Do people carry red dots?

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My carry pistols don't have red dots ever. In fact the only gun I have with a light of any kind is my Bersa UC-9 that has a flashlight attached to it that stays on my night stand.
 
Ive been seeing it more and more with the gun counter guys. Maybe they are just trying to peddle more product or maybe it has become a legit carry accessory for them. Most of these guys are older so maybe it is better with their vision.

OTOH, another thread about police agency pistol procurement, a poster (maybe Robert) said his agency was going to a new pistol with lights and a red dot reflex optic. This implies it is no longer a neat novelty.

Here it is.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ics-of-gun-replacements.862741/#post-11372765

Here is a current thread with more discussion on the topic.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...y-of-rifle-sights-and-ar-carry-handle.862889/
 
I'm considering it. I'll have my first second red dot on a pistol in a few weeks.
My shadow 2 and trijicon SRO have been at primary machine for about three weeks now. Getting the slide lightened and milled to accept the red dot and then a black nitride coating.

My hopes are over the course of 2020 I master the red dot acquisition and gain enough confidence to have one installed on my cz sp01 with the pro package installed by cajun.

Time will tell, and if I'm lucky time will drop the price on red dots.
 
I’ve been interested in picking one up to try too. Couldn’t see doing it with a pocket or subcompact, but maybe something mid to full-size. Vance Outdoors here in Columbus has had good package deals on different ones every month. I’m thinking of doing this. I would think though you would need special holster to fit since all my holsters go right up to the rear sight???? $699 for FN 509M MRD with vortex venom
https://www.vanceoutdoors.com/products2.cfm/ID/246702
 
I did for a little while but decided that I didn't like mine in bright daylight as I couldn't find the dot even on the brightest setting and had to go to irons anyway. Since the speed/accuracy increase was pretty minor with the dot I dumped it, but may consider one in the future as they get better and my eyes get worse.

For carry, I didn't notice it snagging ever, but I did have to change both the ride height and cant of my IWB holster and both had a detremental effect on how well the gun concealed.
 
I don't know anyone who does for concealed carry.
Maybe someday when they are smaller they'll be practical.
 
So, you would leave the red dot constantly turned on? Aside from holster hassles, and accidental damage issues, I just don't see it being any benefit.
 
JTQ said:
I don't, but have read of folks on a variety of forums that do.

The Roland Special is mentioned by a few as their carry gun.

https://ateiguns.com/product/roland-special/

Heck, I can't bring myself to carry a mounted light.
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From the above link
DSC_0003-600x399.jpg
Such a set up with the light and compensator would be hard to CCW for me. The RMR by itself I can do and I have now such a gun. I am sighting it in and getting use to it prior to carrying it. The holosum reflex sight is a bit cheaper than the trijicon RMR. You want the slide milled to keep the profile of the optic lower in profile so the gun can be CCW and still work with the iron sights.
 
I have several Glocks and they all still have the dreaded stock plastic sights. One day I’ll get night sights probably but I don’t want anything to do with a red dot and I’ve never even seen anybody with one at the local range. I only see them online and on TV gun shows.
 
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I carry with both an RDS and a light. It’s not difficult, nor is it uncomfortable. I haven’t had any issues with snagging on anything. You have to use a real belt made for carrying guns, and you have to invest in a real holster. Failure to do so will make you miserable. I realize the vast majority of people bristle at the idea of dumping $200 into a belt and holster, and understand that budgeting for that isn’t always possible.

If you can never find the dot even turned all the way up your RDS is trash, your batteries are trash, or (more likely) your grip/index on the gun is trash. It takes actual training and consistent practice to draw the pistol and present it to target and have the dot appear. If you don’t put in the time for whatever reason the RDS is not worthwhile.

I am carrying AIWB in a PHLster Floodlight holster, and using the pull the dot loops. This allows the already holstered and secure pistol to be put on and just snap the loops over the belt. The goal here is reduce or eliminate any day to day administrative gun handling involving shoving a loaded pistol in my pants or a holster already in my pants.

4D287CE2-1546-4153-A951-B80BFF05C6D0.jpeg 903E6FA7-E319-466C-84D8-8DC3DA3AD6F6.jpeg
 
When I shoot my weekly 900 NRA bullseye which is a precision shooting sport, the majority of pistols are equipped with basic red dot sights, especially for us with old eyes.
To be honest for self defense most civilian shooting incidents are at closer ranges and in poor light. Point shooting is a most important skill. But there is still a place for precise aiming.
 
