red dot

[johnnylaw53]

My carry pistol is a sig p365 most of the time and a ruger lcp max when i'm doing the yard or walking; I got a hellcat pro awhile back because I wanted to try a red dot ended up liking it but a bit too big for EDC with the way I dress. so I"m thinking of getting another P365 with a red dot wondering how many people use red dots on their EDC thank you

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Never for me. As my eyes age, I find the smaller red dots, like my Vortex Venom, are too hard to pick up the tiny FOV. Therefore, I am relegated to large tube red dots, like the Tasco Pro-point for my steel challenges, and leave iron sights for my carry weapons.

 

[12Bravo20]

Half of my EDC pistols have optics on them now days. I find them easier to use with my eyesight.

 

[Tinman357]

Good info here.

SIG P365 even better with RDS

Hi All: i had posted earlier about how pleased I’ve been with my SIG P365, and the more I shoot it, the more convinced I am that it’s the perfect pocket carry gun for me. As I have recently re-entered the shooting scene after a hiatus of almost fifteen years, I have also (re)discovered many...

www.thehighroad.org

 

[jr45]

Look at Holosun 507. I find these reflex sights great and small enough for EDC except for pocket carry.

 

[CapnMac]

so I"m thinking of getting another P365 with a red dot wondering how many people use red dots on their EDC thank you

Unlike on a carbine or similar style arm, where the dot is better centered in the tube, on a pistol I want the dot to "sit" on the top of the iron sights as a reflex co-witness. That's my preference; others' differ.
We each have a different "goldilocks."

Now, I happen to really like the 365X in a Crossbreed SuperTuck. I have a factory-mounted RomeoZero and it's the bees' knees for me. Again, others' differ.

It tucks in nicely and really does not add any noticeable bulk.

Your Mileage May Vary.

 

[Tinman357]

I prefer the Crimson Trace Micro Pro green on my P365. Reliable zero, reliable shake awake. Auto brightness was/is a must have, for me. Rugged and durable, I would rate the ruggedness right up there with the Trijicon RMR, I guess. I haven't thrown any pistols against a brick wall lately. Or ever for that matter.

It checks all the boxes important to me. I wish the battery was easier to change, but after 2 battery replacements, zero was still spot on.

I hear a lot of comments about how the dot is hard to find. I never noticed that. I draw to the sights exactly the same way I've always done. The dot is right there. No hunting for it, there it is.

It does take a little practice, just like irons. If you draw and present at speed and the dot isn't on target, neither are your irons.IIf you are proficient with irons, the red dot will come easy.

On the other hand, red dots do not solve bad habits or no training. I.E.

They only work if your eye lines up behind the gun. Just like irons.

They are only "dead on" at the range they are sighted in for. Just like irons.

Rough handling/abuse will damage them. Just like irons.

Unlike irons, they can fog up, I guess, never happened to me yet. Batteries die, never happened to me as I change batteries every year. No problem yet.

As always, your milage may vary. This is only my opinion and experiance.

Stay safe, shoot straight, carry as often as you can.

Tinman.

 

[shoobe01]

Yes. Both EDC, crucially for you including the small one (Kahr P9 for me). Would never go back. Moved it from a conversational distance gun to a 25 yd headshot, 50 yd torso, any time I want to. Weight is minimal, and shape is much to my surprise no problem at all either in almost any circumstance.

I can get photos of mine but as shown in CapnMac's holstered shot, it mostly sits in a place which is already sorta occupied by the gun as a system.

 

[balin]

I have found green dots are more my style. I can see them better with my aging eyes.

 

[Anchorite]

I guess my question is, how do they look/work on bright sunny days?

 

[12Bravo20]

All of the Swampfox Optics micro dots work fine in bright daylight for me. I have both red and green reticles.

 

[JDeere]

I put a 507 EPS with 6 moa dot on my 365xl. Works well for cc and easier to pick up up on the draw. Made no difference in the way it carries. I was one who said no dots for me until I tried one...

