I’ve been thinking about all the small handguns that are milled for red dot sights. I’m starting to believe that adding red dots, lasers, lights etc…defeat the purpose of a simple, small easy to use self defense weapon. I have a small 9mm that I can simply drop into a pocket, no bulky accessories (or batteries to fail at the wrong time). What do you think?
1 Like
Some of the reflex sights are pretty low-profile.
That said, I don’t use a reflex on my carry. Not that I’m against it - just that I haven’t ever bothered to get a compact cut for one.
2 Likes
Red dot or not, Fixed iron sights……whichever you choose, the critical factor is PRACTICE. The more you shoot, the more you train to shoot, including use of cover, reloads, security within your immediate area, and proficiency shooting from different positions that you may imagine yourself involved in……the better off you will be. Todays red dots have evolved into reliable optics that have proven to improve performance in competition. But “Average Joe” is as good with a Red Dot as with Fixed Iron sights. I would be more concerned with having a good reliable sidearm in a good carry rig and practicing to achieve proficiency.
7 Likes
I carry a g19 with rmr and tlr1 with an extra mag. If my battery goes dead I have cowitnessed suppressor sights. But let’s be real if you’re waiting to get proper sight picture before popping off that first round you’re dead already.
3 Likes
if you think of it as a “pocket carbine” for “truck magazines” instead of entire “truck guns” it’s pretty convenient imo…
2 Likes
If I Ever hit the point in life that Optics of any discription are needed for Defensive Carry Pistol ? I’ll just shoot myself beforehand. I’m likely legally blind and shouldn’t be carrying a weapon for the common good.
Using the term Defensive Carry implies close range and unable to evade hostile actions. Shooting someone at ranges requiring Optics are hard if not impossible to defend.
Lastly…if a Pistol requires Optics? I’ll kick myself for not having a Carbine in the first place.
Use a handgun for what it was designed to do…don’t let Marketing and Hype cloud your judgement.
I think your Reservations hold great merit…invest in Pistol Ammo , not Pistol Optics.
4 Likes
Here’s my thoughts: I have EDCs equipped with red dots and some that aren’t. The only time that red dots are beneficial for all users is at extended distances beyond 10m. That’s really the only advantage they offer.
Here’s the problem with that. Most of the time, law enforcement trains with pistols at 7m. That’s the average range at which the vast majority of self-defense shootings happen. At 7m, the adversary can still get to the victim fairly quickly and lethal force is next to unavoidable.
Beyond that range, unless the attacker is pointing a firearm at the intended victim, if the intended victim takes the shot, it becomes harder to argue self-defense. In short, the victim starts looking good for murder, or at least manslaughter, even if their assailant truly constituted a threat to life.
So, while red dots on pistols do improve aim, they really only have a specific application that is limited to a narrow set of scenarios. Irons work for any reason, at just about any distance.
Now, as someone pointed out, if a person has less than ideal eyesight because of age or what have you, red dots do help appreciably. I am one such person, having lost my sight in one eye and needing corrective lenses for the other.
I have a red dot on my Shadow Systems CR920 and it really is only good for distances of less than 10m. I have a Dagger with a Swampfox Liberty on it that will plant a group of six inches at 25m. It’s all in what you want it to do.
3 Likes
Although not a “small” gun, my dad may or may not have a Rock with both a dot and a laser/WML. Arthritis prevents him from racking without an RDS, glaucoma and cataracts restrict his vision. He did quite well with the setup I may or may not have come up with for him. He can (at least for now) use either. Should things change, things will be changed. Like @PFunk said Different strokes for different folks.
7 Likes
I would say that’s an ideal setup for your dad. My dad would probably benefit from something identical. The 5.7 is a low recoil round, he has the raised red dot for leverage and to assist his eyesight, and high capacity. God help whoever is stupid enough to cross him.
6 Likes
Ultimately more effective than a 9 in his situation.
4 Likes