As a new carry guy i wanted to get good at iron sights first. Then add an optic if i need one. But I think the 21ft rule was the reason im not going red dot. At the close distances that im even likely to draw at(lets think legal reasons) i think muscle memory through practice is more important. Its possible I'll have a change of heart but at this point it seems that iron sights are suitable.

Even though that study was small, it was pretty surprising.

Me personally, no. I tried it, but my eye sight is the reason why I choose not to mount optics on my pistols. Blacked out rear and fiber optic front site works for me.

Make no mistake, there’s a big training curve on them. I love mine now with 66 year old eyes

You can still stay target focused with irons. I shoot irons with both eyes open with focus on the target. Having a bright yellow Ameriglo front sight and blacked out rear makes this very easy

I've been involved with firearms for many, many years but I didn't get into the whole red dot thing until a little under a year ago. Well, as my eyes have aged my iron sight shooting has suffered a little bit. From the first dot I shot I was almost wondering how you could miss. I used a red dot and as long a distance as the dot could be seen, I was hitting everything as if it were 20 years ago but with quicker precise target acquisition. Also, it seems like there is a psychological boost for many newer shooters when they use a dot. Shooting with family members and friends that are new to firearms has shown me that many new shooters I know are getting much better groups on their targets and it has translated to much more confidence (not cockiness) while carrying.

This is BY FAR the best presentation on red dot optics on carry guns I have ever seen. You are spot-on. As I turned 72 last year, my progressive bifocals began obstructing my sight picture on my Sig P-365. For AZ LEOSA qualification, the course starts with 7 rds on a reduced silhouette at 25 yds, and I was having great difficulty getting more than 1 or 2 hits in the "center mass" ring. I had my choice, basically, of having a good sight picture on a completely blurred mass, or looking at a sharp target with completely blurred sights. I bought a Springfield XD target pistol and put a Holosun green dot optic with 2-MOA or Circle-Dot reticle on it, and the first time I fired it I fired a perfect score! I then acquired a Springfield Hellcat optics-ready pistol, and put a Swampfox Sentinel 3-MOA Red Dot on it. I was able to shoot it almost as well as the XD, but, like you talked about, had trouble many times finding the dot. I found I had to line up the original pistol sights (co-witnessed) THEN acquire and center the red dot. I didn't have this problem with the Holosun when using the Circle-Dot, as it pretty much popped up when I got it even approximately lined up. Acquiring a good sight picture was quick and easy, and although the Circle-Dot was a little blurry, if I centered it on the silhouette, I got consistent center-mass hits at all ranges. I am currently in the process of acquiring a Swampfox Kingslayer Green Circle-Dot sight to see if it gives me the faster sight acquisition that the Holosun does on my XD. You also brought up a very important point about target-focus. There is none of this front sight focus business; you look through the optic at the target. Those who teach front sight focus in gun fighting training are trying to overcome some 10,000 years of evolution where the caveman who focused on the tip of his spear instead of the charging sabertooth probably was less successful than one who focused on and threw at the target. For this reason I will also be adding a green laser to my Hellcat whenever Viridian comes out with a model to fit.

Definitely situational. In my mind concealed carry situations should usually mean short distance and quick shooting. Clearly not always.

Hell yes! Went RDS 6 months ago and have broke through barriers I knew I could reach!

Jedi’s class is where it’s at. I also like the increased feedback I get from a dot in dry fire ( and in live fire for that matter).

If you wear progressive bifocal glasses, then YES, you do need one of these. No more tilting your head up and down to acquire the front sight or the target.

I started carrying 3 years ago at 52 years young. I'll be 56 in a couple months and my eyes started getting "weaker" about 10 years ago. When I started carrying getting a good sight picture with iron sights was a huge challenge. I can't remember where or from who I first learned about red dots on pistols but, when I did I read and watched everything I could find that had anything to do with them. My understanding was an rds system would allow me to stay target focused without the challenges of lining up and focusing on the front sight/rear sight/target. I invested in a Glock gen5 G19 MOS FS and mounted a Holosun 507c with suppressor height sights. For me personally I've made massive gains in speed and accuracy. Learning to use/find the dot is a very steep learning curve for sure. The time invested in dryfire practice is more than worth it. After taking Scott's (Jedi's) red dot class twice I will never go back to iron(only) sights. I can perform better in every way with the red dot, and that's without glasses. I recently swapped the battery out of my Holosun and got it re-zeroed without any problems. I also now have a Glock gen5 G17 MOS FS with a Trijicon rmr and suppressor height sights. I am still amazed at how much easier it is for me to shoot with "weak" eyes. I understand there are cons to an rds system and a whole lot of people will continue to use iron sights and be better shooters than I ever could be but, for me the red dot is the sighting system I will be using for everything including my edc. Also wanted to give a massive shout out to Scott for being an amazing instructor and having a phenomenal class that would even benefit iron sight shooters. Everyone keep yourselves safe! 😎👍❤️🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 Randy

