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Reality Check: Red Dot Sights

CBGaskin said:
Wouldn't lasers provide same advantage as red dot? Still have clear iron sights?
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My experience with lasers was awful; any hand movement and the laser is all over the place. It was distracting and I always felt like I was chasing the laser like a cat. The advantage (for me) of a red dot is that the reticle (aiming point) is fixed in the optic glass and therefore is less susceptible to any variance caused by the slightest movement of your grip, etc. Clearly, if the shooter's hands are moving that much, point of impact will be a problem regardless, but I've just never been a fan of lasers because they amplify the slightest shift.
 
JMC said:
Use red dot for certain competitions but for carry don't want anything that could increase potential points of failure. So, really, this topic is about user preference, not whether red dots are better overall.
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For my two optic-equipped pistols, both optics are "shake awake" so if I present and the reticle isn't there, I know immediately the optic has failed (or battery is dead). That's why both are full cowitness with night sights so I can revert immediately to irons. Best of both worlds, I think.
 
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MROD said:
Getting past the more crap mounted on your gun aspect (red dot/light/laser), and the fact that if the weapon is for self defense, your dealing with a confrontation distance of <5 feet. Your adversary is not going to be standing facing you at 20 yards like a target. At a self defense range your not going to have time to full draw your weapon, look down the sights/red dot. So why are training that way? Why do you have junk mounted on your gun that isn't usable? Because companies want to sell toys. Train in a CQC format of <5 feet with high probably of physical contact.
Retired Fed Leo.
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If I've let someone get within 5 feet of me, I'm failing in my situational awareness. I realize things can be dynamic and I can't see everything all the time, but I do my best to avoid crowds and sketchy areas. I follow the axiom, "Don't go anywhere with a gun you wouldn't go without one."

Still, I'm untactical, so...
 
Green dot sights were a game changer for me. I have the old age and eyesight thing going on. The only thing is that now I use a J-Frame .357 as my EDC. But my secondary EDC is my VP9SK with a Holosun green dot on it. I have several other firearms outfitted with green dot optics also. For me, it was no problem transitioning to the optics.
 
Mr. Untactical said:
If I've let someone get within 5 feet of me, I'm failing in my situational awareness. I realize things can be dynamic and I can't see everything all the time, but I do my best to avoid crowds and sketchy areas. I follow the axiom, "Don't go anywhere with a gun you wouldn't go without one."

Still, I'm untactical, so...
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I hear this a lot and respectfully it’s misguided and a lot of times by folks that have taken a they are a Master Jedi mentality

Most robberies aren’t that overt. They will close the distance looking non threading asking for the time or something normal and then spring into action. As they have to be within hamds length to Rob anyone and women get the extra bonus of sexual assualt.

So while some argue resist/irons striker/DA revolver/semi auto etc
I recommend as I stated how they run their chosinn gear in a B8 with a 5 yard rohndup or Baseline assessment drill
And take that close proximity handgun, Cognative decision making classes form between national trainers like Chuck Haggard, John Hearne Darryl Bolke Wayne Dobbs, Lew Weems etc etc.

And I say this as I have seen my share of and rolled up on civilian shootings that are in fact entangled and delt with and interviews several dozen inner city gang bangers inside Federal prisons. It usually isn’t a case of an awareness issue despite anyone best efforts you are not condition black 100% of the time.
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And funny timing. A good article from Greg Ellifritz Weekend Knowedge dunp. Her eis the red dot link and I will throw in the link to all the articles as there’s always great stuff every week.

www.shootingtimes.com

Red Dot vs. Iron Sights: Which is Better? - Shooting Times

For self-defense, what's the best sighting solution?
www.shootingtimes.com www.shootingtimes.com

www.activeresponsetraining.net

Weekend Knowledge Dump- November 21, 2025

Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend. The Priorities of Survival – RevolverGuy.Com "We don’t have an aversion to neat gear,
www.activeresponsetraining.net www.activeresponsetraining.net
 
ECS686 said:
And funny timing. A good article from Greg Ellifritz Weekend Knowedge dunp. Her eis the red dot link and I will throw in the link to all the articles as there’s always great stuff every week.

www.shootingtimes.com

Red Dot vs. Iron Sights: Which is Better? - Shooting Times

For self-defense, what's the best sighting solution?
www.shootingtimes.com www.shootingtimes.com

www.activeresponsetraining.net

Weekend Knowledge Dump- November 21, 2025

Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend. The Priorities of Survival – RevolverGuy.Com "We don’t have an aversion to neat gear,
www.activeresponsetraining.net www.activeresponsetraining.net
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They sure do like to generalize and use “holier than thou” language, don’t they? Think I’ll pass on following their “teachings”.

Everyone’s experience(s) are different…and I’ll continue to use an optic on my carry gun, so I guess I’m one those “every Joe citizen” alluded to in one of the articles, who, by the way, doesn’t use a compensator to keep his dot on target between shots.
 
Lab4Us said:
They sure do like to generalize and use “holier than thou” language, don’t they? Think I’ll pass on following their “teachings”.

Everyone’s experience(s) are different…and I’ll continue to use an optic on my carry gun, so I guess I’m one those “every Joe citizen” alluded to in one of the articles, who, by the way, doesn’t use a compensator to keep his dot on target between shots.
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I had Erick Gelhaus scheduled to teach. His Red Dot class (Cougar Mountain Solutions) low numbers made it a no go. Erick is a great solid instructor and wrote the Iptics curriculum for Gunsite as he is a Gunsite Academy Rangemaster.

I have learned how to use red dots and they work however they are better suited to the folks that practice and train frequently. (At least twice a month)

All that said I don’t run them on my duty guns or any off duty guns (I do a lot of DA revolver stuff and run HK 45 and P30L both LEM for duty)

That said I like to have humor so here is for us iron sight guys. We still lien uiu red dot guys but like I said whatever you carry get proficient with it!
 

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Mr. Untactical said:
There is a learning curve - especially if you've been shooting with irons for a long time. But, at least for me, I'm used to the optics now and am pretty handy with putting the reticle on target quickly, etc.
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To be honest I rarely aim LOL. I've grown accustomed to point and shoot from the sternum. I don't do much "target" shooting anymore to be fair though. It's usually just quals so... Long as I can hit the chest somewhere I'm good. One of the reasons I would like to try a good sight like CT or something. I'd like to just get a slide for my XD tactical but I don't think they make straight 5 inch in .40's yet they are 4inch 9mm conversions. I have run a straight XD for years on duty but to be honest I'd like to add a light and some optics. I seen some decent co-witnessed sights incase they go down I have no problem with that.
 
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