Red dot on a pistol - jury is still out

[MTA]

About a few weeks ago, I traded into a Walther PDP. It came with a red dot, Holo sun something or other. I was able to take it out last week to the indoor range alongwith a Glock 35 converted fully to 9mm that I had yet to fire. The G35 has new sights, new stock trigger and 9mm ejector and a conversion barrel: https://www.ebay.com/itm/314066341177 Its an awesome barrel and good seller on ebay.

The Holosun has a eotech type reticle, basically a donut reticle. Being my first time ever shooting a red dot on a pistol, it took me a minute to get use to it. I found myself focusing on how much it was moving since I am more of a rifle shooter, I was fighting that quite a bit when I got started. This is definitely something that is going to require some re-training for me.

Anyways, I settled into it and it started working out pretty well for me. The biggest thing throwing me off is that the Walther has one of these triggers installed: https://waltherarms.com/dynamic-performance-trigger-black/ Man that is a hell of a trigger. Way nicer than what I am use to which is a 4-5 pound staple gun trigger on my Glocks. So switching back from the PDP to the G35 was messing me up. I think if I was use to the PDP trigger id be able to shave the nuts off a mosquito with it.

It doesn't make much sense to me, but I prefer the shitty Glock trigger. I am so use to the same trigger pull being on all my other pistols that the PDP trigger was almost too nice. Now I know I could drop Glock, switch to Walther but that would cost way too much money for me. I think I am going to wait before I make any rash decisions until I can shoot some steel as I have a feeling that the red dot is going to be perfect for more realistic shooting.

Jury is still out on red dots. I had fun but I think I shot my iron sights just as good if not better and iron sights dont cost $400-500.

Shots were all at 10-15 yards at a fairly rapid pace. Top one is G35, bottom is PDP with Holosun

 

[studenygreg]

I recently got a 22/45 and added a vortex RD. It's the only pistol I have with a RD. I don't shoot it a lot so I'm not great with it but good enough to have fun. None of my other pistols are OR. I'm not sold yet on red dots on pistols, especially since I will have to get slides milled, buy new slides, or new pistols.

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

 

[BeatTheTunaUp]

So I dove into the deep end this year and have 3 pistols with red dots on them. I too was unnerved by the moving dot, but in reality, it's just showing how much we move. If anything, a red dot has settled my movement down. I think in a combat fast transition to targets, I may be faster with irons. They're just natural to me at this point. I feel more confident taking a longer shot using a dot though. So hostage situation, give me a dot. Dickens drill probably better on irons.

 

[etmo]

When you first transition to red dots, you will be worse than you were with iron sights. That's a definite.

The reason why red dots are superior only becomes apparent if you stick with them, and then continue to put in the necessary work to maintain the skill with red dots. Then you'll be able to reach a level beyond where you were with iron sights.

If you don't put in the work to get over the hump and the work to maintain it, then IMO you're better off sticking with iron sights and saving the cash.

 

[zackmars]

It takes a long time to have an RDS on a handgun become second nature. People have said roughly 5,000 rounds, and I'd agree with that.

It also doesn't help if you have handguns without dots

 

[MTA]

It takes a long time to have an RDS on a handgun become second nature. People have said roughly 5,000 rounds, and I'd agree with that.

It also doesn't help if you have handguns without dots

This is where I am heading towards. I am not much of a pistol guy and the thought of investing thousands more in ammo and gear for pistols is not something that I am too crazy about at this point.

I feel confident in my ability to defend myself with an ironsighted pistol

 

[TheDan]

Being my first time ever shooting a red dot on a pistol, it took me a minute to get use to it. I found myself focusing on how much it was moving since I am more of a rifle shooter, I was fighting that quite a bit when I got started. This is definitely something that is going to require some re-training for me.

A red dot on a pistol will quickly show off any inconsistencies you have in bringing the sights up to your eyes. After I got used to it, my time to first shot decreased with open sights, too.

staple gun

yeah, I've always hated Glock triggers

 

[TheDan]

It takes a long time to have an RDS on a handgun become second nature. People have said roughly 5,000 rounds, and I'd agree with that.

Don't need to burn ammo to do it; just practice bringing the gun up to your eyes. Doesn't even have to be a full dry fire practice... Look at your target, pull the gun up from low ready, acquire the dot, align to target, and go back to low ready. Repeat until you're no longer hunting for the dot.

 

[Riksors]

Line up. Point and shoot. Change the batteries, if I need to, re adjust zero. In the range and shooting at paper, red dots are cool.

Outside in the real world, I’m sticking with irons.

 

[Sasquatch]

This is where I am heading towards. I am not much of a pistol guy and the thought of investing thousands more in ammo and gear for pistols is not something that I am too crazy about at this point.

