A sight is an aiming device used to assist in

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aligning

ranged weapon A ranged weapon is any weapon that can engage targets beyond hand-to-hand distance, i.e. at distances greater than the physical reach of the user holding the weapon itself. The act of using such a weapon is also known as shooting. It is someti ...

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instruments or optical illumination equipments with the intended target. Sights can be a simple set or system of physical markers that have to be aligned together with the target (such as

iron sight Iron sights are a system of physical alignment markers (usually made of metallic material) used as a sighting device to assist the accurate aiming of ranged weapons (such as a firearm, airgun, crossbow or even compound bow), or less commonly as ...

s on

firearms A firearm is any type of gun designed to be readily carried and used by an individual. The term is legally defined further in different countries (see Legal definitions). The first firearms originated in 10th-century China, when bamboo tubes c ...

), or optical devices that allow the user to see an optically enhanced — often

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— target image aligned in the same focus with an

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(e.g. telescopic sights, reflector sights and holographic sights). There are also sights that actively project an illuminated point of aim (a.k.a. "hot spot") onto the target itself so it can be observed by, such as laser sights and infrared illuminators on some night vision devices.

Simple sights

At its simplest, a sight typically has two components, front and rear aiming pieces that have to be lined up. Sights such as this can be found on many types of devices including weapons,

and measuring instruments, and navigational tools. On weapons, these sights are usually formed by rugged metal parts, giving them the name "

iron sights Iron sights are a system of physical alignment markers (usually made of metallic material) used as a sighting device to assist the accurate aiming of ranged weapons (such as a firearm, airgun, crossbow or even compound bow), or less commonly ...

", as distinct from optical or computing sights. On many types of weapons they are built-in and may be fixed, adjustable, or marked for elevation, windage, target speed, etc. They are also classified in forms of notch (open sight) or aperture (closed sight). These types of sights can require considerable experience and skill, as the user has to hold proper eye position and simultaneously focus on the rear sight, the front sight, and a target, all at different distances, and align all three ''planes of focus''.

Optical sights

Optical sights use optics that give the user an enhanced image with an aligned aiming point or pattern (also called a reticle)

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d onto the target image, preferably at the same

focal plane In Gaussian optics, the cardinal points consist of three pairs of points located on the optical axis of a rotationally symmetric, focal, optical system. These are the '' focal points'', the principal points, and the nodal points. For ''ideal'' ...

Telescopic sights

A telescopic sight is a refracting telescope equipped with some form of referencing pattern ( reticle) mounted in an optically appropriate position in the optical system to give an accurate aiming point. Telescopic sights are used on a wide range of devices including guns,

equipment, and even as sights on larger telescopes (called a finderscope).

Reflector sights

Mark III free gun reflector sight mk 9 variant reflex sight animation

Another type of optical sight is the reflector (or "''reflex''") sight, a generally non- magnifying optical device that allows the user to look through a glass element and see a reflection of an illuminated aiming point or some other image superimposed on the field of view. These sights have been around for over 100 years and have been used on all types of weapons and devices. Reflector sights were first used as a weapon sight in German aircraft towards the end of World War I. Over the years they became more sophisticated, adding lead computing gyroscopes and electronics (the World War II

Gyro gunsight A gyro gunsight (G.G.S.) is a modification of the non-magnifying reflector sight in which target lead (the amount of aim-off in front of a moving target) and bullet drop are calculated automatically. The first examples were developed in Britain ...

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/ref> radar range finding and other flight information in the 1950s and 60s, eventually becoming the modern head-up display.

Other types of optical sights

* Collimator sight *

Holographic weapon sight A holographic weapon sight or holographic diffraction sight is a non- magnifying gunsight that allows the user to look through a glass optical window and see a holographic reticle image superimposed at a distance on the field of view. The hologram ...

* Laser sight *

Red dot magnifier A red dot magnifier is an optical telescope that can be paired with a non-magnifying optical sight on a weapon to create a telescopic sight. They work with the parallel collimated reticle image produced by certain non-magnifying sights so, con ...

used in conjunction with a non-magnified optical sight

List of sights

There are many types of sighting devices. They can be fixed, mechanical, optical, computational, or a mixture of all of these attributes. * Bombsight * Collimator sight * Diopter sight * Globe sight * Head-up display *

Iron sight Iron sights are a system of physical alignment markers (usually made of metallic material) used as a sighting device to assist the accurate aiming of ranged weapons (such as a firearm, airgun, crossbow or even compound bow), or less commonly as ...

* Laser sight * Reflector sight **

** Red dot sight * Telescopic sight * Thermal weapon sight * Night vision device *

Fire-control system A fire-control system (FCS) is a number of components working together, usually a gun data computer, a director, and radar, which is designed to assist a ranged weapon system to target, track, and hit a target. It performs the same task as a ...

Notes

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sight (Device) Firearm components Optical devices Artillery components Surveying instruments es:Visor