Wearing glasses and being nearsighted the red dot is a game changer for me. Can I shoot with irons? Yes, up to a point. While it’s still good it’s not better. Good is the enemy of better. That is why you have to continually work at getting better.
Right with you brother. Just ordered some fiber optic sights because the irons are just too fuzzy anymore. Was fooling myself in that I was just out of practice...no buddy, you're getting old.
Got so if not outdoors in perfect light that I could not see the sights well enough. An outdoor class in the drizzle and an indoor class in not so great lighting pushed me to a dot. At what might be 'typical' personal defense distances the dot isn't needed, but if I need a more precise shot or longer distances, then it's critical for me.
I’ve seen many first timers pick up a gun and make hits. It’s really not difficult. It’s the weapon manipulations, the movement, the difference between cover and concealment. Any fool can pick up a drill and drill holes. Apply some thought.
Wow you know most gun owners! You’re a popular guy! Good for you! I find it’s the guys running their mouth online quoting ASP that can’t shoot! But I can’t help but wonder why the top pistol shooters in the world all have dots on their guns? It’s almost like when you need to shoot multiple targets fast theirs an advantage to it!😂😂😂😂
I never dry fired. But I started on .22LR bolt action and shot thousands of rounds with it before moving up to larger centerfire rifles and handguns. Plinking with a bolt action .22 and iron sights is what helped me grow as a shooter and eventually qualify “Expert” on every rifle and pistol I ever shot in the military. Repetitive sight picture, proper trigger squeeze, and breathing control are the keys to shooting well.
@@peterdarlington4117And the top competitive shooters aren’t betting their lives on a functioning red-dot. For police and military, they try not to be in a fight without backup. With a squad of troops or a few officers searching a building, you have other partners or squad members to cover you in the event of a malfunction. For a single defensive shooter, iron sights may not have quite as fast of a target acquisition, but they rarely malfunction or quit working.
The issue with hitting 100y targets with pistol irons is that the front sight completely obscures the target. Especially since you need to aim a bit high. The red dot on my pistol allows me to actually see the target and where I'm aiming. I can consistently hit at 100y with or without a red dot on my pistol. The red dot DOES make it easier because I can see my POA.
Depends on the pistol I guess. My desert eagle, I think all desert eagles if I'm not mistaken are 100 yrd zero. My p210 is point of aim at 100. Ruger Blackhawk same. Same for my Beretta but I'm not sure it hasn't been modified. My Glock I have to hold high almost obscure the target. My p229 has such huge sights that I've never even bothered to try. I know it would cover the target for sure because it nearly covers at 50 and it shoots low as is. Now if I had a red dot on the 229 I bet it would be useable at 100 or more. Red dots have their place just people think it's more helpful than it is.
That guitar analogy is junk. It doesn't take a year or more to learn to shoot pistol well. To get paid to play a guitar aint happening in a year. Of course a well trained shooter can hit with irons.
Red dot is not required to shoot very accurately as was impressively shown, but it is objectively easier to see target, especially with eye issues. A point for fundamentals I've noticed is a red dot shows you visually how much your sight picture moves if you are not focused on grip and trigger control. with irons these movements are much harder to notice, where as with a red dot its like the sensitivity is turned up 100 percent
Forsure, red dots are better training tools for new shooters than irons and is easier to explain things when teaching. Especially because half the population grew up with video games imo.
Thank you for all that you do- and especially for reminding people that its not the equipment that matters, its the FUN-da-MENTALs! Mental practice and physical training can't be beat. Fortitude. Determination. Resolve. Amen.
Depending on how much extra 💰 you have, check out cylee red dots, cost a little over 100 ish, depending on sales and footprint you use, I was the same everyone running holosuns.
@notlisted-cl5ls I'm okay. I mostly run revolvers and can get pretty consistent shots between 20-30 yards. I always have to be low and to the right, it seems though.
Red dots don't buy fundamentals. That being said, I carry a dot on duty for one reason. Target focused shooting. Being target focused instead of front sight focused is the primary benefit of a red dot.
Optics of any kind do not buy fundamentals. I was a weapons instructor in the Marine Corps before we went to ACOGs. There something being lost by people training less and less with fixed (or flip up) sights versus LPVOs, MPVOs, red dots and holographic sights, or prisms on hand guns and rifles.
We can run irons and still be target focused. In fact, we should almost always be target focused regardless of sighting system. Dots and irons are equally EFFECTIVE, but dots are more EFFICIENT because the shooter only has to manage 2 focal plans instead of 3. Nevertheless, the target should be our focused focal plane.
I’ve been thinking about this dynamic shooting lately. I’ve decided that I need to do competitive shooting. Not because I think I can compete, but it’s shooting in a dynamic setting. Great stuff to think about.
Do it! It’s the best decision I have ever made. After a while you will realize that the self defense world wants to keep you in a bubble and not push your limitations.
