Who's running a dot on their pistol?

[Tex1961]

This thread got me to thinking about what I have that will readily accept a dot. And I'm thinking now I want to throw one on my 686, there's an adaptor for that.

I had a Taurus Tracker 6 inch (sold it shortly after buying it), but anyways, I put a red dot on it for my wife... She got board with it after a few range sessions... Said it took away the fun of aiming for her... That was when I was just getting into them... Considering the fact that I've owned and shot a revolver for over 40 years it was cool / neat / weird / and I felt kind of guilty LOL.... But as I mentioned in an earlier post. My hands are getting a bit shaky and red dots jinking around just throws off my aim....

Go buy one of those el cheapo red dots on Amazon for like 17 bucks... If you find that you like it, then go get a quality one.... I did find that the red / green dots were my favorite though... Outdoor range sessions with full sun made the green dots much easier to use, while red was best for the indoor range sessions...

I only own 4 rifles, 1 is scoped, 2 are red dot and 1 is open sight...

[Charles L. Cotton]

Anybody have experience with the Shield optics??

I haven't shot any of them, but they use a plastic (polymer) lens that gets scratched by ejecting brass. When my friend called them to get it fixed under warranty, he was told that was normal. It may be normal, but it wasn't acceptable on a self-defense handgun. Their website claims they now have a "hard-coated" polymer lens. That may work and it may not, but I wouldn't be a beta tester.

Chas.

[Scott B.]

My carry pistol has a red dot, Romeo1Pro, 3 MOA. I'm a reluctant convert, but convert I did because I sell so many to LEOs. Figured I should be able to speak about the product w/ more than theoretical knowledge. It took me about 700 ~ 800 rounds before I became a believer. I continue to train w/ it and improve.

In the medium to full frame gun optics:

Trijicon has the best rep, but the RMR has a smaller field of view than its competitors and a bottom mounted battery.

Leopold is a solid optic, but they're the tallest of that form factor requiring extremely tall sights (and limited selection) if you want to 'co-witness'.

Sig is coming on strong. I would avoid the original Romeo1 for daily carry (poor battery life) but it's fine for range toys. The Romeo1Pro corrects the battery life issue and has a more standardized footprint. The commercial guns w/ optic mounted don't come with the protective shroud that the LE guns ship with, but that's an easy aftermarket add on for $40. If you buy a Romeo1Pro optic separately the shroud is included.

The spoiler in the field is Holosun for features and price point. They're so good that Trijicon had to sue them for patent infringement. (since settled we're told).

In the micro optic for micro gun range...just realize there's a lot of technical hurdles to overcome.

I'm most interested in the new Holosun micro optics, but the new Trijicon RMSc will be hard to beat. The 365 XLZ w/ Romeozero mounted makes for an easy package w/ acceptable price point.

There are certainly other brands out there, but I have no experience w/ them and they haven't made the cut w/ the agencies I'm familiar with.

[KC5AV]

Regarding Holosun and Sig...I’ve heard speculation that Holosun actually makes some of the optics for Sig.

[BSHII]

I have a 3.5 MOA RMR on my Walther PPQ Q4 Tac, which I carry occasionally but may begin carrying regularly. There is a learning curve, but there are some definite advantages. I've managed to avoid "chasing the dot," but I think that is just a function of different people having different training backgrounds.

The RDS-ready PPQ models (the Q4 Tac and Q5 Match) have one major flaw: The rear iron sight is mounted to the removable plate, so you normally cannot co-witness irons. I am less bothered by that than some others, because the RMR is extremely reliable with long battery life, but I too would prefer a 1/3 co-witness. Walther now offers a kit with a mounting plate with integrated, co-witness rear sight and a matching front sight, but I haven't seen it in stock.

[strogg]

I have a Vortex on my FNX-45, and I like it. It is very different than using irons, but I can see where it will benefit over using irons. I was just shooting that along with the Beretta M9 with irons. Here are my thoughts.

The RDS will definitely get you better groups. The dot does a pretty good job of making sure your gun is on target before pulling the trigger. You don't get the same amount resolution using irons. But it is not a replacement for faster shooting or recovery. The M9 with irons is way faster than the FNX-45 with the RDS. It may not be as precise, but it will still be able to reliably hit a small plate at 25 yards. It's only when you get past that will the RDS precision start make things easier for the shooter. Either way, it is not worth it to get an RDS if all you worry about is accuracy and acquisition speed. Where it becomes worth it is target and peripheral clarity. When shooting a 10 shot string with the M9, Everything turns into a blur after the first few shots. My eyes don't know what to do since there are so many different places it can focus, and neither eye sees the same thing. It makes it worse if there's a target on the side or something you need to worry about that's not in front of you. With the RDS, I can see the target and everything around it crystal clear from first shot to last. That alone I believe makes it worth the price tag.

