Red Dot On Carry Gun

[Kanewpadle]

What do you think?

Looking at putting a red dot such as Burris, Vortex, or Trijicon on my Glock 19. Or maybe just buy a Glock 19 MOS.

 

[ContinentalOp]

I don't have any personal experience with them, but I know Kelly McCann, a fairly well-known and highly-regard instructor, has been using one on his G19 for several years. If he likes them they can't be all bad.

 

[shell627]

I have a Glock 17 with a trijicon rmr.And a 9mm shield with a jpoint both done by one source tactical.They pioneered the red dot on fighting handguns.Once I got my cataracts fixed the red dots quit blooming on me.My 10 yr old grandson did a great job clearing plate racks first time he shot the shield.I would recommend the trijicon rmr for a Glock 19.Read the red dot threads on the One Source Tactical forums.They will give you a lot of info.Some of the people over there are very opinionated but they know red dot handguns.
Sorry this is typed so poorly in car on my way to Texas and carrying my shield with red dot.

 

[NCW Ray]

I have a Glock 17 with a trijicon rmr.And a 9mm shield with a jpoint both done by one source tactical.They pioneered the red dot on fighting handguns.Once I got my cataracts fixed the red dots quit blooming on me.My 10 yr old grandson did a great job clearing plate racks first time he shot the shield.I would recommend the trijicon rmr for a Glock 19.Read the red dot threads on the One Source Tactical forums.They will give you a lot of info.Some of the people over there are very opinionated but they know red dot handguns.
Sorry this is typed so poorly in car on my way to Texas and carrying my shield with red dot.

Have a pic of it, and what red dot do you have?

 

[shell627]

My s&w shield has a j point on it.I am traveling and can not post pics.However if you look up One Source Tactical they have pictures on their website.

 

[Rastoff]

If it's going to be on a carry gun, get the toughest, most durable, easiest to use red dot on the market; Trijicon.

I was at a gun store when a Trijicon rep was there. He was showing me the RMR on a handgun. I asked if it would get damaged as I tried to rack the slide. What he did blew me away. He took the gun and slammed, not push, but SLAMMED, it into the counter to rack the slide about 10 times. He then handed it to me to inspect. There wasn't a mark on it.

That led me to get my own. I've got a Trijicon RM08G. From day one I haven't been gentle with it. I've used it on several guns, but it's really great on the hand gun.

I let my son use it on his rifle for a class we took together. A couple of guys in the class asked me how I liked it and if I was worried about it breaking. To demonstrate my confidence, I pounded it against the trailer hitch on my truck. They both ordered one that day. I should work for Trijicon.

The only draw back to using a red dot is sight acquisition. When I put the RMR on my M&P 45, I had a little trouble acquiring the dot. After a lot of practice, it became natural. It even helped me get on the iron sights quicker when I took it off.

If you can fit it, do it. Just be sure to get a good one. Sure, I hawk the Trijicon, but there are others that are also good. For me, it has to have two things; toughness and long battery life. Trijicon meets both those criteria. Their LED models have a 50K hour battery life and their dual illumination models don't need a battery.

 

[Watchdog]

The G19 is a really good pistol. Why complicate it? Do you see a genuine need for the red dot, or is it something you just want?

 

[Kodiakco]

The G19 is a really good pistol. Why complicate it? Do you see a genuine need for the red dot, or is it something you just want?

I don't believe that he has to justify his need/desire, to get an answer to his question.

I have a red dot on my competition guns. I would put one on my carry gun if I could (XDs. 45). Being older and having eye issues, red dots are much better for me.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[KSDeputy]

I am used to the 3 white dot sights, and have no intention of buying anything else for my pistols. They work quite well.

 

[Donn]

On a range gun, yes. EDC? I wouldn't, but if that's what makes your turnips grow. Either way, get good with iron sights first.

 

[Wise_A]

After having used red dot sights in competition for years, I believe I would not put them on a carry gun if at all possible. These are my considerations:

(1) Even a small slide-mounted sight affects the cycling of the gun. Extensive testing--and possible a recoil spring change--would be in order.

(2) A 'dot with an incorrect brightness setting is more or less unusable. I don't know how much I would trust automatic brightness settings, but if I were to use a 'dot on a carry pistol, it's another item to test extensively.

(3) Batteries must be replaced on a schedule. Don't wait for the 'dot to start going, because when it does, it's going to be extremely difficult to use for the first shot (jarring a weak battery with a shot, for whatever reason, seems to kick them back into life).

(4) It's another thing to break, no matter how rugged it is.

(5) It's another thing to snag, no matter how smooth it is.

I would suggest that a quality low-profile red dot would be preferable to iron sights that you couldn't use due to poor or failing vision. But really, that's about it.

 

[TAC]

After having used red dot sights in competition for years, I believe I would not put them on a carry gun if at all possible. These are my considerations:

(1) Even a small slide-mounted sight affects the cycling of the gun. Extensive testing--and possible a recoil spring change--would be in order.

(2) A 'dot with an incorrect brightness setting is more or less unusable. I don't know how much I would trust automatic brightness settings, but if I were to use a 'dot on a carry pistol, it's another item to test extensively.