 

[nick22]

My RMR that I put on my Gen 5 Glock 23 is really a game changer when everything is clean and dry. I am a grain farmer and I have had moments of frustration drawing my pistol to a dusty piece of glass. Usually a quick puff of breath is enough to make it usable. If shooting at dusk/dawn anywhere towards the sunlight that glass should be clean. My other reservation is if it's raining it can turn into a crap shoot. The upsides are really great though. I have been carrying this as my main carry piece over 50 percent of the time. I have a love hate relationship with it.

 

[cfullgraf]

In general, I’ve been thrilled with red dit sights. It is not that I think they do not work, it is just they do not work for me.

I have a red dot on a 45 ACP 1911 and a 22 LR AR-15. I keep trying.

One thing, I had cataract surgery several years ago on I had distance implants installed. The red dots should work better for me.

Anyway, if red dots work for you, go for it.

 

[tazbigdog]

I like green in daytime

 

[hso]

I won't put any optics on a CCW. Better to spend the time and money on Force on Force training in a reputable class instead of range or game toys. More fun too.

 

[12Bravo20]

To each their own, use what you like.

I have a lot of training from when I was in the Army and I still keep up on my training as best I can. And I use optics on my EDC pistols. Pistol optics are more than just range or game toys.

 

[Riomouse911]

I was shooting my only dot, on a Ruger Mk IV, ftom 5-15 yards today. Two hands, both eyes open, I was Trying to get as close to double taps as my indoor range allows.

The dot certainly goes make hits on targets at distance faster and more consistently. I still can’t draw and fire here, but once that gun is up from low ready it does find the center of the targets darn quickly. It’s time I break down and get one for my Glock 43X MOS.



Stay safe.

 

[C-grunt]

Optics are a game changer. That doesnt mean irons no longer work, but the optic is easier to use at distance, in low light, and on transitions or moving targets. Staying threat focused also helps with situational awareness.

One thing I hear a lot is people worry about really close range engagements or not being able to find their dot in time. I made this thread a few months back using the red dot window as a large peep sight at 10 yards.

red dot at close range

In several threads here and on other forums/pages I have heard many people say that they are hesitant to use a red dot on their handgun because the fear of not finding the dot in close range engagements. Finding the dot on the draw/presentation is a big part of training one needs to do when...

www.thehighroad.org

The only real downside to red dots is cost and more user upkeep.

 

[12Bravo20]

Optics are a game changer. That doesnt mean irons no longer work, but the optic is easier to use at distance, in low light, and on transitions or moving targets. Staying threat focused also helps with situational awareness.

One thing I hear a lot is people worry about really close range engagements or not being able to find their dot in time. I made this thread a few months back using the red dot window as a large peep sight at 10 yards.

red dot at close range

In several threads here and on other forums/pages I have heard many people say that they are hesitant to use a red dot on their handgun because the fear of not finding the dot in close range engagements. Finding the dot on the draw/presentation is a big part of training one needs to do when...

www.thehighroad.org

The only real downside to red dots is cost and more user upkeep.

I have also mentioned in several different threads that you can easily use a red dot like a big ghost ring sight for close up shots or if the optic stops working.

I personally like having back up iron sights and usually install suppressor height sights where needed. I hardly ever use the iron sights anymore except occasional practice sessions.

I know a lot of naysayers that have said they will never use an optic. But most have changed their minds after using an optic.

 

[Lo-Profile]

I have a P365xl with a Holosun 407k green dot. Easier on the eyes than red

 

[.38 Special]

Just one.



When I've really been training, the dot is slightly faster than irons. When I'm not shooting hundreds of rounds per week, however, I drop down to a level at which I can't tell a difference - and I very rarely shoot that much these days.

So it's a "meh" for me. The dot works. So do irons. My eyes may someday deteriorate to the extent that the dot makes more sense. And I cheerfully acknowledge that for some folks the dot is revolutionary. For me, though, well, "meh".

