Questions on red dots for EDC?

[Grayfox]

I really don't know a lot about red dot sights. I've got a couple on target pistols and a couple of EOTechs on rifles. But this current trend of Micro Red Dots on EDC pistols leaves me with a couple of questions.
1. Do you leave it turned on all the time? Doesn't seem to me that there would be time to turn it on if needed.
2. Battery life? How long do they last? How difficult are they to change?
3. Holsters? Are good concealment holsters for these hard to find?
Anything else you'd like to add?

I'm kinda on the fence with these. Never really saw much need for one. But I am getting older and not the shooter I once was. So I'm open to the concept.

 

[NewLiberty]

Red dots should be left on.

Most red dot manufacturers will list their red dot battery life on marketing materials. However, battery life will depend on the brightness used.

The Holosun 507K ACSS on my carry gun is advertised as having 40,000 hour battery life on medium settings. That's 1,666 days, or 4.5 years. I change the battery out once a year, since batteries are cheap and it is my primary carry.

The 507K also has a side tray to replace the battery, which I prefer to dots that have to come off the gun to swap the battery.

I haven't had any issues finding holsters for my carry gun with it.

 

[326MOD10]

To add to the good points made above on the 507K the red dot, or in my case green dot which is easier to see, is on all the time.

It has a shake to wake feature so when I pick up my EDC the dot activates. When it is sitting in the safe not moving, it is on but not illuminated.

My EDC initially came with a Romeo Zero as a package deal from Sig. The sight had to be removed each time to replace the battery. And that one ate through the batteries. So you would have to confirm zero all over again. The Romeo Zero was to me kind of an intro dot to see if I would like it. When I found out I liked it I went to a Holosun.

Buy quality and you will be better off.

And take the time to learn to use if correctly and you won't be disappointed. But there is a learning curve but it sounds like you are already familiar.

Otherwise all good points made by NewLiberty.

Good Luck.

 

[Norton 750]

As I always preach, get suppressor height sights. You have spent a lifetime acquiring iron sights, and the dot floats right on top of the taller front sight. Your brain automatically takes the handoff from irons to dot. Guys that hate red dots and complain about having to hunt for the dot are using stock sights, not suppressor sights. I have been using this system for about 12-13 years now...when I had to have a custom slide made. My carry gun is a Glock 19 with a Trijicon RMR. It is on all the time and I too change batteries on my birthday every year because I can remember it that way. It will go lots longer. I also cut the grip frame down to Glock 26 size for summer carry. Full size 19 rest of the year.

 

[Well Armed]

As I always preach, get suppressor height sights. You have spent a lifetime acquiring iron sights, and the dot floats right on top of the taller front sight. Your brain automatically takes the handoff from irons to dot. Guys that hate red dots and complain about having to hunt for the dot are using stock sights, not suppressor sights. I have been using this system for about 12-13 years now...when I had to have a custom slide made. My carry gun is a Glock 19 with a Trijicon RMR. It is on all the time and I too change batteries on my birthday every year because I can remember it that way. It will go lots longer. I also cut the grip frame down to Glock 26 size for summer carry. Full size 19 rest of the year.

You shouldn't have to hunt for the dot regardless of what sites you're using. Those who are hunting for the dot simply need more training and pratice using dots.

 

[John Patrick]

Great thread timing for me.

For the third time in not long enough I checked the Romeo Zero on my P365x and the battery was dead again.

I think I’m going to go with the 507, partly because of the side battery loading.

My X has the tall sights from the factory.

Q: Will I need an adapter plate? Google has not provided a clear answer.

John Patrick

 

[326MOD10]

Not for the Holosun 507K X2 version.

You will get 2 sets of screws with it just make sure you use the ones indicated for the 365 series.

If yours is like my XL the rear sight is removed where the dot mounts and the dot has a rear sight groove.

 

[Grayfox]

This thread was more about satisfying my curiosity than anything else. Those questions just came to mind when I thought about the possibility of getting one. I don't currently own a gun that a micro red dot can be mounted on. Not sure if I wanna spend the money or cut up one of my current pistols either.   

I do have a Buckmark with an old Burris Fast Fire II on it. Honestly, every time I shoot it, I end up searching for the dot. 

 

[jbull380]

We just put Holosun EPS optics on our Gen5 G17 MOS pistols. I put 4 guns together for training so I could run about 20 officers through the red dot school without altering their guns until they passed the course. Each of those guns with the optic had about 2000 rounds run thru them. One gun was dropped twice on concrete impacting the sight directly. The first time I had to turn it off then back on to get to work. It held zero. I had one of them loose a screw out of the little battery holder. Since then I have had to return one optic out of the 25 we ordered because it wouldn’t zero. They are holding up well and I have no real complaints.

 

[45Smashemflat]

I have a red dot on a double stack 1911 45ACP (Leupold Delta Pro) and also on a CZ P01 9mm (Holosun 507). I went red dot years ago. (Technically Green dot on the CZ). I agree with suppressor height sights. It helps with training AND it’s a back up in the event of a dot failure. Holsters for the CZ have been easy. The 1911 was a little harder, but doable. I do a battery change on dots, weapon lights, etc on New Years. I’ve never found one dead. All said, I’m nearing 60 and very nearsighted. I find them to be an asset. (I also have an RMR on a short 12ga… they are rugged.). I would suggest testing red and green in various lighting conditions if you can. If I had it to do over again, I’d go all green. YMMV

 

[URIT]

My EDC is for self defense. As a retired LEO, I don't trust the current judiciary to be my friend when I'm forced to use my gun.

