For hundreds of years, hunters, law enforcement, and recreational shooters relied on their gun’s iron sights to get on target and take the shot.
In the 1970’s a Swedish company called Aimpoint designed the first electronic red dot, and over the past several years the popularity of these sights has only increased.
Now it almost seems more common to see someone shoot a pistol with a red dot sight versus without, and the AR platform is perfectly primed for reflex sight use.
Many people, including myself, have a reflex sight mounted on their shotgun for turkey hunting, and some are now using them for waterfowl hunting as well.
If you’ve thought about buying (or have already bought) a reflex sight, then you’ve probably also seen multiple options.
Not only can you buy a “red dot” sight, but you also have the option of a green dot.
So, which one is better?
In this article, we’ll compare the red dot with the green dot and hopefully help you make that decision.
A DEEPER LOOK AT RED DOT SIGHTS
Reflex sights basically use a LED emitter to project the reticle (“red dot”) away from the shooter onto the reflective glass, which is what the shooter looks at.
These sights take away a lot of room for error when aiming compared to conventional “iron sights” as the shooter doesn’t have to rely on the ability to properly align dots, lines, or posts.
Once the reflex sight is properly sighted in, the dot should line up perfectly with the impact point (assuming you are within a reasonable distance where drop isn’t expected).
I absolutely love using a reflex sight and have one on just about every pistol and shotgun I own.
And right now, most of mine are red. However, sometimes green may be a better option. Let’s discuss each and see when you might choose one over the other.
ADVANTAGES OF RED DOTS
Red was not randomly selected as the color for a vast majority of illuminated reticles in scopes and reflex sights.
It was strategically chosen because red has the longest wavelength of all colors at 620-750nm.
This longer wavelength means that the human eye will be able to see it better. It’s the same reason stop signs, traffic lights, and most warning signs are red.
The red dot can be seen better at further distances and through various lighting conditions, especially those that involve low light.
The next advantage of red reticles is that they also require less energy consumption to operate.
This means that a reflex sight with a red dot, such as the Holosun HS507K X2 can often be expected to run for up to 50,000 hours.
When you consider that these sights can be turned off, and many of them have auto shut-off, you’re easily looking at over 5 years of battery life.
According to most of my research, a green LED requires more power, so they are typically not advertised to last as long.
And one final advantage of the red option is that they are significantly more popular and available.
Many manufacturers have begun making most of their reflex sights with red or green options, such as the pictured Holosun sights.
But with a quick search, you will find that red is much more widely available.
DISADVANTAGES OF RED
Even though the red dot has several benefits, there are some drawbacks as well.
First, the red light can be less effective against some backgrounds that have a brownish or reddish hue, causing it to blend in and making it more difficult to see.
Plus, because of the way our eyes perceive color, even though red has a longer wavelength, it can tend to be more difficult to see in brighter lighting conditions.
So, if you need your reticle during a very sunny day or indoors in bright ambient light, the red may not be as easily seen.
Another downside to using a red reticle is that our eyes can perceive it as “not bright enough” at times, because red is the limit of what our eyes can perceive.
This can cause the eyes to work harder to see it. Because of this, you can experience greater strain on and fatigue in the eyes when looking at a red dot for prolonged periods.
A DEEPER LOOK AT GREEN DOT SIGHTS
A green dot optic is going to work the same way as a red dot. The only difference is that the LED is emitting a green light instead of red.
This green light has a wavelength of 495-570nm. Even though the wavelength isn’t as long, green is often understood to be the most efficient color, as more of the receptors in our eyes can pick it up.
So, should you choose green instead of red?
ADVANTAGES OF GREEN DOTS
Just as I mentioned that sometimes a red light can increase eye fatigue, green is actually the sweet spot.
Because of the shorter wavelength and our natural sensitivity to green, our eyes can sometimes perceive it more easily, which reduces strain.
Now, keep in mind that some of this is subjective. If you’re used to looking for a red dot, you may find the green one harder to see. Or, if you’re in an environment with a lot of green (the woods), you may have to strain more to see.
But, as a general statement, the color green is “easier on the eyes.”
Another advantage of a green reticle is that it tends to be easier to see in brighter lighting conditions.
So, if you know you’re primarily going to need your sight in bright light, green may be the best option. Green also tends to stand out better against a greater variety of backgrounds - except green, of course.
Earlier I mentioned that green dots don’t tend to have as long a battery life as red.
Part of that reason is that it takes more energy to create the shorter wavelength light.
However, because green can be more easily perceived, another advantage of green over red is that it can be seen at lower brightness settings than red. This can decrease energy consumption and prolong battery life.
And the last advantage of green over red that I want to discuss is near and dear to my husband.
He has an astigmatism and has found that when looking at a red dot sight, he almost always sees a starburst instead of a dot.
If you have a similar refractive error condition in your eyes, you may have the same problem as the shape of your eye distorts the light.
The green wavelength is not as greatly distorted, so most people with these conditions can see the green reticle more precisely.
DISADVANTAGES OF GREEN DOTS
As we’ve touched on a couple of times, green dots can use more power and, therefore, have a shorter battery life.
As with all things, though, advancements in things like the LEDs as well as battery-saving technologies such as auto-shutoff and shake-awake could minimize the impact.
As I mentioned, you may also be able to run a green dot on lower settings, which will further extend battery life.
The last disadvantage is the opposite of one of the advantages of the red dot. Green is often less available and harder to find.
Even though many manufacturers make their reflex sights in red and green, not all do.
Plus, many of the green options are going to cost more. For example, the Holosun HS507K in red has an MSRP of $341.16, and the green version is $376.46.
