Do You Really Need a Red Dot on Your Pistol?

[@r0b3rt_959]

Long story short, you don't really need a red dot, but you can be way better if you learn how to shoot with it. Do your best to be a good shooter both with irons and red dots.

[@algorithmicalychallenged.291]

Agreed

[@maximusjoseppi5904]

Long story shorter. Yes.

[@MellowFellowOfYellow]

I’ve found shooting with a dot has made me better with irons. The dot forces you to do perfect presentations and push outs if you want to be fast. Iron sights subconsciously show us that our aim is off, but they inherently can’t be as minute as a dot can in that respect.

[@rootedorganically4911]

For fancy range time / you better just learn how to point and shoot in a emergency you don’t have time to aim to be honest it’s just more tactical bs stuff to buy I’d rather get more ammunition

[@phenom7181]

@@maximusjoseppi5904 😂

[@docbailey3265]

I’ve installed a HIMARS on my Taurus. There’s a bit of a learning curve but I can hit a 35 mile target fairly easily now.

[@MagicPrepper]

It took me a lot of work to get used to red dots. But they are an improvement in many ways over irons. But the learning curve was difficult and took awhile to overcome. Now that I am shooting them almost exclusively on my handguns, I can say that they definitely add a level of accuracy and speed I did not have before. Not to mention how much easier they are to acquire in low light conditions which might be their biggest advantage over irons.

[@Rebel8MAC]

I got lucky that I got into guns recently so I was able to learn them both at the same time which made it easier to learn since it was all I knew but it's not lost on me that it is something to get used to if all a person learned was iron sights. But yea red dots are just soooo damn useful. Even with a super fancy gun that some might consider a safe queen, I can't imagine getting it without a red dot cut in case I need to use it

[@justsomeguyontheinternet5331]

also can't shoot irons under NODs

[@Dunecoone]

I Heard Someone Say Just Shoot Like You'd Do With The Irons And You'll Pick Up The Dot. That Works For Me. Everytime.

[@john-paulsilke893]

I’ve got a pretty bad astigmatism and I’ve been trying for 4-5 years to naturally shoot red dots with both eyes. I can shoot some with one eye, and in fact I’ve gotten pretty darn good. But for some of us red dots just aren’t easy. (But I am definitely glad for those who can use them and pick them up quickly).

[@esolo114]

@@justsomeguyontheinternet5331 most larpers can barely shoot in the day.

[@Braddah_Sense]

Gotta say, my favorite part in the video was when James said "it's Reeveing time" and Reeved all over the red dot.

[@albinosh4dow]

I love seeing him Reeve. Can’t look away.

[@Asherons]

Thebest part to me was when the camera zoomed through James's legs for a skirt shot. lmao.. wth ??

[@ECTT1776]

Just wanna say TFB TV is my favorite GunTubing channel. Funny but also very informative & the fact they travel the globe to show us awesome gun! Especially when they went to the Beretta museum 👊

[@MagicPrepper]

They are good stuff.

[@Dunecoone]

Screw The Globe. I'm Here For Hop In The Woods.

[@ECTT1776]

@@Dunecoone I’m down with that as well

[@Dunecoone]

@@ECTT1776 I messing around too, I love all these fuckers. You too!

[@daveandrews5998]

I agree with everything you say, but I also appreciate the lack of political garbage. It seems more and more guntubers....see Mrgunsnshill, Sootch and MAC....think lying, fear-mongering hypocrisy is a good business model. It might pander to the dimwits who are incapable of thinking for themselves, but it shows a total lack of integrity and genuine patriotism.

[@coal_tactical]

my first pistol, was a ruger mk4 i bought a few months ago and i immediately put a rail and dot on it after my first range session not hitting anything but after using the dot i wanted to get good with irons and switching back to irons from dot made me sooooooo much better with irons, i feel like the dots really help new pistol users learn to keep the gun level with their eyes/aim and then that skill transfers back to irons, at least for me

[@ALovelyBunchOfDragonballz]

Check out Lobos for a red dot mount. They make one for all the normal footprints, and they look great. I have one on my MK4.

[@chets3597]

@@ALovelyBunchOfDragonballz Yep, MK IV Lobos RMR, zombie thumper. Add a shell pouch full of magazines on a strap or your belt.

[@riptaway]

Same. Iron sights are so difficult to use(well) that you spend so much of your focus and concentration trying to line the sights up that you fuck up the other stuff. With a red dot making it easy to acquire the target you're free to focus on grip and keeping the gun still

[@Daniel-du7pv]

Green dot at night red dot during the day

[@dillonc7955]

Even if you're stubborn with iron sights, I recommend getting a model of weapon that can be modified with an optics plate. I've seen people who thought red dot pistols were silly a years ago, then they got older and realized they're very convenient. It doesn't matter whether you've got worsening eyesight or want to squeeze every bit of convenience out of your handgun.

[@m.w.2401]

I never understood the red dot craze until I bought my first one for a 22lr pistol, then I wanted one on everything.Another bonus is now my mother enjoys shooting more after using red dots.

[@dkperu8558]

Keep spending money and find out all flaws. I will wait until all bugs sort out

[@aztronomy7457]

@@dkperu8558 sorry some of us actually like to see 100% of the target we are aiming at and not half of the target being covered up by the iron sights lol.

[@CiviTac]

I love shooting both, to be honest. My g19 I carry every day is irons, my duty pistol has a dot. I could interchange them both and it wouldn’t bother me. Shooting past 25 yards with a dot is FAR easier than with irons

[@oskar6661]

Yeah, even producing a gun today without an optics cut is kind of a weird/silly choice by gun manufacturers. "Most" modern firearms are produced with the cut now, so it should be good for everyone irons or dots.

[@lazvt8469]

Avoid any 'long distance' fight....run in the opposite direction as though a lawyer were chasing you!

[@zachmasters7397]

So you can get shot in the back 😂

[@lazvt8469]

@@zachmasters7397 most folk, especially LEO, can't hit broadside of a barn...truly.

[@maxmenius9839]

In a life or death situation with a split second to react, finding the red dot can add time. If it's a relatively short distance, the iron sight for many people makes more sense. Red dot seems to add particular value for longer distance shots.

[@dredgewalker]

If you are well trained you won't need the red dot in close quarter shooting. Your arms muscle memory is the best aiming device out there and there ain't no piece of technology that can replace training.

[@golfnguns443]

You won’t do anything more than flash sighting your front sight in a real life scenario. Practice instinctive shooting

[@Stevelemo]

Had to use my gun once under stress and to be honest I don't even remember using the sights at all. It all happens so quick you just act as you were trained.

[@MHendrix]

Well said.

[@RockinRack]

100% practice drawing and dumping a mag with no sights will help you far more than any sight can.

[@AaronWilbers]

I got my first red dot, on a FN509, and I'm still coming around to it. rifle red dots were instant, pistols are a whole different beast.

