Lets talk Red Dots on handguns
- Thread starter Edwardteach72
- Start date
Most of my competition handguns have red dots on them and let’s face it they are not likely to see personal combat. I was/am mainly an iron sight shooter at self defense distances. Well I am still there just not 100% any more. I have recently put red dots on a couple of Poly 80 guns and a couple of my Sig P320s all of which have the potential to see personal combat.
The pro as I see it is faster sight picture acquisition.
The con as I see potential for failure and having to revert back to irons, but realistically at self defense distances the gun does not need sights (I am talking less than 10 yards on a man sized target center mass).
it is an ongoing experiment. Once I find suitable holsters for my Poly 80s I may start carrying one of them. For now I carry an officers model 1911 with a laser and night sights.
The pro as I see it is faster sight picture acquisition.
The con as I see potential for failure and having to revert back to irons, but realistically at self defense distances the gun does not need sights (I am talking less than 10 yards on a man sized target center mass).
it is an ongoing experiment. Once I find suitable holsters for my Poly 80s I may start carrying one of them. For now I carry an officers model 1911 with a laser and night sights.
Ya know the laser thing kinda makes sense for speed I would say. Never tried that. Wonder how it compares to red dot.
So just to play devils advocate and for fun discussion (and saying as much because I guess everything I say comes off dickish, because tone isn't easy to convey over interwebs)
You mention a con to a red dot is potential failure and then having to go back to iron sights.
But you also mention that you carry with a laser??
Wouldn't a con to a laser is it could fail and now you need to revert back to iron sights?
***edit*** and could I maybe assume that you actually have more time invested in shooting optics handguns than you may have with the laser (not the carry gun itself but shooting with the use of the laser)
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Eventuality everything I own will have a RDS. I use competition as a tool to train with what I carry. There are a bunch of guns better for competition but I love bringing my EDC to a match and when I'm done just dropping it in my holster and carrying it home.
I guess another con would be the requirement to turn it on. Of course I could turn it on and leave it on until the battery dies. Maybe that is the way they are supposed to be used. On my comp guns I just turn them on before the stage starts. My laser has a pressure pad for instant on.
I do have more time on target with a red dot than a laser. The red dots don’t have back up irons as of yet. Or at least I haven’t figured out where the things shoot if I line up the front sight with the 2 dots on the back side of the red dot.
My primary carry gun, I use the night sight irons as a primary and the laser as verification I am on target (mainly for night, red lasers are almost useless in daylight). But yeah basically it has the same con.
I do have other guns with lasers (green) but don’t carry them because of the way they attach to the dust cover and finding a left handed holster for the gun with laser is almost impossible. Suppose I could just make my own.
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PutnamCharlie
6.5 Creedmoor
I know some people on here don't like Holosun but with that you don't have to turn it on. It's shake to wake so you never turn it off. I also like the green dot over a red dot.
I may have to check them out.
50,000 hour battery life (up to) so best case scenario turn it on and don't worry about it for 5 years, or do like many people do and change the battery once a year.
Holosun is also a side load battery, so you just open the compartment change battery and get back to regular life, no need to take the optic off the gun and then rezero it (I would still suggest confirming zero obviously)
I literally have a Holosun 509t in a cart right now cause I want to buy it but I can't bring myself to do so right now (i have other things I want/need first)
I have shield Ltd CQB sights on 3 of my ARs they don’t have an on off switch. Battery life is supposed to be 2 years.
Xae289
.223 Rem
I see red dots as better sights, but I see lasers as devices to let me aim while point-shooting.
I am ready, funds at hand, to purchase a P320 X series RXP. My question is this: do red dots render full size pistols obsolete? Is there any good reason to get a full size RXP over the compact? Thing is full size polymer guns look a bit cartoonish to me now after owning the compact PPQ and Glock 19 and red dots eliminate the sight radius advantage.
My dilemma however is my LGS has a full size RXP in stock now but not the compact. I'd prefer the compact but I do already have the two compact pistols. What do you all think? Get the full size now, or wait for a compact?
For carry I use the G19 or a M&P Shield so the 320 doesn't necessarily have to fill that role also.
My dilemma however is my LGS has a full size RXP in stock now but not the compact. I'd prefer the compact but I do already have the two compact pistols. What do you all think? Get the full size now, or wait for a compact?
For carry I use the G19 or a M&P Shield so the 320 doesn't necessarily have to fill that role also.
I can give you my answer lol but probably in the minority
There are a lot of reasons to get a full size gun. I'd be more concerned with which optic is compatible with the platform.
The RXP is the model what comes from the factory with a Romeo 1 pro installed.
No thanks.
Hey Ben, @OnSight Firearms Training, what do you think? p320 RXP compact vs full size. I already have a G19, Shield and PPQ for carry.
I'd be switching the dot to an actually decent optic.
Rmr or holosun
Rmr or holosun
Okay great, I'm asking for myself, not buying one for you.
PutnamCharlie
6.5 Creedmoor
I have a Romeo 1 (not pro) on my 365xl and I'm not a big fan. The dot isn't great. The pro may be better I don't know. If you can put different optics on Like rmr or holosun I would go in that direction. Just my 2cents. I just bought a 320 x5 and I ordered a Holosun for it.
Apparently the Pro version ameliorates the issues the regular Romeo 1 had.
PutnamCharlie
6.5 Creedmoor
Could be. Like I said I don't own one. I heard they were better but I also have a sig dot on a long gun and I'm not crazy about that either. Love their guns not their sights. I would do lots of research to be sure that its's better than the others mentioned before you drop $400 on it. Nothing worse than second guessing a $400 purchase. Once again just 2cents.
I will also say as much as i hate micro guns, I think small guns benefit so much by adding a red dot.
So much so I really would love to get a P365 with holosun 507k for the very few few times when deeeeeep concealment is the main priority, coupled with the Phlster Enigma. Or the same set up for jogging/ working out or just lazy days in sweats/shorts
So much so I really would love to get a P365 with holosun 507k for the very few few times when deeeeeep concealment is the main priority, coupled with the Phlster Enigma. Or the same set up for jogging/ working out or just lazy days in sweats/shorts
Understood and not trying to be a dick but right now there are only two brands worth considering. Trijicon an Holosun. Some day there will be more but not now.
Aimpoint is kinda in there
If mounting a refrigerator to a gun is your thing.
PutnamCharlie
6.5 Creedmoor
I almost bought an Aimpoint but I know the three Holosun's I have work great and are green dot's so why take chances.
Holosun makes most of SIG's red dots. I have heard from a trusted source that the Romeo 1 pro is GTG.
The RXP is just me dipping my toe into the pistol red dot waters, depending on how I like the SIG I might elect to put o dot on tge Glock later.