RED DOT VS GREEN DOT: KEY COMPARISON FACTORS
VISIBILITY IN DIFFERENT LIGHTING CONDITIONS
As with many things, different situations call for different tools.
In our eyes, rods are responsible for perceiving the amount of light, and cones are in charge of determining color. In darker situations, cones aren’t as effective - that’s why you can’t see color as well at dawn and dusk.
Because of this, you’ll probably want red in those situations, as there will be a much starker contrast, making it easier to see.
On the flip side of that, in very bright conditions, green is likely going to be better.
Sometimes red can wash out and be difficult to see in bright light. That’s why when I’m turkey hunting with a red dot, I have to turn the brightness up to the max if I’m hunting over a field during midday.
Speaking of turkey hunting, what about mixed lighting conditions? First thing in the morning, or if you’re sitting in the woods with a pretty thick canopy, red will likely be better. However, if it’s midday over a field, green wins out.
Here’s where I would have to default to personal preference. You may want to choose based on which lighting condition will be most prevalent. Or, you may be so used to using one over the other that you go with that one. It’s a close call.
Winner: Tie
BATTERY LIFE
In general, it is accepted that a reflex sight using a red dot can get 50,000 or more hours of use, but green varies depending on the manufacturer.
The LED emitter will use more energy to project a green light versus a red, so it would reason that green wouldn’t last as long.
However, as I mentioned earlier, manufacturers are steadily working on advancements that may eventually make this a moot point.
But, for now, red is going to win out.
Winner: Red
EYE COMFORT
We’ve covered this in the discussions for both red and green dots. In general, red is going to cause more strain on the eyes than green.
But, some of that will also be situationally dependent. In my turkey hunting scenario, I’m sure eye strain would be greater trying to find a green dot against the backdrop of a bright green field.
But, we’ll choose a winner based on generalities.
Winner: Green
MARKET AVAILABILITY AND COST
In doing a quick online search, it’s easy to see that there are a lot more options for red reticle sights compared to green.
As I mentioned, some manufacturers do make both, but demand always drives supply. And because red is more popular and widely used, availability is also greater.
Plus, as we discussed earlier, green versions of the same sight are often more expensive.
Winner: Red
TARGET ACQUISITION SPEED
Based on science, green light is supposed to be easier to find more quickly because of that visible spectrum sweet spot where it sits.
We have more cones that “see” green than red, so we should be able to find it faster.
But, I would say that some of this can be based on personal preference and familiarity as well.
For instance, I am much more experienced with red dots. It is much easier for my eyes to quickly find a red dot because that’s what they are used to doing. I haven’t liked using a green dot as much because of that, but someone else could say the opposite.
Winner: Tie
RED DOT VS GREEN DOT: APPLICATIONS
HUNTING
Green could be a preferred option if you hunt in very bright conditions, especially during the day. Green may also be best for environments with a lot of brown or red - such as a desert or red rock scenario.
But, during the golden hours of early morning and dusk when light is the lowest and when game animals are often more active, a red dot should be easier to see due to its greater contrast.
If you will be hunting in the woods, where a canopy can lead to less light, red would also likely be the choice.
Red also tends to be better as a reticle color if you are using night vision for predator hunting because of that color contrast as well.
I would also say to choose red if you hunt in settings with a lot of green foliage, as this could make finding a green dot more difficult.
There are scenarios where green may be the best option, but for most of the hunting I do, I’m going to have to go with red.
Winner: Red
TACTICAL AND SELF DEFENSE
Red dots have traditionally been much more popular for law enforcement, EDC handguns, and ARs - quite possibly due to availability and cost.
In recent years, as green has become more available, some are choosing that option.
As with most things, I would say it depends on some of the same factors as hunting in regards to lighting and environment.
Some law enforcement officers are going green to avoid the possibility of losing the reticle in tail lights or lights on top of patrol cars.
Some people choose green simply because they see it better with their astigmatism.
In this case, I would say it depends on what you like best and feel the most comfortable with.
Winner: Tie
COMPETITIVE SHOOTING
Again, it partially depends on lighting and environment with the same standards applying.
The type of target may also be a factor in terms of color contrast, so choosing a reticle that will stand out against the target color will also be important.
If competing in long-range shooting, decreasing strain on the eyes may be important, so green may be the go to.
In 3-gun, speed is king - so choosing the reticle that you can pick up the fastest would be the way to go. Basically, figuring out which red dot is the most comfortable and easiest to use would be the smart choice.
Winner: Tie
RECREATIONAL SHOOTING
I’ll make this one short. I believe the best red dot for recreational shooting is the one you like best. Try both out and see which one is easiest for you to find, see, and keep on target.
Winner: Tie
CONCLUSION
For me, the first thing to know is that I AM going to have a reflex sight on my handgun, AR, or shotgun.
People have been using red dots for decades, and they’ve done great. But, is a green dot better?
Hopefully in this article you saw there there are some definite benefits to both.
The red dot will likely be easier to find, cost less, be easier to see in lower light conditions and against green/hunting backdrops, and have longer battery life.
The green dot will be easier to see in brighter conditions, for folks with an astigmatism, and against more urban backdrops or those with reds and browns.
You have also seen that both have drawbacks.
The red can lead to greater eye strain and potentially wash out in brighter light. Where the green may not be as clear in darker environments or against green backdrops, often experienced during hunting.
The most important thing with choosing red or green is that you try them both out and go with the one that you can see the best and you feel the most comfortable with.
It doesn’t matter if one color SHOULD work better in a scenario if it doesn’t work better for you. So try a couple on for size and see which one will best meet your needs.