[Vito]

I've never owned a Red Dot sight and really don't know if it would be worthwhile to mount on the gen 4 G17 that I use as my primary home defense gun. I have a Streamlight mounted on the rail and assume I would buy one that clamps onto the top of the frame. Does this add much in terms of quick aiming in low light situations such as I would likely be dealing with in my home? The stock sights seem pretty clear to me in the daytime, but maybe not so much at night. The distances that the gun would be likely used in my home is likely no more than about 15 to 20 feet. And if you are recommending adding a Red Dot, I would welcome recommendations for modest priced sights. Thanks.

 

[cciman]

Here's a good discussion by a pro: (If you've been shooting iron sights for a long time and are good with them, converting to red dots is a steep climb to mastering them).

 

[cciman]

 

[Chowser]

I would not buy something that clamps to the top. Mill your slide if you’re serious. Don’t even try the dovetail mounts either. Try a bunch if you can and pick one that works for you. It is a steep learning curve if you’ve been shooting irons forever.

 

[kiser64]

So... A red dot is a different animal. For home defense, after having a good lesson on a red dot, it's my preferred defense setup. That being said-I've been shooting iron sights for over 30 years-both personally and professionally. It's a different brain function. I just shot a Glock MOS course and after the first 10 minutes, I realized the benefit of a red dot, but I won't use one for CCW. It doesn't make sense. But for home defense - yep, good choice. It takes a lot of ammo to get your head right though.

Edit: Note: Disregard iron sights while shooting a dot.

Edit again: G17 - Holosun SCS direct mount. Trijicon HD sights. Take a class. Zeroing a red dot is not intuitive...

 

[Taz]

I've never owned a Red Dot sight and really don't know if it would be worthwhile to mount on the gen 4 G17 that I use as my primary home defense gun. I have a Streamlight mounted on the rail and assume I would buy one that clamps onto the top of the frame. Does this add much in terms of quick aiming in low light situations such as I would likely be dealing with in my home? The stock sights seem pretty clear to me in the daytime, but maybe not so much at night. The distances that the gun would be likely used in my home is likely no more than about 15 to 20 feet. And if you are recommending adding a Red Dot, I would welcome recommendations for modest priced sights. Thanks.

In my not so professional opinion, much like for rifles, dots are pretty much the future of handguns. Even with that profound piece of useless info, I think that most folks don't need dots and would be FAR better served with taking that $$ and getting some or some more training.

I made the transition cause the old mark 1 eyeballs were just not cutting it with changing focal planes and I was essentially shooting target focus with irons. I could still make do, but I just figured if I'm going to be target focused, I may as well have a sighting system designed to function as such. So do you need a dot or do you want a dot?

If you already have a non-MOS G17 the cost of a dot will be either an aftermarket slide or milling factory slide PLUS the cost of the optic. Not cheap. While some of the adapter plates are OK, IMO they place the dot way too high above and you will be fighting the transition a bit more. Not impossible to overcome, but why go that route if you dont have to. In this respect the closest you're going to get to a dot being on the same plane as irons is an MOS Glock with a Holosun SCS.

No matter what you decide, understand that the transition will take work. The irons offer a cheat that the dot does not. While you may not notice it or even think about it, your peripheral vision does in fact see the irons much earlier in the presentation of the gun and as such you start making presentation tweaks. With the dot there is nothing there till you are on the last portion of the press out and getting on target. If your presentation sucks cause you've spent 30 years cheating, so to speak, you will need to relearn things. And that process will be frustrating, especially if you are half decent with irons. For me this was frustrating at the onset of using the dot. I was VERY glad that I made the transition while I could still use irons and did so on defensive guns till I was confident/competent with the dot.

With respect to the modest pricing, I think you're going to be hard pressed to beat Holosun for a decent balance of reputation and pricing. Trijicon is pretty expensive these days.

 

[Buckshot Barry]

Adding suppressor height iron sights to my MOS 19 with RMR was a great training aid on finding the dot.

 

[sciolist]

If practical, borrow a similar gun with a dot on it and try it out. If you're solid with irons, the transition should be pretty much instantaneous back and forth between irons and dots. If you're not solid with irons, the dot will point that out quick.

