Correct
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I don’t think I’d call a red dot a crutch any more than iron sights are a crutch, or double action revolvers are a crutch (vs single action only).
They are an advancement in arms technology that enhances proficiency although, like the other things, they aren’t magic, and they don’t alleviate one from the need to employ sound fundamentals. There has to be some proficiency there to enhance. It’s hard to argue with the objective superiority of a single focal plain sighting system that is also self illuminated and widens the available head/eye positions vs the firearm while still obtaining sight alignment and sight picture (to use scope/rifle type terms, large eyebox I think that would be like)
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Agree with your points. Until they fail. That’s my point. They’re electrical devices. They can and do fail.
Iron sights don’t fail as often (I’ve never had them fail in 45 years of shooting scores of weapons). I have had a red dot fail. Two actually. An Eotech and a Vortex.
I trust my RMRs for EDC, but all of them have cowitnessed iron sights.
Call it what you will–not a crutch. To quote BA Barakas from the A Team-“I pity the fool” who has his red dot go out and hasn’t prepared/trained for that contingency.
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FWIW I’ve never had a red dot fail, but I have had irons fail.
But that’s also why I have backup irons on my red dot carry pistols. The irons are already there if need be.
Everybody should be able to shoot with irons, for sure, even if a bit slower or less accurate then RDS
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Another interesting view
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Just my 2-cents, but I prefer a red dot. Laser gives away your position and sometimes your intent. And if you have to turn it on manually, well that would be non-starter for me.
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I am not disagreeing with you on the fixed sites,but I do have green on demand on all my hand weapons,and why green,they show better and further in day light and yes I have all set the lasers to the sites on all hand weapons and with both eyes open both are right on the spot where the round will go,and the laser between will have the tendency to stop an aggressor as happened to me on my SD issue,he went cross eyed when the laser hit him between the eyes and his eyes changed and turned and left,watch the eyes,they are the way to what they are thinking!
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As I posted elsewhere, the Bushnell i purchased failed. My new Primary Arms red dot is performing flawlessly after several hundred rounds. I am slowly becoming a believer.
And…I practice hitting the target with the red dot switched off, just in case!
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I noticed yesterday when putting a more than ample amount of rounds through my pistol that, even having astigmatism, as long as I focus only on the dot/target in the optic window that it all worked out. Keeping both eyes open, after that I was hitting steel with an iron sight pistol the same way, as long as I keep practicing it this way I know I will overcome the eye/open/closed issue I was having.
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I have an astigmatism, too. As you stated, that is not an issue when aiming. One may not be able to “clearly” see the target, but that does not affect aim. I practice with and without my glassess (near-sighted) and with and without my contact (I use mono-vision - one contact), due to while I am home, I will likely not have a contact nor my eyeglasses, but I still need to be able to hit the target. I believe the important aspect is having a steady hand, not a visually acute target.
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Do you actually focus on the dot, rather than the target? Every RDS instructor I have had, either in person or using their YouTube videos, says to focus on the target, not the dot, with both eyes open. While USCCA DSF training does not address red dots, it does include the body’s natural reaction that will draw your focus to the target.
I recommend reviewing training advice by instructors like John Correia and Scott Jedlinski (Jedi) on optimum use of RDS.
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The target, I see them both plainly through the optic. Thank you for the recommendations👍
Hth
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With focusing on target / sights or optic I have made very interesting observation.
I’ve always preferred target focusing because I’m defensive shooter, but for precision, front sight focus is a must.
I found the same rule applies to RDS.
I can shoot defensively accurately with RDS from 1’ to 75’ just looking at target, but if I want to hit 2" circle from 30’ or more, I need to focus on top of chevron.
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There is an additional tactical advantage for using green lasers or green dots. Red will affect your vision in low light scenarios. Green will not
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Good post. Thanks!
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Based on personal experience and observation I believe a green dot laser is best at actual SD ranges, while RDS has advantages at longer ranges. Mylittle Buckmark target with RDS was stupid accurate out to 75 yards. I still am a fan of no electronics on a weapon and prefer a decent set of irons-preferably night sights. I have seen both RDS and laser systems fail. In 63 years of shooting and 53 years of handgunning I’ve had exactly one “failure” with irons sights, and that was a Ruger SBH that launched its front sight into the stratosphere when I touched off the fire round fired through it. That .44 Mag hit the target but as I came down from recoil to fire the second round, no sight😳. Ruger repaired it promptly and in the 25 years since it’s eaten thousands of rounds with no issues. With anything firearms related, practice is the key. If you know your piece then old fashioned sights will work just fine, If electronics make you more confident that’s fine too (my wife loves her laser) but don NOT allow yourself to become tech only, because eventually it will fail, and if you are absolutely dependent upon it you’ll be up the proverbial creek.
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Out of curiosity, would you mind sharing the drills you did to compare, guns and ammo used, and what your times/scores were, in which the laser outperformed the RDS?
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My wife, who is by no means a sharpshooter is a ton faster on our backyard range clearing plates with the green laser vs the red dot. I like that I can literally “shoot from the hip” and get far tighter groups with the laser than shooting from the same positions sans laser. Red dots work fine, my son likes them, but I can always put the laser’s dot on target at typical SD ranges (7 and 10 yards) quicker than I can with the red dot on the same weapon (CZ Shadow). I often hunt squirrels with a Buckmark target with a dot. Works well for that.
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Hello, Christopher … I’m also relatively new to concealed carry. My rig is a Sig P365XL (12+1 rounds, 3.1” bbl) w/Holosun 6 moa RDS (see photo) … I further added an American-made* aluminum magwell to improve my grasp on the gun’s grip (a place for my pinky) and to better control muzzle flip. I carry in an IWB holster at 2:30 position and use a quality 5.11 Tactical leather 1.5” wide gun belt. I’m medium build and haven’t had any problem with ‘printing’ … provided I wear size Large shirts (loose fitting; my regular medium size doesn’t work so well) with long enough bottom hem length. (Incidentally, patterned shirts help with concealment vs plain, but you don’t need to go full Hawaiian 
).
*Bought magwell from Sig _ better construction and alloy than cheap Chinese knockoff. Might also consider an extended magazine with the ‘hoof’ like protrusion on the front for your pinky; might’ve been a better option (read on).
Issues noted: (1) RDS lenses collect dust > attached photo shows small but effective photographer’s squeeze bulb duster with rubber tip (avoid metal tip which can scratch optics); remove mag and any rounds in chamber (and check) before using… a small artist’s camel hair brush can be used to loosen any clinging particles (again, avoid any metal sleeves on the brush) ___ (2) My metal magwell has a tendency to press forcefully against the generously-sized bolster on the leather bucket driver’s seat in my F-150 (not good) > so I need to shift my holster around. I have a magnetic gun holder affixed to the side of my center console - where there was a flat spot to mount it - down by my right knee. I can secure my handgun there for longer trips but… I’m not keen on that idea should I ever get pulled over by police for any reason (my thought is that the LEO is more likely to be on-edge with my gun being so easily accessible by my knee > than if it were in the holster on my right hip with my seatbelt fastened over it. I’m a CPL holder and in my state there is a legal “duty to (immediately) inform” the LEO. From what I’ve read (Massad Ayoob) one should always politely inform the LEO as he or she may already become aware of when they run your plate or your driver’s license. Best advice is to avoid any potentially unpleasant surprises for the LEO.
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