Red Dot Sight on a Small of Back Concealed Carry?

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PlatypusWithaGun

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A red dot sight on a gun is never a bad idea, in my opinion. My concern is if, while sitting, my weight pressing my gun into the chair will cause my R.D.S. to lose its zero faster. Anyone have any experience with this? Thoughts? Opinions?
 
Pretty sure no part of your anatomy can push on a mounted sight hard enough to shift zero. Not without causing a great deal of pain, anyway...
 
Personally I'd never use a RDS on a carry gun. At most self defense shooting distances (3-10 feet), you won't need it. I also do not like making a CCW gun heavier, bigger, bulkier, more cumbersome with something else that can fail and cause issues. SD guns are RARELY used at long distances and so RDS's are really a moot point IMHO.

There are others who feel completely opposite and so you have to figure RDS usage out on your own and do what you believe is best.
 
PlatypusWithaGun said:
A red dot sight on a gun is never a bad idea, in my opinion. My concern is if, while sitting, my weight pressing my gun into the chair will cause my R.D.S. to lose its zero faster. Anyone have any experience with this? Thoughts? Opinions?
Click to expand...

A red dot sight often IS a bad idea.
So is small of the back carry.
Lots of reasons.
 
Optics on a carry gun can be a great asset. Given what they go through during the firing cycle, I don’t think there is any way just the pressure of having it between your back and a chair will cause any problems.
 
sigp220.45 said:
Optics on a carry gun can be a great asset. Given what they go through during the firing cycle, I don’t think there is any way just the pressure of having it between your back and a chair will cause any problems.
Click to expand...

Maybe I’m missing something, but what is the need for optical sights and dots on a CC gun that is meant to be used at ranges from 30 feet down to contact distance? At those distances, even rifling in the barrel is not really needed.
The added bulk and weight can be an issue as well.
 
I practice with dot optics and used a 2moa dot on a revolver I hunted with going back to late '90 or early '91 . I do not carry a handgun with a dot optic on it so decide on your own what you want to do .
 
I don’t carry a handgun with a red dot, and I don’t carry guns behind my back.

That said, if the RDS is properly attached, I don’t see it moving due to pressing it against your back. The mechanism that holds the emitter in its “zeroed” position is much more delicate, and it gets slammed around pretty good when firing.
 
smoothshooter said:
Maybe I’m missing something, but what is the need for optical sights and dots on a CC gun that is meant to be used at ranges from 30 feet down to contact distance? At those distances, even rifling in the barrel is not really needed.
The added bulk and weight can be an issue as well.
Click to expand...

I practice with all of my carry guns out to 25 yards.

The weight and bulk are negligible.

I also prefer the rifling to be there.

I get it. You don’t like them.
 
OP didn't ask for a debate on RDS for a carry gun; that's more than covered in plenty of other threads -- including from just this week.

OP asked will the RDS hold zero the way he's carrying. The answer is if the sight and its attachment system are quality made and installed, zero should not be affected. The pressures exerted between your back and a chair are far less than what the gun experiences under fire, where zero should reliably be trusted to hold.

Nonetheless, regularly revisiting zero at the range is important if we're using any kind of adjustable system, iron or otherwise.

OP, some folks have injured themselves with small of back carry where the piece is pressing directly against the lower spine and they've fallen backwards. Food for thought. But your optic should be fine.
 
Every fight I have ever been in or around has ended up on the ground. And you don't want anything on your spine if you are thrown to the ground. So that is why so many gents here are advising you to rethink your carry mode.
 
No experience so take my opinions with as many grains of salt as you think best. With a correctly installed optic, I can't Imagin that being a problem, unless someone routinely throws themselves into a chair like a spoiled brat throwing a temper tantrum, instead of sitting in one like an adult. Pressure over time shouldn't matter, we do take a moment to inspect our gear before strapping it on for the day, don't we?
 
Will the RDS go out of alignment? Probably not. Is it a good idea. Probably not. I'm looking at it from three decades of police service. Have you ever chased down a felon and had to tackle him slamming into the ground? Ever get into a fight and slammed into a wall, car, whatever?

This stuff happens on the job. Landing on a gun in the small of your back is a serious danger. One cop here likes RDS and trains to 25 yards. OK, cool. But he didn't say he carried ***.

Did you know motor officers are trained to mount and dismount their motorcycles from the high side? Opposite to everyone else in the MC world. Why? Two good reasons, one is that you are further away from traffic. Two less chance of hanging up a foot clearing the back of the bike. It's safer. Landing on a *** is a spine injury waiting to happen.

Plus it's kind of slow and very difficult to set your grip before clearing the holster. If you don't understand how important that is, you need some very serious training.
 
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Two questionable ideas in a single concept. I'm worn out beating the industry-driven red-dot-for-carry horse. Few are willing to listen to experience. Most prefer to buy a piece of cool magic equipment rather than do hard things, like regular well-informed shooting practice with simple reliable systems.

- (Just because I can't help myself, my former colleague was at a training session last week at our previous agency, for the RDS-equipped G19 that are now being handed out to anyone that wants one. One shooter dropped his pistol on the floor and the Trijicon RMR lens cracked. No one ever drops a gun in a fight, right?)

I echo the sentiments of the other LEOs that have commented on the very poor idea of small of the back carry, especially in terms of getting knocked down or falling. Will also add:

1. Your ability to protect your firearm from being taken from you is severely compromised in that position. Crook spots your gun in public and if he wants it, he's taking it.

2. Your ability to draw and holster the firearm quickly and safely in that position is also severely compromised.

Also,the idea that you are going to tell the robber, "ok here's my wallet", and then come out shooting, contains a number of unrealistic assumptions in terms of criminal behavior.
 
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Is EDC guns get smaller and smaller , folks bolt on addons like lights, lasers and now red-dot sights!

I may be mired in the late 20th Century but I'm happy with the 3913 I've been carrying at 4 O'clock in a summer special since 1990. I practice out to 20 yds. Never qualified at less than 95%.

I'm also an "old dog" and not looking to learn new tricks!

Young bucks with duty size guns in OWB or drop holster RDS might make sense!

Just my $0.02
 
“A smart man makes a mistake, learns from it, and never makes that mistake again. But a wise man finds a smart man and learns from him how to avoid the mistake altogether.” ~ Roy H. Williams
 
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