Should You Co-Witness Your Handgun RDS and Iron Sights?

[@rdmjone]

Finally! Someone who can explain the red dot/ iron sights pairing. Thanks!

[@Learningfirearms]

I try, thanks for the comment

[@johnphillips222]

How come nobody else explains this stuff as well as you? It all makes sense with your explanation.

[@Learningfirearms]

Stop it, making me blush :-)

[@chgofirefighter]

As a former LEO and current competitive shooter, the main goal is to be target focused. You NEVER look through your optic in order to acquire the target, you drive the red dot to the target and once the red dot is where it needs to be and its zeroed you will hit at whatever you're aiming for. Of course, everything begins and ends with your experience, training and knowledge. Many, way too many untrained shooters look through their RDS, which is completely wrong. Nice video tutorial~

[@TravariusTomaz]

Exactly target focus break the shoot after confirmation and don’t over confirm which allot of people do.

[@Learningfirearms]

Thanks! Agree, target focus is the way

[@joshable14]

Clear POV and explanation at the same time just blew my mind. I'm more visual learner and not so much auditory learner plus reader. Mind wanders too much on unnecessary things to focus on vs hitting the hard points evenly. Thank you! Will enjoy practices more now.

[@Learningfirearms]

Awesome comment, glad I was able to help out.

[@CitizenCarrier]

I remember this video from the other channel you worked at! The Arnold bit is great! “There is no more co-witness! There’s no more Mr. Kimble, I like the irons sights! Nothing! There is no co-witness!” 😂 Good stuff. When I decided to finally go with an optic, I needed good info and that was one of the first videos I watched. It really made clear and made sense to me about the difference between co-witness and BACK UP sights and how you treat the optic and backup irons as completely separate sighting systems not to be used in conjunction. Thanks man!

[@Learningfirearms]

Heck yeah, thanks for watching!

[@strider11]

Great job Dave! I loved the graphics to help visualize what to expect seeing. Also loved the intro. :D It's been a minute since I've seen that movie, so I forgot about that speech. haha I'll never forget, "It's not a tumor!"

[@Learningfirearms]

Always a classic ha ha. Thanks for watching

[@DesertTactical]

One of if not the best video explaining this exact topic clearly. Good stuff.

[@Learningfirearms]

Thanks man!

[@artimla492]

Bring moar! Love that you’re bringing fundamentals as you are the person I come to for knowledge and insight, not just entertainment. I hope the algorithms point new and old shooters to this channel because it’s not just about the sexy Instagram stuff. This is where the good stuff is. Keep it up!

[@Learningfirearms]

Thanks Art, appreciate the comment

[@davidbanner1652]

Magic of Hollywood was pretty slick…great content!!

[@Learningfirearms]

Glad you liked it Thanks!

[@dtomamerican3471]

Well done Dave. I appreciate your attention to detail. The graphics were very helpful

[@Learningfirearms]

Thanks man, glad you liked it.

[@ram218313]

thank you for information. this makes whole lot more sense than co-witness (or slaving) the dot to iron sights.

[@Learningfirearms]

Word, glad you found the video

[@joneifer8987]

Thanks for the logic. Made total sense.

[@Learningfirearms]

Thanks for watching and the comment

[@Rainierarms]

Perfectly said!

[@Learningfirearms]

I try

[@jeffreynye3019]

Very nice video. My interpretation of "co witness" was completely wrong. I thought it was slaving the dot to the sights. Cant wait to shoot again and re-zero my Hellcat pro.

[@paulyp9853]

Thanks man!!! I was looking for an explanation of this for a while and now I found it. Great explanation as well. The key is - Two different sighting systems. Pretty much settled where I am going with my set up: Glock 19 Gen 5 MOS with a Holosun 509T red dot. Trijicon Suppressor Height irons. The rear sight is .451 overall and .361 actual height above the slide. I am also going to run a Calculated Kinetic Dog Chain Plate. This is the plate with the little notch in the front which you can rack the slide with as well as protect the red dots glass. This plate sits high, and they actually suggest the Ameriglo GL524 irons which sit very high and can co-witness, but not necessary. With the Trijicon's my irons will sit in the lower 1/6th. Still usable if needed, but do not obstruct the dot in anyway. Two different sighting systems with irons only as a backup. Excellent!!! Thanks again.

[@Learningfirearms]

You got it right, thanks for watching!

[@ShawnJ-11]

Yes! I love hearing knowledgeable arguing against absolute co witness. It’s like music to my ears.

[@Learningfirearms]

I think part of it is misuse of the terms, thanks for watching Shawn

[@oklahomahank2378]

Several people have suggested that if your red dot fails or you can’t find it you are not likely to actually use the iron sights, since you have trained your brain to look at the target and you will be trying to figure out where the red dot is. Maybe it would be better just to skip irons and use the red dot as a large rear sight. I can make reasonable hits out to about ten yards with no sights at all, just using the slide as a reference, like a shotgun barrel. I am not saying any of that is correct, just a point for discussion.

[@Learningfirearms]

In my classes we go over a few different site failure aiming techniques. Haven’t had any real data that Im aware of of a dot failure then transistion to sights but we have had students reports dot failure in the field so an important topic for sure.

[@Croak1]

Finally had time to watch this today. During Vikings game halftime. Appropriate, I think.

[@Learningfirearms]

Thanks for watching

[@believein1]

New to firearms but I was surprised that were tethering the red dot to partially exposed sights, when part of the advantage of the red dot is an elevated position which makes it easier to acquire. Slaving it to the iron sights basically makes the upper 3/4 of your window pointless.

[@Learningfirearms]

Word, some folks haven’t had any training or there is bad info getting circulated.

[@wolverineqtg976]

I cover all of this in my eBook, The Combative Red Dot Pistol. Complete set up and deployment of an RDS pistol for gunfighting, NOT sport shooting

[@YourFavoriteLibertarian]

Nothing to do with the video, but you're looking slim, man! Keep up the good work!

[@Learningfirearms]

LOL this is an older video I updated. Need to get back to this size ha ha. Thanks for the comment though!

[@joeblack1348]

Awesome voice over 😂.

[@Learningfirearms]

I try to have a little fun lol

[@Ishootfilm412]

I zeroed my dot and it sits to the left when I line up my iron sights to use. Is it wrong if it's not centered when looking at the irons?

[@Learningfirearms]

I’d check the iron sights as well, I see them not centered often.

[@johnphillips222]

If the handgun iron sights were cowitnessed to the red dot, wouldn't that be a bad idea that blocks half the window of the red dot? The local gun stores and the gun reviewers seem to misunderstand that point.

[@Learningfirearms]

I think the term gets lost on some for sure.