Which red dot sight for OR ready pistol?

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prairieguy

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Hello CGN pistol gurus,

I have decided to take a leap back into pistol shooting after many years away. At this time I will be doing it just for fun but if I am enjoying it enough may get back into IDPA or even ISPC production optics.

My eyes not being what they once were, I plan to buy a optics ready pistol and add a red dot sight.

There are so many red dot sight options I don't know where to begin. I have been doing lots of reading but am really not sure what to choose.

I am very interested in thoughts and suggestions from folks who are actually using RDS on their pistols.

The only hard and fast criteria is that I will not purchase anything made in China. I think this still leaves the Leupold DPP, Trijicon RMR, Aimpoint ACRO, Shield RMS2 and possibly others as options.

My questions are:

What size dot should I choose? I have seen everything from 1 to 12 MOA advertised.

Any that are motion activated so I don't have to worry about forgetting to turn it on?

I not see see much about Aimpoint ACROs in use. Why is that?

How important is co-witness with the iron sights?

Thank you for reading and for any advice you choose to give.
 
I have the Sentry on my Glock 48 . Mines the smaller one ...rmsc I think . Love it . It’s on all of the time and the dot comes on when I bring the pistol up .
Make sure you get the glass lense as both plastic and glass are available . I’ve heard some folks say that the plastic one scratches real easily .
Great red dot . The newest series has the battery compartment slide out the side , which ends the pita process of having to remove the whole unit from the pistol to change the battery .
 
My questions are:

What size dot should I choose? I have seen everything from 1 to 12 MOA advertised. I prefer a "circle /dot reticle, YMMV

Any that are motion activated so I don't have to worry about forgetting to turn it on? Holosun has a "shake awake" feature

I not see see much about Aimpoint ACROs in use. Why is that? Battery life was a big issue in the first ones

How important is co-witness with the iron sights? Depending on how often you use them?, I prefer all black & a 1/3 lower co-witness so that it's not getting in the way of the dot.

Thank you for reading and for any advice you choose to give.
 
My recommendations are the trijicon sro, delta point pro, Sig romeo 1 pro and the Sig romeo 3 max in no particular order. In regards to the dot size it'll depend on which sight but for the dpp 2.5, the sro 5.0, the romeos either 3 or 6 depending on if you actually start to compete. If so I'd go with the 6.
 
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I am approaching 80, so my eyes are not so good. I have found a red dot cuts my group size in half. Most of my RD pistols ( I have a half dozen, or so of them) have no rear sight, so I don't see any use of co-witness.

If I carried it on duty, I can see the need for a back up sight, "just in case".

As for dot size, if it is only used on a pistol a 3 minute of 6 works well. For fast competition shooting, a 6 is best. If you do some slow fire plinking, a 3 minute is better. When competing with a 3 minute sight, I just crank it up one notch brighter, and it is fast to use.

I have had good results with the Burris FF3 and the Vortex Venom and Viper.
 
Action Shooting, bit larger dot, like 5 or 6 MOA. Precision games, PPC ect, smaller 2.5 or 3 MOA. Can turn the small ones up a bit and run them for action but if that's all you want to do go a bit bigger.
Holosun....I want to like them but found that when you cast them across a target they "fish bowl" a bit and clarity is suspect. The Leupold DPP has super sharp and round dot and perfectly clear glass that does not "fish bowl" or distort.

I like the clarity.....not that Holosun isn't a good product, just prefer DPP (bit darn high though).

Rich
 
I am with Ganderite on this , I have one that I bought at one of Switzers auction, it has no switch ,or anything, auto everything, small dot, a 2 maybe, It would be great on my target gun. Have not mounted it on anything yet, auto brightness.
It is some no name in a typical china box, take the cover off and it wakes up

1911, 45, I have a 6mm Vortex on it , great for speed but for bulls eye , the dot is too big. Like the sight, nice and compact., auto or manual brightness.
Had one on a Canik as well, Viper 100% warranty on them in Canada. i had a battery connection problem on one , sent it in , they sent a new one.
I can shoot a bit better with open sights as far as bulls eye goes, But I had my eyes done few yrs ago, I am pushing 80 soon.
None I have are co witness, on speed course, I could see the idea being handy, when you first start with one , I have a bit of trouble finding the dot, more so on the 1911, than on the 9mm.
I have to #### my wrist a bit more, but that sight sits a bit high, and I don't shoot it a lot, the revolvers way more.

If you are just starting handguns, I would not get hung up on red dots to start. get the basics down first.
Good reason to have 2 , one with open sights , one red dot. i have never spent more than 350.oo on a sight. but I don't shoot competitions.
I have been thinking I would like to mount that new site on my s-w model 14-2 target, I do have a scope mount, but would be better with the red dot plate.
You can get them in the US, any on have one they want to sell? I have lots of Ammo, LOL.
I have posted a picture of the guns before , I could again if you wanted.
 
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Don't forget factory options like the Sig P320 RX.
Comes with Romeo RD and co-witness sights and MOTAC (shake and wake).
Like already said, small dot for target - I have a vortex on my .22
Larger dot for speed like IPSC.
 
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