Rich S. is a 50-year-old man who lived in Benton City, Washington.
One morning, he armed himself with a gun and forced himself into the home of a previous girlfriend.
He threatened the woman with the gun and barricaded himself inside.
He held the lady hostage and told police he was suicidal.
Police responded to the house and negotiators established communication with Rich.
A SWAT team responded to the house and multiple snipers set up positions around the residence.
During this time, the woman could repeatedly be heard begging Rich not to point the gun at her.
Despite the negotiator’s best efforts, Rich was angry and uncooperative.
As negotiations deteriorated one of the snipers identified a clear line of sight.
Assessing that there was an immediate threat to the hostage, the sniper took a shot.
Rich was killed by the sniper, and thankfully, the hostage was safely rescued.
Now, I don’t know the exact rifle used by the sniper.
But you can be sure it was set up with quality accessories, likely including a red dot.
This would assist the sniper in assessing the situation and delivering a precise shot.
Red dots and optics are always improving, and there are tons of different options to choose from when you’re looking for the perfect one.
But one option that most people don’t put a lot of thought into is the optic’s window size.
What is the window size?:
An optic’s window size describes the size of its objective lens – the lens through which light from the emitter creates the image.
Basically, it’s the lens size you will look through to aim the shot.
For example, a micro red dot usually has a window size of around 0.6″ x 0.8″. This is a common size for use on pistols.
A compact red dot is around 0.9″ x 1.1″, and a full-size red dot is usually 1.1″ x 1.3″ or larger (this is most common on rifles).
Benefits of a larger window size:
One of the best things about a larger red dot window is that it can lead to faster target acquisition.
Plus, with a larger lens, you will have a wider field of view. This will give you a more complete image of the target and what is around it.
Another good thing about a larger window is that it’s more forgiving.
For instance, you will have more room to adjust your head position and will be able to see through the window at different angles.
This makes shooting accurately in different positions more attainable.
Compact window size:
A compact window size on a red dot is a medium-sized window.
It’s the middle ground size that can be used in several different situations.
Compact window size red dots are big enough to be effectively used on pistols or rifles, and are small enough to fit on a concealed carry pistol.
Compared to micro red dots, the compact window provides a wider field of view and quick target acquisition.
It will be lighter than a full-size red dot and has more mounting options, including pistols or smaller carbines.
Another benefit is that a compact red dot allows for easier co-witnessing with iron sights.
They usually have long battery life (over 20,000 hours) and are a good balance between concealment and target acquisition.
Subcompact red dot window:
Micro red dots are designed for small pistols like the Sig P365.
The main benefit of the small red dot window is that it doesn’t overhang the slide or add noticeable bulk to the gun.
If you have a slim pistol for conceal carry a small window optic will help keep the pistol slim and reduce printing on clothing.
With any accessory, the less weight you add the less the accessory will disrupt the pistol’s balance or cycling.
Also, a subcompact red dot window will usually still fit with holsters and won’t require a lot of customization.
And there is minimal risk of snagging when drawing with a subcompact red dot.
The drawback to a smaller window is that it can be slower to find the dot, especially in a stressful situation.
The truth is, choosing the right optic depends on your specific gun.
Your goal should be to find an optic window size that’s a good balance between quick target acquisition and size for concealment.
Remember to also continue to train with iron sights in case the red dot ever fails.
