C-grunt
Member
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
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