SHTF Reflex Sights

Some concerned survivalists have asked me about how viable a red dot or reflex sight is during SHTF knowing my advocacy for these types of sights.  

My argument for these types of sights are their speed for engaging targets.   They are accurate enough for small targets out to 100 meters.  They have a wider margin of error for alignment over iron sights and they have no set eye relief meaning anyone can pick up a gun with a reflex sight and use it.

Before I go on, I would like to talk about the magic 100 meter mark.  I use it as a benchmark for maximum effective range for a Pistol Caliber Carbine, a reflex sight and a practical fighting distance.  The average battle in WW2 was fought at 73 meters and according to the NTOA, the average police “Sniper” engages at 76m.  If you plan to survive in an urban or forested area, consider how far you will be shooting.  That is why I am an advocate of the reflex sight.  But there are alternatives and that's why I am going to keep this article focused on things capable of close quarters shooting because that is ultimately what reflex sights are for.  

Firstly, there is no perfect optic, you must give something up to gain something else.  For survivalists, my two biggest complaints are battery reliance or resistance to EMP.  I have several solutions a person can consider but it involves surrendering one benefit for another.  

Lets start by talking about the benefits to a reflex sight:

1) 33% faster target acquisition time

2) Forgiving margin of error for alignment over scopes and iron sights

3) No set eye relief

4) Effortlessly keeping both eyes open to maintain situational awareness

5) Light and short profile

Here are the 3 disadvantages

1) Battery use

2) Not practical for shooting past 100 meters

3) Vulnerability to EMP

(Note: Vulnerability to water is not listed as a disadvantage.  When you buy reflex sights from Specter Arms, they are all at least IPX6 water resistant)

With some reflex sights such as the Vector Optics Maverick, the battery lasts for such a long time that battery use ceases to be a real concern.

Battery use and vulnerability to EMP are essentially the same problems; they are electronic  If you are looking for 2 eye open, close quarter shooting, consider a one power scope.  As odd as it sounds, such a thing exists and was pioneered by the Soviet PK-AS and Rakurs.  The Specter Arms Ascension sight is actually a one power prism scope  As a one power scope it allows you to effortlessly keep both eyes open when shooting.  But you give up the forgiving margin of error.  A reflex sight can be brought up and sighted in off axis by as much as 30 degrees with the Viper Reflex sight but the Ascension requires you to be on axis; much like a regular scope, looking through it off-angle creates a black opaque ring.  The Ascension has very forgiving eye relief of about 1.5” to about 12” but it is not the unlimited viewing area that a reflex gives you.  It remains small and light and is often mistaken as a tube style red dot.

Another consideration is a 1-6 power variable scope.  This optic attempts to correct all 3 of the disadvantages of a reflex sight.  The variable allows you to shoot both eyes open when the sight is set to 1 power but the eye relief is typical of a regular scope with a narrow operating range.  It needs to be on-axis to use.  The reticles may illuminate but they are glass etched meaning that a power loss would only stop the illumination of the reticle not using the scope itself.  Finally turning the magnification up allows for longer shots to be taken.  But it is a scope.  People looking at reflex sights are usually interested in something small and light and once you enter the realm of the LPVO, it stops being that.    These scopes can be found at all price points but for the best ratio between cost and quality, the Victoptics S6 is the way to go.  It can compete (and match) in terms of features and optical quality with scopes that are twice its price.

So there is no perfect sight.  Everything that exists has trade offs for various features.  Size, weight, battery, viewing angle, eye relief.

Depending on your philosophy of use you need to pick what works best for you.