I’m 60 years old. Seeing iron sights is much harder for me now than it was 30 years ago. Most of my carry guns have red dots now. I’ve found that having suppressor height iron sights on my slide makes it easier for me to find the dot. For the folks who say red dots will fail, over the years I’ve also had iron sights fail. I had a Dawson rear sight blade break. I’ve had a rear sight on a Kahr pistol come loose and drift off center. I had a front sight on a Springfield Armory 1911 come loose and drift off center. I’ve had a Glock front sight fall off (my bad on that one - didn’t loctite it). My red dot guns have backup iron sights. Every time I carry I check the red dot before holstering. If it does fail, I’ve got the irons.

Dots are cool, but they aren't magic; you've still got to apply proper fundamentals.

Nice Beastie Boys reference at the end. Brought me right back to my senior year. 😀

No need for a red dot when you shoot “wild west pimp style”.

LOVE the Ad Rock quote when you signed off! Easily one of the best ever Beastie Boys lines 💯.

A few other things to consider; there's a good chance you may need a new holster for it to fit with an optic mounted. So be prepared to buy one of those if that's the case. Also, in bright sun, into a lightly colored & highly lit target (or red/green)- good luck finding that red-dot. I've switched to green, and it's overall a little easier, but in some cases is still impossible. Same goes for a laser & the two colors/brightness. Some optics will cover your iron sights, depending on their base height and type of optic / rear-iron sight. If you can't see the dot, and your iron sights are covered, then you are just winging it. Don't rely on what happens at the range, because lighting conditions there and black targets are not the same as being outside in the sun into a white, or red (green) target. Some of the optic choices have a rear iron sight built into it, like the 507k. The 507c does not.

Everything about this video makes me grateful that I found your channel. Thanks for your commitment to making us more knowledgeable about firearms.

This is awesome. Thank you. I recently put a DPP on my P10F. I was hesitant at first but I LOVE it. It is amazing.

Baker is always expert at breaking it down, with relative honesty.

My experience is to train target focused with iron sights. The gun and hands become a ghost image which makes it much easier to see the threat better. The front and rear sights become a dot when lined up correctly. This helps get rid of the tendency for iron sight shooters to want to look over there sights after their shots to see what happened to the target. A good analogy is using ghost ring sights like it common for rifles. Training the brain to look through the sights. Eye convergence and divergence training helps with this.

Thank you for the mention.

Thanks, Chris, for another honest, informative, and valuable stage setting presentation as we “freshman” to the world of RedDot optics begin to form our own opinions during the decision making process. One point that I can’t seem to get around, however, is the aesthetic of adding a visually and manually cumbersome product to a full or mid-sized pistol such as one of your favorites-the LSS Elite 9mm pistols, e.g., the Centurion model. Not only do you now have to deal with a fairly limited number of holster choices…and the added complexity of drawing the weapon quickly, but the famously appealing, sleek beauty of the Beretta disappears under the piggy-back addition of an optical “contraption,” however useful. In the end, at least with one of Ernest Langdon’s Elite pistols, it seems by adding you have in a sense taken away. As a novice in these dominions, perhaps I am mistaken and the Centurion wouldn’t be more difficult to draw quickly, there would be no increased snagging, the benefits to shooter accuracy would add far more than might be given up and, with ‘new eyes’, the Beretta 90 series would still remain a thing of beauty! What say ye?