A red dot may be useful to active duty enforcement personnel, but I'm not being required to chase trouble any longer.

The costs associated with getting competent and confident with the red dot is too much $$$.

Frankly, I hope I might be able to convince a jury of anti-gun hand wringers that I truly felt in fear of my life with a 7 yard shot. The further away the threat is when the shot is taken will increase your risks in criminal and civil courts.

 

[ladder13]

I use GDS (green dot sights) on some of my short range rifles. The GD is much better for my eyes.

 

[Norton 750]

I pride myself on my low risk lifestyle. But my town has grown up as I have, and now we have big city problems we didn't have when I was younger. Drugs and gangs and the violence they bring. I am diligent about avoiding trouble. But I am not blind to the fact that sometimes trouble comes looking for a grey haired old gentleman.

 

[David Sinko]

For decades I thought that anything other than iron sights on top of a handgun was just utterly ridiculous. Then one day my 20/15 eyesight up and left me and hasn't returned. A good friend offered me his Glock 19 with Trijicon suppressor height night sights and RMR for a price that was way too good to pass up. I grabbed it without a second thought. It was immediately clear to me that he had never dialed in the red dot since it was nowhere near the top of the front sight. I was able to sight it in without firing a shot. When the battery finally dies I'll remove the optic to change the battery and adjust in the same manner if necessary, again without firing a shot. I have a lot of experience with iron sighted Glocks so my transition to the red dot required less than a box of ammo. The whole process was very simple and painless. I made a pancake holster that required no special attention for the optic. As a shooter who now needs reading glasses I will say that the only advantage the red dot offers is in low light and at distance, and even then it's not a huge advantage. I can still get by just fine without an optic on my carry gun. It is also clear to me that those who are lousy shots with the iron sights are still lousy shots with an optic. Fundamentals really are important.

 

[WardenRoss]

For decades I thought that anything other than iron sights on top of a handgun was just utterly ridiculous. Then one day my 20/15 eyesight up and left me and hasn't returned. A good friend offered me his Glock 19 with Trijicon suppressor height night sights and RMR for a price that was way too good to pass up. I grabbed it without a second thought. It was immediately clear to me that he had never dialed in the red dot since it was nowhere near the top of the front sight. I was able to sight it in without firing a shot. When the battery finally dies I'll remove the optic to change the battery and adjust in the same manner if necessary, again without firing a shot. I have a lot of experience with iron sighted Glocks so my transition to the red dot required less than a box of ammo. The whole process was very simple and painless. I made a pancake holster that required no special attention for the optic. As a shooter who now needs reading glasses I will say that the only advantage the red dot offers is in low light and at distance, and even then it's not a huge advantage. I can still get by just fine without an optic on my carry gun. It is also clear to me that those who are lousy shots with the iron sights are still lousy shots with an optic. Fundamentals really are important.

Finally! Someone said it!

 

[Old cop]

To my way of thinking an EDC is a get-off-me gun to be employed only under the most dire of circumstances. Things will go down in a flash & you’ll have zero time to do anything but react. Spend this $$ on ammo and put in more range time.

 

[S&WForty]

I got a M&P 2.0 10mm earlier this year which came Optics ready and came with the suppressor tall sights. After about two months, I "had" to get a Holosun. I got the 507C X2 ACSS that has a "Chevron" instead of a dot. For me, the Chevron moves too much and is a distraction. I have turned down the brightness, so I can see the front site on my intended point of impact. I have considered adjusting it so the Chevron is above the front site and just train my brain to know that.

If I had several shooting buddies, and one of them really liked it, I'd remove it and sell it to them at a loss and never look back. I can definitely live without it.

 

[jbull380]

If you’ll put the time in and train they are great. I love them, my old eyes love them. But you gotta train.
I just started training for what is called the Man Card Drill. Very challenging and fun.
1 round in 1 second compressed ready pistol, 1 round from the holster in 1.5 seconds, 1 round low ready rifle in 1 second, 1 round high ready rifle in 1 second, and finally 1 round from low or high ready rifle then transition to pistol for 1 round all in 2.5 seconds. All at 25 yards on C zone steel. We use 2/3 IDPD steel because that’s what we have. I use red dots on rifle and pistol. They work great. I understand the LE v CCW application, I’m just saying it’s a matter of training and putting the time in. Like anything else.

1&1 in 2.29 seconds

 

[jeeps]

I found Red Dots on edc a waste of time ,slow,unreliable, and dust collectors. Stick with irons and learn to use them. Nice range toys like lasers,but why waste your time on shooting gimics,when real life defence irons rule.

 

[sigp220.45]

To your questions:

1. Mine stays on all the time.

2. I’ve had this one a year and it is still bright. I’ll change it out soon. Its very easy to do.

3. Holsters are easy to find. Red dots are extremely popular.

As noted, get one that will put the dot on top of the front sight.

It always amuses me that the folks who would benefit the most from a red dot sight are often the most resistant.

My well-funded PD has optics on all issued guns. They qualify with the sights turned on and turned off. They love them.

I’ve shot irons my whole life, and still do. Red dots are a nice addition on a carry gun.