Sights - today there is a huge selection of them. Whether you are interested in collimator sights, laser sights, sniper scopes, or ordinary mechanical sights, there is something for everyone. In the same way, by way, each sight will work in different situations. According to the principle "if something is for everything it is for nothing," finding a sight for every situation is unfeasible. Such sights simply do not exist. However, it is possible to come across one that will work in most situations or one that can be adapted to current needs. This type of instrument is precisely the collimator sight, and especially its most modern variant, the holographic sight. But before we get to the interesting specifics and a general summary of the alternatives, it's time for a boring theory, which no article can do without.
Boring theory, or what a collimator is
The collimator is not a technology straight out of Sci-Fi movies or productions about brave American warriors serving in special units. The impressive, futuristic appearance of collimators may erroneously suggest this, but in fact, it is a relatively simple technology, the basics of which go back several decades! In a nutshell: a spot or shape generated by a light source built into the sight is displayed on the transparent glass of the sight. Such a spot or circle is reflected by mirrors built into the sight. The pointer is reflected from them until it is displayed on the vertical, transparent glass of the viewfinder. This solution allows a kind of superimposition of the aiming point directly on the area we are looking at through the viewfinder. This is the simplest explanation, in which we could use professional vocabulary that will add absolutely nothing to our knowledge of collimators. A general knowledge of the principle of their operation is enough, and technical jargon is of no use to anyone.
Collimator sight and its capabilities
Moving on to the more interesting part of the article, it is worth taking a look at collimators themselves, in particular, holographic sights being a kind of next step in the evolution of this type of targeting instrument. The most common, and cheapest collimators display a red dot on their transparent glass although other color variants also happen to be available. This is a very intuitive indicator, which at the same time consumes a very small amount of energy. This, in turn, translates into an almost absurd working time reaching up to 10 years. Touching on the issue of power supply, it should be said straightforwardly that the collimator sight will not do without it. For some, this may be a certain inconvenience, but there are solutions that minimize it. The Holosun company (as the name may suggest) has taken a liking to enrich some of its sights with solar cells. With their help, the sight can work in daylight without batteries or further extend the working time of the sight itself.
Holosun HS510C holographic sight.
An example of such a solution is the HS510C model. A great advantage of collimators is also absolutely minimal restriction of the field of view. The visibility of a larger image than a small part of it will allow faster and more intuitive aiming combined with better control of the situation. The previously mentioned holographic sights are richer in electronics than their older siblings. In their case, for example, it is possible to choose the shape of the sight. It is also worth mentioning that holographic sights can work perfectly with night vision devices. In order not to be too beautiful, let's move on to the disadvantages. The biggest one is the limited range of conducting effective, and therefore precise, firing. It is said that the holographic sight pays off at a distance of up to 200m. What about at longer distances? Well, it remains to have an excellent eye and experience with the weapon in question. The collimator will not show you where the bullet will hit after traveling a longer distance. Another disadvantage may be for some the approximation or rather the lack of it. The vast majority of sights of this type have a 1x approximation. If you plan to see more details at a greater distance, an enlarger will be necessary. This is an additional device mounted on a mounting rail directly in front of the collimator. A collimator sight with a "superimposed" magnifier gains a magnification of about 3 times. However, this type of solution can be considered a peculiar advantage. When the target is close to us, we use the collimator sight alone. When the target moves away, we put on the magnifier. The light weight of both devices and the instantaneous application of the magnifier to the collimator, make these types of sights become an extremely well-matched duo in the hands of an experienced shooter. A collimator sight is undoubtedly a very versatile sighting device, but before the final verdict, let's also look at the alternatives.
Pros:
excellent for short and medium distances,
small size,
high resistance,
trivial operation,
possibility to mount an enlarger,
long battery life,
adaptation to user preferences
Cons:
battery operation,
zooming requires an additional device,
not suitable for long-distance shooting,
relies on electronics
Collimator sight vs mechanical sight - classic vs modern.
Mechanical sighting instruments, i.e. a bow tie and a pinkie (or a peephole), are the simplest of all possible sights, but this does not mean that they are useless. Looking at the instruments in a straight line can tell us where the bullet should hit - it could hardly be simpler. It is this simplicity (and technical limitations) that has made the mechanical sight accompany the firearm practically since its inception. It is also the most economical solution, and there will certainly be a large group of traditionalists who will not be interested in replacing them with more modern solutions. However, this does not change the fact that times change just like technology does. A collimator sight can therefore be considered a natural stage in the evolution of such sights. In both cases, we are talking about immediate readiness to aim. It only takes a second to bring the sight closer to the eye and determine the likely point of a hit.
Pros:
damage-resistant,
the simplicity of operation,
possible minimal adjustment of the distance between the shooter and his target,
does not require additional financial costs
Cons:
not very precise in the hands of an inexperienced shooter,
limits the field of view by concentrating on one small point,
useless in bad lighting,
negligible adjustment possibilities, if any at all possible in a given weapon
Collimator vs. laser sight or spectacularity over the effectiveness
Laser sights deserve a separate scientific paper in the field of marketing. However, these are sights whose effectiveness is absolutely minimal, but the spectacularity is absolutely phenomenal. I do not deny, their use at very short distances, and in combination with night vision devices makes sense. They are all the more useful for training purposes. When the need arises to operate at slightly longer distances, their combat value flies out the window. Not only can they give away our position, but above all, they don't make it any easier to fire. Let's imagine that we have at our disposal a very long pole, several hundred meters long. Holding the beginning of it in our hand, we want to touch an object 700 meters away from us with its end. The slightest movement of the hand will make its end not move a few millimeters. As a result of such a large distance, its end will move many centimeters. This is also the case with laser sights, which are not right for long distances. However, when we talk about fast shooting "from the hip" this sense is as much as possible. Mass culture, however, has taught us to see these laser lines as an almost mandatory item in the equipment of every futuristic soldier. Horribly, in many productions, laser sights are shown mounted to the rifles of choice which is already a cosmic absurdity. Hence their skewed value, which in reality is high only in very specific situations. Summing up the clash between the collimator and laser sights, it's easy to guess who comes out on top.
Pros:
makes aiming easier when shooting "from the hip",
useful during training - shows the direction in which a fellow squad member is aiming,
good cooperation with night vision devices,
work well with small arms,
are flashy (if anyone cares)
Minuses:
they work well only at short ranges,
definitely shorter operating time relative to collimator sights,
greater susceptibility to damage,
dangerous for eyes
work with night vision devices, as long as you do not shine the laser directly into its lens
You need to customize their firearms or other equipment to blend hunting style.
hunting style.
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A collimator sight as a perfect compromise
As you can see, each sight is characterized by different features. Some are more useful, others less so. Some completely fail in a particular situation where another sighting device would work perfectly. Finding a sight "for everything" is like finding a small, eco-friendly SUV for driving around a crowded city. Such miracles do not exist, and one important question to ask is "what do I really need this sight for?". However, we can always make a compromise that is as close to our expectations as possible. Personally, I think it is a collimator sight with an emphasis on the holographic variant and an additional magnifier. Such a combination will allow action at various distances, is small, handy, with a very long operating time. Yes, pairing it with such a Polish WKW TOR would be an unwise idea, to say the least, but any lighter weapon designed for shorter distances will feel over-happy in such a company.