Great information and an interesting topic. I am not at a point where I feel the need for one, but I know friends who swear by them after they spent significant time training. Personally, I have difficulty acquiring the dot, even on a rifle. I also wonder if real world application lends itself to an optic. I have seen a lot of self defense videos and often times the person doesn’t have the time to even get two hands on the gun, so I would imagine that acquiring the dot would be more challenging. I have also seen instructors suggest that even trying to line up your sights is a waste of time. They teach people how to shoot accurately without even using sights. Finally, I think that if you train with one and do your best to simulate real world scenarios, you can become proficient. So, if your eyesight is better served with an optic, then go for it.

I love the Rick Remington cameo!

Chris, The practice on the draw stroke to present the dot window directly to the same spot was a great tip and is KEY.

Thanks for posting this. Best explanation I have heard

sticking around for Chris' closing comments makes my day

Fantastic video Chris! I love this channel! I don't know why, but when it comes to red dots on pistols I turn into a 65 year old retiree. I have shot with red dots, I know they are fantastic optics that can really help someone acquire a sight picture incredibly quickly and efficiently. I also know that companies now are making red dots that are incredibly durable and well made, with a small footprint on the actual gun. I know all of these thing and yet....I can't bring myself to buy one. I completely understand why someone would want one, and how they are great, but for me I'll stick with my metal iron sights on my glocks, even if I can't properly explain why.

I had to shift to red dot/triangle sights when my Geezer Eyes caused issues when not in bright daylight. Transition took a couple of months of weekly training but this old dog learned the new trick. Mechanical presentation was the key to quick. Good video. Thank you.

Chris is one of the keenest minds with regards to the subject of firearms. Hats off to this brother.

I have bad close range sight myself. and having a red dot has, in practice helped me target acquire more efficiently. I cant go to the range as often as I want to but I do intend to hit it when I can. And honestly the issue I am finding is finding holsters that accommodate red dots over not fitting them.

Info I was looking for this very day. I wear progressive glasses and don´t see the front sight, have shot point shooting with success, but hear top teachers talk focusing on the front sight. I can forecast that in a lethal encounter my reptile brain can be counted on to be focused on the Bad Guy, his movements, his reaching etc. I can see how a red dot will deal with all these topics.

Chris Baker makes each presentation professional, personable, and serious as a heart attack... no one is better!

Thanks for the nice video. Handgun optic sights are truly great. I standardized on the Holoson 507c-x2. In my opinion, the 32 MOA circle with the 2 MOA dot makes target acquisition easier than a small single dot. You can also select a single 2 MOA dot as well. I sold my Vortex Venom RDO after shooting with Holoson. I have astigmatism and some far sightedness. I can shoot my handguns with optics without my glasses easily and accurately. I struggle to do that with my iron sights even though I have fiber optic fronts. I shoot irons well with my glasses. However, on gray days with dim light, the optic sight is hands down the winner. In my opinion one complication with the red dot sightsis the dot intensity setting. Lighting conditions can change and you may bring your gun up with a dot that is too dim, not visible or overly bright. Some RDOs have automatic brightness but that only measures ambient light not target brightness; there can be a huge difference so I do not use auto brightness. So, you have to be adapt at changing your dot intensity if required or switching to the co-witness backups. I have two carry guns. An M&P 2.0 Compact with a Holoson 507c-x2 and a M&P 9mm EZ with Wilson combat iron sights. My M&P Compact has an Apex trigger. My favorite gun to shoot with an RDO is my Beretta 92 with a Langdon RDO slide and the Holoson 507c-x2. Of course it has a custom trigger too.

I generally recommend green dots over red dots. Human eye picks up green easier than any other color, green dots are easier to see in direct sunlight, and green dots are easier to use for people with astigmatism (turn the brightness on a green down and cowitness it with BUIS).

Great info and well presented! Personally, I’m a BIG fan of Lasermax internal (guide rod) lasers for my carry pistols. No special holsters needed, no extra snagging protrusions and inherently incredibly accurate due to the closest possible proximity to the bore axis of the pistol…..oh, and no sighting-in necessary for the same reason! Plus I can also run tritium fiber optic irons as a guaranteed day/night backup!

Great stuff, Chris. Thanks for posting!

I always appreciate the honest, no macho and concise approach that your website employs. Well done and this is a great episode to start the logical thinking about whether or not to dip one's toe into the red dot pool. Good job, thanks!

A red dot would look great on my 38 snub nose revolver.

