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The goal here is not to get too technical, but to provide some clear and concise answers to the questions that have come up more and more recently: what exactly is the difference between a green dot and a red dot? Which one is better?
Many reflex and holographic sights come with both red and green dot options and many come with only a red or green dot, though usually if a sight only has one color, it sticks with red. There is a whole heap of information out there on the differences between red dots and green dots, but most of it is the same recycled, surface-level info that isn’t particularly helpful.
If you’re tired of reading nonsense about rods and cones and contradictory information, then you’re in the right place. The best way to understand the differences between these two is to buy a sight that has both and use it yourself. The second best way is to read this article.
Green dots got a bit of a bad rap because the market was flooded by a bunch of cheap knock-offs that used green instead of the standard red color, but there are real differences between a green dot and a red dot that can make either one a better tactical choice in certain situations.
Human eyes see green better than they see red. On the visible light spectrum, red is on the far edge of what our eyes can detect, while green is almost smack dab in the middle. In short, seeing red stresses out the eye more, while green is the comfort zone.
This would make a big difference if you were standing in a room with all four walls painted red or all four walls painted green. With a tiny little dot that is illuminated to your comfort level, the difference here is not substantial. Green may technically be a little easier to see, and you may be able to conserve some battery life by not having it as bright, the difference is not going to help you save for your next gun.
Green dots can be used for night vision sometimes. Night vision relies heavily on the color green to keep things visible, and while sometimes this means that green shows up amazingly well through your night vision devices (NVD), sometimes (as is the case with ANVIS lenses) the green won’t show up at all. The only way to know for sure about your combination of green dot and night vision is to talk to the manufacturers and find out.
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Because our eyes generally have an easier time seeing green than red, green can work well during the day, especially if you don’t have an etched reticle (which most dot sights will not). If you’re shooting during the day and have a hard time seeing your red dot, you may want to try switching to green and see if it’s better. Of course, if you are in a forested or another area that’s dominated by green, then that may not work as well.
Red dots are classic. Even though reflex and holographic sights come with many other colors besides red, they are all collectively referred to as red dots. There is some science involved with why red dots have become so dominant, but the real, simple reason is that red doesn’t occur in nature nearly as often as shades of green, yellow, brown, and blue.
As mentioned above, technically the color red stresses out your eyes more than any other color besides pure blue, but we’re not talking about filling up your entire visual field with the color red for hours on end; we’re talking about a tiny dot that you’re mostly looking beyond to your target anyway.
That said, if you have astigmatism or some color-blindness, then a red dot may not be crisp, clean, or easy to see at all. Red contrasts really well with blues and blacks, so the red will be highly visible at night and in other low-light conditions.
The color red is theoretically compatible with night vision devices, but you have to be careful when combining a red dot and an NVD. Make sure to only use red dot sights that are advertised as night vision compatible and have at least two night vision settings on their illumination. Having a red dot that is too bright can actually ruin your night vision device.
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Red dots are great for visibility when you are shooting in low-light conditions. In most cases, they will be better than green dots. Reds can also work just fine during the daytime if the brightness can go high enough on your sight. For shooters without any eye issues or problems, red works great in the vast majority of situations.
There are other color options besides green and red; Holosun has their “gold” reticle that is designed for color-blind shooters and has other advantages, while UTG has a line of optics with 36 different color options all across the visible spectrum. Red and green are the workhorses and will be best for most situations, but there is always a place for other colors as well.
The main difference between a green dot vs red dot sight will come down to preference; which one do you like better? Either one can be bright enough for daylight use, dim enough for low light use, and will work with night vision if it has night vision settings. Generally speaking, red is easier to see in low light and green is easier to see in daylight. Green may offer marginally better battery life in daylight than red since it doesn’t have to be as bright.
Looking for more comparisons? Try Red Dot vs. Laser Sights: What’s the Difference? or Red Dot vs Reflex Sights: What’s the Difference?
Robert’s obsession with all things optical started early in life, when his optician father would bring home prototypes for Robert to play with. Nowadays, Robert is dedicated to helping others find the right optics for their needs. His hobbies include astronomy, astrophysics, and model building. Originally from Newark, NJ, he resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where the nighttime skies are filled with glittering stars.
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