Tech Tip: Comparing Red Dot, Holographic & Prism Sights

Get out your scuba gear because Brownells Gun Tech™ @CalebSavant is taking us on a deep dive into the differences and similarities between three popular types of optics: red dot, holographic, and prism sights. A RED DOT sight projects a laser dot on the lens, and as you look through the sight, you line up that dot on the target. HOLOGRAPHIC sights also project a laser dot on the lens, after bouncing it off a series of mirrors, which gives this sight special capabilities. Red dot and holographic sight reticles are just projected on the lens. A PRISM sight's reticle is etched into the glass and then illuminated. The benefit is that if the battery dies or the electronics fail, you can still see the reticle and use the sight. Many prism optics also have magnification, while red dots and holographics tend to be 1x.
Red dot sights are the most popular, typically less expensive than the others, and tons of mounts are available for putting one on just about any pistol, rifle, or shotgun. A red dot can be used as your primary optic OR as a backup / supplement to a traditional rifle scope. Red dot sights like the Burris FastFire and Leupold DeltaPoint are very small. Bonus: red dots tend to work best with night vision devices. Drawback: red dot reticles are often blurry to people with astigmatism. Holographic and prism sights tend to be a lot larger and are usually employed as only primary optics.
You can extend the reach of all three sights with an add-on magnifier. With a red dot, the magnifier will magnify both the target area AND the dot. A magnifier works best with a holographic sight because it will magnify the target area but NOT the sight's dot. There's science involved. We don't fully understand it. If you do, maybe you can explain it in the comments!
You can use a magnifier with a prism sight, too, though you will have to adjust the focus of both the optic and the magnifier to get a clear image. Every time you remove the magnifier and put it back, you'll have to adjust the focus again. It's easier to get a prism sight with built-in magnification.
Some folks claim prism sights are not as durable as the other two types. But the Trijicon ACOG is a prism sight used by militaries all over the world, and it's one of the most durable optics ever made. HOW durable? Caleb tells us a story that begins, "The first time I got blown up in Afghanistan...."
Backup "iron" sights can be viewed through any of these sights, including a prism sight, if it's a 1x. If you decide to use iron sights with your prism sight, you have to zero the iron sights with the prism turned ON. And you can use the irons ONLY with the prism on. This is because a prism sight works much like a traditional scope.
NOTE: Products in this video are to be used only for lawful purposes, including hunting, self-defense, and competitive or recreational shooting. If you purchase any of them, you are responsible for understanding and complying with all federal, state, and local laws that apply to the purchase, possession, and use of these products.
Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:30 How They Work
1:20 Pro of Prisms
2:05 Most Affordable
2:34 Red Dot Advantages
4:00 Night Vision
5:00 Magnifiers
8:12 Astigmatism
8:55 Prism Durability
10:15 More Prism Pros
11:00 Cons of Prism
11:38 Close