[@fromtexasbygod]

You noticed the huge difference between dot sight instant dot acquisition on long guns vs handguns because you actually spent some time with a dot sight putting some rounds down range. Unfortunately a significant number of website warriors skip the range time and repetitions necessary to hardwire dot acquisition on a handgun to muscle memory and will continue to BS & kid themselves about not having to hunt for the dot before engaging a target. Hopefully the BS'ers lives will depend on finding the dot in a handgun dot sight under stress.

[@apsaffles531]

I disagree. I think it’s more than muscle memory. A red dot on a handgun uses different mechanics than a rifle. It’s inherently more difficult on a handgun.

[@huntgar]

wasn't sure how I'd like them so I got a $30 airsoft dot to try the principles. On an indoor range day it felt like a cheat code. You guys articulated exactly what I have been experiencing training with a dot🏆🤠👍

[@lwilson1234]

I've been a shooter for 30 years(good god) and an instructor for 15. Initially saw dots on pistols as a "race" add on because when I started shooting matches, THAT is what they were. Then delved into the tech behind them and I am impressed with the durability/reliability of some of the little suckers. I've been running dots on my rifles forever so why not a pistol? Pulled the trigger, so to speak, 11 months ago and I now own 10 from various manufacturers and I was absolutely blown away by how FAST I made the transition. If you are a novice, I would start with irons until you can't do anything BUT pull a perfect sight picture, then going to a dot will be like a duck taking to water. Viva la Pew Life!

[@needlamp2147]

Almost a new dot each month, wow. Can't decide and have the extra cash, huh?

[@RockinRack]

Went down the same road lol. But I found my dot to always need cleaning when going to practice with it. I carry always and live on a ranch. I'm always covered in shit and so was my dot. Removed from my edc as I felt it could hurt me more than help me. Focused more on being able to accurately dump mags on the draw with no sights at all

[@DeafeningPew]

Great video. Personally I will stick to my irons for now. I have learned that you can be target focused and superimpose your front post on that your target. I have Proctor Y Notch sights so this works well for me. Not to mention they are bomb proof and I don't have to worry about rain or fog messing with my sight picture. I will admit as these enclosed emitter designs are becoming more mainstream I will probably make the switch eventually. But for now, I will stick with what I know.

[@pocketsand4404]

I love using the Leupold Deltapoint Micro on my Glock 21. I like that it has backup iron sights already built into the optic. Very low profile and easy to visually acquire the red dot.

[@N3wbMa5t3r]

I'm a retired sheriff and currently a special deputy. When I qualified this fall, there were swat guys out there with RMRs that I easily out shot in timed drills and shooting from 5-25 yards with iron sights. We even moved out to 50 yards and I did much better than the guys with RMRs. I think it's personal preference. I've shot RMR and Iron sights for a long time. I prefer Iron sights.

[@Whiskey.Tango.Actual]

I’ve had similar experiences. Usually outshoot the red dot folks out to 50m. Beyond that , red dot seems to be an advantage but I can’t imagine many scenarios where I wouldn’t be moving to a rifle after 50m. I dunno.

[@galvinstanley3235]

The only time you need a laser is if it's dark in a room.SWAT uses lasers when wearing a gas mask.

[@BlackdogADV]

Very excellent video. I’m 73 and chose to stick with irons however I did put a Vortex Venom on my Ruger Tactical 22/45 just so I didn’t miss out.

[@edwinfajardo9388]

I’ve been shooting since I was a teenager. I’m nearsighted and will be turning 60 in a few months. Recently I recently bought a Sig P365X with a Romeo Zero red dot mounted. I immediately improved on my drawing speed and accuracy.

[@briansavage932]

What I learned. If you say something like "now we're going to work from the pelvis" it will 100% make it into a James Reeves video.

[@Bierstadt54]

That's how you know it's a James Reeves video.

[@Tenriism]

Jack "That Being Said" Daniel.

[@dividualist]

Just picked up my P365X today, my first handgun. I've only ever shot handguns with iron sights and I'm still a new shooter so I plan to continue learning on irons, but eventually I may try out a red dot. What's really nice about the updated P365X is the rear sight is no longer attached to the optic plate, so you don't have to sacrifice your irons for a red dot.

[@domingochavez2552]

some of the newer holosuns have a rear iron sight style notch which you can use as a backup as well

[@12spies]

Great video, I found it valuable for sure. Jack brought up a lot of points other advocates never mention when recommending one or the other, like the transition from indoors/outdoors or vice versa. I understand he wants to keep clear of critiquing certain brands but I would have loved to know which ones he avoids.

[@colechase9785]

Email or message him at TR. He is willing to provide gear tips, he just doesn't brand-bash.

[@12spies]

@@colechase9785 Good call.

[@12spies]

@@colechase9785 He responded quick and was very informative 👍

[@1olddirtroad]

Go to TR and he may tell you 😎

[@12spies]

@@1olddirtroad I want to go regardless

[@frankopanklaric]

I'd rather not "hunt" for a red dot and just use that time to shoot more with irons. I can put that money to ammo and make me a better shooter. Very informative video. Thank you!

[@jasonsolis5416]

You must be old. I never shot irons until the m9 in the marine corps. They didn’t even teach me how. I feel really strange lining up irons on anything but handguns. I was born after 9/11 tho.

[@DinoNucci]

Correct.

[@jackusmc2542]

James, you Madman in Shorts! Love red dots on pistols. For us older folks with lousy eye sight (thanks tech industry) this is a blessing. I can shoot better now than a few years ago. Great video with😮 Jack Daniels 😮. Keep up the good work.

[@LCRider13]

I did not believe in pistol red dots…..until I did. I’m over 50 and am right handed but left eye dominant. Love my Romeo 1Pro on my P320 AxG!

[@DangOldRegularOld]

What is the optic on the right side of the thumbnail called? It looks super unique!

[@elduderino7725]

I definitely prefer dots on any gun with a < 4" barrel. It improved my accuracy considerably with my micro 9mm. It improved my accuracy on my 4.5" PDP but not as dramatically.

[@MRsolidcolor]

i had a 43x and sold it., my hands are to big and its not fun shooting it

[@_DMD_]

Great video, thank you. This has been a debate that I have been going back and forth on. I think I want to continue to work on my iron sights before I put a bunch of money into red dots and training. That being said I’m paying attention and open to giving them a try when I feel comfortable to do so.

[@aztronomy7457]

Just know that by putting time/money/effort into iron sight training, you're developing habits in terms of presentation and point of aim that will not necessarily translate over to the dot. So you're essentially going to train one way, then you're going to get a red dot, and have to break your original habits/muscle memory to train a different way. I say just get the dot and train with the dot up front. It's better technology. Period. Get a good, reliable dot and go with it. If you're worried about it going dead, keep extra batteries around and check the dot before you go out.