Holosun 507C with the ACSS reticle makes finding the dot when presenting laughably easy. I highly recommend everyone pick one up and see the difference. Mike of Mrgunsandgear has a very accurate review on how revolutionary the ACSS reticle is to the red dot industry.

Informative video, thanks.

Nice detailed explanation as always. Thanks

One thing that helps finding the dot is using the HS507C-X2 with the ACSS Vulcan reticle, it can help prompt you the right way when you are off target and can't find your dot.

The best guntuber around. Especially now that we know he's intercontinental.

Very good review. I have been shooting pistols with red dots for several years and am completely sold on them.

Excellent. To the point. Humble. Uses science. No wonder I subscribed to this page so long ago.

Went RMR last year and never looked back.

For now I am perfectly fine with my iron sights.

Great Video. I've been on the fence about a re dot, and this gave me some helpful info to help me decide. Thanks

After 45 I switched to an rmr and Holosun on my edc carry guns and it worked for me. No need for prescription bi focal eye pro. I folded my optic care into my maintenance schedule so replacing a weak battery was as routine swabbing the bore and slide lubrication. I really find it weird that the same guys who think having a rifle optic is mandatory also think a pistol optic is unreliable or a frivolous luxury.

For all of human history, we've been dispatching bad guys by focusing on the threat. Then, we put these small nubs on our handguns and all of a sudden all of that has to change. Now, we have a technology that allows us to shoot and compliments the way our body works, and it feels weird because we've put so much time and energy into the inferior system. But, red dots are the future and the future is now.

I recently started using red dots, the most recent is a Sig P365 xl with the Romeo 0. The best way for me is to remember to keep the muzzle more upward on the draw.I'm of the opinion that the Holosun 507c,which has a 32moa circle with a 3moa dot works better for initial sight acquisition. Making a raggedy hole at 15yrds is fairly easy after a few hundred rds down range. It's definitely worth it to me!

This guys videos are terrific, clear and concise.

Well thought out video.

Do you need one? No! But do you want one? HELL YEAH!

Why does this guy look like he's going to start remodeling my house?

Very good basic discussion for those of us who have not gotten into the handgun red dot world yet. Thank You.

I've never had much luck with reflex sights. The tube red dots work great for me. Ended up going with lasers for my M9A3s. TLR-8AG for my house gun and a CMR-206 for the field gun.

Some things that keep me from switching are that a piece of lint in just the wrong spot will obscure the laser that's projecting the dot so you'd have no dot to see, any debris that gets onto the lens of the dot can completely obscure both the dot and your iron sights making the gun impossible to aim beyond point-shooting, and potential issues of the glass of the dot sight becoming obscured from moister either via condensation or via rain.

Sounds like a hassle. I guess I’ll stick with iron sights. Great video.

I've only been shooting red dots for 18 months. For me it's been a big help. My vision is such that without corrective lenses I can see my front sight like a Christmas tree, but the target is fuzzy. With corrective lenses this is reversed. Red dots have completely fixed this for me. In addition the ability to target focus really can't be overstated. I'll add I have a fairly strong astigmatism and even with that I still find the dot beneficial. I've been doing training courses for around 11 years. The use of pistol mounted optics in the last few years has exploded. I recently took a 2 day course with Kyle Lamb and out of 15 students I think 12 or so were using optics. There are dedicated optics courses to help people make the transition. As Chris said a lot of it is having a solid presentation with the pistol, and this pays dividends in your general shooting ability as well. Lastly, I've taken dedicated multiple courses dedicated to pistol optics. This is an excellent 12 min video on the subject.

Great coverage of a topic as usual.

Need? No, absolutely not. Can it be faster than irons? Yes. Are they durable enough for daily carry now? Yes. Do I want one? Yes. Will I buy one? No. Simple cost/benefit analysis due to my needs.

I have dots on all my firearms except revolvers and on micro pocket gun. I think red dots are great.

Good info as usual Chris

Excellent coverage

I love them, but you don't NEED them in self defense unless you're trying to snipe an active shooter from a distance without missing. You can point shoot center mass within 15ft.

My red dot on a handgun is actually a laser. My vision isn't perfect, but the dot from a red laser is beyond easy to see. A person doesn't need to have excellent sighting ability, just good trigger control, and a dialed in laser, and they can shoot extremely accurately.

