Red dot/rmr for edc/self defense?

[L84CABO]

You understand that there is usually a pretty good learning curve with a red dot on a pistol, right? Most people are not able to pickup the dot initially on the draw. With pistols, there is no repeatable cheek weld like on a rifle so finding the dot initially is harder. Most people will start by using the iron sights to guide them to the dot. For this reason, suppressor sights are usually mandatory for new red dot shooters so be sure to factor that into things. After practice, finding the dot usually becomes a lot easier. How much practice is needed depends on you. But for this reason, initial target acquisition with red dots can be slower than iron sights.

There are lots of pluses with red dots of course, but this is one of the downsides. I'm also a fan of smaller dots over larger dots but that's a personal thing. YMMV.

[sigstroker]

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.

OR.... you could not drop your gun from shoulder height height directly on the sight onto concrete.

[rodralig]

I am thinking that it best sum up that - in a SD/HD situation, it is just human nature to target fixate. Unless of course, one has trained himself/herself to correct fundamentals (front sight focus) under extreme stress.

With the presumption that the shooter has a good enough index that he/she won't be wasting time finding the dot, having an RDS is an advantage because it allows us to properly aim in spite of having to target fixate, ie., just overlay the dot over the target and pull the trigger.

23 rounds with a Grams follower kit.

23 rounds!?! Wow... Once can actually go to three arrays before reloading (pushing luck though, assuming no misses on steel or follow-up shots on paper).

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

The reason I went with the DPP is that the RMR will require unmounting the RDS and doing a re-zero whenever batteries are replaced. This has since been addressed by the SRO.

... That, for an EDC/SD/HD - I don't think I can trust a Romeo, a Holosun or a Vortex. That is just me, though...

For this reason, suppressor sights are usually mandatory for new red dot shooters so be sure to factor that into things.

Not necessarily. I was a new RDS shooter when I took out the Q5, which, when mounted with a red dot, doesn't really allow for a suppressor sight (wasn't practical in other words). Didn't present any problem.

Again, as long as the shooter has built a good enough index with iron sights, transitioning to carry optics should be seamless.

I'm also a fan of smaller dots over larger dots but that's a personal thing. YMMV.

I am a fan of the DPP 2.5MOA, which for me, provides a good balance of speed, precision and accuracy.



_

[smashycrashy]

You understand that there is usually a pretty good learning curve with a red dot on a pistol, right? Most people are not able to pickup the dot initially on the draw. With pistols, there is no repeatable cheek weld like on a rifle so finding the dot initially is harder. Most people will start by using the iron sights to guide them to the dot. For this reason, suppressor sights are usually mandatory for new red dot shooters so be sure to factor that into things. After practice, finding the dot usually becomes a lot easier. How much practice is needed depends on you. But for this reason, initial target acquisition with red dots can be slower than iron sights.

I had *heard* this about RDS but my experience was literally seamless and I don't consider myself some fantastic shooter.

If you are having trouble with RDS acquisition you are not shooting well to begin with, the suppressor sights are there for backup.

Lots of people get poor training and have bad habits ingrained in which make for proper sight acquisition harder. If you are one of those people you do have to train those habits out but they needed to be gone anyways.

For those wondering, I believe it has to do with people being trained to kind of "combat crouch" when they draw their gun, kind of move their head to align the sights. Your arms should align to your head, if your head and your arms are moving you just complicated getting proper sight picture a great deal.

Jerry Miculek explains it better than I ever could, start at 1:40 of this video and you can go less than a minute in. If you are trained in this type of technique you will find going to a RDS and initial target acquisition seamless. After you are lined up each successive shot you get a faster re-acquisition with the dot, if you aren't then it is showing you your grip is off.



A RDS or something like a MantisX (or, preferably both) is great for newer shooters to see how much movement they have when lined up on target and then they can work on minimizing that.

[Fishslayer]

Optics & lay-zers were MADE for us. I'm 65 & just have bad eyes, especially in low light. A light/laser lives on the bedside gun.

Optics are almost like cheating but ya know what they say. If you're in a fair fight your tactics suck!

[Doheny]