Red Dot Care

August 23, 2021
Kevin "KJ" Jarnagin

How do you take care of the red dot on your concealed carry gun? It’s an important question that needs to be discussed. The last thing you want is a dirty optic when deploying your pistol for defensive use. Springfield Armory’s Hex Wasp red dot sights are easily cleaned with standard items, keeping your carry optics debris free. 


My cleaning regimen on red dot sight is straightforward. My carry optics are cleaned once a week thoroughly. Each day, however, I give the Hex Wasp a quick hit of compressed air. Perhaps this is overkill, but my red dot is crystal clear each time I dry fire or dry draw. Plus, since the gun is out, I might as well give it a once over. 


While cleaning the red dot sight, guns should be unloaded and made safe.


Compressed air, while underutilized, is a quick way to blow away any loose lint. I favor this method for daily cleaning simply because it is quick and prevents me from directly contacting the glass. A few quick spurts of compressed air, and the sight picture clears up. Compressed air only blows away particles from the lens. If you have fingerprints or dried sweat on the lens, a cleaning solution must be utilized. 


The dingy build-up on carry red dot sights is a daily battle. Most folks ignore the problem or quickly wipe it off with a t-shirt or towel. The Hex Wasp possesses a recessed glass lens, which is excellent but tends to capture lint and particles easily. Most small, red-dot sights encounter the same issue. While scratch-resistant, the Hex Wasp builds debris like lint, sweat, or particles that may impede the sight picture.


I utilize a micro-fiber cloth and glass cleaner to remove any lint. I’ve used a few different lens cleaners, but a standard glass cleaner works well. One particular glass cleaner I’m fond of is the Sprayway “World’s Best Glass Cleaner.” It’s an ammonia-free, streak-free cleaner that I’ve used around the house and on many optics. 


When using the Sprayway, use compressed air first. Then spray the micro-fiber towel with Sprayway and wipe the lens off. Repeat the process for the front lens. 


Another option for cleaning red dots is Zeiss Lens Wipes. I keep a couple of these handy in the truck and backpack. They are pre-moistened lens cleaning wipes that come in handy on out-of-town trips when you don’t have your cleaning kit handy. 


Nobody enjoys a foggy lens. If you reside in an area that lenses fog over daily, Cat Crap is for you. The name may sound funny, but this stuff excels. I use it on everything from sunglasses, rangefinders, scopes, and binos. 


If you’re looking for products not to use, start with these: shirts, towels, gun lube, gun cleaners, paper towels, or greasy towels. I’d almost bet anything you’re looking at this list and asking who would use these? I only list it because folks have used them.  


The beauty of the Hex Wasp is its clear sight picture and rugged durability. A hardened aluminum housing protects the glass on the optic but maintaining clarity is of utmost importance. Hex Wasp’s lens is coated to ensure a scratch-resistant surface, which only works if you do your part. Keep that glass clean for a clear sight picture. ~ KJ


KJ
Kevin Jarnagin (KJ) hails from Oklahoma but quickly established Louisiana roots after joining the Gun Talk team. KJ grew up as a big game hunter and often finds himself in a bass boat. Whether it’s making his way to British Columbia for elk or training with pistols, KJ always seems to find a gun in his hands and adventure on his mind.

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