Will a red dot improve pistol accuracy?
- Thread starter shanneba
- Start date
Old_Me
Emissary
i have only had my "green dot" for a few weeks, and it is on my carry gun. i have had only some practice thus far, and i of course need much more. what i have found though is that it did help me get back on target a bit quicker than the iron sights.
of course my age factors into this as well, or at least i think it does.
only more time and practice will tell me if i improve with my carry gun..then too let's not forget, in the dark it may be a better choice than iron sights.
of course my age factors into this as well, or at least i think it does.
only more time and practice will tell me if i improve with my carry gun..then too let's not forget, in the dark it may be a better choice than iron sights.
Old_Me
Emissary
yeah, and he's holding it pointed at him...........I am average with them and without them.
Also notices his microphone is a gun.
Lab4Us
Professional
Truth
! At 18, I could get a clear sight picture at 100 yards with an M16 irons (back when the military actually qualified with 5.56).50 years later, a much worse astigmatism where I see almost double front iron sights at arms length, trifocals. I’ve learned which of the two front sights I see to hit what I’m shooting at, but it’s combat shooting at best (shoot to stop threat), no real marksmanship where it’s all hits in the 10 ring at 25-50 yards.
The dots help me get back on target much quicker as well, and for me, the dots sight picture is 100% clearer than irons.
I was a skeptic at first and struggled with the Dot. Which I now realize was a me thing. I did find them useful shooting at distance 20 yrds and more but not 10 and in, withe the gap between very inconsistent. I then decided to make them work for me by understanding how they work (purpose) and practice. Much quicker follow ups and when I actually try to be pinpoint accurate (much slower than normal speed) with the Dot only I feel I am very accurate. I use the Dot only for a good portion of my practice firing fairly quick or shoot double taps. I feel finding the Dot quickly does help when I shoot irons by putting my form in much better position. I now have a Dot on all Plastic guns except my Plus, HC, PPS M2 Only my TRP 4.25 has a Dot in my 1911's. I feel they are beneficial in general for older eyes and people with eye issues. I am the proud owner of WMD in my Left and DND in my Right 
Blackmesa96
Custom
I find them to help when shooting beyond 15 yards with my eyes. Sadly, once the target gets much beyond that distance the rings tend to disappear.
A 2 MOA dot does not completely obscure the x ring like the front sight on most of our pistols does at 25 yards. A 6 MOA does the same thing, so it isn't particularly useful in my world.
The size of the sight in relation to the x ring makes it easier to be accurate.
A 2 MOA dot does not completely obscure the x ring like the front sight on most of our pistols does at 25 yards. A 6 MOA does the same thing, so it isn't particularly useful in my world.
The size of the sight in relation to the x ring makes it easier to be accurate.
HayesGreener
SAINT
I have found that I am much faster getting good hits with the optic, but more precise when using iron sights. Optics force you to make a good presentation which benefits your shooting with irons
SimonRL
Ronin
A red dot is definitely quicker on target and if I’m shooting at my preferred 4 inch splatterburst targets I find them much more accurate from about 15 yds out because the front sight tends to obscure more if not all of the target. But since I had cataract surgery I now see irons and red dots equally well and am enjoying shooting irons a lot and I find they seem more instinctual from about 7yds in. Now if I’m shooting on a steel IDPA target and just going for hits, not bulls it’s pretty much a wash, but the speed factor with the red dot is noticeable - particularly if you learn to trust the dot and not try and line it up
perfectly.
belladonna
Ronin
I am pretty good with my Masada Slim with an optic, but I struggle a bit more with my Echelon because it's larger (my guess anyway). I do pretty well with irons, but I am looking forward to my retirement when I can put put more time into my practice with both.