[@BeamMonsterZeus]

You could buy ArmA 2(not 3, too much money and content for this purpose) and "sim train" red dots. The game approximates realistic shooting/marksmanship considerations far and beyond most video games even today. Context: ArmA spawned DayZ, which spawned PUBG and eventually Fortnite. So, legacy points.

[@Kirkster131]

Short answer is Yes, I have shot with iron sights for 25+ years. My eyes decided that I could no longer see the front sight without dedicated shooting glasses, but then the target was a blob where center mass was as good as I was going to get. Two to three years ago I put a red dot on a pistol. It rekindled my love of shooting, I have exactly 3 pistols left without a red dot now, the rest got milled or sold. Just 3 holdouts left…

[@knewsome69]

James, the interviews you bring back from Thunder Ranch are ALWAYS incredible. I'm sure the training is incredible...plus, JD got to touch those legs!

[@martyc1533]

"Do You Really Need a Red Dot on Your Pistol?" NO!! A GREEN DOT, YES!!!

[@rushthezeppelin]

I don't even have astigmatism and I love green better.

[@isellcatlitter]

perfect timing. i'm 63 years old and my eyesight isn't what it used to be especially at close range (the ability to see the front sight in low light without corrective lenses on), and i am considering an optic on my pistol or a new pistol with an optic. i currently carry a glock 26 but will consider a new platform since i can't find a slide with optic cuts in it for it. right now i am using a pistol mounted light with a laser on it, which seems to help quite a bit.

[@Kirkster131]

Do it, you won’t be sorry. The red dot brought back my enjoyment of shooting. I had to switch to dedicated shooting glasses, have not pulled them out of their case in two years.

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

I'd look at the newer SIG 365 X, XL, XL Macro. The 365 .380acp has a plate & standard SIG X ray night sights. I've seen them sell: $450-500 range. The 365 9mm also has night sights, rear optic plate. The 2022 era Macro 9mm is slick. 17rd mag, ported slide, night sights. Compact size. As for brands most say the Trijicon SRO, RMRs or Aimpoint ACRO2 are top rated. Holosuns are 🇨🇳. I'd add you might want to get a carry gun with a rail, then buy a compact weapon light with a green laser aimer. Lasers are older tech but can still help in CQB events.

[@lobsterbark]

I have a friend who is almost legally blind and the only reason she is able to be into shooting as a sport is because of optics like this. Shes the best shot I've ever seen with a handgun, I've seen her regularly make hits at 200 yards using a red dot on a pistol. I'm glad technology like this exists, even just 15 years ago it would be nearly impossible for people like her to be able to shoot at all.

[@Broski__]

I'll be purchasing a G26 soon. Planning on sending the slide out to have a red dot direct mounted. I'd look into that. Battle Werx charges about $160 for the milling and refinishing.

[@bradkeeney5236]

Use the Leopold DeltaPoint micro as was being used in this video. That’s exactly what I’ve done, and I think it’s a good move. Remember, if it ever fails, it functions as a ghost ring so it has backup irons built into it. The biggest thing for me was getting over the idea you must peek through the hole and see everything through the site. Just focus on your target, if you see a dock, that’s where it’s going to land. It’s enclosed, and you don’t have to re-center it when you change the battery which is a plus. Check on KZbin and you’ll see almost no one liked it initially, but almost everyone liked it after the fact once tested.

[@OG_The_Origonal_Grandpa]

FYI you can practice finding the dot anywhere and don't have to go to the range. The Colion Noir series with Sig is the best useful tips I've come across.

[@TerminalM193]

Very VERY simple answer.... Yes, you need an RDS on your defensive tools. They're VASTLY superior to irons and now are built well enough where they eliminate any worry of malfunction. Shot irons for 20+ years and was very hesitant and stubborn when it came to RDS on pistols. Decided if I'm going to do it, do it right and got a Walther pdp 4.5" full size with acro 2.0. Just 1 day of training I had immediate improvement and now I can't live without them. It's like cheating.

[@zippy45acp53]

I would argue most people don't get enough trigger time with just iron sights let alone moving up to learning to shoot well with a red dot.

[@yusriyahbagheri8843]

Well if you learn to shoot red dot and practice with irons as a back up you could be decent at both. Also irons on a handgun are alright but not near as useful as they are on rifles. I can see why most people go straight to the dot.

[@aztronomy7457]

@@yusriyahbagheri8843 agreed. As someone who started shooting 2 years ago, going to a red dot made me night and day better. Not even close. I always had a hard time getting quick alignment with front a rear sights. A red dot you just point and shoot.

[@DinoNucci]

Correct

[@DinoNucci]

@@yusriyahbagheri8843 no

[@yusriyahbagheri8843]

@@DinoNucci why not? What's the issue with training for what you primarily use? It would make more sense to practice more with your primary sighting option. That's all I'm saying.

[@KiwiMoto72]

great video - thx. I am also a convert..... but only use them on pistols that allow for co-witnessing with iron sights

[@shortbarrel6781]

Sticking with my years of Point and Shoot skills. The Red Dot will for myself never be as fast. Especially for Practical EDC. When it comes to Red dots, two words seem to come together. Electronics/failure. And since they are coming out with so many each year, trying to upgrade all the time, is going to cost a whole lot of CASH! Spend your time and money on learning and honing your Point and shoot skills.

[@thomaspalmer7900]

Absolutely agree!!! Red dots are fairly new & they are very expensive almost as expensive as the pistol itself!!

[@folsomtransport]

Nice video. After moving out of CA I’ve went shopping lol picked up 2 used guns with RD already on them. Thinking I was going to put RD on everything but it does take time because I can acquire the irons on my carry gun a lot faster than any of my RD’s that I have. Thanks for the interview.

[@GBGuns]

Good video about a topic that often has a lot of talk coming from little more than theory or forum echoes.

[@klitedrunner]

I have an interesting solution for people with vision issues. My eyes have weirdness going on where i see 11-20 dots in a cluster. It is NOT an astigmatism- my optician said it's something to do with focus length but not short or long sighted. Getting glasses to correct for this specific issue made me very nauseous and it's all or nothing for me, I either wear them all the time or I don't, so I don't. I had a red dot for a while and could work with it. Quick, but I wasnt seeing improvements in accuracy simply because the cluster of dots was so big. Plus the cluster wasnt a consistent size day to day so at longer distances it was a crap shoot if I got a hit. The solution for me has been a meprolight bullseye FRONT sight. It has the same (or certainly the same biggest) advantages as a red dot- single focal plane, extremely quick acquisition and as fast and as accurate for ME as the red dot without worrying about plates, batteries, screws, my eyes changing the cluster size, loss of zero, emitter getting debris in it, breaking the housing, etc. It's also significantly cheaper at about 160 ish. I could buy a red dot for 400 or so but I wouldn't be getting the full benefit that other people get but I'd still have the negatives. The weird thing is I have seen literally zero talk about the bullseye front at all so decided to try it out myself and I remain impressed. Would love to see tfb get their hands on one to let people know there's a potentially viable alternative.

