I'd say it depends on your deck height relative to the slide? If the stock irons are adequate for a 30% (?) sight picture, I'd stick with that. Otherwise, mount your dot, and get your caliper out to determine how much additional sight height you need to clear for your preferred sight picture. Then use that number to go pick a set of sights. Dawson makes custom ones, but you can find other makers as well these days.

Shooting competition, I never changed the factory sights on my Glock 34. I ran it wit a 507c on a FCD plate. This was USPSA though, so YMMV.

Personally I look at the target, not the optic/sights. I guess you could say I look "through" the sights, like you look through a car windshield. I'm aware of the dot/front sight, but I don't focus in on it.

 

I've run dots since the mid 70's in IPSC, then in USPSA in 1984. They are just a whole better now, bigger window, brighter dots, super long lasting batteries. And never in that whole time ever used any irons to go along with it. If the dot ever does go down, just frame the target with the window.

 

You should not be using the irons to locate the dot.

I always have irons that co-witness my RDS on a handgun. I prefer a lower 1/4 or “low witness” setup. The sights are visible and useable if needed but do no obstruct very much if your sight window.

 

"Back Up Iron Sights"

 

With a dot, you do not use the iron sights. You look at the target, and place the dot on the target. Dots allow you to be "target-focused" instead of "front sight-focused".

You only use the iron sights if the dot has failed. So, you just need the tops of the iron sights to barely be visible.

 

the term co witness is a carry over form using dots on rifles and is not at all applicable to pistols. The co witness idea in rifles was that with sights in position the dot would be on top of the front sight post - a quick way when first installing dot to get a roug( preliminary zero, and the tip of the front sight and the dot were the same spot in the sighting plane. If your dot is working you completely ignore the sights, and only pay attention to the sights if the dot goes down.

 

Don't mix techniques. If you have a dot learn to find it using proper dot techniques (target focus, not sight focus), and use it primarily. You aren't doing yourself favors using the irons.

They are 2 different paradigms.

 

I don’t use the dot on my SD gun but I sure like them for range and target use.

 

I put aside my RDS Glocks for a session of drills last weekend and shot an iron sight 19X instead. When the timer went off there was much less anxiety without worrying about finding the dot in addition to grip, draw, trigger control, etc.

 

Any shooter worth is azz is using irons with target focus just like a dot... at least for close distances.

A slow aimed longer shot is the only time I transition back to front sight focus.

You can "frame" the target in a pinch as mentioned when (not if) your dot goes down, but I prefer a low witness back up iron. My relatively new (less than 6 months old) C&H dot started flickering out a few weeks ago. A new batter appears to have resolved the failure.

 

Sighting your target thru 'window' of dot is MUCH Faster.

If you are using metal sights [ANY sights] AND a dot you have wasted your money.

Do the Dot.

 

My guns came with sight on them, so there wasn't really any more cost. I did turning off the dot and shoot a few weeks back, and it was functional as far as I can remember.

There could be a liability issue however (as unlikely as it may be) that you're involved in as defensive shooting that gets scrutinized. "So Mr. Defendant. How did you aim your weapon?"... Uhh I just used the window of my sight.

This is just playing the devil's advocate of course. But I've seen a case where the guy was scrutinized for using a 10mm because it was more powerful than what even the Police carry.

 

All of my RDS equipped pistols have usable iron sites.

I don't actually use them for anything and concentrate on the red-dot when shooting, but I like having them there and being usable, if needed.

Yeah you could probably get a hit using the window if the RDS fails, but I question the accuracy of a shot like that. YMMV

 

Once I put on a dot, I didn't care about my iron sights. If it were a carry gun, I'd want irons in the bottom third of the glass, and I'd zero the dot at 15y.

 

Shooting one-handed, strong or weak, can make visually acquiring the dot a challenge, especially if you don't practice one-handed shooting with a pistol mounted optic very often.

If this happens to you, then it's much quicker to just automatically shift to the backup iron sights, and align them, than to jink the pistol around in attempt to find the dot.

 

Amen. I totally agree. You'll be berated for saying this, but I've found it to be a good plan as opposed to fishing for the dot for an eternity.

And once the irons align, I instantly go back to the much brighter dot.

 

Fastest of all, from either low ready, or from the holster, is a gun with no sights. And you can test it. Set up a standard El Prez drill at 5 yards, run it a couple of times with no sights, then irons, then your dot. That will reveal the order of speed. Then repeat at 15 yards, and the dot will be first, then irons, then no sights. Although I have shot mini poppers out to 20 yards without sights....

 

Yep. Point shooting, is king of real defensive shooting. Always has been.

BUIS is optional on carbines and pistols now. Its entirely your call.

 

^^^
And let’s not forget that you are not required to take the stand and if you do, you and your lawyer(s) are foolish. As pointed out earlier, the shoot was good or it wasn’t. Adding that the myth of gun/trigger mods/using hand loads, are just that. Myths.

 

Wow, has this topic gotten way off into the weeds or what? To answer the OP's question. I do run a dot on my G45 but the irons (or plastics, if you will) are standard OEM Glock sights. I see no need to have co-witness sights.

I run irons only on my carry guns. I use the Glock as my carry-around-the-farm gun and for some competitions.

 

Here's how my irons look with my red dots. I have two set up the same way. I wanted them to be usable as back ups to the dot in case of failure, but with minimal intrusion/distraction. I wanted them as low in the window as possible and all black so they don't distract from the dot sight picture. Out of the way unless needed.

 

What distance is the dot zero'ed at?

 

Para, what's that gouge on the top of the back plate? I zero at 17 yards. There is not so much difference at 0-10 yards on a 9mm.

 

Probably a screwdriver/tool mark. This was a PD turn-in from Atlanta PD. Functions just fine - is cosmetic.

I typically zero at 15 with the specific ammo I'm going to run in that gun for the same reasons through 25Y.

 

Yeah, I've got a couple of those from our Sheriff's dept. Seems like the Deputies think you have to pry the plate off instead of depressing the firing pin and sliding it off with your thumb. But Glocks are just hammers, so it doesn't matter, except a hammer has a better grip angle.