So What About This Red Dot Nonsense On Handguns?

One Lung Wonder

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I had an Eotech on my AR a hundred years ago and promptly flogged it. I suppose it is good for the run-n-gunners, or if you are shooting pop cans, gang bangers or talibangers at CQB distances in low light conditions...but for a turkey trotting out house gun club duffer like Yours Truly, it made far more sense for me to go back to a good scope. I wear glasses and I understand that complicates things a bit with red dot sights.

Now I am seeing these things on handguns. Any of you fellas running them? What do you think about them? How robust are these things? Are they a problem for people with glasses too?

This is just my personal experience - and it is extremely limited, so I am not trying to slag anyone - but the few shooters I saw using them...weren't shooting all that well.

Is there any kind of consensus on these?
 
I can comment (sort of). I have one on a RONI carbine kit that fits my G17, all that is to be said is, I wish I shot that well with the pistol out of the kit!:p (red dots work if you do your part, but they won't compensate for a bad grip, flinch, or the like)
 
I had a Burris Fastfire II on my Norc NP22. I definitely was more accurate with it but at the same time it was harder to acquire.

That said, you must take a look at the Open division at IPSC who are almost all running C-MOREs. Easy to acquire. I suggest you go to a match or practice and check them out.

But then IPSC is run and gun too.
 
I found them accurate but harder to acquire. I had used one on a FNP45 tac and with the high sights it was a busy sight picture so I took it off the gun. I would try it again.
 
Love my FNX45 tactical because if the dot is on the target iron alignment is needed, pull the trigger.
I'm not sure if I would put it on every pistol but I do like it.
 
I don't think glasses have an affect on red dot sights, it's folks with astigmatism that don't get a clear red dot image.

I've got a slight astigmatism and you're right. For my particular case the dot is more of a short angled line if I don't wear my glasses. But if I do wear my glasses the dot becomes a dot again.

The red dots work well for folks that need to use distance correcting glasses because the dot is virtually projected out to infinity. So for folks like me it works. Same with those that can't do well for close up stuff anymore and that can't see the plain iron sights. They can use a red dot because to their eyes it looks like the dot is out at infinity for their focusing. And the targets are close enough to infinity as far as the human eye is concerned that seeing the dot and target at the same time works.
 
I put one on the slide of my Norinco NP40 that worked very well until it broke it (cheap knock-off). I have new Burris FF 3 coming for my M&P Pro Core. My wife had a hard time picking up the dot, but I found it pretty easy to use. Depending on how things go with the Burris FF 3, I may end up purchasing another one or an Insight MRDS - if I can find one at a reasonable price. For older eyes, these really do make it easy to get better accuracy at longer distances. Of course, shooting outside in the daylight seems to work pretty well with iron sights.
 
Are you kidding me?????? They are excellent for CCW!

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With the new generation of small holographic sights, some folks prefer them for fast target acquisition on carry pistols here in the States.

I'm not one of those simply because electronics and tritium vials have higher rates of failure than iron sights.

Still, they are nice to use if close combat is what you're in to, or if pinpoint precision is not your thing. They're good for kids, too.

Josh
 
I don't think glasses have an affect on red dot sights, it's folks with astigmatism that don't get a clear red dot image.

I have astigmatism and don't wear glasses. If I concentrate on the dot, it's all blown out. However if I concentrate on the target (both eyes open) and put the dot on target, the blur is much improved. (but not perfect)
 
Based on my eyesight (bad) the red dot is a real advantage. The dot focuses in the same plain as the target so it is just easier to see. I have only shot a red dot once and admittedly it was a very tricked out race gun but my 10 rounds had a 1 1/2" group at 10 yards. Which I cannot do with any conventional sight. My guess it it about halves the sight error. Personally I really struggle to get the vertical correct with a conventional sight. I just cant see the top of the sights well enough to get them properly lined up. No such problem with a red dot. I am seriously considering adding a red dot to my CZ TS. It is so accurate I can't do it justice with a conventional sight.
 
For those of you with the astigmatism have you tried some of the more expensive red dots...I have a buddy that has an aimpoint on his AR and it seemed to be fine for me...but looking thru a cheaper Burris the other day I noticed the elongated dot as well...wondered if there is any correlation to the price and quality of the units
 
For those of you with the astigmatism have you tried some of the more expensive red dots...I have a buddy that has an aimpoint on his AR and it seemed to be fine for me...but looking thru a cheaper Burris the other day I noticed the elongated dot as well...wondered if there is any correlation to the price and quality of the units

No correlation.
I like red dots even though I have some astigmatism. I just don't worry if the dot's not perfect and simply center the imperfection on the target. I do notice that the dot's "roundness" seems to be effectied by the shooting environment and sometimes the star effect is worse then other times with the same optic. Turning the intensity down helps me.
 
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