Riflescope Blog: Expert's reviews, news, notes on rifle scopes, hunting optics, shooting, binoculars, night vision sights, gun accessories, and more

One of the biggest reasons that people return red dot sights is because the dot is not perfectly round, or there is some glare around the inside of the tube. I have news for you. You won't get a perfectly round dot. That's just the way it is. The brighter you adjust the dot, the fuzzier it will get. Simple solution: turn the intensity down. The brightest settings are for the brightest ambient conditions. If you turn up your Aimpoint Comp C32X and you see a halo inside the tube, this is normal, not a flaw. Same with cheap units. If you're in the middle of a snow field at noon with a bright sun you'll be glad you have the option of such a bright setting, but that's all it's used for. If you're using such a bright setting at the indoor range, turn it down. The dots also appear different from eye to eye. Look at one with your left and then your right. They most often appear different. This will happen with superb sights like all Aimpoints and EOTechs, as well as cheap imports. This is how they work. Also, the glass ocular lens on a reflex sight is not broken because it is installed crookedly. It's supposed to be crooked to reflect the dot back to your eye.

Last training class was Holsters 101. I spoke about construction and materials, applications, real world daily carry, and my favorites. I started the class wearing an Uncle Mikes Bandolier with a scoped Freedom Arms in it over a Galco Miami Classic with a Glock. Inside my 5.11 tactical shirt was a Star PD. My ankle held a Kel-Tec in an Uncle Mike's rig. On my belt was a Galco Phoenix Crossdraw with a model 10 in it, next to a left hand Blackhawk Serpa with another Glock, then a Galco SOB with another Glock, then a Galco Yaqui Slide with a Beretta, then a #5 Uncle Mike's hip holster with thumb break with the straps removed and a cocked and locked 70 series 1911 in it, then an Uncle Mike's inside the pants with another Kel-Tec. A Jennings was in my pocket in a Galco horsehide Front pocket holster. A J frame was in an Uncle Mike's fanny pack. I did this to explain how each holster is different, and these visual aids helped the employees engrain the information. In the Democratic Republic of Illinois, one of the most restricted states we have, most folks have never touched a holster or a handgun, and certainly have never put a handgun in a holster and actually worn one. This was another fun class, and it's not often I get to wear a dozen guns at once and get paid for it.