FTP_Shooting_Sports Posted March 18 Share Posted March 18 (edited) We have been meaning to write this for a while as we get so many questions about what dot size if best for USPSA/IPSC competition. Here are our thoughts: Most high level competitors are using 6 and 8 MOA dots. Historically for us, it's a 60 % 8 MOA to 40 % 6 MOA split. Between the two, it is a matter of personal preference but the 8 MOA will definitely outperform the 6 MOA in very bright outdoor conditions. The extra reserve brightness of the 8 MOA dots are really noticeable under sunlight conditions in FL, AZ, TX etc. Recently, we have been getting demand from some top shooters for even larger dots. That led to the release of the 10 MOA and then the 12 MOA dots. On the surface, this sounds like they would be too big and accuracy would suffer but the actual results have been noticeable improvements in performance. How could that be? First off, the human eye has an easier time tracking larger objects. Not only can we track them better, we also perceive them to be going slower than a smaller object going the same speed. In a sport that emphasizes speed with a large A zone, this provides for a significant advantage. Our eyes can more easily find a larger dot, we can track it easier under recoil and we perceive the dot to not be moving as much when we try to settle it enough to make a shot. In USPSA/IPSC those are all formulas to go faster. We just need an acceptable sight picture and a trigger pull that doesn't move the dot out of the A zone and we score maximum points. Top level shooters shoot the dot as it is moving, they do not wait for it to fully stop unless it is an extremely difficult shot requires that level of accuracy. Take someone from Iron sights to a red dot on the same gun and 90 % of the time they go slower? Why is that? The answer is they wait for a perfect shot which takes more time than they did with iron sights. The FTP Alpha 3 also has one of the crispest dots in the game. Simply put, since the dot is bigger and brighter, you do not need to turn it up to the point it flares like many smaller 2.5-4.5 MOA dots. When you turn a small dot up to make it brigher, it flares into a star or other bizarre shape. Trying to aim with a star or track a star under recoil is not ideal. It's also hard to aim with a shape like that. It is much better to have a crisp round dot that has a defined edge. In fact, with our largest dots, you can often turn it down to a point that you can even see through the dot and yet still see the nice crisp round shape. You cannot do that with the smaller dots. We actually have come to call our 12 MOA dot the "crisper" as the dot it ridiculously crip. We have seen other brands where the dot isn't even circular. Some are figure 8's lying on their sides. We don't even know how you zero with something like that. That is often an issue with emitter size and shape and a small # of emitters is cheaper to make but you don't get a good shape definition. Fact: About 95 % of our customers that try our larger dots never go back to a small one. Why Doesn't Everyone Else Make Larger Dots If They Are So Good? It all boils down to consumer base. Larger dots are great for USPSA and IPSC but they are not ideal for rifles and plinkers which make up the largest customer base for red dots. Large, bright dots also are harder on battery life and everyone wants to advertise a huge battery life to the "tacticool" crowd. Competition shooters just don't matter very much to optics companies as the customer base is too small. They would rather make a small MOA dot that people can put on anything and it will be OK but not great on everything. It also costs a lot more to keep inventory of multiple dot sizes instead of just 1 or 2. We hope you find this information helpful. We do realize that personal preferences do come into play and some people have eye issues that can can cause unforseen issues. Keep them in the A zone Edited March 18 by FTP_Shooting_Sports Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzt Posted March 20 Share Posted March 20 I started shooting dots at 8 MOA. In fact, the first five dots I bought were all 8 MOA. They were, IMO, much better suited than the 3 or 4 MOA that were available at the time. I tried some 6 MOA from a company, but quit because the battery would not last for a eight stage SCSA match. Currently, all of my competition pistols wear 5 MOA dots. I'd like larger, but I love the SROs. I run a 12 MOA on my PCC for SCSA. FWIW, I prefer sharp, somewhat dim dots. Less distracting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
42ATK Posted March 20 Share Posted March 20 I have astigmatism and the only way to test is buying them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FTP_Shooting_Sports Posted April 30 Author Share Posted April 30 Just a heads up that the 10 an 12 MOA big dots will be back in stock mid June. If you want to be notified, just send us an email to sales@fasttoys.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FTP_Shooting_Sports Posted July 10 Author Share Posted July 10 Which dot do you find easier to track? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twilk73 Posted July 11 Share Posted July 11 6 hours ago, FTP_Shooting_Sports said: Which dot do you find easier to track? So in that video both dots are moving the same speed? If so os say that fits your example well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FTP_Shooting_Sports Posted July 11 Author Share Posted July 11 26 minutes ago, Twilk73 said: So in that video both dots are moving the same speed? If so issay that fits your example well. Yes the dots are moving at the same speed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FTP_Shooting_Sports Posted July 17 Author Share Posted July 17 We have less than 20 of each of the largest dots! (Big "D's") The 10 MOA is the perfect Indoor/outdoor dot. Brightness is considerably brighter than the 8 MOA. The 12 MOA is the brightest and crispest dot we have ever made. The stars just lined up on this size as you will not believe how round the dot is. Brightness is incredible and just a little too bright for us to recommend for indoor use. It's awesome for outdoors and you can make any shot you need to make in USPSA/IPSC. Once you go with the Big D, you will not go back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FTP_Shooting_Sports Posted August 13 Author Share Posted August 13 We are seeing a higher percentage of 10 and 12 MOA dots selling! If you always wanted to try a larger dot and see the advantages, grab one before we are out of stock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FTP_Shooting_Sports Posted August 14 Author Share Posted August 14 If you haven't tried a big dot yet, you are really "missing" out! They are very crisp, bright and easy to track under recoil. Most people that try the larger dots never go back to the smaller ones! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FTP_Shooting_Sports Posted August 19 Author Share Posted August 19 We are getting low on the 8, 10 and 12 MOA dots! Grab one now if you don't want to wait for our next production run! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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