Red dots ?

Gillis2

Gillis2

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Hi all,
I have been shooting for quite a few years and do enjoy handguns. Lately I have been watching lots of USA tv shows like Shooting USA and Guns and Ammo tv. The hosts of these shows are kind of mainly shooting handguns with red dot and sights systems and also saying that thesedays, most people are going towards red dots. It seems that most new models now come optics ready.
Personally I am enjoying the plain traditional open sights.
What are your opinions on the future of handgunning in regards to this apparently modern tendency ?
Thanks
Gilbert
 
I tried a few out. ACRO P2, SRO and RMR, across different optics ready guns. My shooting got a lot worse as far as time and accuracy. I may have just needed a lot more time to adjust but I couldn't get my guns back to irons fast enough. Those red dots all found homes on shotguns and a rifle. It's clearly working for a lot of people but I just didn't like it.
 
I would say that 70-75% of the competitors at any handgun match these days are running a red dot. I’ve been running them for 3 years or so now and I and everyone I shoot with are just much faster with the dot period.
Funny story, we actually ran a comparison last Sunday between irons and red dots. It wasn’t even close, all 4 of us shaved a minimum of 2 seconds off the stage we ran.
There is a learning curve, but if you put in the time you will benefit greatly from an RDS on a pistol
 
Just milled one of my guns for an optic, and installed a Holosun 507C. Haven't shot it yet (next week) but practicing basic holster drills at home I can see the appeal. If you're already a proficient shooter from your holster you'll find the dot easy to acquire.
 
Put a relatively cheap Burris red dot on my Glock 17. I found I was more confident with my aim using a red dot. I also have a 1911 .45 and will probably leave that one bare. The rest of my handguns are .22 so slide mount will prob not work and really just enjoy using the open sights on them. Some people just do not feel right or are able to properly aim red dots so i would try one that does not need to have a slide cut first to see if it is for you. If you watch sales, and using a Glock as an example, you can get a reasonably decent and cheap red dot and dovetail mount for around $250.
 
Borrowed a Glock with an SRO from a guy at the range who had 4 pistols, each with an SRO, he swore by them. After a mag I was hooked and got myself one. Groups instantly shrank, follow up shots came faster. It was pretty much a cheat code. That being said I have only been shooting pistols since the gunpocalypse, 2x per month 250 rounds per outing, pretty much whatever flat range drills I can find online.
 
Red dots are awesome! They are wonderful for aging eyes, and young eyes benefit from them too. If irons were the best for action sports like IPSC, then race guns would have irons. They don’t.

There is a learning curve as Edgy mentioned. He’s exactly right.

This is 10 rounds shot at 10 yards. I can do this all the time with a dot. Irons will always be worse for me.

FE6-C7-FD4-1-B6-F-4-E17-891-E-4-CC046-C1-D75-F.jpg
 
I have used both, I mainly shoot bulleye targets, Slow fire with my 1911 45 ,I could a little better with target sights, but if I was shooting steel, I would used red dot.
I had 2 9mm with red dot on them ,
the 1911 45 used a plate in place of the back sight, the 9mm's had milled slides.
Never had one on any of the 22 target guns, but know of a couple the use them.
I am thinking about my s-w m19 4" as I have a vortex viper left in stock, and a scope mount.
But I would sooner have a plate, You can find them in the US.

BTW have been shooting hg for 65 yrs. Had a colt python with the scope, not that I used that much.
Liked the Dan Wesson better.

Jimbo ,that's great shooting.
 
Fiber optic front post is my "red dot"...the other things with batteries don't work well with my astigmatism.
 
Painkillers said:
Fiber optic front post is my "red dot"...the other things with batteries don't work well with my astigmatism.
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Have you tried the Holosun with the circle dot crosshair? I also have astigmatism and find most red dots to be starbusrts and while still useable, it is quite annoying. The holosun however, I find much easier on the eyes and it almost looks normal, and remains quite crisp. Other I know that suffer from astigmatism have also had the same experience.
 
I added dots to a couple 9mm shooters and will likely add more. I quite like them, Gilbert. Can't say I shoot with them more precisely but target acquisition is faster for me. It is worth it for my aging eyes anyway.
 
OK you guys are giving me a certain urge to try red dots. How do I mount a red dot on my Glock 17 Gen 5 and CZ Shadow 1 ? Do I need to buy slides optics ready for them ? Where can I purchase those slides ?
Thanks
Gilbert
 
Gillis2 said:
OK you guys are giving me a certain urge to try red dots. How do I mount a red dot on my Glock 17 Gen 5 and CZ Shadow 1 ? Do I need to buy slides optics ready for them ? Where can I purchase those slides ?
Thanks
Gilbert
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You can purchase a Glock slide from RDSC or CTC Supplies. It’s cheaper to send your slide to Black Box Customs and have it milled for a red dot.

You will need suppressor height sights if you want to use your irons with a red dot.
 
Gillis2 said:
OK you guys are giving me a certain urge to try red dots. How do I mount a red dot on my Glock 17 Gen 5 and CZ Shadow 1 ? Do I need to buy slides optics ready for them ? Where can I purchase those slides ?
Thanks
Gilbert
Click to expand...
I would suggest getting a dovetail mount for what ever Red Dot you buy before going through he expense etc of getting a cut slide. They are pretty cheap on Amazon ht tps://www.amazon.ca/s?k=Glock+17+red+dot+mount&crid=1MN77VSXM6TV0&sprefix=glock+17+red+dot+moun%2Caps%2C110&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

You may not have the same experience as others with it and this will let you try. Myself i am still quite happy with my mounted red dot and will probablyy not get the slide cut as i can go back to regular type sights any time I decide to.
 
Gindryden said:
I would suggest getting a dovetail mount for what ever Red Dot you buy before going through he expense etc of getting a cut slide. ...
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I generally agree, but it depends on the budget for experimentation and your expectations.

A dovetail cut was never intended to be sturdy enough for the mass and leverage of a typical RDS. I'd wager that's why you only find the dovetail adapters only being made by off brands. Sure, it's probably enough to get a taste, but I'd really limit its use.

However, for pistols without a reciprocating slide (like the Ruger Mark series), it's more tolerable. But still not ideal.

Or for an RDS like the Leupold Deltapoint Micro, which are a completely different design, optimized for a dovetail mount on a reciprocating slide.
 
Gillis2 said:
... How do I mount a red dot on my Glock 17 Gen 5 and CZ Shadow 1 ? Do I need to buy slides optics ready for them ? Where can I purchase those slides ?...
Click to expand...

Another option to consider is buying a complete pistol from the USA (minus the frame), imported by Prophet River or IRunGuns. Spare parts are good, and the price may be more reasonable than you think (compared to milling and refinishing, or a new OR slide available domestically).
 
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