Red dot

[kstewart61]

Just picked up the equalizer and would like some recommendations for a red dot. I have always shot using the sites but as I get older these dot sites are very interesting to me.

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[Electraclyde]

I have this Holosun on my equalizer. They do take some getting accustomed to so that you are not "searching" for the dot.

 

[Scharfschuetzer]

Old eyes have me also playing with red dot sights on a waterfowl shotgun and a few revolvers and a grip mounted lazar on my EDC revolver.

Practice your draw and presentation in order to get your muscle memory optimized to see the red dot immediately. If not, you might end up searching for it when you really don't want to do so.

 

[bulls-i]

Everyone has their own opinion on what they like or don't like. The gun ranges in my area have a lot of rental guns and quite a few of them have red dots on them. Rent a few guns with different sights & even different colors (red & green) and see for yourself.

 

[kstewart61]

My factory sites so far are dead on shot another 100 rounds today with pretty good results. What is outside the targets is intentional also some 22lr shots in there just want to tighten up my shots.
I aim for different areas so I only use one target each time.
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[kstewart61]

Just found out the holosun 407 and 507 will fit.

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[webfarmer]

I highly suggest the Holosun HE507C-GR-X2-ACSS. If you have a problem finding just a dot like many of us, this innovative RDS fixes that. Have one now and waiting on a 12% off at Primary Arms to buy another. Oh, they make the same in red rather than green for less cash.

 

[wagonman]

I don't go smaller than a 6 or 8 MOA on dot size for a carry weapon

 

[DUSTYDOGDAN]

I ended up with a Glock MOS Gen 5 Model 34. It's a long story but it is my first and only Glock. I put on a SRO but was searching for the dot when pulling the pistol up to fire it. Then put on a RMR and was still searching for the red dot.
I ended up with a Holosun HE509T-GR X2 . It is a Enclosed Battery/Solar Powered Green Dot Sight and it has a large circle green dot or what they call a Multi-Reticle System providing 32MOA circle with 2MOA dot, dot only, or circle only reticle options.
The larger circle has me being able to put the bullet on the target every time I pull up the weapon to fire it. Being enclosed system if it were to rain I will always be able to see the dot unlike the SRO or RMR.

 

[Racer X]

one thing to consider is that not all red dots have a lifetime warranty. burris and vortex do, for example.

 

[Ruger Nut]

Other than using a red dot sight for bad vision, what is the reason/reasons that you have a red dot (or similar) on a pistol? Has it improved your aim rather than just factory sights? I'm just curious.

 

[Doug M.]

The trend toward RDS on pistols has come mostly from work done by folks in higher risk settings, mostly LE and some of the military (SOCOM). The improvement in ability to be fast and accurate under stress is significant.

I first did an RDS on a Glock. I ended up with an Aimpoint Acro as the standard Aimpoint (H1 I think) was too high and the transition from pure Gunsight training at my avademy to the RDS was pretty hard. I cheated a bit and put a suppressor height from on the pistol which made the presentation less awful. It will take significant training to overcome the search for the front sight if you were heavily trained in that as I was. I can't recall his name, but there is a retired Bellevue WA officer with some YouTube vidoes on the issues that come with the transition.

I bought a PC Shield 2.0 4" with RDS and it is my main belt pistol. The grip angle worked a bit better for me so I did not have as much trouble finding the dot. A slightly bigger dot would be nice - your front sight is likely 10 or more MOA so a 6 or 8 MOA dot is still more precise. Due to our stupid magazine capacity law (which will not survive post-Bruen scrutiny, the Glock is a house gun for the time being.

Green dots cost more because they start as red and have to be converted by electronic wizardry that I have seen described but am too dumb to really understand. Has to do with the different wavelengths.

I was slow in looking at RDS on a pistol (my ARs have always had them, starting from my first about 15 years ago) until my eyes started being slower to focus on the sights. Once I got around to it, I became an advocate. The value of the RDS on a patrol rifle was eye opening.

 

[Turq]

Other than using a red dot sight for bad vision, what is the reason/reasons that you have a red dot (or similar) on a pistol? Has it improved your aim rather than just factory sights? I'm just curious.

My eye sight is not good. Lining up iron sights and seeing the target are difficult with my vision.

With a dot, I'm much faster and more accurate. I also like the fact that I am actually seeing the target, instead of a blurry mess. I'm not focused on the front sight, so my all around peripheral vision/sight picture is better. I personally don't have any issues picking up the dot. It all just works for me YMMV

 

[kstewart61]

My eyes are getting bad so a red dot may be the answer so for $224 for the holosun 407 is probably the way I will go.

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[Hawg Rider]

I have a Holosun 507C on my M&P 10mm, and really like it. For a few bucks more than the 407, you may want to try the 507K for your Equalizer. It's a little smaller than the 507C and designed for smaller pistols and CCW.

 

[kstewart61]

Still looking at three of them the 407 507 and the eps carry trying to decide doing research.
The EPS Carry is hard to find it's selling faster then they can make them it seems.

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[cmj8591]

Other than using a red dot sight for bad vision, what is the reason/reasons that you have a red dot (or similar) on a pistol? Has it improved your aim rather than just factory sights? I'm just curious.

Because people who like guns also like gadgets? There is a huge amount of training necessary to acquire the skills to use a red dot in a defensive situation. Everyone looks to the SOCOM people and trends off of what they are doing but it is necessary to remember that these people train every day. Most people who are carrying for their protection are not going to be able to commit the time and cost to become proficient enough to reliably use one. Add to that the things that can go wrong with the dot itself, from a dead battery to a misplaced piece of lint to a fogged lens and the probability of having a failure at the worst time increases a lot. Red dots are great on the range, I have them and use them frequently. But when I carry for PD, I want equipment that is simple to use and that I can depend on no matter what. For me, a red dot doesn't fall into that category.

 

[Hawg Rider]

Because people who like guns also like gadgets? There is a huge amount of training necessary to acquire the skills to use a red dot in a defensive situation. Everyone looks to the SOCOM people and trends off of what they are doing but it is necessary to remember that these people train every day. Most people who are carrying for their protection are not going to be able to commit the time and cost to become proficient enough to reliably use one. Add to that the things that can go wrong with the dot itself, from a dead battery to a misplaced piece of lint to a fogged lens and the probability of having a failure at the worst time increases a lot. Red dots are great on the range, I have them and use them frequently. But when I carry for PD, I want equipment that is simple to use and that I can depend on no matter what. For me, a red dot doesn't fall into that category.

Good point! But that's exactly why I chose the M&P 10mm 2.0...I can see the target with both the tall iron sights and the Circle-Dot reticle of the Holosun 507C. It did take a little practice to properly present and shoot with the red dot, but I really really like it!

 

[Racer X]

Other than using a red dot sight for bad vision, what is the reason/reasons that you have a red dot (or similar) on a pistol? Has it improved your aim rather than just factory sights? I'm just curious.

It made a huge difference to me when I was learning bullseye competition. I could focus on my trigger control and be less concerned about trying to keep the front sight blade in the center of the rear sight opening. Then I could focus on the wobble/figure 8 of the dot over the target, and matching the release of the trigger as the dot was on the x.