Best Zero For Your Red Dot Pistol: 10 vs 15 vs 25

[rcurtner]

This has been discussed a good bit here lately, came across this around thought I would share it….

Best Zero For Your Red Dot Pistol: 10 vs 15 vs 25

Getting a proper zero isn't rocket science. It just takes a little understanding and a few adjustments to your red dot pistol.

www.ammoland.com

Im a odd ball 12 yards for me.

 

[Bassbob]

Im a odd ball 12 yards for me.

Still a pretty good zero for a carry gun. I know a guy who for some reason uses 13 yards.

 

[Anchorite]

Interesting article. I don’t run any optics on my handguns (yet), but it do 99% of my shooting at 10-15 yards so I would think that’s a good range.

 

[Shibadog]

I’ve put a red dot on my FN reflex and I’ve found it (1) to work very well for accurate shots and (2) to be tough for ME to “Find” in a hurry. I am getting better with practice, but I’m still slower first round on target than with irons. I’m an old dog and learning to shoot fast with a dot has been a challenge. Still the accuracy is impressive. Hopefully the speed will come/

 

[Bassbob]

I’ve put a red dot on my FN reflex and I’ve found it (1) to work very well for accurate shots and (2) to be tough for ME to “Find” in a hurry. I am getting better with practice, but I’m still slower first round on target than with irons. I’m an old dog and learning to shoot fast with a dot has been a challenge. Still the accuracy is impressive. Hopefully the speed will come/

Do your iron sights co-witness ? That helps.

Which optic are you using ? The Eotech/ Holosun doughnut of death reticle helps a lot when you’re transitioning to dots.

The best way is to practice relentlessly maintaining a consistent grip, draw and presentation so that when you push out the orientation is identical every time. With an empty gun obviously and multiple times every day. This actually should be the way with irons as well. Muscle memory.

You’ll get it brother. I got faith in you.

 

[deadduck357]

Predominantly 15yds

 

[KillerFord1977]

I’ve put a red dot on my FN reflex and I’ve found it (1) to work very well for accurate shots and (2) to be tough for ME to “Find” in a hurry. I am getting better with practice, but I’m still slower first round on target than with irons. I’m an old dog and learning to shoot fast with a dot has been a challenge. Still the accuracy is impressive. Hopefully the speed will come/

Bring the gun/ dot up to eye level. Do not hunch your head down to come down to the dot.
Practice doing that over and over.
I still sometimes will come down with my head and can recognize as I’m doing it . Throws my shot off everytime

 

[Shibadog]

Bring the gun/ dot up to eye level. Do not hunch your head down to come down to the dot.
Practice doing that over and over.
I still sometimes will come down with my head and can recognize as I’m doing it . Throws my shot off everytime

Mine cowitnesses with the fixed sights pretty well and if I “Use the sights” I can find the dot. If I try to just use the dot, not so much

 

[Biggfoot44]

147gr 9mm tends to be more accurate at long distance than the warp speed lightweights.

May well be .

But l was approaching from the Trajectory aspect , not pure accuracy . I supose l could retest , but back when experementing , the 115 +P+ was accurate enough for Two Minutes of Felon out to the relavent distances .

( And without totally restarting the Projectile Weight Eternal Debate , l don't care for 147gr 9x19 . )

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BUT !

Now that l am * Finally * entering the .357 Sig world , l'm mentally kicking around some concepts .

Yes , yes . The 125 JHP is the reason d' etre for the cartridge . But it would be cool ( to me ) to develope a load to be an " Autoloading .38-44 " .

[ Since this isn't the S&W Forum , some background :

After Colt introduced the .38Super , before introduction of .357 Mag , S&W introduced a line of N Frame Revolvers to compete , using ammo that would today be cobsidered in the neighborhood between .38 Spl +P+ , and hypothetical +P++ .

1930's ammo spec 158gr @ 1175 fps , 1940's to mid 50's 1125 fps , late '50s 1090 fps . Presumably from the most common 6.5 inch bbls , usual grain of salt . But those velocities were easily reach with " medium " handloads , so definately a reasonable goal .]

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Yes , with the short neck on the .357 Sig , l'll probably have to squint and accept that 147 is Close Enough to 158 , to not use up too much case capacity .

 

[SimonRL]

Mine cowitnesses with the fixed sights pretty well and if I “Use the sights” I can find the dot. If I try to just use the dot, not so much

So much of it really is presentation. Grip plays a massive part in making sure the dot is there. For most right handed shooters if the dot is missing it is above the optic or up and to the left. As @KillerFord1977 mentioned, bring the optic up to the eye is key. A good strong grip with slight upward pressure from your support hand index finger will sort that out. For being too far left you need to adjust your elbow as you draw. If you bring your elbow toward your side you will swing that dot toward the right. If you let your elbow hang out there the dot is going to go in the opposite direction - left. It’s not just about thousands of repetitions, building muscle memory, you have to analyze where your dot is and what you need to do to make it visible in the window. Train on hitting A zones first and when you get comfortable with that transition to a 4in target. You’ll get there.

 

[Shibadog]

So much of it really is presentation. Grip plays a massive part in making sure the dot is there. For most right handed shooters if the dot is missing it is above the optic or up and to the left. As @KillerFord1977 mentioned, bring the optic up to the eye is key. A good strong grip with slight upward pressure from your support hand index finger will sort that out. For being too far left you need to adjust your elbow as you draw. If you bring your elbow toward your side you will swing that dot toward the right. If you let your elbow hang out there the dot is going to go in the opposite direction - left. It’s not just about thousands of repetitions, building muscle memory, you have to analyze where your dot is and what you need to do to make it visible in the window. Train on hitting A zones first and when you get comfortable with that transition to a 4in target. You’ll get there.

Thanks. I’m getting there. Accuracy with the dot is excellent. I can hit a 6” plate at 25 easily and I can nail the 4” pretty regularly. If I get the dot on target it’s hit. I’ve just got to get faster at acquiring the dot

 

[KillerFord1977]

Thanks. I’m getting there. Accuracy with the dot is excellent. I can hit a 6” plate at 25 easily and I can nail the 4” pretty regularly. If I get the dot on target it’s hit. I’ve just got to get faster at acquiring the dot

 

[Shibadog]

View attachment 84473

that’s me, chasing the dot.

 

[SimonRL]

that’s me, chasing the dot.

Even I have those days! The other week KF and I went shooting and we were drawing from holster and I swear I never saw my dot once and everything was up and left . I had to have an extra beer afterward to get over it.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Thanks. I’m getting there. Accuracy with the dot is excellent. I can hit a 6” plate at 25 easily and I can nail the 4” pretty regularly. If I get the dot on target it’s hit. I’ve just got to get faster at acquiring the dot

How do you typically do with Real Sights ?

 

[Shibadog]

How do you typically do with Real Sights ?

Pretty well.. It’s ( for me anyway) easier to get consistent hits with the dot But I take longer getting on target. Difference really shows up when I’m looking at the results on a shot timer.