 

[Big7]

Never for me. As my eyes age, I find the smaller red dots, like my Vortex Venom, are too hard to pick up the tiny FOV. Therefore, I am relegated to large tube red dots, like the Tasco Pro-point for my steel challenges, and leave iron sights for my carry weapons.

DEFINITELY.

I will always use irons for EDC.. They don't break and they don't go dead because of a battery or bad solar cell panel.

At the range you need to be from an assailant to justify using your firearm, irons are the way to go anyway. Stick with irons for EDC weapons.

The number they alway kick around in court is 21 feet, or 7 yards. That distance, or closer is supposedly the "magic" distance from which an assailant can close an attack on you in a fast enough manner to put you at risk of death or serious bodily injury. Where they got that number, I don't know. Farther than that and you are going to be in trouble.

Practice 2 and 3 tap drills with 1, 2 and 3 possible assailants at 21 feet and closer with the irons and you will be fine. Dots are hard in the dark too.

 

[citizenconn]

I have trained to use natural point of aim for so long now that the only time I actually use the sights is when breaking in a new pistol at the range. But I am not a competitive shooter either, and I can see where a red dot optic could be an enhancement in that situation. I mainly train to be faster than the 3-4 bad guys trying to carjack or rob me a convenience store here in Houston, since that is the scenario I am most likely to encounter.

 

[Riomouse911]

I just added a Primary Arms 3MOA dot onto a Gen 3 Glock 17 build I did. I have another dot on a Ruger MkIV, so this is my first time using a dot on a center fire. I went with one that got good reviews, but didn’t cost a ton, in case I hated it. It’s a Holosun 507c footprint design, so it fit onto my slide and screwed down easily.

I did have to pop the Tru Glo rear sight off, it was too long to fit with the dot. I put an OEM rear I the dovetail. It doesn’t let me co-witness, but it fills the slot and does have the white outline for some rear sight reference if the dot croaks.



My first shots at 7 yards with Blazer 124 gr fmj were close, being centered but low. Just a few partial turns of the adjustment screw brought them high, and a bit back on the screw and few more shots brought them to the X on a B-27. At 10yds, four Fioccji 115 gr fmj stayed in the head so I think am pretty good there. I went out to 15 and all stayed in the 10 on another target.




I did notice a couple of things that I will need to work on as I get more familiar with these tools:

It took me a bit of time to find the dot in the screen. I’ve shot a pickup load of ammo through guns with open sights, so the couple hundred rounds I have shot through my two dot-equipped pistols will require more practice to make it second nature. (As expected )

I was shooting both eyes open the whole time, which isn’t easy to do when shooting for a red X ring at 15 yards. (Outside of ten I am usually a one-eyed shooter. Inside of ten, especially at speed, it’s two eyes open.) The dot easily kept the shots in the 3” ten ring on the B-27, and that is pretty darn cool.

When first bringing the gun up the dot often was high in the window, so I had to tilt the gun down just a bit to get it into play. I have this same “tilted grip” feeling when shooting the MkIV, so this is a grip/hold adjustment that I will need to make. I can see where a quick draw/close encounter situation could make someone spend time searching for the dot.

Regarding this issue; For me, I spent decades drawing and firing within 5 yards not even looking at the sights, and at 1/3/5 yards not even bringing the gun up to see the sights until shots were fired on target and I backed away to give space and assess, engage others, etc. Having a dot would not affect me in these circumstances, others need to determine their abilities/needs themselves.

I will be adding one to my Glock 43X MOS. I feel yesterday’s experience with the G-17 has let me know that I can shoot better with the dot at distance, and in close it is as good or better than with open sights. At 56 my vision isn’t close to being what it was, and I don’t think it will improve over time. I seriously feel the dot will give me an edge at the outer edges of potential engagement distances while not hampering anything with my draw/firing ability sub-15’.

As always, YMMV.

Stay safe.