(3) Batteries must be replaced on a schedule. Don't wait for the 'dot to start going, because when it does, it's going to be extremely difficult to use for the first shot (jarring a weak battery with a shot, for whatever reason, seems to kick them back into life).

(4) It's another thing to break, no matter how rugged it is.

(5) It's another thing to snag, no matter how smooth it is.

I would suggest that a quality low-profile red dot would be preferable to iron sights that you couldn't use due to poor or failing vision. But really, that's about it.

I agree. That's why so many handguns intended for concealed carry, have small, low profile, fixed sights. Keep it simple.

 

[Mister X]

No likely benefit for them if it's a carry or civilian defense weapon and I view them as actually being more of a hindrance in that context.

Proactive engagement is something altogether different and I imagine the reason for the aforementioned red dot on Kelly McCann's G19.

 

[ken158]

I can't even imagine a red dot on a carry gun. (Crimson Trace may be an exception) If you have ever been in a situation where a carry gun must be drawn for your protection, then you know that sights are over rated... changing focus from an aggressor to trying to find a dot in a box will get you killed. This is serious stuff and there is "no second place winner".

 

[Rastoff]

...changing focus from an aggressor to trying to find a dot in a box will get you killed. This is serious stuff and there is "no second place winner".

Some of you saying that a red dot is a poor choice maybe don't understand a few things about a red dot.

I used to be the same. I was opposed to red dots and lasers. Like many have said, they can add another failure point. What I was missing was vision issues.

Presbyopia is a loss of elasticity in the lens of your eye. It affects just about everyone as we get older. What this means is we lose our ability to focus close in. Thus, without correction, the sights on a handgun become impossible to focus on. That's the beauty of the red dot.

The design of a red dot is such that it appears to be projected on the target. This means it's easy to focus on the dot because it's essentially far away. More than that, all you guys who say we should be focusing on the target (which is wrong) should be praising the red dot from the highest mountain. Only the red dot allows focusing on the target and the dot at the same time. So, the right way to use it is to focus on the target as you bring the red dot in line. This method means, as soon as the dot is visible, it's on target.

So, for those with reading glasses, the red dot is a marked advantage. Get the Trijicon RMR with dual illumination and batteries aren't an issue.

 

[Mister X]

In up-close and fast scenarios, even if you are focused on the threat and just noticing the red dot in the same way many look over or through their sights, it will still be much slower and is unnecessary. This can and has been proven and demonstrated time and time again in force-on-force.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Been using 1x red dot sights on recreational handguns for 20 years. For my old eyes, they make recreational shooting a pleasure rather than a struggle with standard sights. Love em. I have no interest in mounting to a concealed carry handgun.

I'll echo the sentiments offered earlier, including the need for a significantly taller front sight to co-witness unless the red dot is to be relied on 100%. Just more things to snag from a concealed carry position.

Now if I was in the military, open carrying and required a handgun sighting system to more accurately engage targets at further distances then it might be something worthy of consideration. But for this average Joe carry... no thanks.

I've noticed gun rags pumping red dots on handguns lately. My G&A Handguns Dec/Jan 2017 issue has the Sig P320 RX equipped with Sig's "Romeo1" red dot on the cover.

 

[lefty_jake]

I am generally not in favor of red dot sights on carry pistols. My reasons for this are pretty much the same as what other posters have stated. Red dots sights actually slow people down for quick close work, especially when shooting from awkward or one-handed positions. And the strong advantages of red dot sights for distance shooting are not applicable to most people's defensive requirements. I am very aware of the difficulties that poor eyesight can cause for pistol shooting, but my standard for defensive shooting is to hit a paper plate at 7 yards, and most people can do that with iron sights.

If someone has severe eyesight problems, or a specific need for distance precision, then I can imagine situations where a red dot might be a good choice for carry. But that would require careful thought about the compromises being made and the additional training required.

These views are partly based on my own own observations, but I have also been influenced by Grant Cunningham, who comments briefly on red dot sights here:

Your Hump Day Reading List for March 23, 2016 - www.GrantCunningham.com www.GrantCunningham.com

Grant also links to the following article:

The Fall of the Red Dot

Some of you will be familiar with Grant as a well renowned revolversmith, but he is also a highly regarded defensive trainer.

I would also add that I have a different view about red dot sights on rifles. On a close quarters defensive rifle, the compromises are different, and I strongly recommend the use of a red dot. However, I always tell people that the budget for a "duty" quality red dot is $500 or more. The best quality red dots are extremely rugged, but I have not seen this quality in mid-priced models.

The trijicon RMR sights, which have been recommended above, have a strong reputation. There are two types of these sights: battery operated LED, and dual illuminated with fiber optic and tritium. Both types are good, but each also has disadvantages. The pros and cons to too long for me to discuss here, but if you are considering these it is worth taking time for research.

There may be other small red dots which are equally reliable, but I have not personally examined them. I would budget at least $600 for sight and mount if I needed something I could rely on.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Thanks for all the replies. I have a hard time seeing the sights on my carry guns. My carry guns all wear Ameriglo I Dot sights which work well. I can hit the target effectively and repeatedly.

I just wondered if a red dot would work better.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

My carry guns all wear Ameriglo I Dot sights which work well. I can hit the target effectively and repeatedly.

There ya go. No need to overthink it.