Prikksikter

Prikksikter, in Nordic terminology for dot sights, are a class of non-magnifying optical sights used primarily on firearms and some sporting devices. They project an illuminated reticle—usually a red or green dot—onto a transparent glass element. The shooter aligns the dot with the target, while the bore axis remains fixed to the weapon. This allows for quick target acquisition with minimal aiming time.

Historically, prikksikter evolved from early reflex and red-dot concepts and gained widespread use in the late 20th century. They have since been adopted by military, law enforcement, sport shooters, and civilian users for their simplicity and speed in aiming. The technology is widely available in compact, rugged designs suitable for various platforms, including rifles, shotguns, and handguns.

How prikksikter work is straightforward: an optical element houses a light source, typically a small LED, that creates a reticle which is reflected or projected into the user’s field of view. The reticle is designed to be parallax-free at practical distances, allowing efficient aiming even with slight eye movement. Most models are battery-powered and offer multiple brightness settings to maintain visibility in different lighting conditions. Common features include quick mounting on Picatinny or Weaver rails, and the option to co-witness with iron sights.

Variants include red-dot and green-dot sights, with some designs incorporating additional features such as night-vision compatibility, auto-brightness, or reduced lens glare. While they offer rapid aiming and ease of use, prikksikter rely on battery power and can be affected by bright light conditions or digital display limitations. Regular battery checks and proper mounting help maintain zero and reliability.

See also: red-dot sight, reflex sight, holographic sight.