I just got into using a red dot a month ago. I'm using the Canik TP9 Elite SC with a Sig Romeo Zero. It's definitely taken some getting use to and finding a holster was a pain. I have been seeing improvements on time runs though so I think it's been worth it.

great job explaining, nice video.

I think they do provide an advantage but I think they require quite a bit of extra training to really utilize. I'm used to iron sights but decided to get an RMR put on my 229. Granted I don't practice with it a ton (it's not a carry gun or anything) but it's taking me quite a while to get used to it, locating the dot in particular. Especially under stress, I'd be fuct at this point.

I want my carry piece to be as comfortable, compact and inconspicuous as possible, adding lasers, sights and lights makes it less of those three criteria in all aspects and increases the likelihood it gets left at home.

Honest review ! Enjoy the point of view and self- criticism in your own skills. That is a rare trait on KZfaq gun channels. Semper Fi

Thnxs 4 posting

My issue is that red dot sights make concealment harder for me. I need that pretty hard cant to conceal the grip well…but a red dot forces a less cant because it gets caught on the red dot

One of the better explanations of pistol red dots. Do I have one? yes. Do I carry it? No, just too slow compared to a big front sight.

Great Video Thank You

Great ideo. Well done and to the point.

Great breakdown. I would like to see more comparisons of red dots vs. laser sights. Lasers allow you to be target focused moreso than red dots imho. Additionally they give you the ability to target without using a traditional stance. The obvious downside to laser sights... bright daylight, but regardless of sunlight it is very easy to see a laser indoors. Lasers are bulky like red dots, but they are more out of the way than red dots.

Regarding finding the red dot, check out the Vulcan by Primary Arms

As always an intelligent, focused, concise and fact based video .

I have the p365xl with the Romeo1 and I can tell you it's fantastic because sight acquisition is quick and I only have to put the dot on the target with both eyes open andlooking at the target. Accuracy has improved as well.

When are we getting a Manny's guide to pancakes

Red dots are good, but no, really not necessary on a carry handgun

Props for that last comment. I was not expecting that, you got a literal 'lol'.

Thanks for the informative video.

Chris started this segment with the "I'm not an expert" disclaimer. This isn't the first time he's said it, nor is this the first channel I've heard use it. I'd really like to see Chris do a video on a topic that he considers himself to be a subject matter expert on. I want to see him talk about something he's super knowledgeable and excited about.

I got my first mrds my old Glock 9 months ago. I payed more for the sight and milling than I did for the gen5 19. Every handgun I carry or rely on for defence now has a red dot lol. It is the way of the future. I've worked on my presentation relentlessly to get the sight picture. Thousands and THOUSANDS of draws to make sure I'll see a dot. I've killed groundhogs at 25-30 yards with an rds and hit them in the front shoulders or neck. I couldn't have done that with irons. Consistently anyway. We can't pick the defensive encounter we hopefully never get in. It could be 1 foot or 50 yards and we have to close on it to save others. A mrds gives me confidence to take longer shots and get good hits

I love what John from ASP said, every gun fight is an open division but you gotta run what you brought.

Great video. Thanks

So now I wonder how sometimes you never know Who be rockin y'all in stereo in sterereo (in sterereo) (in sterereo!)

Yes you need it to be cool

Chris, thank you for explaining whatever firearm topic you teach about so well. You are gifted. I have learned so much from you. May I call you the "professor"?

As usual, great objective content.

Personally I’d decided to add a red dot 🔴. As my eyes age the front sight is blurry without readers. 🤓 it’s sad getting older. My Steyr’s triangular front sight is far easier to see, especially since painting it bright orange, but found a CZP10S with factory cosmetic flaw ( so minor nick on sight) for a fair price during this Plandemic, so I’d thrown a Holosun on it and I love it!!! Excellent sight and with practice it’s crazy quick and visible for me.

Im talking banging an 8in plate easily at 100 yards with a 3.9 in barrel they are wonderful I'm converting all my pistols to rds

Excellent B roll footage!

The dovetail/adapter method for mounting red dots is actually pretty good. Conversely, if one browses some forums, folks will find many companies offering milling, but botching the job (sloppy, excessively large cuts, crooked cuts, etc). Great stuff, as always!