[Explained] Do Optics Need Batteries?

Optical sights are designed to let gun users aim their guns. They are placed on a gun so that users can have a better visual of the target while shooting. You can find various optical sights available with particular aiming purposes. We’ll talk about it later in this post.

People who don’t have proper knowledge about optical sights, or learning the basics of using guns, often wonder about a common concept – whether the optical sights require batteries to operate or not. For your information, most modern optical sights use batteries.

In this post, we’ll share relevant information about the necessity of batteries for battery-operated optical sights, and shed light on which batteries they mainly use.

Do Optical Sights Need Batteries?

Yes, they need batteries! Like other electronic devices, all battery-supported optical sights entirely depend on batteries. You can’t use them for aiming unless you put a battery to give it power. When you insert the battery and turn the sight, an LED shines a light beam onto a slightly angled and specially coated glass. After that, it reflects a beam from another LED onto it and creates the superimposition reticle. 

So, it’s crystal clear that without a battery, a battery-operated optical sight is just a piece of glass. Better optical sights offer enhance reticle options so that users can get a better view of the target and ensure more precise shot placement. 

There are six types of optical sights that are widely used in guns. Those are –

• Red dot sights
• Holographic sights
• Laser sights
• Reflex sights
• Telescopic sights
• Collimator sights

Basically, the optical sights use coin cell batteries. For example, the red dot and the laser sights support most coin cell batteries, such as Energizer A76, Duracell 76A, AG13, LR44 Alkaline, and CR2032 Lithium coin batteries. But the other sights (telescopic, holographic, reflex, collimator) mostly use the CR2032 Lithium coin batteries.

Considerable Points While Using Batteries for Optical Sights

Keep in mind that even though these batteries may look alike (coin shaped), they are obviously not the same. They are made of different materials and has different voltage. For instance, the CR2032 is a lithium battery (20 x 3.2 mm) and comes with a 3V nominal voltage. On the other hand, the LR44 is an alkaline battery (11.6 x 5.4 mm) and comes with a 1.5V nominal voltage.

So, if you don’t consider this fact and try to use alkaline batteries on the optics that support lithium batteries, or vice versa, things won’t work. Alkaline batteries are smaller and have less voltage, whereas lithium batteries are comparatively larger and have more voltage. In short, optical sights are incompatible except for their corresponding batteries. Therefore, you’ve to ensure the correct batteries while using them with the sights. 

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers (FAQs)

What optics don’t require batteries?

The fiber-optic sights don’t require batteries. In terms of fiber-optic sights, the fiber-optic rods gather the necessary ambient light passively and direct it to the reticle. Therefore, there’s no need for batteries at all. Even in the latest modern fiber-optic sights, the reticles are brightest nearly similar to the battery-powered sights. 

What are fiber optics made of?

Fiber-optic sights are made of a transparent, flexible, thin string of plastic or glass. The thinner the fiber, the better the reticle and view. The ultra-thin fiber is the best component in this case.

How long do red dot batteries last?

Generally, a red dot or CR2032 battery can last up to 50,000 hours. But it can last even longer in the case of some latest models and the performance doesn’t get compromised at all. 

Conclusion

By this far, it should be clear to you that a maximum of optics need batteries to get operated. You must power up your battery-powered optical sights in order to use them for shooting purposes, and that’s when you need suitable batteries. When you buy any battery-powered sights they usually come with batteries. If not, then check which battery is suitable for your sight and purchase them. They are available online. Feel free to let us know if this post proves useful to you.