Red dot/rmr for edc/self defense?

[Psychbiker]

Debating about getting a regular or a red dot ready Glock 19 Upper for self defense and occasional carry.

Much of my reading is saying that a red dot/rmr pistol is the way to go for speed and accuracy BUT the expense and durability of them is an issue.

A complete Glock 19 Upper is $350 whereas one ready for an rmr is about $400 plus the cost of a rmr or a red dot sight which is $200-$400.

I did just shoot a uspsa match and the carry optics division looks fun and has an unlimited mag limit.

[unclerandy]

As long as you get a Trijicon RMR your gtg. We'll see how the new Holosun holds up with time.

[Wormdog]

Go for shied rmrs they tend to be the the smallest and when your slide is milled they sit really low.

[Erion929]

Where do you live, may depend on your county on whether you can carry a non-factory slide or not. Orange County doesn’t allow non-factory, or altered, slides....so only dovetailed RDS or factory cut slides (e.g.Glock MOS, M&P CORE)

Anything can break, even RMRs....that’s what backup sights are for. Plenty of people are rocking red dots for carry, though....guess you just gotta try it out and gain trust.

That said, that’s what I’m doing. After buying a Canik TP9SFX with a Vortex Viper red dot, I was amazed at the simplicity and accuracy of the red dot...but that gun is a 5” barrel and a 20-rd magazine. So, I just put a G19 Gen 5 MOS in jail and a Holosun 507c is in the mail. Sage Dynamics has run his hard carry tests on the Holosun with positive results, so far.

Plenty of police/sheriff departments are using or testing RDS also.


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[instaramen]

If you're talking about a red dot for CCW, that's up to your IA on whether they allow modified glocks; some do, some don't. If you're talking about SD/HD, a red dot definitely helps with faster target acquisition and follow up shots, particularly in low light conditions. If you're talking about competition, again faster target acquisition and follow up shots. If you want reliability and a proven track record, Trijicon RMR. If you're not concerned about that, Holosun should be sufficient.

[tabascoz28]

It is said that a bright light is more important than sights or a laser. Too bad it's just so bulky. A bright light might even make a perp think twice and at least blind them so you have the advantage. What better way to avoid a lawsuit and all that trouble of having to justify self defense than to have them run away or blinded so you can have the upper hand and talk them out of it.

[Squidward]

There is a plate that inserts in the Glock rear sight dovetail. It'll mount several different red dots. It is a less expensive way to try a red dot without milling your slide or buying a new slide.

It's named Outer Impact. Amazon has them for 50-60 bucks.

[saber]

[rodralig]

I did just shoot a uspsa match and the carry optics division looks fun and has an unlimited mag limit.

Not unlimited.

You are limited by the length of the magazine, around 140mm. This should hold about 22-something rounds depending on the extenders/springs, caliber, etc.


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[enegue]

I would only run pistol optics for defense if I trained with it a lot.

After 20+ years of pistol shooting with iron sites, I’m not sure how long it would take me to be comfortable to trust my life to pistol optics. I’d need to run an RMR at a few pistol training courses during daytime and night time to really feel comfortable. That would probably take at least a year or more. It’s tough finding good low-light training courses.

[rodralig]

If you're talking about SD/HD, a red dot definitely helps with faster target acquisition and follow up shots, particularly in low light conditions. If you're talking about competition, again faster target acquisition and follow up shots.

This is only on the presumption that one's index (sight alignment, at the least) with iron sights is on par at speed that carry optics will provide faster acquisition and follow up shots.

If not, you'd be wasting precious time looking for the dot!

I would only run pistol optics for defense if I trained with it a lot.

After 20+ years of pistol shooting with iron sites, I’m not sure how long it would take me to be comfortable to trust my life to pistol optics. I’d need to run an RMR at a few pistol training courses during daytime and night time to really feel comfortable. That would probably take at least a year or more. It’s tough finding good low-light training courses.

Assuming that you are using the "same" gun, just with an optic; and that your index with iron sights is on par - there shouldn't be much ramp up time getting up to speed with optics.

A few months back, just for the heck of it, I took a brand new and different gun out for a USPSA Classifier match with barely any dry practice. As I mentioned in my after action report,

Hhhmmm... Hearing from people that the challenge when transitioning to Carry Optics from the traditional sights was finding the dot, was actually anticipating a lower classification. But was suprised that I got a %-score very close to my usual division... Albeit there were some lags in my draws and reloads because of different ergonomics, I find the dot way faster and more accurate, especially for targets past 7-yards!?!

I'd prefer to say that going back to Iron Sights from Carry Optics would way be more difficult.

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[saber]

[snacks]

i use a red dot it helps my aging eyes. Especially at distance. Either a red dot or a FO front with a light on the firearm. FO or tritium the sights are still black when a light is used on a firearm. Nowadays you want a light to identify your target.

I still do prefer night sights if the firearm has no way to mount a white light.

I guess it depends on purpose. Just remember to have a regular routine of replacing batteries with whatever RDS you use.

[Mayor McRifle]

Not unlimited.

You are limited by the length of the magazine, around 140mm. This should hold about 22-something rounds depending on the extenders/springs, caliber, etc.

23 rounds with a Grams follower kit.

[smashycrashy]

Debating about getting a regular or a red dot ready Glock 19 Upper for self defense and occasional carry.

Much of my reading is saying that a red dot/rmr pistol is the way to go for speed and accuracy BUT the expense and durability of them is an issue.

A complete Glock 19 Upper is $350 whereas one ready for an rmr is about $400 plus the cost of a rmr or a red dot sight which is $200-$400.

I did just shoot a uspsa match and the carry optics division looks fun and has an unlimited mag limit.

I have G19 with RMR on my CCW permit. I like the RMR a lot and have zero concerns about its durability (unlike many other RDS optics out there). I definitely find the RMR easier to shoot with and acquisition is of course faster assuming all else is equal (i.e. you are an ok shooter to begin with). I have supressor height sights as back up.

Biggest downsides I have found with putting a RMR on a G19 for EDC have nothing to do with a RMR. Just the G-19 is just bulky to carry and do every day chores with so generally I am slapping on a G-26 (yes I have thought about putting a RMR on the G-26, just havent done it yet) .

Sage Dynamics has a great testing regimen for RDS, if you are thinking about getting a different RDS ***FOR SELF DEFENSE*** I'd check him out before buying. I found the Sig Romeo, easier to use and acquire the dot but would never trust it on a EDC after see how quick it breaks.



Edit: IMHO, definitely go with the 3.25 MOA, I've never found myself wanting a bigger dot. I want the smallest dot possible yet still bright and not drowning details out around it.