Laser Vs Red Dot Home Defense for Pistols, Shotgun, and Handguns
Accurately shooting for home defense with your gun is essential and challenging. It may seem confusing to any shooter what sight you should choose, especially when you have a limited budget. Red dot and laser both are great for self defense, easy to learn, and perfect for a pocket pistol. You can shoot in low-light conditions without getting much strain on your eyes.
Here the criteria are only home protection. The analysis and fact could be different for outdoor shooting, but read the pros and cons in home defense to get a better idea about choosing one.
Red Dot or Laser for Home Protection
Contents
Red Dot Pros
Visibility of Red Dot for Self-defense
A red dot reticle is a superior option to aim the target. You can easily see the dot in various flashlight conditions. Some red dot sight has an automatic brightness adjustment system. The background will blend perfectly, and you can point out the target quickly, which is an essential part of self-protection. You can keep your eyes on the wrong person or animal while pointing the weapon at them.
Easy to Install and Use
Red dot sight’s installation or mounting process is super easy. It does not require extra tools to mount it and additional knowledge to control it. The settings are pretty simple, and you can easily adjust them.
Easier to Manage
The red dot does not have a turn-off or turn-on option. It is always on, so you can quickly point it on the attacker and shoot. The brightness will automatically adjust in light conditions, so you must focus on the dot. Also, you will get a faster shot on target with faster target acquisition.
Size for Red Dot and Laser on Pistol
Red dot sights come in various sizes, and you can use 2 of them. The smaller one has 1.5 MOA, which is great for protecting yourself. You can zero in on the target quickly with 6 MOA with sniper bb guns. So the smaller and bigger one is the best choice for home defense. Other sizes are suitable for outdoor and industry purposes.
Night Vision
The red dot makes excellent visibility in dark conditions. You won’t be visible to the attacker, so the red dot does not leave any trace even in a tactical situation and lighting conditions.
Easy Fit
The red dot is small in size, and it can easily fit in the holster. The price is affordable. And the design is good enough, though it can change with personal preference. Also, the fit helps you with precision shooting.
Red Dot Cons
Power and Battery Life
Red dot sight or reflex sight uses high battery power to increase the brightness; otherwise, you cannot focus on the dot in low light. It reduces the battery life.
Mounting Process
Your pistol should have rear sight dovetail to mount the red dot, or the pistol needs to be drilled for mounting it. Installing in the rear firearm sight dovetail is not a durable process.
Laser Sight Pros
Easy to Attach
Most laser sights can attach quickly to the rail. Just punch it on the rail, attach the screw if needed, and you are good to go.
Can Reveal Your Position
Anyone close to you can see the laser dot when you aim. The attacker will be less motivated to shoot you after seeing the laser. So, it is easy to warn them.
Can Use It with Lights
You do not have to use lights on the pistol with a red dot sight, as the red dot captures natural light to make the dot visible to you. But laser light for pistols can be used with white light to shoot accurately in low light. The light and laser can mount on the rail, and you can see the laser dot and some area of the target simultaneously. The combo works great.
Easy to Focus
You do not have to keep your head behind the sight and focus on the dot with your one eye, such as lowering your head under the bed, keeping your hand up a little to see the dot, then shooting. You can see the laser sights dot even in an awkward position, so it does not give any eye strain and can shoot behind any cover.
Laser Cons
Hard to See in Daylight
Seeing the red and green lasers are hard in bright sunlight. It is only beneficial in night shooting, so you have to use the red dot to shoot the attacker in the daytime. However, it works better in fog and smoke.
Expose Your Position: The attacker can see the laser quickly, so your position will be compromised after one shot.
What’s Better a Red Dot or Laser?
Red dot and laser are better for home defense and accurate shots on target in various situations. If you are using a laser, you may not shoot the attacker accurately if he is more than 15 yards away. The maximum effective range of a laser is 10 yards. The red dot is better in this situation. The maximum effective range of red is 15 to 25 yards.
You can shoot any unconventional position with a laser. The combination of red dot sight and laser will be great for aiming. They both do not require many brightness settings. The red dot is more beneficial in daytime shooting, and the laser is beneficial at night. Iron sight won’t impede a red dot sight.
