There has to be a better way than Red Dots on pistols.

[TinCuda]

I know, I know! This will probably be a very unpopular opinion, but I just can't stand Red Dots on pistols. Lots of folks are doing it these days and people swear by them. I get it. I have used Red Dots on rifles and I love them. Great for close quarters and such. And, before anyone goes and pops off, yes, they can also totally be used for distance shots. I just hate them on pistols.

These things can get rain or dirt or fuzz or whatever over the emitter. Even the fully enclosed ones are big, bulky, and ugly.

Is there no technology that we can use that is better than iron sights but is also better that sticking a big glass screen on top of your handgun? We are well into the 21st century and nobody is working on this? I have made peace with the fact that I may never get a jet pack to commute to work, but come on! I can't help but to think that these medieval looking sights are nothing but a fad, like a four D-Cell battery Maglite on top of a MP5 from the 1980s.

Don't even get me started on Kydex holsters...

Attached pictures taken from the internet as examples.

 

[outrider58]

Iron sights!

Or, fiber optic iron sights

 

[gforce]

Army Mantech program is working on augmented reality HUD’s that would have an assisted aiming function. Nit a solution for a carry/bedside gun but interesting nonetheless

edit: Individually worn hud, not a pilots rig

 

[brianns]

Retinally aimed guided projectiles, RAGP.

 

[emerald]

I shot with a friend's Crimson Trace laser grips and liked them enough to buy a set. You still retain your iron sites too. No holster changes needed.

 

[Occam]

Phased plasma pistol in the 25 watt range.

 

[TwinTurbskis]

Wait what's wrong with kydex holsters?!

Personally, I agree with you about red dots on pistols - I've tried it and I'm not really a fan. People can do what they want, but I'll stick with my iron sights. Iron sights feel like home.

 

[babalou]

when I took my wear and carry class earlier this year by the esteemed 3Paul10, who I consider a good friend and is an excellent source for me, he stated that a lot of the fellow cops did much better using red dots and that they are the wave of the future with police departments.. I believe him. I have a 43x with Talos red dot but have not shot it yet at the range. I have been working on quick sight-in when drawing, though for muscle memory.

 

[teratos]

Point shooting. Index off the back plate.

 

[babalou]

Point shooting. Index off the back plate.

funny, when I was doing the qualification, I did just that but modified. My shoulder was still recovering from surgery as well as my shooting hand. I did the modified point where I kept my vision on the target and had the front sight blurry...Looked through the front sight to the target. got 25 out of 25 .. guess it worked

 

[smokey]

Enclosed are big and bulky?

 

[TinCuda]

View attachment 447638
Enclosed are big and bulky?

Yes

 

[BurkeM]

Front Sight, Front Sight — It's a Gun Thing! - The Shooter's Log

When shooting, it is important to focus on the front sight. Speed isn't your main goal, you need to make accurate hits first.

blog.cheaperthandirt.com

Front sight, front sight. That = hits on target.

 

[Defense Initiative]

Wait what's wrong with kydex holsters?!

Personally, I agree with you about red dots on pistols - I've tried it and I'm not really a fan. People can do what they want, but I'll stick with my iron sights. Iron sights feel like home.

Friction as opposed to a locking system.

 

[r3t1awr3yd]

Wanna get weirder?

MEPRO FT BULLSEYE™ Pistol Rear Sight - Meprolight

The Mepro FT Bullseye™ sight is the fastest, brightest, and most intuitive tritium fiber optic sight built. Powered by fiber optics and tritium.

www.meprolight.com

 

[hogarth]

Friction as opposed to a locking system.

How do leather holsters work?....

 

[kstone803]

This is probably the smallest footprint you'll find. I have no experience with it. I'm with you, I don't use red dots. I've tried multiple times but can't get used to it. I spend more time trying to find the dot than I do shooting. Front sight was beat into my head when learning to shoot pistols and it seems to work for me.

DeltaPoint Micro (Glock)

The DeltaPoint Micro is fast on target, extremely accurate, and built Leupold® tough. But it’s the low-profile, concealable design that really makes it stand out from the competition. Mounted at the same height as factory iron sights, the DeltaPoint Micro aligns the red dot with the front sight...

www.leupold.com

 

[Kman]

Red dots on carry pistols are not for me.
I've tried several and I can't get on the target with any speed and accuracy isn't noticeably better.

 

[willtill]

Red dots on carry pistols are not for me.
I've tried several and I can't get on the target with any speed and accuracy isn't noticeably better.

Same here.

 

[ken792]

This is probably the smallest footprint you'll find. I have no experience with it. I'm with you, I don't use red dots. I've tried multiple times but can't get used to it. I spend more time trying to find the dot than I do shooting. Front sight was beat into my head when learning to shoot pistols and it seems to work for me.

DeltaPoint Micro (Glock)

The DeltaPoint Micro is fast on target, extremely accurate, and built Leupold® tough. But it’s the low-profile, concealable design that really makes it stand out from the competition. Mounted at the same height as factory iron sights, the DeltaPoint Micro aligns the red dot with the front sight...

www.leupold.com

That’s a training issue. If you can draw and present with your eyes closed and open your eyes to see the iron sights almost perfectly aligned, then you can draw and present with a red dot. Irons can mask the issue of not having a good natural point of aim since it’s easier to fidget the gun into position.