Doug M.
Member
Go here: Red Dot Sights for Handguns | Lightfighter Tactical Forum and read what real experts are doing. I have one set up with an Aimpoint on it; just have not had the time to do the training needed.
Red Dot for regular carry?
- Thread starter PPS1980
- Start date
Not working is what happens when you purchase a $20 red dot sight.
Buy a quality red dot sight and they hardly ever fail
okiegtrider
Member
I've been using a red dot on my daily carry gun for the last eight months. I like it. YMMV of course.
ChattanoogaPhil
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I'm not a fan of a red dot on a carry gun, particularly my LCP, 
. That said, some of the pros and cons here I don't see as a big deal one way or the other.
No time to turn on or adjust brightness, adds weight, unreliable.
The Trijicon RMR I recently purchased doesn't even have an On button. It's designed to operate 24/7 for years between battery changes. Auto adjust brightness, weighs 1.2oz and has a reputation for being tough as nails. So....
Speed of target acquisition in a self defense situation... eh. Ya got to acquire the red dot and that's not so quick unless in ideal conditions that allow you to bring the pistol up in alignment if well practiced. Watch folks at a range with a red dot on their pistol. It's not uncommon to see them moving the pistol and their head around struggling to acquire the dot. I'm gonna guess it don't get much better under stress in less than ideal conditions. High-speed low-drag operators excepted, of course.
Red dot is better if you have aging eyes. Yeah... my eyes are old and don't work well. I love red dots on my recreational handguns. It really makes shooting a pleasure. That said, my carry gun is an LCP with sights that are so low profile they might as well not even be there cuz I can't see em. Still, I'm able to aim the gun to my satisfaction.
7yds
. That said, some of the pros and cons here I don't see as a big deal one way or the other. No time to turn on or adjust brightness, adds weight, unreliable.
The Trijicon RMR I recently purchased doesn't even have an On button. It's designed to operate 24/7 for years between battery changes. Auto adjust brightness, weighs 1.2oz and has a reputation for being tough as nails. So....
Speed of target acquisition in a self defense situation... eh. Ya got to acquire the red dot and that's not so quick unless in ideal conditions that allow you to bring the pistol up in alignment if well practiced. Watch folks at a range with a red dot on their pistol. It's not uncommon to see them moving the pistol and their head around struggling to acquire the dot. I'm gonna guess it don't get much better under stress in less than ideal conditions. High-speed low-drag operators excepted, of course.
Red dot is better if you have aging eyes. Yeah... my eyes are old and don't work well. I love red dots on my recreational handguns. It really makes shooting a pleasure. That said, my carry gun is an LCP with sights that are so low profile they might as well not even be there cuz I can't see em. Still, I'm able to aim the gun to my satisfaction.
7yds
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Arik
Member
I should have taken pictures, unfortunately I didn't think of it till later however....
I'm a fan of red dots on pistol even though I don't own one. Has more to do with money than anything else. Anyway....
At the range today I ran my EDC G19 vs a rental G17 with a RMR. I don't own a red dot pistol but I have shot them before.
The target was programmable to turn every few seconds and stay for 2 seconds then turn back. (Profile then facing you). Target was a bunch of dark red dots at 10 yards (pick a dot and shoot at it). Starting from the low ready .....when the target turns to face me for 2 seconds.....i Iwas able to place one solid hit in the cent of the red spot. Occasionally I was able to place two shots but the second was always on the edge of the target and sometimes just off. This was using my G19 with standard night sights.
Moving to the G17 RMR I was able to, in the same time frame, put two shots on target and sometimes three. The red dot is faster and easier/faster to acquire. In the 2 second time frame it allowed for 50% more hits on target.
Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk
I'm a fan of red dots on pistol even though I don't own one. Has more to do with money than anything else. Anyway....
At the range today I ran my EDC G19 vs a rental G17 with a RMR. I don't own a red dot pistol but I have shot them before.
The target was programmable to turn every few seconds and stay for 2 seconds then turn back. (Profile then facing you). Target was a bunch of dark red dots at 10 yards (pick a dot and shoot at it). Starting from the low ready .....when the target turns to face me for 2 seconds.....i Iwas able to place one solid hit in the cent of the red spot. Occasionally I was able to place two shots but the second was always on the edge of the target and sometimes just off. This was using my G19 with standard night sights.
Moving to the G17 RMR I was able to, in the same time frame, put two shots on target and sometimes three. The red dot is faster and easier/faster to acquire. In the 2 second time frame it allowed for 50% more hits on target.
Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk
jejb
Member
I'm fairly new to RDS's. Been shooting them on 2 of my guns for a month, about 1500 rounds through the both of them. I don't think I'd want an RDS on a carry gun personally. They are awesome for range use and I'd think home defense, but I don't know that they'd be an advantage over good iron sights (like Truglo TFX Pro's) for self defense.
I also have Crimson Trace grip activated green lasers on some of our guns, and on my EDC (along with the TFX Pro's), and really think that is the way to go. Yeah, you have to get a holster to fit, but that's hardly a downside. The great thing about the laser is you don't have to be looking at the gun or sights at all, so you can get a better overall situational awareness.
Don't get me wrong. I love my RDS guns. Super accurate, and I like that they don't project anything onto the target. But it would add complexity in a stressful situation, and don't think that's a good thing.
I also have Crimson Trace grip activated green lasers on some of our guns, and on my EDC (along with the TFX Pro's), and really think that is the way to go. Yeah, you have to get a holster to fit, but that's hardly a downside. The great thing about the laser is you don't have to be looking at the gun or sights at all, so you can get a better overall situational awareness.
Don't get me wrong. I love my RDS guns. Super accurate, and I like that they don't project anything onto the target. But it would add complexity in a stressful situation, and don't think that's a good thing.
ChattanoogaPhil
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Another issue for consideration is that not all situations occur indoors under climate controlled environments. I've read some guys say that they have used an RMR in rain and not had any issues other than looking through moderate smear. Others say they have experienced something similar to the below. I'm thinking that a raindrop might have got on the emitter here.
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Srruger762
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