[@2heavyb517]

thank you very much, your description sounds exactly like my situation. eye exam showed minor astigmatism issue. I see a cluster of dots which still work close to medium range but not so well out farther or with real precision . I have mepro night irons on all my Glocks. Good company I'll check out the bullseye sight. thanks again

[@DWalter.27]

In my experience I saw the cluster of dots when trying to stare at the dot like it's a front sight. When I stared at the target then brought the dot into my plane of vision, it looked like it should.

[@markyoung2981]

Excellent presentation thank you for your time posting this important information.

[@davidmilisock5200]

EXACTLY the problem! First in close no advantage, second to find a proper set-up that comes to point can take quite awhile, cost big bucks in failures and the people don't want to pass off corporate sponsors naming names.

[@nickwhalen8640]

I’m for red dots, but you definitely need to still be able to use iron sights.

[@RS-ec6ik]

Exactly!!!! Thank you!

[@dillonc7955]

Get a tactical model of handgun so you can practice with both. Whenever you think you've mastered your red dot, turn it off and train with your backup irons.

[@musicman1eanda]

Agreed, but I think the amount of time and energy you need to adequately use iron sights is lower than people think. I don't believe you MUST use irons for years before getting a dot. Months or even just weeks will suffice. You can always turn your dot off to revisit the iron sights on occasion.

[@wpymes]

My eyes (and I) are 70 yrs old. I own a Sig X5 Legion with a Romeo 1 and a Shadow 2 not OR with iron sights. There is absolutely no doubt which gun-sights make me the better shooter. Welcome technology! Great video! Big fan of the channel!

[@Kirkster131]

Got both of my shadow2s milled. Not looking back…

[@wpymes]

@@Kirkster131 Its not an option for me, I live in a place where there are no trustworthy gunsmiths available. So my only option is to sell and replace for an OR model. Thank you for your comment!

[@ThomasRonnberg]

Red dots are awesome albeit pretty gimmicky. We were given red dots and acogs in my unit in the mechanized infantry in finnish army and they ended all back into storage as everyone considered them completely useless for guerilla forest and guerilla winter warfare. When it's really cold outside and you're running around just a single breath of air will completely ruin your optics. Crawl through the snow while creeping up on an enemy fortification and that's it reddot is filled with snow. Our entire platoon was given optics and not a single person ended up using them, everyone was pro iron sights. Also red dots are terrible if they blind your natural night vision in dim or night time conditions. So being able to have a setting that goes waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay down to minimal luminocity is also something to look out for which is something our aimpoints didn't provide even though they had like 12 different settings. So in the winter, in finland, we basically only had like a 3 hour window where optics had any use. A carrying handle would have provided infinitely more utility for us. Red dots are awesome, they improve beginner shooting accuracy and consistency dramatically, but again like all things. Have a weakness.

[@gregbrown7163]

I have a G27 with SRO. After shooting years of USPSA, IDPA, and 3Gun where you look for the front sight. TIP-LOOK FOR THE REAR SIGHT AND YOU WILL FIND THE DOT PRESENTATION EASIER. After a while you don’t have to think about the rear sight. Practice!

[@dreambig8996]

Me personally I don't need a red dot,in a self defense situation I'm point shooting with alot of shots very fast until the threat stops.

[@haxorizm7452]

As someone who’s left eye dominant right hand dominant with an astigmatism… I love my holosun 509T with a green dot. I find it way quicker to get the dot on target than I do with irons and the double vision is gone with both eyes open

[@randyhavard6084]

You only need water, food, and shelter. But since we don't live in the Soviet Union it's nice to have things that we don't necessarily need that make our life more enjoyable.

[@A8vscRrabbit]

Everyone needs the tools for self protection....unless you have really sharp teeth, claws...and have a ferocious growl 🤣

[@Hunter_Brandon]

Speak for yourself. Some of us live in Commiefornia, where only the homeless have property rights. You move that shopping cart in front of your driveway and it’s the Gulag for you.

[@McTierArt]

"Oh, Danny, this isn't Russia. Is this Russia?" 😂

[@A8vscRrabbit]

@@Hunter_Brandon im in the great State of Jefferson. We don't play those games up here.

[@bcrocks3935]

Except me, my mom always told me “this is why we can’t have nice things!”

[@1olddirtroad]

Just an observation...several years ago the shooting community went through the similar acceptance/rejection period of RDS and holographic rifle sights. This is one of the best presentations of information on the subject matter and appreciated 👏

[@Crosshair84]

No we did not go through such a period. The issue was over if the hardware was reliable enough to trust for two-way range work. Until around 20 years ago, the dots available were really not combat proof. Special forces could get away with using them, but not the average solider. The discussion for handguns is completely different. A rifle has a stock that lets you plop your face against and you're effectively guaranteed to see the dot. That's not the case with a handgun. With irons, you can at least see where the misalignment is. With a red-dot you don't. A red-dot on a rifle is a great idea to get a new shooter to quickly learn to bring a gun to bear and get accurate shots. A red-dot on a handgun is not. Oh sure, once they have everything lined up they can make accurate shots easily. Picking up the gun from the bench and getting off a reasonably accurate shot as quickly as possible is a whole different thing. Red-dots on handguns are take more training and more regular training than most people are willing/able to put in.

[@1olddirtroad]

@Crosshair84 I guess it all boils down to your frame of reference as to forming your opinion concerning RDS and Holographic sighting systems. Mine comes from people like Pat Rogers who wrote several times about the Military's crawl, walk, and run acceptance of Alternate Sighting solutions. Big Army as well as others were all guilty of "Institutional Inbreeding" ( re Pat MacNamara) regarding new innovations and the adoption of same. And you would be a very small minority of shooters who think those innovations aren't the way forward on the battlefield and the street. As with anything TRAINING is the key. Initial training of new shooters show remarkable skills when using RDS as opposed to older shooters like me who only used irons and that is to be expected as the learning curve is greater. Massad Ayoob has an excellent video on the Wilson Combat Channel on Handgun RDS here on KZbin. It's helpful for old Fudds like you and I. Cheers

[@rmccagle]

In a life or death situation I’d fire a shot first and then try and locate with a red dot. I don’t have one, wouldn’t have one. It takes me time to find the dot and that could make the difference between life and death. Iron sights for me all day long.

[@ldb8435]

Agree, don't see many police with these on the pistols they carry day to day.

[@latetotheparty7551]

@@ldb8435 State funded so you know their priorities aren't on training or better outfitting.

