Optics require training just like iron sights.. Optics can fail just like any electronic or devices. Learn to do well with your iron sights first. Older eyes red dot may not work well, find a green dot. There is a condition called astigmatism can occur in older eyes. It is best to have have both optics and iron sights, you can also put night sights on you EDC. I encourage everyone to take training classes in optics engagement before diving into it. I find an optic with a back up power system works best and my EDC with optics are back with iron sights. Be safe out there and continue to train......train... and more training.
Good article! Advantage 4: You can focus on the target and see the dot even when you have old eyes. As I've gotten older (age 48), in the last year my eyes just don't see things close to me as well as they used to. If I'm trying to focus on the front sight of iron sights they get a little blurry. However, with a red dot, where I can stay target focused and just overlay the dot, I see just fine. I also like that compared to iron sights, when you're looking through the window of the optic, you can see more below your target, so that gives you more room to see if someone is reaching for their waistband, etc. It's taken me a ton of reps to learn to present correctly with the red dot, (compared to iron sights), but now I can present out and pick up the dot quickly and consistently.
I’m with you Matt on reason number 4. I’ve got 67 year old eyes and I find the red dot so much easier to overlay on the target. It does take time to adjust to the red dot, but once you do, it is much better. I did a lot of practice draws, with the gun empty of course, to train my hands and eyes to transition to the red dot.
Another great reason to transition to a red dot is cross eyed dominance. I am right handed but left eye dominant. For years, I used but did not particularly care for the straight eight sights as it aligned a dot on a post vertically. With a rds, it makes it faster for someone with a cross eye dominance. I have heard people say that they close their right eye, this does not work for me as I am trying to not get tunnel vision, this only enhances it.
Thanks Scott for this information. I'm both hand dominant and left eye dominant. I don't close the right eye but don't see as well out of the right eye. I haven't had a lot of trouble lining up the iron sights but if this is easier, I'd like to try that. Thank you
Keith, you mention using rainx or cat crap to treat the lenses. Is that something I would need to buy at the store, or can I just use the stuff I have lying around the house?
What are the pros and cons comparing a pistol mounted laser to an RDS? I have Crimson Trace one that is operated by a grip mounted switch that also allows one hand operation.
Thanks, nice info. I just changed to RDS and training with it. One of the things I am doing is overdriving my dot. I’ve used irons for a long time, since the military, so currently working out of the old bad habits and trusting the dot. But glad to have changed to RDS. I also wear trifocals that caused my front site to be blurry as well, which was not good…
Like every thing else, and what I am doing, it takes repeated proper training to work out the bad habits. Switching to a new tool does not correct the habits, have to train with it…. Just the bread and butter in mastering the basics…
Why is there something that looks like a video but really isn't on the sight? If you open it , it says the same thing. Do gun ranges usually offer classes on using this RDS or classes in Optic engagement? I did go to a shooting range that had classes on handling and safety of guns. The instructor was fantastic. We learned on iron sights but he was so good at explaining that I could pick up most any gun and hit the bullseye. I was shocked. I blame it on the instructor. This is new to me
Is this correct? Or does it make it easier to correct bad habits?
Q: How does a red dot sight on a pistol make it more difficult to fix bad habits?
A: A red dot sight can make it more difficult for shooters to fix bad habits by providing immediate feedback on their shooting skills, encouraging proper technique and alignment to find the red dot consistently.
Optics require training just like iron sights.. Optics can fail just like any electronic or devices. Learn to do well with your iron sights first. Older eyes red dot may not work well, find a green dot. There is a condition called astigmatism can occur in older eyes. It is best to have have both optics and iron sights, you can also put night sights on you EDC. I encourage everyone to take training classes in optics engagement before diving into it. I find an optic with a back up power system works best and my EDC with optics are back with iron sights. Be safe out there and continue to train......train... and more training.
Good article! Advantage 4: You can focus on the target and see the dot even when you have old eyes. As I've gotten older (age 48), in the last year my eyes just don't see things close to me as well as they used to. If I'm trying to focus on the front sight of iron sights they get a little blurry. However, with a red dot, where I can stay target focused and just overlay the dot, I see just fine. I also like that compared to iron sights, when you're looking through the window of the optic, you can see more below your target, so that gives you more room to see if someone is reaching for their waistband, etc. It's taken me a ton of reps to learn to present correctly with the red dot, (compared to iron sights), but now I can present out and pick up the dot quickly and consistently.
I’m with you Matt on reason number 4. I’ve got 67 year old eyes and I find the red dot so much easier to overlay on the target. It does take time to adjust to the red dot, but once you do, it is much better. I did a lot of practice draws, with the gun empty of course, to train my hands and eyes to transition to the red dot.
Another great reason to transition to a red dot is cross eyed dominance. I am right handed but left eye dominant. For years, I used but did not particularly care for the straight eight sights as it aligned a dot on a post vertically. With a rds, it makes it faster for someone with a cross eye dominance. I have heard people say that they close their right eye, this does not work for me as I am trying to not get tunnel vision, this only enhances it.
Thanks Scott for this information. I'm both hand dominant and left eye dominant. I don't close the right eye but don't see as well out of the right eye. I haven't had a lot of trouble lining up the iron sights but if this is easier, I'd like to try that. Thank you
Keith, you mention using rainx or cat crap to treat the lenses. Is that something I would need to buy at the store, or can I just use the stuff I have lying around the house?
What are the pros and cons comparing a pistol mounted laser to an RDS? I have Crimson Trace one that is operated by a grip mounted switch that also allows one hand operation.
Thanks, nice info. I just changed to RDS and training with it. One of the things I am doing is overdriving my dot. I’ve used irons for a long time, since the military, so currently working out of the old bad habits and trusting the dot. But glad to have changed to RDS. I also wear trifocals that caused my front site to be blurry as well, which was not good…
I have a question - why doesn't transitioning to red dot sights fix bad problems? I read the article but to me it seems like it would help. Thanks.
Like every thing else, and what I am doing, it takes repeated proper training to work out the bad habits. Switching to a new tool does not correct the habits, have to train with it…. Just the bread and butter in mastering the basics…
It won’t fix poor trigger control or poor grip
Why is there something that looks like a video but really isn't on the sight? If you open it , it says the same thing. Do gun ranges usually offer classes on using this RDS or classes in Optic engagement? I did go to a shooting range that had classes on handling and safety of guns. The instructor was fantastic. We learned on iron sights but he was so good at explaining that I could pick up most any gun and hit the bullseye. I was shocked. I blame it on the instructor. This is new to me
Is this correct? Or does it make it easier to correct bad habits?
Q: How does a red dot sight on a pistol make it more difficult to fix bad habits?
A: A red dot sight can make it more difficult for shooters to fix bad habits by providing immediate feedback on their shooting skills, encouraging proper technique and alignment to find the red dot consistently.