I feel confident in my ability to defend myself with an ironsighted pistol

A red dot on a pistol will quickly show off any inconsistencies you have in bringing the sights up to your eyes. After I got used to it, my time to first shot decreased with open sights, too.


yeah, I've always hated Glock triggers

Line up. Point and shoot. Change the batteries, if I need to, re adjust zero. In the range and shooting at paper, red dots are cool.

Outside in the real world, I’m sticking with irons.

Yep - you're gonna suck with the dot until you get enough reps with it. Its crazy to see how much we are actually moving - irons being so much bigger, they hide those jittery movements a lot more.

I don't get to do a lot of live-fire these days, but I practice daily on presentation and dry fire with one of my dot equipped pistols (including a Walther like yours)

If you commit to the dot, don't handicap yourself by going back to irons until you reach a point with the dot that you're consistent with it. Its like learning any other new skill - if you fish, learning to run a dot is like learning to run a baitcast reel, after only using spinning reels. Until you get reps and time using the new setup, you're gonna suck, you're gonna make more mistakes, but once you get the hang of it, it opens up a whole new world of opportunities and takes your skill to another level.

 

[Sasquatch]

Also - if its a Holosun 507 - you should be able to change reticles. The 507CX2 has 3 reticle options, and you can lockout the auto-adjust brightness as well. Push and hold the left front button (brightness up) to lock / unlock modes. Push and hold rear button to change reticles (dim button). I set the dot to a brightness I like, then lock it out so auto ajust is off, and lock the buttons so the brightness doesn't change by a button press.

 

[Mowingmaniac 24/7]

I love a Red Dot on anything...at the range.

For self defense, irons for me!

 

[sergeant69]

I don't get to do a lot of live-fire these days, but I practice daily on presentation and dry fire with one of my dot equipped pistols (including a Walther like yours)

too bad you're not closer! i'm the (incorrect) opposite. i do more live fire than dry. even knowing that dry fire is a helluva lot better! either i'm lazy or got too many projects going on. or both.

 

[SrsTwist]

I currently carry a Glock 27 with XS BigDot nightsights. Those are easier for my eyes to pick up than other iron sights. As I get older and it continues to get harder and slower to focus on my irons I lean more towards trying a red-dot.

The main thing holding me back is the cost of a new pistol and RD sight. Also if/when I do I'd make the switch to 9mm. So new gun, new sight, new holsters, new mags, new ammo, lots of $$$.

My likely choice would be a Glock 43X MOS with Shield 15 round mags. I'd have to do more research on red-dots before I decide what sight to buy.

The only red-dot I've owned is a cheapo Burris I put on my suppressed .22 pistol. I was unable to adjust the point of aim to match the gun. Not sure if it's the mount or the sight.

 

[Wudidiz]

I range shoot every Thursday. I shoot my carry guns w/iron sites for the first 30 minutes or so. Then I get out my Browning Buck Mark .22 w/Red Dot Vortex just for fun. I am much quicker to acquire the sight picture with iron sights. I tried red dots on my 9mm pistols and I was a bit tighter between 10 and 15 yards, but not so much that it mattered. For me the iron sights give me more confidence. The red dots are a hoot on the .22.

 

[MTA]

yeah, I've always hated Glock triggers

Im so use to them now might as well stick with it. I think I prefer a bit heavier trigger with a pistol. I am the exact opposite on rifles though

 

[SrsTwist]

It doesn't make much sense to me, but I prefer the shitty Glock trigger.

Im so use to them now might as well stick with it. I think I prefer a bit heavier trigger with a pistol. I am the exact opposite on rifles though

I like the Glock trigger on my defense gun. But at the range the crisp, light break on my Kimber 1911 clone is pretty sweet.

 

[jimbo]

Line up. Point and shoot. Change the batteries, if I need to, re adjust zero. In the range and shooting at paper, red dots are cool.

Outside in the real world, I’m sticking with irons.

I agree completely.

 

[zackmars]

Don't need to burn ammo to do it; just practice bringing the gun up to your eyes. Doesn't even have to be a full dry fire practice... Look at your target, pull the gun up from low ready, acquire the dot, align to target, and go back to low ready. Repeat until you're no longer hunting for the dot.

That leaves out recoil control, and the fact what happens on the range and what happens in your room are two different things.

Dry fire and presentations are great practice, but they are only supplements, not 1:1 replacements

 

[MTA]

Also - if its a Holosun 507 - you should be able to change reticles. The 507CX2 has 3 reticle options, and you can lockout the auto-adjust brightness as well. Push and hold the left front button (brightness up) to lock / unlock modes. Push and hold rear button to change reticles (dim button). I set the dot to a brightness I like, then lock it out so auto ajust is off, and lock the buttons so the brightness doesn't change by a button press.

Amazon product ASIN B084Z2768S
Its that one. I figured out you can change just to the dot after I got home. Even shows that you can right on the box