When did the Firearms Community Decide That EVERY CCW Pistol Must Have a Red Dot?

[Capybara]

Been looking at acquiring a new CCW gun to add to the carry rotation. How did it come to be that over the past year or two, all everyone cares about is having a red dot sight on any and all handguns? I'm waiting for the Colt SAA red dot mount next. What gives? They've been around for ages but few had them on pistols or CCW guns in the past. They were always just one of those, "Yeah, some shooter have them on some guns". When and why did it all change? After carrying for the past 8 or so years, I can't think of a less appealing idea than my CCW guns with a bulky lump of electronically-powered optic on the slide but apparently I am in the minority.

Just curious what the flashpoint of all of this red dot mania was? I have had an Aimpoint Micro on my AR pistol for years and it's kind of meh to me, I like irons more. I am putting together my new Beretta 1301 T and I did buy a Holosun 407 green dot for it with the Aridus CROM but that seems to make more sense to me. I'm not wearing the Beretta on my hip daily and I would likely be utilizing it in a low light situation, although the same gun wears a flashlight as well so I probably won't even need the Green Dot. I have not built it all yet so I figured if I train a bit with it and don't like it, I'll just sell it or give it to one of my gun friends and I'll still have the Aridus Rob Haught half ghost ring. I am open-minded enough to want to at least try it. Maybe it'll make me more enthusiastic about red and green dots?

Guess I'm just old school. I can see a red or green dot being useful on an HD shotgun, rifle or pistol but for carry, it just seems like bulk, more things to snag, not work, cause problems and it adds excess height to the carry gun. But back to my original question, why, particularly on sub-compact carry guns did the red dot become standard issue? Their popularity there seems counterintuitive to me but what do I know? Enlighten me.

[Yodaman]

Chicks dig it!


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[AlienHobo]

I did not know this was all the rage!

Now I feel like I'm missing out. How do I get one on my Shield?

[The Gleam]

Tight/internal fitted laser makes sense, like those embedded in the guide rod, forward of the trigger guard, small on a rail, or in the upper tang of a grip.

But any kind of red-dot on a CCW gun, clunky for it's intended purpose, certainly not streamlined to avoid snagging, just seems hair-brained to conceal, maneuver, and put into actual use in most every scenario I can think of that demands putting a CCW into motion - except for those presented in a Hollywood movie or by the vendors selling the things.

Nice at the range, and sure looks all tactically and stuff, though.

So there's that.

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[The Gleam]

I did not know this was all the rage!

Now I feel like I'm missing out. How do I get one on my Shield?

They are giving them out free with COVID vaccinations and/or boosters.

It's all the rage.

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[L84CABO]

It's the same people who decided that we were going to stop using rotary phones mounted to the wall and switch to cell phones. These are the same people, btw, that decided we would stop riding horses and switch to automobiles...and that we'd stop riding trains across country and switch to airplanes.

It's what's next.

But nobody is forcing you to actually put a red dot on the gun. Most of these guns come with iron sights...albeit maybe suppressor height sights.

[Skip_Dog]

It's seems like a great idea for apendex only. I do not carry in that position so I stay with night sights on mine.

[stevec223]

[Capybara]

Chicks dig it!


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That alone is Yuge!

[SharedShots]

That decision was never made. Most people who carry or just own guns don't have red dots or holosuite sights on their guns.

Gun forums don't represent anyone but those frequenting them. Proof? Look at the number of people considered to be members and then look at the number of "active" members. Notice the disparity? There is a reason for that.

Most of what is discussed on forums is only of passing interest to many people and uninteresting to most.

Its like the often brought up firefights and SHTF stuff. Its forum talk and most people think it's rather strange it even comes up. Contrary to the compressed environment of forums a huge majority of people do not go about their day thinking about a possible firefight or SHTF situation.

So the red dot/holosuite sights are just like any other accessory, there are people who think they are necessary and some evolutionary imperative in gun ownership but in the overall picture, its not that many people.

[Capybara]

...But any kind of red-dot on a CCW gun, clunky for it's intended purpose, certainly not streamlined to avoid snagging, just seems hair-brained to conceal, maneuver, and put into actual use in most every scenario I can think of that demands putting a CCW into motion - except for those presented in a Hollywood movie or by the vendors selling the things.

Nice at the range, and sure looks all tactically and stuff, though.

So there's that.

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My thoughts too, I agree. I can see for an HD gun, not bad, you get woken up in the middle of the night by breaking glass, you are sleepy and out of it, makes it easier to acquire a sight picture.
On a subcompact carry gun though, seems like one of those trends that happened in spite of common sense? I don't want any more lumps sticking out from my CCW gun, impaling my side as I drive.
Good snag point too from drawing underneath a t-shirt under a regular shirt, I've had shirt snags in the trigger guard already when practicing, had to really refine my draw technique with my clearing
hand quite a bit. Just getting your gun presented cleanly and smoothly seems like the main goal, anything that slows that down is a bad thing.

[Capybara]

That decision was never made. Most people who carry or just own guns don't have red dots or holosuite sights on their guns.

Guess I've been perusing the Marketplace for off rosters where a none Optic cut slide gun is selling for hundreds of dollars less than an optic cut or mounted version. Watch YouTubers, who, granted, are sponsored content creator/entertainers much more than actual normal shooting folk. Obviously the gun industry is all over it because it's selling them more guns with the optics.

But at my local gun shop, red dots are IT! they are selling the hell out of red and green dot sights, replacement optical cut slides, variants that already come with mounted optics. Seems like a tidal wave to me?

[Capybara]

It's the same people who decided that we were going to stop using rotary phones mounted to the wall and switch to cell phones. These are the same people, btw, that decided we would stop riding horses and switch to automobiles...and that we'd stop riding trains across country and switch to airplanes.

It's what's next.

But nobody is forcing you to actually put a red dot on the gun. Most of these guns come with iron sights...albeit maybe suppressor height sights.

I'm not against red dots, I just think they're sort of dumb for CCW pistols from a practical standpoint. People will do what they do, if they've been convinced that they MUST have a red dot on their CCW, they will. It just seems as if it wasn't a slow build to this, it seems like someone threw a switch and MANY people decided that they must have it. Was there a flashpoint, like some John Wick film or something I never saw?

[Scotty]

Red dots are easier to use when you go to the range. So for most people they are that is a plus. I've taught newbies and they were shooting out the bullseye with a red dot.

The reality is when you are not standing and shooting at the range, they take a lot of work to be proficient. For how little practice I actually do, I can shoot an IDPA classifier and classify Expert with any of my iron sights guns. But shooting carry optics, I'm at marksman. I lose too much time in the draws because it's not muscle memory.

[PogoJack]

Red Dot? I want a LPVO on my carry pistol.

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