Which do you prefer and why?
Red dot sights vs iron sights
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Desertlover
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Which do you prefer and why?
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2,498 Posts
I'm good with both.
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6,464 Posts
I’m debating this question for bolt action centerfire rifles. I have plenty of scoped options, but harder and harder to find affordable centerfire bolt actions that come with iron sights. I’m thinking of setting up a .308 Savage Axis with either a Sig Romeo or Vortex Crossfire red dot for uses similar to when I would like to use iron sights.
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559 Posts
Depends. I don’t need RDSs on my EDC pistols, mostly due to the smaller size I prefer to carry and how I carry these days (pocket and shoulder shooter). I do like RDSs on my range/fun guns and my bedside pistol. I do have RDSs on my HD carbine and HD shotguns. I have RDSs on my carbines in the vehicles.
If I was still hunting, I would do what @Kentucky Shooter is thinking and use RDSs instead of irons. With both center fire and rimfire.
If I was still hunting, I would do what @Kentucky Shooter is thinking and use RDSs instead of irons. With both center fire and rimfire.
Dots on any serious use guns, but irons are still fine for me on fun guns and range toys. There are a number of reasons to be pro-dot, but the biggest for me in regards to a work or defensive pistol is the potential degradation of near-sightedness, or ability to see iron sights, due to biomechanical response during certain extreme stress levels.
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5,593 Posts
Red dot on my AR.
Iron sights on my carry pistols.
Iron sights on my carry pistols.
I grew up shooting irons for decades. Despite being in my late 50’s can still see them pretty well. I also have astigmatism so when trying to use a red dot I get the “ cluster of grapes” effect.
I was issued a red dot on my rifle when I went to Afghanistan and got by ok with it, but would have preferred an ACOG with a reticle.
I have tried red dots on pistols, not for me. ( there is a definite learning curve and I honestly have not put in enough reps for them to be natural to me)
I recently attended a match with about 120 competitors about 80% of which were using red dots on handguns. I still came in the top 20 with old fashioned irons, so feel they still do the job for me.
some pretty experienced trainers in defensive handgun use have even publicly stated at typical civilian defense use distance, the red dot probably doesn’t make a difference for the majority of people. I even see competitors at the range in matches at time “lose” the red dot and struggle to straighten themselves out.
some people find them a revelation after struggling with irons, so it varies greatly from person to person.
I was issued a red dot on my rifle when I went to Afghanistan and got by ok with it, but would have preferred an ACOG with a reticle.
I have tried red dots on pistols, not for me. ( there is a definite learning curve and I honestly have not put in enough reps for them to be natural to me)
I recently attended a match with about 120 competitors about 80% of which were using red dots on handguns. I still came in the top 20 with old fashioned irons, so feel they still do the job for me.
some pretty experienced trainers in defensive handgun use have even publicly stated at typical civilian defense use distance, the red dot probably doesn’t make a difference for the majority of people. I even see competitors at the range in matches at time “lose” the red dot and struggle to straighten themselves out.
some people find them a revelation after struggling with irons, so it varies greatly from person to person.
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2,615 Posts
Red dot?! No way. Too large, more weight, and another potential failure point. Hell, I don’t care much for add-ons. Some steel tritium 3-dots are about as exotic as I use.
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11,227 Posts
Just for fun...
How many here who own / use red dot pistol optics have ever thought they were too large or too heavy?
How many have had one "fail?"
I'll go first. Never and never.
And I got my first one 12 years ago. Now have three. Will be getting more.
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987 Posts
I have shot guns with red dot sights on them and there are a lot of things good about them. But I'm not shooting in competition or for speed so I don't see that I would want them all the time. I actually think shooting iron sights adds a bit of a challenge to target shooting with my EDC 9mm and my Glock 44 22 lr pistols. I usually shoot at 10 and 15 yard distances and it is much more of a challege with iron sights than with red dot sights. I definitely think iron sights are much more fun that red dot sights.
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I had one red dot fail on a 320RX but it was dead on arrival. In service, never.
Never noticed any additional weight or bulk when concealing.
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2,001 Posts
Different tools for different applications. Iron Sights for a truck rifle, canted iron sights for a battle rifle with scope. Red Dots for home defense rifles. Red dots for pistols if your eyes need them. You could go on and on.
I carry OEM Football Post Iron sights on a Glock 17. My eyes pic them up better than the tiny dots on night sights. I use ghost sights on other glocks. I want a self defense pistol to be as basic and simple as possible without junk hanging off of it. Rifles are a different story.
I carry OEM Football Post Iron sights on a Glock 17. My eyes pic them up better than the tiny dots on night sights. I use ghost sights on other glocks. I want a self defense pistol to be as basic and simple as possible without junk hanging off of it. Rifles are a different story.
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10,729 Posts
Don’t shoot for speed, but have an EDC? If you ever need to use it, you’ll likely need to use it quick….
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