Red Dot Sights

[pop pop]

I have not got on the bandwagon concerning Red Dot Sights on handguns. I have seen trainers, good ones, hunt for the dot in demonstrations, while using them. If you are interested in learning about them, Pros and Cons, google "What Ken Hakathorn says about Red Dot Sights". it is very informative. His opinion, at self-defense distances 7-10 yards, one most probably will be served better by iron sights. Interesting video if you are on the fence. 

[Cruel Hand Luke]

The dot allows you to do things that you cannot do nearly as easily with irons. The dot does not have to be centered in the window...meaning that no matter where the dot is , if you can see it on the target that is where the bullet will impact. So you are able to aim from contorted positions where it might not be possible to get both the front and rear sight aligned with the eye. The dot also allows for more precise aiming at distant or small targets. And it also allows for focusing on the target and "noticing the dot" instead of focusing on the front sight and noticing the target and the rear sight. It means your focus can remain on the target and you have eliminated one of the 3 focal points (rear sight) from your aiming consideration. And finally the dot allows people who are far sighted (as many people become as they get older) to see the dot even if they cannot see (or see a fuzzy ) front sight. 

Now do you NEED a dot? No and we can make an argument that inside 5 yards you don't even need SIGHTS at all if your grip, trigger press, and presentation of the pistol are good. But the dot allows you to easily engage targets at distance that would be "iffy " with irons. 

Edited December 4, 2023 by Cruel Hand Luke

[chances R]

the dot and open sights do exactly the same thing....they simply tell you where your muzzle is pointed.  I would argue the dot does that quicker and more accurately.  If one is having trouble 'finding the dot' , it is generally a fault of grip.

[DWARREN123]

I lately picked up a Vortex Strikefire II 1X30 red/green dot sight.

Put it on a Ruger 10/22 Charger and it works well. Not as accurate as a scope for me but much faster and it is fairly accurate at 25 yards for me.

[Jpoc700]

I consider myself old-school, and never thought I'd put a red-dot on my pistol.  I have one as a back up sites on an AR so I tried it on my pistol.  I was hooked, one time on the range.  Quicker target acquisition, able to keep both eyes wide open to scan for other threats.  Takes a little time to practice your and finding the dot wasn't a big problem.  Good luck but don't knock it till you try it.

[slickrick0999]

Well.....

I was for sure a red dot hater.  Just didn't see the reason and refused to try them (on a pistol).

Recently, I tried one and I really like it.   I'm not sure about putting one on my daily carry (not yet anyway) but on my bigger range pistol that we run drills with and I guess would be a competition style setup, I am getting to where I really like the dot.   Further distance shots for sure the dot shines.  The first round, I'm still working on but this has been easier than I expected.   At first, it was not easy at all but some dry fire draws and working on grip helped quite a lot.  Transitions seem to be not bad, I do have to work on movement and representation but it is coming together well. 

A couple of things I've noticed are...

1. The dot allows me to shoot with both eyes open, something I've never been able to do with irons.

2. My old eyes & contacts do better with the dot now.

Self defense ranges (7 yards-ish) ehh, will probably be more pointing than aiming anyway. 

Edited January 1 by slickrick0999
Auto correct wrong word

[chances R]

Close shots, you may or may not use dot, but you have already made a big step in helping with that.....keeping both eyes open.  Also helps in low light.  

[Paulie771]

The dot isn't that hard to pick up if your presentation is good. If it's not, yea, you'll fish for it. Pretty big tell-tale that you need to work on your presentation. Biggest tip I've learned in red dot focused classes is that, if you're grip is consistent, the dot will almost always be high (especially w/ Glocks) and all you have to do is apply more pressure with your support side pinky to bring it down into the the plane w/ your eye. Main thing is to dry fire and work to pick up the dot before your arm is completely pushed out into the firing position.

As for benefits, there are many. I'm now 42 but I've had bad eyes for years. Since I took my first force on force course I started carrying w/ XS Big Dots because they were so much easier to see. Now, the red dot does that. Secondly, it allows you to be target focused w/ both eyes open to see better and not have to worry about focusing on your front site. Third, accuracy at extended ranges is an order of magnitude easier. My friends and I start w/ shooting head shots at 50 as our warm up for any range session and they are rarely missed. Finally, if you're having to send rounds at someone at 7-10 yards, you are probably point shooting or, at most, back plating them. It is quite easy to make hits at 10 yards using just the back plate of your slide (this requires shooting w/ both eyes open). Some even put a white dot there to make this even easier. You're not going to be precise, but you can get effective hits on a man sized silhouette w/ a little practice.

Personally I believe RDS on pistols offer far more pros than cons.

Edited January 7 by Paulie771

[peejman]

On 12/31/2023 at 10:42 PM, slickrick0999 said:

Well.....

I was for sure a red dot hater.  Just didn't see the reason and refused to try them (on a pistol).

Recently, I tried one and I really like it.   I'm not sure about putting one on my daily carry (not yet anyway) but on my bigger range pistol that we run drills with and I guess would be a competition style setup, I am getting to where I really like the dot.   Further distance shots for sure the dot shines.  The first round, I'm still working on but this has been easier than I expected.   At first, it was not easy at all but some dry fire draws and working on grip helped quite a lot.  Transitions seem to be not bad, I do have to work on movement and representation but it is coming together well. 

A couple of things I've noticed are...

1. The dot allows me to shoot with both eyes open, something I've never been able to do with irons.

2. My old eyes & contacts do better with the dot now.

Self defense ranges (7 yards-ish) ehh, will probably be more pointing than aiming anyway. 

Points #1 and #2 are why I'm looking for a pistol with a red dot.  I don't have strong enough eye dominance to shoot with both eyes open, I get double vision when I try.  I also wear contacts and I'm old enough that reading glasses have become a thing.  I've always liked irons but I've got to be practical. 

[River02]

A couple of years ago I suffered a pretty severe retinal detachment in my non-dominant eye. A series of laser sessions to shore up the retina in my dominant eye was performed to pre-empt an impending detachment there as well. After scleral buckle surgery and close to a year of healing, the vision in the non-dominant eye is much improved. During that healing period I started shooting w/ a RDS because while using irons the front sight was always to fuzzy too focus on. I've got to say-- it turned this sceptic into a believer.  Today I shoot and train with both irons and RDS--- I'm confident in my skills with both to comfortably carry a firearm configured under either condition. 

Edited February 19 by River02
spelling error

[TGO David]

On 2/18/2024 at 6:49 PM, River02 said:

 Today I shoot and train with both irons and RDS--- I'm confident in my skills with both to comfortably carry a firearm configured under either condition. 

This is the way.