are always usable, even with dead batteries or damaged electronics.

 

[Catfish]

Astigmatism here too so I switched all my dots for prisms. If you have good eyes I’d have a hard time selling you a prism scope but for me... Anything holographic looks like a schmear with wings to my eye. Completely useless.

 

[Exile_D]

Prism is all I shoot due to astigmatism. Red dots are blurry and nearly unusable for me.


Also, a prism is not dependent on battery or electronics.

Astigmatism here too so I switched all my dots for prisms. If you have good eyes I’d have a hard time selling you a prism scope but for me... Anything holographic looks like a schmear with wings to my eye. Completely useless.

Which prism optics are you guys using?

 

[Tim]

I have a Vortex Spitfire and a couple Burris. I like the reticle on the Burris a lot better.

I have a Primary Arms ACSS in my cart, just waiting on deciding some other parts before I order.