[@lazuritedavos3476]

Here is good advice. If it's a Target, Hunting, or Plinking pistol, the red dot is great, you can get some really good precision accuracy. If you are using the handgun for EDC, Duty, or Dangerous Game, go with iron sights

[@williamhobbs3745]

3 questions: At what range are most self defense shootings? At what range does red dots become better than irons? At what distance does the claim of "self defense" become questionable?

[@johnsmitty7447]

i used to question long range self defense shootings but then elisjsha dicken came along this year

[@williamhobbs3745]

Did he use a red dot? Has anyone ever been reported as using a red dot in self defense?

[@ngk7866]

Which red dot is best for Glock 19 gen 5 & Canik tp9 sc ??

[@thomascozart1095]

To me, it somewhat depends on your eyes/eyesight. My eyes are such that there is pretty much no way for me to get a sight picture of my iron sights. I have opted for Holosun optics on my carry pistol(s).

[@mr.horseshoe2301]

Red dot with 1/3 co-witness sights. Best of both worlds. The co-witness also makes finding the dot almost instantaneous.

[@aztronomy7457]

As a NEW shooter, a red dot is 100% NECESSARY. I always hear from experienced shooters that red dots are “hard to get used to, not necessarily better” etc. Maybe for YOU because you’ve been using irons for 20 years. But as someone who just got into shooting 2 years ago, and my muscle memory isn’t 100% set for irons, a red dot is NIGHT and day better than irons. Period. End of story. No debate. It’s harder to break habits than it is to develop new ones. I see no benefit to starting with Iron's. It's good to know how to shoot irons. I have several iron sight guns. But I don't believe you HAVE to know how to use irons to shoot a red dot. Makes no difference. You can train someone on a dot just as easily.

[@MadGunny]

A new shooter should stick with irons and maybe jump to red dots later. They are definitely not necessary lol if you weren’t shooting well with irons but bought a red dot as a bandaid to slap over poor shooting, that isn’t ideal.

[@aztronomy7457]

@@MadGunny also, I would argue starting with red dots first is better from a muscle memory perspective. I’ve always heard from longtime shooters that it was harder to go to red dots after irons because the hold was different. I don’t have this problem because I didn’t build muscle memory with irons. It’s easier to start from scratch than it is to break someone’s habits. I know this from martial arts.

[@jwilsonhandmadeknives2760]

AZ, good comment. i’m on the other end of the spectrum and i agree with you. I’ve been shooting at a high level with irons for 25 years. It’s so ingrained in me that i am not even aware of the process on a conscious level. Inside of 25 yards i still shoot noticeably better with irons, and certainly more accurately. However, the value of a red dot is undeniable. What makes it hard for guys like me isn’t finding the dot- it’s that the process is very, very different. Being target focused is amazing, but my brain still won’t let go of the front sight all the time. I catch myself focusing hard on that dot, and no matter what anyone says, that floating dot allows for a lot of slop and your accuracy suffers if you focus on the dot. The dot has helped my speed when it comes to combat shooting. Anyone who comes from a precision target shooting background will never be happy with the dot’s accuracy. If shooting big steel plates at 25 is your idea of accuracy then we’re not speaking the same language. However, a dot not being bullseye accurate forced me to accept combat accurate shots. It helps me from over-aiming which is a bad habit that target shooters have. The dot is only going to allow combat accuracy, so it forces you to accept that and let the shot go. I still do not see any value whatsoever in having a dot on a deep concealment carry gun, but that’s just my opinion based on my own experience.

[@aztronomy7457]

@@jwilsonhandmadeknives2760 great comment. I agree. I have a 507k on my p365 Xl and it’s absolute butter. It’s crazy that I can have this accuracy, this conceal ability, from a sub 4” barrel and 12 rounds in a micro grip.

[@DinoNucci]

Wrong

[@StEvEn420BrUlE]

I run a 507k on my 365XL on the larger ring setting. I basically have it zeroed so that at ~30feet anything inside that circle will be hit. It works fantastically for that purpose. I feel like John Wick when drawing from concealment and engaging targets and can't imagine going back to just regular sights. I also have bad vision and an astigmatism so that may factor into it

[@buckeyebanditos]

Make sure you tighten that battery cover screw frequently lol, mine has been inop 2+ weeks waiting on replacement 5 cent screw from china/holosun

[@BeamMonsterZeus]

That doesn't sound much more effective. It works, it passes, I know this, but try a prismatic RDS on a rifle and compare to the 507k for your eyes.

[@StEvEn420BrUlE]

@@BeamMonsterZeus you are comparing apples to zucchini at that point

[@SevenStarMountain-X7]

@@BeamMonsterZeus And your recommendation for a prismatic sight for a handgun? 🤣🤣🤣

[@rickgray8007]

I’m an old guy that now wears progressive glasses (bifocals/trifocals). My first use of a red dot was like manna from heaven. If I still had 20/20, I would say “iron sights!” As a visually handicapped person, I absolutely love my Trijicon SRO.

[@andrewcraft1078]

I can attest that a Glock 43x with a Holosun 507k are a bad combination. The grip angle and window size of the optic certainly work against each other in actually finding the dot.

[@jaredwright1655]

How so? Does it force your wrist upwards to find the dot?

[@22640cal]

Im just rolling with the XS big dots... analog red dot already :)

[@RustyJoe]

As an old middle class guy, I’m seeing it as spending a lot of money beyond the cost of the gun and training ammo, to get a solid red dot pistol combo, that will add bulk to my edc load out and really only benefit me in the rarest of encounters. It’s not too unlike advocating carrying a 20rnd pistol with 4 mags in case I’m in an active shooter situation

[@CaptBlackCamaro]

You are comparing carrying an edc with an optic to carrying a full size and 4 extra mags?

[@RustyJoe]

@@CaptBlackCamaro comparing feeling the need to be prepared to best deal with the rare long yardage defensive encounter, to being prepared for the equally rare active shooter, terrorist attack.

[@MongyBongy]

I don't find my red dot adds bulk, I do find it helps me shoot a little better at a variety of ranges and I've also found it enables me to shoot if I lose my glasses which was not at all an easy thing before

[@riptaway]

I don't think you understand just how much of a difference a RDS can make in accuracy, speed, and target acquisition. The first time you shoot a RDS on a pistol(effectively), it's like going from horse and buggy to a car. That's how big of a difference it is. Iron sights on a pistol really are an awful way to aim it. They do work with lots of practice, and obviously we didn't have anything better for a long time. But a RDS takes all of the negatives of iron sights and gets rid of them. Instead of working against how you see and your hand eye coordination, a RDS is designed to work for your physiology and psychology. Seriously, try it. You don't really understand until you do. Like anything, your opinion just isn't really relevant until you have all of the facts and have firsthand experience. Cost? A good RDS is like 2 or 300 bucks. Not pocket change but not exactly something you have to take a loan out for. Training ammo? Why aren't you training regardless? Bulk? I mean, you're talking about maybe an inch squared and a few ounces. Obviously it'd be nice if your EDC gun was the size and weight of a paperclip, but is a RDS really a deal breaker when you're talking about something that small and light that makes you several times more effective a gun fighter? I dunno about you but trying to shoot a pistol accurately in an actual gun fight would be incredibly difficult, especially at anything beyond about 10 or 15 feet against a moving target. Trying to use iron sights is bad enough at a range where you've got time and the target isn't moving, but try doing it under stress against someone running around and shooting back. Anyway, you do you. I just don't see any of your points as deal breakers.

