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Question about red dots on pistols...

Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 10:25 am
by newTexan
If you buy a pistol with a red dot from the factory, is it zeroed from the factory, or do you have to sight it in?

Re: Question about red dots on pistols...

Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 10:32 am
by crazy2medic
Best thing I can say is take it to the range! For me any new gun I buy goes to the range before I would consider it for defense, I'd want to know it hits to the point of aim, does it cycle reliably, get a feel for it while shooting it!

Re: Question about red dots on pistols...

Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 11:45 am
by Tex1961
Zeroed in from where... 5 yards.. 100 yards....

Sorry not being a jerk, just trying to let you know that you can't count on or trust a mounted red dot to be zeroed in to your range and targets... Also shipping and handling can easily bump things around before they get to you...

As posted above... Take it to your range and zero in yourself.

Re: Question about red dots on pistols...

Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 11:48 am
by puma guy
newTexan wrote: Tue Jun 22, 2021 10:25 am If you buy a pistol with a red dot from the factory, is it zeroed from the factory, or do you have to sight it in?
I doubt it's sighted in. My S&W with a factory attached laser was not even close at 4 yards on a B27 target. Probably the same is true with red dots from the gun manufacturers.

Re: Question about red dots on pistols...

Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 1:54 pm
by RoyGBiv
Tex1961 wrote: Tue Jun 22, 2021 11:45 am Zeroed in from where... 5 yards.. 100 yards....

Sorry not being a jerk, just trying to let you know that you can't count on or trust a mounted red dot to be zeroed in to your range and targets... Also shipping and handling can easily bump things around before they get to you...

As posted above... Take it to your range and zero in yourself.
I was going to say pretty much the above.... Probably differs by manufacturer.
I would plan on having to zero it to my liking on the first range trip. You need to break it in before you carry it anyways.

Re: Question about red dots on pistols...

Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 2:55 pm
by Deitz83
Shoot, verify point of aim, then adjust. A fixed sight is extremely close or zeroed. A red dot or adjustable sight requires adjustment.

Re: Question about red dots on pistols...

Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2021 8:34 pm
by rm9792
It could not be sighted in already. Manufacturere has no idea of caliber, barrel length, rifle, pistol, carbine, etc. Then there is the sighting distance...You might get lucky and it works first time.

Re: Question about red dots on pistols...

Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2021 7:08 am
by Excaliber
rm9792 wrote: Mon Jul 12, 2021 8:34 pm It could not be sighted in already. Manufacturere has no idea of caliber, barrel length, rifle, pistol, carbine, etc. Then there is the sighting distance...You might get lucky and it works first time.
The OP's question was in regard to a pistol that comes from the factory with a red dot sight attached.

The only unknown in that case is the sighting distance.