In a nutshell, the dot makes it easier to see more visual information. Irons make it easier to see less visual information (at speed). So if you're weak at gathering visual information at speed, the dot may be better. If you're good at gathering visual information at speed and/or good at getting hits with less visual information, you may not see a lot of advantage with the dot.

For me, where the dot really excels is on transitions, at speed, on longer mid-distance targets. It also gives really good feedback shooting on the move.

At 15-20 feet defensive, I'll take irons. Not sure about the low-light factor.

If you're going to use a dot, definitely get the slide properly milled for it, or use an appropriate optic-ready slide.

 

[IAhunter]

If you want a red dot, I’d sell your gen 4 and buy a gen 4 or 5 MOS gun then attach a Holosun SCS directly without the plate. I really like that sight. It co-witnesses with the factory sights, uses green rather than red dot, has three different types of dot and is solar. Here’s my G47 with the SCS mounted.

 

[mike1956]

Do I need a red dot on my carry gun?

A question only I can answer.

Do you need one on your gun?

I really don't know...

 

[Hydra-SHOKz]

The SCS is hard to beat. The EPS/EPS Carry are also excellent. Lots of choices. Most are Holosun.

I am a big fan of RDS, but they really aren't needed and will require lots of training. You must be willing to put in the time.

 

[9x45]

Old school, 25 year old Docter 7 MOA dot, for USPSA Carry Optics Division.

 

[rodneybeam]

I've never owned a Red Dot sight and really don't know if it would be worthwhile to mount on the gen 4 G17 that I use as my primary home defense gun. I have a Streamlight mounted on the rail and assume I would buy one that clamps onto the top of the frame. Does this add much in terms of quick aiming in low light situations such as I would likely be dealing with in my home? The stock sights seem pretty clear to me in the daytime, but maybe not so much at night. The distances that the gun would be likely used in my home is likely no more than about 15 to 20 feet. And if you are recommending adding a Red Dot, I would welcome recommendations for modest priced sights. Thanks.

Watch this video. Massad Ayoob - Red Dot Sights on Carry Guns? Pros and Cons of Carry Optics - Critical Mas EP46

 

[baptist77]

Home defense use iron sights plus a high density light, I have surefire, you shoot in the dark, the brightness of the shot will be debilitating to your eyes

 

[Salt G2G]

Home defense use iron sights plus a high density light, I have surefire, you shoot in the dark, the brightness of the shot will be debilitating to your eyes

I addition to the above; use of a compensated or vented barrel/slide indoor and in dark is not a good idea.

 

[F14A]

My advice is don’t cheap out. You’re either all in or all out..

It’s worth the cost IMO

 

[hydro-terp]

At across the room distances I dont think you would gain much. I would stick with irons and maybe look at a laser/light combo.

If you want to try a dot watch for PSA to have a sale on a complete dagger upper. I bought a upper and a holosun combo for $400 a few months ago.

I think the holosun with the acss ret that has the large outer ring is what I would go with.

HT

 

[Tom-R2]

I started carrying a RDS several years ago when I started having issues with cataracts. Now that my cataract issue is fixed, the red (or green) dot is even easier to pick up. Everybody takes to the dot somewhat differently, some struggle, some take to it right away. I had no issues personally, but some do. We're all different. I like it, and now have 3 pistols with optics, two of them I carry often. The advice above about trying out a pistol that has an optic is sound. Will I need an optic in a self defense situation in the future? No one knows until that situation occurs. I might not need my iron either, but then again, maybe I will use one or the other. I figure I'm better off having the two sights working together than not having sights at all.

 

[9x45]

I tested no sights, iron sights and dots at 5 and 20 yards. Timed and scored on IDPA target (8" diameter A zone), from the low ready. At 5, no sights way faster, irons next then dots. All Alphas, now at 20, dots were more accurate, next irons then no sights.

 

[davetron2.0]

I was reluctant to buy a red dot because of all the articles stating that if you have always used normal sights it will be a big adjustment and hard to overcome. Over the years as my vision and astigmatism have gotten worse my accuracy suffered as well. Throw progressive lenses into the mix and there was just a lot of factors to make it hard to shoot accurately and quickly. I finally broke down and got a Holosun 507c for my Glock 20 gen 5. I couldn't be more pleased. I can shoot it with both eyes open which gives me more situational awareness and now I can easily pop 4 inch diameter balloons in quick succession from 30 feet. Your mileage may vary but it made a huge difference for me.