[@RustyJoe]

@@riptaway beyond 10-15 ft is a rare enough encounter to make my point. I don’t carry a cumbersome load out on the off chance I get I the middle of a terrorist attack. And I don’t want to add an expensive piece of gear that will likely not be an asset in my most likely encounter

[@fiveletters]

"Sony guts" was a great pull, cracked me up.

[@Valorius]

"Do you need a pistol red dot?" No. Video over. Seriously, I have made the same exact arguments as James guest on the TFB discord server and Disqus comments section for years, to the unified squeals of disdain of tactical zoomers and millenials. Based on almost 3 decades of carrying firearms and actually using them in defensive scenarios over a dozen times my experience exactly matches that of James guest. Exactly.

[@ridehard4today]

Helpful and encouraging. Thank you. I’m gonna train some more so I suck less. There’s a bit of a learning curve!

[@Murphy82nd]

I think the usefulness of the auto settings depends in part on the optic. On my Holosuns the auto I have is based entirely on the light above me, so if I’m looking into or out of a an area with different lighting it can be problematic (I.E. if I’m in a dark area looking into a bright area the dot will be too dim). On my RMRs I find they adjust surprisingly well, even if turning on a weapon mounted light in a dark area. The point about basing the light on your brightest area and going from there is a fair one and I do that with my Holosuns, but on the Holosuns that is typically a 10 out of 12. In a dimly light room that setting of 10 shows a good amount of bloom in the dot, which is no doubt worse for me because I have an astigmatism. Can you still make hits like this? Yeah you can and that’s why I go that route. I do think a well working auto setting is a meaningful goal (supposedly the Holosun SCS is very good).

[@rushthezeppelin]

Some of the new holosuns have and adjustable minimum on the auto brightness so you can set the floor to be still visible with a light and then it will still get nice and bright outside. Great feature.

[@Murphy82nd]

@@rushthezeppelindo you know which ones those are?

[@rushthezeppelin]

@@Murphy82nd I know the EPS Carry MRS Green has it (I think the red does not for some reason but this is the only Holosun I have so I cannot confirm).

[@Murphy82nd]

@@rushthezeppelin that’s actually really cool, I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone point that out

[@theman5962]

I love the host's savoir faire. Very professional sir.

[@chets3597]

I've had optics, not just red dots, become unusable for minutes when I go from air conditioning to summer humidity and from cold to warm interior spaces during winter. To me that's a fatal strike against them for carry. I love dots for range toys but not for personal protection. Find a place where you can move and shoot, develop muscle memory, and practice practice practice.

[@5jjt]

You could try speci defogging chemicals. If you don't want to invest any money, you could try simple Barbasol shave foam, then wipe it off the lense.

[@themightycrixus1131]

That is a great point. Most self defense scenarios in which you would us a pistol like this take place in transitional spaces so that is definitely something to think about. I love my tritium irons. No battery to even think about.

[@rolandbujeiro42]

@@5jjt that actually does work. I've tried it 👍

[@sillybilly121212]

That’s why I think lasers are better and more intuitive. Red dots are quicker for people who train a lot, and definitely for target transitioning, but lasers don’t fog.

[@TasteLikeChicken]

I agree with you 100%. Respect for all opinions in this regard and everyone out there. Stay safe. Each of us make a personal choice. Strangely, (to me), we make EDC choices based on our confidence and self-perceived reliability in the robustness and fault tolerance of a given platform, (does the gun cycle well, do the mags feed flawlessly, does the brand/load chamber w/out issues, does it conceal well, does it draw quickly) and then we add exponential complexity to the intolerance and fault possibility (even if the PROBABILITY is marginal or low) of unnecessary technology. I don't understand this logic. I imagine, a proportional percentage of people where killed in the Revolutionary, Civil, WW1, WW2, Korean, Vietnam wars by small arms fire that did not leverage dot technologies, (and conversely, were iron sight "engagements"). Why now, are low logic, highly fault tolerant, (zero fogging, no batteries, no lens BS) iron sights anachronistic? The argument in this presentations fails my common-sense-o-meter. JD concedes that he has encountered success and fails on all dot models that he's deployed. That "should" be enough for an opposing argument/IS validation. Fails are ok at the range but maybe less than ok when the paper target is shooting back at you. I'm 100% confident that my irons sights will never fail.

[@1xayekim]

I had to use Holosuns warranty process twice. One failed on the vertical plane, the dot just bounced and it either went up or down and all my groups were drastically high or low in a straight line from a bench brace and the second replacement the optic just would not turn on. I ended up selling the last warranty replacement and just kind of gave up on it simply because I could not afford it. I had already put 500 bucks on top of a 500 dollar gun and I realized I was only going to be spending more and more money until I found one I could trust. Then I witnessed an event at a class that turned me off from using red dots. Long story short, a shooter cut his finger at some point and during malfunction drills he apparently got blood all over his optic rendering it useless and when he went up to shoot he basically missed on his entire mag until he reloaded, settled down and compensated for the height of the red dot. Back up irons would have done nothing to help him. It was enough to convince me maybe I did not need them on my carry gun. Blowing through two supposedly well known optics and looking at having to drop another 500 or 700 on something that I could probably trust did not seem like a worthy investment. Instead my investment has been in ammo, range time and a lot of point / instinctive shooting with various longer distance drills.

[@9770G]

When it comes to optics I think it is far more useful on a rifle than a pistol. Also I would say it is VERY important to get really freaking good on shooting with iron sights on a pistol before learning to shoot with a red dot.

[@fukov3400]

Kind of a chicken & egg situation on both of those - repeatable sight presentation is far easier on a shouldered rifle once you’re locked in and red dots along with laser trainers help people identify and correct trigger issues and better allow them to see how small movement has an effect. Ideal setup is a big fat window and some tall cowitness sights

[@9770G]

@@fukov3400 I agree on that but specially on handguns I think it’s much smarter to become a savage with iron sights before red dots. I wouldn’t say the same for rifles though.

[@latetotheparty7551]

Sure but you're far more likely to be carrying a pistol when encountering a deadly force situation than a rifle so put them on both. 😁

[@Local_Laydee]

it's like learning to Drive Standard, then Getting an Automatic. Same stuff but easier, and if you have to Drive Stick you're good.

[@thickseed]

Well put!!

