Just wondering if anyone does this. I've noticed a tendency to shoot tighter groups with a red dot sight when using a smaller target. The full-sized aiming black gives me some room to wander so to speak. I've been practicing slow fire on a 3" target lately. I use a 6 o'clock hold when shooting iron sights, but maybe the tangent point of aim at 6 o'clock would be beneficial with a red dot?
6 O'clock Hold Even with Red Dot Sight?
- Thread starter DMW1116
- Start date
Varminterror
Member
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2016
- Messages
- 14,986
I use a 6 o'clock with a couple RMR's with the triangle "dot" reticle. It's not so far off from center if I need to shoot quick and put the triangle ON the target for close and large targets, but for shooting slow fire, the refined aiming point is nice.
But for conventional round dots, I use a cover hold - dot on target. Admitting also, my round dots aren't really round - I really only buy red dot sights which come with the classic astigmatism bug splatter reticle.
But for conventional round dots, I use a cover hold - dot on target. Admitting also, my round dots aren't really round - I really only buy red dot sights which come with the classic astigmatism bug splatter reticle.
Buzznrose
Member
My red dots are all a bit fuzzy but I sight them in for dead on hold at the appropriate distance for the gun and its purpose. Pistols and .22’s are generally 15 yards, rifles (AR’s and .22LR are 50 yards for me).
I tried to convince a friend that his new pistol red dot sight was a perfect circle even though he swore it was a starburst. I finally convinced him to take a picture of it with his phone. The pic showed a perfect dot.
Getting old ain’t for sissies!
I tried to convince a friend that his new pistol red dot sight was a perfect circle even though he swore it was a starburst. I finally convinced him to take a picture of it with his phone. The pic showed a perfect dot.
Getting old ain’t for sissies!
jmorris
Member
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2005
- Messages
- 24,258
Absolutely. Larger dots can obscure the target significantly. Like this dot being larger than the target.
One can set the sight so POI is at the top edge of the dot and still reliably make hits on a target that is smaller in diameter than the dot at that point.
Without going to a smaller diameter dot, that’s not as easy to aquire.
Not with as much precision as a magnified optic would give but those pose their own issues.
Mike OTDP
Member
Get a quality dot. It should be round, not a splatter.
The dot not being round is caused more by a person's astigmatism than it is caused by the quality of the optic. I have used everything from the Bushnell TR-25 to Trijicon RMR's and Aim Points and they all bloom due to my astigmatism. Spending more money on a red dots won't prevent the reticle from blooming for those with astigmatism.
The trick with dot sights is to turn the brightness level down as much as possible while still being able to see the dot. Everyone's eye sight is different so a red reticle works best for some while a green reticle works better for others. I am one that green has less bloom.
And if you are using a dot sight properly, then you should be focusing on the target and just lining up the dot on the target.
I normally sight my optic so that the dot covers the bullseye no matter what distance I sight in. The distance will depend on what gun I am sighting in and the ultimate purpose of the particular gun. My sub compact and micro pistols that have optics get sighted in at 15 yards. My compact and full size pistols get sighted in at 25 yards. For rimfire rifles, I sight in at 25 yards and 50 yards for centerfire rifles.
One of my favorites is my Kel-Tec CP33 with a Swampfox Kingslayer optic. I have it sighted in at 25 yards where the dot covers the bullseye. I do not need to make any adjustments at 50 yards and I use the bottom of the dot for target at 80-85 yards. My local range only goes to 85 yards.
And remember the a dot sight is not made nor designed for precious shooting, they are designed for speed - fast target acquisition
I held a Master classification in Bullseye competition using pistols with red dots and was certainly not alone using them.
It's whatever works best for you. jmorris's explanation is pretty spot on.
It’s pretty wobbly with a red dot too. Iron sights I can see it but not enough to bother me. I may try that 6 o’clock hold with my red dot. I’m switching ammo types so I have to rezero anyway. I’ve been working on slow fire for a while but need to switch to rapid. My old ammo was Aguila SE Standard Velocity but it hangs up in the magazine, or this batch does. Can’t shoot rapid clearing a jam every 8 or 9 shots. I’m switching to Blazer or Aguila SE HV.
W.E.G.
Member
Use the sight picture that YOUR brain processes best.
We are not all alike in how we are wired.
Listen to advice.
Follow your judgment.
We are not all alike in how we are wired.
Listen to advice.
Follow your judgment.
Well for starters, I never said that one could not shoot accurately with a red dot. What I said was that the initial design and intended uses were for speed and fast target acquisition.
While I am not a master class pistol shooter, I do find that I am more accurate with a red dot versus iron sights.
And for the OP, yes he should go with what works best for him.
I have been shooting conventional open sights on my handguns since 1955. I tried red dot and had a horrible time. I’m tuned, wired, conditioned, whatever, to hold alignment, equal spacing on both sides of the front, level tops (except for long range, thanks Elmer) and so on. Using a rest I can shoot the dot but maybe I’m just too old to adjust.
don't try and use a dot sight like it is a magnified scope, focus on the target not the dot. if your dot blooms badly turn down the brightness or try a different color. red works best for me, but my granddaughter hats red all of hers are now green. Even the fiber optic front sights on her pistols.
I tell everyone the same things when they ask about dot type sights. a dot sight will tell you right away if you have astigmatism or not. And turning the brightness level down always seems to help most people. I also see people try to focus on the dot as if it is a regular scope reticle, and as you mentioned, that does not work well for dot sights.
Everyone's eye sight is different and what color reticle for one will not work well for someone else. Green reticles work best for me and I have less bloom when compared to a red reticle.
For those new to pistol optics, I will suggest trying both red and green reticles along with playing with the brightness levels to see which one works best for the individual.
I think I like green better, but I don't have issues with red. If there is a difference, it's small. I can use them with my non-dominant eye without issue, but my dominant eye (left) has astigmatism and turning down the brightness as much as possible helps a lot. Focusing on the target instead of the dot also tends to reduce any astigmatism related smears/bursts.
