red dot at close range

[C-grunt]

In several threads here and on other forums/pages I have heard many people say that they are hesitant to use a red dot on their handgun because the fear of not finding the dot in close range engagements.

Finding the dot on the draw/presentation is a big part of training one needs to do when transitioning to a red dot. However, you are not a slave to the dot just because you have it on there.

There are several techniques taught on how to use the handgun in close range without using the dot. Iron sights are an obvious one. But also using the dot body as a reference or (my preferred) looking through the optic at the target.

Yesterday I decided to practice this technique at work. I ran the drill cold and turned my dot off. I also made sure to not use the irons and stayed target focused. I drew the handgun from my duty holster, Safariland ALS, and only looked through the optic window as my "aiming".

My partner timed me with a shot timer. The times are listed with the design I used to differentiate each run. On the timer I drew and fired two quick shots with roughly a .25-.35 split for my shots. Distance was 10 yards.

Gun is a Glock 17 with a RMR and a Surefire X300U.

I noted that most of my second shot drifted to the left and were getting to the edge of the "scoring zone". The runs over 2 seconds were do to slight fumbles at the holster during the draw. Overall I believe this is a decent showing that red dot equipped guns can still be pretty quick and accurate enough at closer range, even if you have a sub par presentation and dont see your dot.

20210809_092542 by chase, on Flickr

20230228_122037 by chase, on Flickr

20230228_122043 by chase, on Flickr

 

[CDW4ME]

Interesting and I like that Glock.
As to red dot at close range, this example was persuasive in me trying a dot for the 1st time about 14 months ago; I now have 4.

 

[12Bravo20]

I have always said that you can use a red dot like a ghost ring sight for clues range if the optic stops working. And @C-grunt shows that it works.

 

[trackskippy]

Whats "close range"? To me, its around 5-7 yards and in, and in most cases there, at least at the outer edges of that, at best, I might just be seeing the front sight on the target. Anything closer, and Im shooting over the top of the gun and not looking at the sights at all, or at least "consciously".

In the video above, as close as he is there, I would be shooting like that too (no red dot), and I wouldnt be looking at the sights, but focused on the target, and would have basically the same hits hes showing. Now if hes shooting like that at 10-15 yards, yea, I would be using the sights, and in my case, the "dots", or maybe even just the front sight at 10.

I dont (yet) have a red dot, and Im not at all against getting one, but I dont think whats being discussed here, really has anything to do with the dot or whatever youre using, you need to be comfortable shooting quickly and accurately "without" any kind of sights, and I think you'll find, that can and does work very well, and with just a little practice, out to distances a lot of people seem to have trouble "with" sights.

 

[jak67429]

I have been shooting carry optics in steel challenge and uspsa for 3 years now. the biggest challenge when going from iron sights to a dot, is finding the dot on the draw. After that it really doesn't matter what distance you are shooting until the target gets small enough you have to take time to aim at it. I still will not use a battery powered sight for my carry gun. All of them have fixed iron sights. In the 20 years I have shot completions most of the equipment failures are with sights, I have seen several adjustable rear sights come lose or move, I have had expensive red dots and holo sights just quit working in the middle of a match.

 

[beag_nut]

Red dots, for a carry sidearm, are a no-go for me, if only because of their bulk. Shooting for 66 years, I know how to instinctively bring iron sights to bear. However, for squirrel hunting a red dot is great. Just sayin'.

 

[12Bravo20]

To each their own. Use what you like.

I personally find dot sights on my pistols to be helpful and use them on EDC pistols. I do have backup sights that are useable with the optic mounted and I practice with the optic on and off along with the iron sights. And I don't find optics to be a problem when it comes to concealment either,

 

[Varminterror]

“Red dots are slower at close range” —> than not aiming at all…

 

[Ks5shooter]

As stated practice with on and off,using your co-witness sights and just using the window of your red dot.Practice practice practice.

 

[Riomouse911]

For me, if dot or opens I am not even using sights at 5-7-10 yard distances if it is a quick draw/fire situation. I don’t expect this from others only because I’ve trained this way for decades, putting many, many thousands of rounds through all sorts of guns doing this so it is now second nature.

Dots are fantastic, and certainly do give me better and more consistent hits at distance than I can with opens. I don’t have them on any of my guns other than a Ruger .22, but I am not opposed to getting some for my MOS type guns sooner or later.

But the dot sight may not be for everyone, and I’m cool with that too.

Stay safe.

 

[CapnMac]

if only because of their bulk.

Bulk?

Modern RDS are no planting 30mm diameter tubes over the slide anymore.