So after finally getting a red dot sight (RDS) on one of my Glocks, it seemed like an interesting thing to compare it against a regular iron sighted Glock in a series of timed drills using my Mantis dry fire kit.
Before we get into it, let me tell you…guys, you really should have one of these kits. I have it set up in my living room and I can practice my draw-from-concealment-and-fire-one-shot drills. But more importantly, I don’t have to think I’m improving and by how much…there’s metrics – exact numbers – to tell me how if I’m improving. And I can do this in my living room when its -15 degrees outside or 105 degrees outside and I don’t wanna head to the range. This thing is awesome for honing skills and evaluating performance. I wish I’d gotten it years ago. I promise, youre not gonna regret it.
Anyway…..
Doing the ‘draw and shoot’ drills, my time with the RDS was usually a good .35-.50 second faster than with open sights. Accuracy was a little better also.
What I learned rather quickly was that you don’t bring the gun up and look for the dot, rather you bring the gun up and line up the sights and that lets you have the dot right where it needs to be. Still taking some getting used to, but there are measurable positive results.
I only use my front sight when pistol shooting unless extreme accuracy is needed. This method is faster than optics or using the rear sight for me. Sounds weird until you try it a few times and see the results.
I could never understand how using only the front sight delivers an accurate shot, when (as I understand it) the front sight and the rear sight have to both be lined up properly for the shot to hit where ya want it to go.
Seven yards and closer, the front sight or flash sight can work for speed. Most just refer to it as point shooting. DOTs or sights are a must especially beyond 7 yard and absolute anything further. Even when using a DOT, you can use it as a flash sight at these closer distances. Some will shoot when they see glass or even just the top half of the optic is over the target. When someone says irons are superior to DOTs or they are faster with irons, it more of a training issue or lack of thereof. I personally have been an RDS instructor for 2 and half years now a firearm instructor 20 plus years. I personally love the DOTs on pistols. I have also seen fellow instructors that just trash DOTs, because there is a learning curve they are unwilling to take on.
I purchased a laser cartridge system a few years back.
The SIG I put it ion still has iron sights.
But every hammer drop lets me see where I’m pointing.
Even that was a great help, and has saved me 5x the price of the gun, in ammo I didn’t have to buy, with that same 24/7/365 indoor shooting practice bonus.
After about 5000 pull and fire drills at anything in the area, my muscle memory is such that I can point-shoot and be on target to minute of drink coaster at 20′-40′ (the longest distance indoors) about as fast as I can point. When I bother to check afterwards, the sights are right where they should be, even if I didn’t have presbyopia inside of 5′.
A red dot sight is on the list too, but anyone who isn’t practicing with a laser cartridge or equivalent is really missing out, esp. with ammo (even if you reload) going for 40ยข to $1 a shot. The laser cartridge, btw, is still on the original battery.
For me, getting a green dot on my EDC pistol was necessary because I could not see the front sight without my reading glasses. Not a big problem at 10 feet, but no way I could make a head shot at 25 yards. A dot fixes that problem.
When I was younger, I’d to buy rifles and maybe add optics. Now I buy rifles with optics and maybe add BUIS. This getting old stuff sucks!
The Modern Samurai Project is coming to MT this fall. It’s a 2 day class down in Three Forks. Supposed to be a highly regarded class but I haven’t been myself.
https://modern-samurai-project.myshopify.com/products/products/p
This is where I obtained my RDS instructor training. Highly recommended. Scott is on top of his game.
And a rds on a pistol has the added benefit of using that pistol effectively with nods.
And we all know you have a can for it also.
Bonus points
Looks like Mantis is next on the shopping list
Why doe that list only ever get longer?
It is actually getting shorter.
For those who only have a revolver or prefer over semi-autos, Mantis also has adapters for them.
https://mantisx.com/products/br4-bore-insert-picatinny-rail-adapter-set
I use them for my .357 & .45. No complaints.
http://www.libertytreeradio.4.mg.com
m-f 5,6,&8 pm
for those who’d like to know what to do