As a former Collegiate bullseye shooter I still demand accuracy from my pistols, including my carry gun.

The RDS makes getting hits at distance much much easier. Just because most civilians only use a pistol at close ranges doesn’t mean that capability to reach out further is useless. Besides from a practical training perspective shooting at distance makes shooting in close so much easier.

I don’t shoot from a bench but this long slide HK is probably an honest 1” @25 yards gun with decent ammo. Some examples of shooting 2 hand standing at 25 yards: 65C32427-C5CD-470A-9D73-7A047A3F7D0C.jpeg DFAFD408-7FBC-428D-9090-556333AA50AF.jpeg B84DE3D1-510E-42F2-B2C0-D0BE61F73243.jpeg
 
As for point shooting... well at 3 yards I just get a rough blading of the slide to target, grip the pistol like I’m trying to crush the grip to death and get to work burning holes in the target most Ricky tick tick.
 
Coal Dragger said:
I carry with both an RDS and a light. It’s not difficult, nor is it uncomfortable. I haven’t had any issues with snagging on anything. You have to use a real belt made for carrying guns, and you have to invest in a real holster. Failure to do so will make you miserable. I realize the vast majority of people bristle at the idea of dumping $200 into a belt and holster, and understand that budgeting for that isn’t always possible.

If you can never find the dot even turned all the way up your RDS is trash, your batteries are trash, or (more likely) your grip/index on the gun is trash. It takes actual training and consistent practice to draw the pistol and present it to target and have the dot appear. If you don’t put in the time for whatever reason the RDS is not worthwhile.

I am carrying AIWB in a PHLster Floodlight holster, and using the pull the dot loops. This allows the already holstered and secure pistol to be put on and just snap the loops over the belt. The goal here is reduce or eliminate any day to day administrative gun handling involving shoving a loaded pistol in my pants or a holster already in my pants.

View attachment 888602 View attachment 888603
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I will mention for those that are not into RMR type sites vs the fully enclosef RD sight in the picture. The open sights are more prone to debris blocking the projection of the dot. Those that are closed as in the photo are more rugged. It is my understanding that the RMR and the similar holosum have a wider field of view and have a lesser profile. I can barely handle and conceal what I have. But builds/physiques vary. My holster is close to a $100 and it on a hanks belt.
Dry fire is a good technique to practice regardless of the sighting system. If you use your iron sights for co-witness finding and aligning the dot is not an issue. Under the stress of the fight and position you are in when the fight starts. you might have a trash grip. You have been punched in the face or knocked to the ground. Co-witness under such conditions is important.

upload_2020-1-31_21-56-44.jpeg
 
Coal Dragger said:
As for point shooting... well at 3 yards I just get a rough blading of the slide to target, grip the pistol like I’m trying to crush the grip to death and get to work burning holes in the target most Ricky tick tick.
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That is how it is done. When you can do that while moving you have just gone up a step in being deadly.
 
Yep, unfortunately being able to move and shoot on most ranges is frowned upon. Makes for an incentive to go to class. My last one was Pat McNamara but it’s been a few years. He had us doing stuff that would have made the average RSO or SNCOIC on a US Army or USMC (in my case) range lose their minds..... moving with loaded weapons, not pointing the muzzle slavishly down range while moving but instead *gasp* controlling the muzzle and going A to B.

Good times. Fun when you have serious dudes with a high skill level on the range and don’t have to dumb everyone and everything down.
 
Coal Dragger said:
Yep, unfortunately being able to move and shoot on most ranges is frowned upon. Makes for an incentive to go to class. My last one was Pat McNamara but it’s been a few years. He had us doing stuff that would have made the average RSO or SNCOIC on a US Army or USMC (in my case) range lose their minds..... moving with loaded weapons, not pointing the muzzle slavishly down range while moving but instead *gasp* controlling the muzzle and going A to B.

Good times. Fun when you have serious dudes with a high skill level on the range and don’t have to dumb everyone and everything down.
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So true. I am recovering from some neurological damage and am now able to sprint and I will get back to movement. You can do a lot with air soft.
Probably the best trainers for that sort of thing are Gabe Suarez and his group. He was obviously not the first one to use movement since many of the old time gun fighters did it. He discovered during a gun fight with gang banger when on an armed robbery call. They both fired at the same time and he jumped to side as he fired killing the banger. The goblin fired where he had been. If he had not moved they would have shot each other.

Here is a Hollywood star playing the role of a peaceful rancher killing people it in a somewhat dramatic LOL manner and shooting ambidextrously, getting off the X and seeking cover.



 
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