[@1312020m]

Red dots are great if you are willing to dedicate the time to practice and train your presentation with it. But if you're the kind of person that would just stick it on their gun and call it a day then that money is probably better spent on a class or two.

[@DinoNucci]

Correct

[@hurricanechris]

I think if I looked at a red dot sight on my tv remote it would take longer to change The channel just point level and fire

[@dragonballjiujitsu]

A few things here. 1. Are red dots getting more reliable? Yes. But they will never be as solid as irons and with most setups you don't have the option of snatching them off and carrying on with irons like you would a long gun. 2. Might you get better performance at longer ranges? Sure but with a trade-off Also we can what if ourselves into 100 yard pistol fights and handgun fights that last 50+ rounds but are you gonna carry 50+ rounds? 3. I have used a few different dots on someone else pistol and always struggle to find the dot. 4. The more "stuff" you hang off the gun in theory the more useful it is. In practice the more there is to screw up when you need it most. I try to keep guns I trust my life to as simple as possible. 5. Lets be honest here. Most ppl do not install dots on their handguns because it makes them more capable. They do it because its the newest Tacticool thing.

[@AllanG1914]

Surprised how much I agree with him.

[@aztronomy7457]

PSA: for everyone saying new shooters should start with irons first before going to red dots, STOP! You’re convincing people to develop muscle memory one way, and then transitioning another way which is always harder. That is bad advice. It’s easier to get a new shooter adapted to red dots than it is a legacy shooter used to irons to be proficient with red dots, because it’s harder to break habits than it is to develop new ones.

[@jaredwright1655]

Start with irons first so that when your tech breaks, you resort to your original training. It's probobly easier to jump from irons to optics than it is to switch weapon systems (like training on a 92fs and switching to glock) just to get something new. I think it's better for a new driver to start in an empty parking lot with room instead of a formula 1 raceway

[@aztronomy7457]

@@jaredwright1655 even if you start with irons and are proficient at them, if the dot breaks you’re still not going to be accurate. I don’t see the point. Being good with irons isnt going to make you be able to shoot better with a dot less red dot. Cowtinessing is dumb too. Defeats the purpose of even having a dot. I say if you’re a new shooter with a concealed carry gun and want a dot, start with a dot. Develop muscle memory and training with the dot. Don’t waste your time learning a different system just because shooters see the “irons” as a right of passage. A red dot is just better, period.

[@ytbenavraham9553]

I'm sixty and had cataract surgery five years ago. I use night sights on my Glock 17 I train every weekend. I shoot between 493 and 500 consistent. Maybe in a few years I consider it. With my 1911 I consistently shoot 500. Thanks God for blessing John Browning. 45 ACP Great video

[@DefZen343]

Dots will undoubtedly improve your shooting but the problem i see is if you ever find yourself needing to use a handgun that is not yours, or sometimes even a rifle that isnt yours it wont have an optic on it 👀 especially for me spending alot of time in other countries or some other people serving in a military capacity. Ive met people who can out shoot me with their dots but when they try their irons on a stage they are significantly Handicapped and dont shoot very well since they dont get enough practice with irons 👀 I also have limited range time and my Pistol irons are the only irons i practice on which translates to Rifle irons pretty well 😁

[@DinoNucci]

No

[@DefZen343]

@@DinoNucci no what?

[@SectionChief]

I’ve been shooting a long time. Mainly with Glocks. When I started to buy other brands of handguns my shooting results became a mess because of different grip angles and different iron sight brands and different sight pictures. Waste/wasted a lot of ammo with iron sights when rotating/switching pistols, especially at ‘distance’. Once I started getting the very same pistols (Glock, Sig, CZ, Beretta) cut for red dots, consistent POI went way up and times went way down. Yes, I can shoot specific iron-sight-only pistols very quickly and accurately consistently beyond 15 yards, but Glock is not one of them. Consistency of POI, or tighter groups at whatever speed and distance makes you happy is where the red-dot provides an advantage.

[@InfernoPhilM]

3:04 look at that money shot

[@pray4mojo35]

I almost saw his red dot.

[@IronChef60]

Scrolled down to find this. It's almost like there's a challenge from JR to the camera operator to force the audience into staring at a slow-mo grundle shot.

[@justanothergunnerd8128]

The average civilian concealed carry person does NOT need a red dot. It could get them killed in a defensive scenario if they do not train with it regularly. Most defensive shootings occur at ridiculously close, bad breath distance - no need for a red dot. Red dots on handguns have their place - no doubt - and they absolutely rock for several tasks/scenarios... But bottom line is the average (and almost all) concealed carriers are better off without a red dot.

[@michaels5210]

You can say the same thing about NOT running a red dot. With self defense pistol use, Whether or not you have a red dot on your pistol if you don’t train it doesn’t matter.

[@garrettboone4306]

This comment hurt my brain. Next time you walk into a supermarket, guesstimate how long that isle is and reassess.

[@michaels5210]

@@garrettboone4306 I agree with you but I couldn’t think of a respectful way to put it lol.

[@aztronomy7457]

if they are that close, bad breath distance, you dont need sights period.

[@justanothergunnerd8128]

@@aztronomy7457 Exactly my point!

[@williammoller831]

Great topic and the way you both played off each other was entertaining and at the sametime educating'Hats off,one of the best topics and presentations ever.

[@JasonNortwich]

Red dots on CC pistols is just a trend that people hop on because they like to feel tacti-cool

[@MrSpyro1994]

Agreed. I've never seen someone at my range with a pistol red dot that shoots well. Ever.

[@RockinRack]

​@@MrSpyro1994 that's why they got them lol I like them for fun and past 50y I can definitely be more accurate But in self defense you have a better chance of winning the lotto then you do getting time to use your sights

[@dangeles95]

I finally got a red dot on my pistol. I let people use them for 5 to 7 years to see if there was an actual advantage, and I didn’t feel like I was missing out on much because I had had so much training on irons. That said I don’t give a shit what you think about me, or how tactical I look, there is a huge advantage to having a red dot.

[@brodiddy877]

But what if it makes the carrier more accurate on their CC pistol?

[@drmitofit2673]

I currently use a non-optic sighting system when shooting handguns that works well with stress physiology when the sympathetic (fight or flight) nervous system kicks in. Both eyes open, isosceles (turret) stance, semi-crouch, focus on threat, target above sights, front sight above rear sights, sights in peripheral vision, allowing you to see the entire bad guy torso. The traditional target method of one eye open one eye squinting, semi-weaver, sights obscuring bottom half of torso target, carefully lining up the sights, and focusing on front sight is not how the human brain and body operate when the fight or flight adrenaline response kicks in. It becomes very natural and intuitive with moderate range practice, with very good rapid fire accuracy at combat handgun distances.