I'm planning on getting an RDS for the Glock 43x once I have the budget for it. The RMRcc is on my short list. The Romeo Zero is a $150 airsoft sight made entirely of plastic. The RMSc seems nice, but there's also the plastic component to it. Polycarb is super strong, but it's not as scratch resistant as glass. And with all the carrying and day to day abuse I'll be handing it, I'm not sure if I can feel confident with it. The RMRcc has the same type of glass as the RMR, which I don't like. It's green and blurry, but at least it probably won't disintegrate on me. And it's American made. Now if Leupold made a Deltapoint Micro or something, I'd be all over that. We shall see.

[bobby]

I think the Holosun HS407K is the best bang for the buck. It has the same footprint as a Jpoint, RMSC, or a RomeoZero. Also the HS507K but at more money. My K is a tank for sure. You can see how thick the walls are. Also you dont have to remove it to replace the battery.

[cmgee67]

Regarding Holosun and Sig...I’ve heard speculation that Holosun actually makes some of the optics for Sig.

I spoke with Sig optics over the phone. I asked him specifically if Holosun made the over seas sig optics. His exact words were “did you read that on the internet? It is not true at all”. Some of sigs optics for Leo and military use are and have to be made in the USA according to sig. Budget optics are made over seas and higher end are made either in Arkansas or Oregon. All of that info again came directly from sig when I bought my last optic.

[carlson1]

I have a Sig X Carry and Sig X Compact. Both have Sig Romeos on them. As Mr. Cotton said above get the one you can change the battery without taking the sight off. I have had zero failure with the Sig Romeos. I have a Shadow Systems MR918 with a RMR. No problems, but you have to remove the sight to change the battery.

I will never go back to not having a RDS on my gun I carry the most. As I said early it takes a lot of practice. Live fire and dry fire. I am a C- student so it took me about 5,000 times of drawing, finding dot on target, and pulling the trigger. Palestine PD are using Glock 17’s with RMR’s and it is fast taking over a lot of the new recruits in many departments.

Carrying pistols are definitely moving to the RDS.

[Scott B.]

Regarding Holosun and Sig...I’ve heard speculation that Holosun actually makes some of the optics for Sig.

I spoke with Sig optics over the phone. I asked him specifically if Holosun made the over seas sig optics. His exact words were “did you read that on the internet? It is not true at all”. Some of sigs optics for Leo and military use are and have to be made in the USA according to sig. Budget optics are made over seas and higher end are made either in Arkansas or Oregon. All of that info again came directly from sig when I bought my last optic.

Disclosure, I was fortunate enough to spend a week at Sig Sauer last year as their guest. I try not to let that influence my opinions about them but of course it does.

That said, this is how they put it. Their optics are 'assembled in' Oregon and that division is growing at a phenomenal pace. They've hired a bunch of experienced and really talented engineers. You can see that in the generational leaps they've made across the optics line.

Their higher end stuff is US / Japan from what I've heard over the last couple of years. We've all heard the same thing about the middle to lower end stuff and Holosun. They would neither confirm nor deny and go back to 'assembled in Oregon'. Now, I'd note that Trijicon sued Holosun and not any other competing brands.

The Arkansas reference is to their Xray 3 pistol night sights. Yep, they're made in Arkansas where they're also cranking out millions of rounds of ammo. Expect to see more products originate from those AR based facilities in the future.


One training tip I picked up from an HPD instructor. Try taping over the front of the optic with some painters tape (keep it off the glass itself). Practice your draw to the dot without worrying about what you'd see thru the glass. If you have to hunt for the dot. Stop and reset.

Conversely, Sig says if you can't find the dot just go for your front sight. Then the dot will be there.

Mostly it's about reps. Draw, sight picture, pull trigger.

[KC5AV]

Regarding Holosun and Sig...I’ve heard speculation that Holosun actually makes some of the optics for Sig.

I spoke with Sig optics over the phone. I asked him specifically if Holosun made the over seas sig optics. His exact words were “did you read that on the internet? It is not true at all”. Some of sigs optics for Leo and military use are and have to be made in the USA according to sig. Budget optics are made over seas and higher end are made either in Arkansas or Oregon. All of that info again came directly from sig when I bought my last optic.

Good to know. Thanks.

[John Galt]

I have red dots on several Glocks and FN's. All of them are RMR's with the exception of one Vortex Venom.
Shooting with a red dot optic is almost like cheating and is easy to get addicted to it.

[Killadocg23]

I have red dots on several Glocks and FN's. All of them are RMR's with the exception of one Vortex Venom.
Shooting with a red dot optic is almost like cheating and is easy to get addicted to it.

Holosun is better than Trijicon IMO. Bigger window,multiple reticle options,solar powered to name a few. The 508T is just as durable as the RMR but hasall those features so its a no brainer.

[Deitz83]

My wife has 2 red dots on her competition pistols. One is the Springfield XDM OSP in 9mm and the other is a Browning Camper 22LR. Both of her red dots are Vortex. She loves them and her times have gone down considerably. When we purchased the Springfield . All I remember her saying, is I want the same Vortex, because I am use to the one I have.