[@Kiwibird17]

Need? No. Benefit from it? With training, yes, definitely

[@DinoNucci]

No

[@sealove79able]

A great video Mr.James. You can have an RDS even in your shorts.Would you mount an RDS on a .50BMG rifle?

[@sislater6334]

We've done ok for a couple hundred years without one all optics slow target acquisition to a degree so for short range against a man not a target ima sayin a hard no.

[@bartb7790]

So you still use a blackpowder front loading weapon ? 😆

[@fromtexasbygod]

Jack told me what I already knew, well trained iron sight shooters with proper training and enough repetition to hardwire dot sight presentation into muscle memory will be able to quickly and efficiently make well placed shots on target. But the overwhelming majority of folks carrying handguns with dot sights are novice shooters who aren’t well trained and consequently will struggle hunting for the dot, especially under stress.

[@Valorius]

Karl the tactical rifleman, and former SGT Major of US 5th special forces group has correctly pointed out that it takes literally thousands of presentations to effectively use a red dot sight on a handgun in combat conditions. A red dot is a gigantic net negative for an inexperienced shooter in a high stress situation. A tiny, tiny % of US shooters will ever put in the work that Karl has proscribed, and even when you do master it, it is only useful in a tiny, tiny % of outlier gunfights. For a massive increase in cost, increase in footprint size, increased risk of failure, and increased chance of snagging. A pistol red dot has zero place on a home defense or concealed carry handgun.

[@fromtexasbygod]

AMEN!

[@jmh1101]

@@Valorius wrong. lmao. i have maybe 2000 rounds with a red dot over 3 classes and have no problems picking up the dot. That's from having no official prior training. The only negative about a red dot is having to change a battery every couple of months and then shooting it to make sure it kept zero. massive increase in cost? 260$ lmao. you literally sound like an inexperienced shooter stuck in their ways like the old guy who swears by a revolver as a self defense weapon. They are faster. Easier to train a new shooter with. easier weapon manipulations. better for target focus shooting. better accuracy. that "inexperienced shooter" would be even more sh*t in a high stress situation with iron sights. hahahaha.

[@jackmemphis777]

@@Valorius lol okay pal. The holosun SCS on my G19 co-witnesses with the stock glock irons and has a tiny profile. The giant green circle is with a mini green dot inside is super easy to acquire. The green dot literally appears right over the iron sights so it doesnt require any additional red-dot training, it works the same as training with iron sights. The low profile doesnt snag at all, and if the optic does happen to fail, the iron sights are right there. I also have a larger holosun 407c on my G20 which requires a different set of irons but its still extremely easy to use. For home defense, the red dots and green dots are much easier to pick up in low light conditions compared to irons. For a CC handgun, an optic like the holosun SCS will only add value to it, you just point and shoot and there is less risk of hitting innocent bystanders.

[@Valorius]

@@jackmemphis777 nope

[@bruceblackerby3742]

There will be that one instance where the red dot fails - dead battery, misaligned. Not to mention the added bulk complicating CC.

[@rushthezeppelin]

That's why you should do a cowitness setup. I haven't found the bulk to really affect concealment though.

[@rickrobinson8417]

I have two red dots on my pistol. had to remove my rear sight but worth it to have a backup red dot.

[@butchie2752]

You must have two sets of eyes too!

[@Kataquan]

How tf did you manage that lmao

[@choppingchannel]

🤣

[@renosbizarreadventure4346]

🔥🔥🔥😂😂😂😂

[@crushingcans3487]

Keep it simple stupid and train with irons. Too much to worry about with RDS in a life and death situation.

[@BirdDogey1]

I can't see any value in a Red Dot in a self defense shooting situation. The bad guy is actively trying to hurt you. No way to put an optic in play.

[@NiMi93]

You don't 'need' a red dot on a pistol, like you don't 'need' a red dot or optic on a rifle. As history has shown, the weapon will still shoot with irons. Everything is mission-dependent, and you may find some alterations will help you with your use case. Then again in the west, everything is coated in marketing glitz and getting the newest item for the newest trend -we see this in the RDS product line.

[@arthurscales5449]

Great video James what are you shooting?

[@Politicallyhomeless957]

Answer- NO you do not. In fact if you are me? You prefer irons

[@Rozza43]

Ditto...believe red dots are for people that are not great shooters. But that's just my opinion.

[@DinoNucci]

Correct. But if I were you I'd be fing my own mom

[@Politicallyhomeless957]

Shadow banned comments are gaye

[@DinoNucci]

@@Politicallyhomeless957 I c u

[@timfreeland1359]

What sort of sight is James using that is so low profile on his pistol? Is that a laser?

[@Valorius]

I do not want a gigantic snag prone failure point that also costs hundreds of dollars for outlier engagements. None of you should either.

[@josedorsaith5261]

'outlier engagements'?

[@Valorius]

@@josedorsaith5261 The overwhelming majority of handgun defensive shootings occur at a range of 7-10 FEET.

[@josedorsaith5261]

@@Valorius I understand that. What do you mean by an outlier engagement? Is that a shooting outside of 7-10 feet? If so, a red dot would be equally useful at 7ft and 10ft+

[@whiskeypapa8842]

Thanks for the great informative video James. Oh, and the ending was a riot!

[@kraemer66]

I use red dots for competition sometimes, but I still prefer irons for carry for a couple reasons. 1. When red dots fail, even the best shooters will sit there fishing for it for what feels like an eternity (Just a second or two) before transitioning to their irons. 2. Many people who run red dots don't train in dynamic shooting positions, just a static range. Shooting on your back, on your side, under a car, above or around barriers.

[@aztronomy7457]

Your second point makes no sense. I see tons of people shooting red dots in dynamic positions. Very popular here in Arizona.

[@2aTommy]

@@aztronomy7457 neither of his points make sense.

[@aaronchampagne8631]

Holosun 507c Acss helps with this stuff

[@aztronomy7457]

@@2aTommy if anything red dots makes dynamic shooting easier lmao

[@2aTommy]

@@aztronomy7457 agreed. Everybody I’ve talked to that has actually trained with both prefer red dots. There’s multiple benefits and I see no downside to them

[@DavidWilson-eu1mv]

Ken Hackathorn, from Wilson Combat, has a great pro and con on red dots. He makes a great point regarding what the training will do. Brain used to red dots, realignment to irons can be difficult due to the training with the dot. Also Massad Ayoob has one.

[@rydawg750]

I always felt micro red dots were a waste of time and money then I ended up picking up a Hellcat with a Shield Smsc and found out I was right. But after doing some research I came to realize the problem was I didn’t have the “right” micro dot for myself. I have an astigmatism which makes a red dot blurry and hard to see. I ended up getting a Holosun 407k with the green dot and now I’m true believer in micro dot sights.

[@deenyc1049]

Yes. As a new shooter starting out the dot makes it so much easier. However I can understand how someone who's been shooting for many years have to adjust and might be reluctant.