Accurate 50-yard shots demonstrate disciplined application of the fundamentals. I’m not opposed to red dots, but irons do not suffer as much from user neglect. Accuracy, however, suffers from user neglect regardless of distance. If I was still a LE instructor for an entity that issued red dots on pistols, I would likely have shooters coming up and asking for batteries at the range - and the thing had been dead a week after the last quarterly training session. I saw a fair amount of that with red dots and WMLs on carbines. Reed is giving advice worth heeding.
YES, a old acquaintance of mine who is a USMC vet and competed on their pistol teams. 1911, he said he didnt really AIM the pistol as mush as point it. AFTER so much practice, competition muscle memory takes over... but this is a great video... thanks Mr Henrichs... much truth here. every bullet has a attorney attached.
Got 'The American Rifleman', 'Pistolcraft', And 'The Well Regulated'. Plan on digesting them slowly and applying them to real practice. Also picked up 'C.S.A.T.' by Paul Howe. Found out about Paul because of you Mr. Henrichs. I am a greenhorn if you will to shooting/firearms. But I wasted time and money before on a lot of 'Tacticool Snake oil'. Mr. Henrichs thank you so much for what you do. I believe you and Paul Howe are the firearms/shooting defense training voices of wisdom and knowledge in these times.
The same guys I see that say irons obscure the target will run a dot on the max brightness to "see it faster" and it just turns the target into a red blob.
I carry the CZ P07 and recently put a set of Night Fision sights on it and vastly improved my accuracy. The front sight for day is yellow and for me it catches my eye quicker. I also dry fire practice every evening. I shoot from 25 yards to 3 yards regularly. At 56 my eyes were struggling with the factory sights.
100yds with a G19 using iron sights is definitely doable on a torso sized target. There's no problem with using optics as long as you have backup irons. Unfortunately this time of year the humidity fogs em out so it's a good opportunity to remove the aimpoint from my rifle and stick with irons on my handgun.
Great stuff as always, I'm really on the fence. I love red dots, but I train with irons regularly also and at 50 yards and in, which are the only distances I train at with pistols, I just don't see a big difference, and quite frankly I'm staying target focused with the irons just like I do with the red dot.
Now let me start by saying that yes, you need a solid foundation in order to make any hits with any weapon, gear won’t magically make you an action hero, you need a solid foundation to do anything. I do want to point out that this does have the same energy as people stating that “revolvers are just as good and if you can’t get it done in 6 then you can’t get it done at all” when autos made their way onto the scene and had, without a doubt a profound advantage over a revolver. Red Dots, yes even on pistols, have a profound advantage over irons, for the same reason the red dot on rifles over took the irons. Again I can’t state this enough, just because you buy something, doesn’t make you better, you need to put in the work, but this video seems to miss the forest through the tree. Much respect to you, I hope you continue helping the community overall become better and more capable.
You made an excellent statement with "Don't be a buyer. Be a producer.". That's sound wisdom! 👍 I've been shooting for over 65 years. Cataract surgery in both eyes a couple of years ago gave me fantastic vision at a distance, but 2 ft in front of me is a blur. I couldn't use dot sights or scopes even if I wanted to. Every weapon I own has iron sights. And when my neighbors and I get together to shoot, I consistently outshoot them all. Even those with scopes and dots. Where they're depending upon technology in hopes of achieving something they lack, I'm using the skills I've developed from years of solid experience using the fundamentals. Yes, they're trying to buy their skills, whereas I'm producing mine.
i’ve been practicing for years shooting between two telephone poles, roughly 120 feet apart typically. Practicing my normal drawl stroke from holster, I can get every shot in the center of a standard paper plate.. I believe being able to make shots at distance can be extremely beneficial in certain situations. and not only that in certain situations whether it be an active shooter or something other ,if somebody has a rifle, you don’t want to get within handgun range typically
About 7 years ago i was at the range runnin my AK with open irons and the guy next to me had an AR15 with every bell and whistle. His AR was either brand new or he didnt shoot it a lot. He tried giving me a hard time for some reason and we shot at 100yrds. I out shot him. Moved back to 200 yrds. I out shot him. And again at 300 yrds. Afterwards he said "what did you do to that AK?" I said "I practiced. Ive been shooting this same gun for 20 years. I know what its gonna do." And he just couldnt believe it. I told him "spend time with your rifle, get to know it and know it well. You cant substitute practice." And he seemed like he genuinely took that into consideration. I hope he did.
I've never found anything that shows how many hits he got, enough of course, but I've always been curious. I've also read the shots that actually hit the shooter happened when he closed the distance. Once again, I can't seem to find anything official, just news reports.
@@gator7082 yea. I heard more about the Dickens drills. They set some up at my local range. I think we had to hit 7 out of 10 to pass so that’d be my guess
The Dickens's range should be a standard now but really anything beyond is questionable even on the best of days, especially in a real situation where we got innocents running around and the target is potentially shooting back at you while moving around.
I understand that Dickens hit eight out of ten shots. Purportedly missed twice at the approximate 40-yard range but at least one of the ones that connected hit vitals. Then again, it may be hard to tell. I think the real Dickens drill should start at 40 using cover and support with four rounds, rapidly move thru clutter to the 25 and fire four, then to the 10 and fire two. Do this is 15 seconds. FWIW, I ran the scenario with my former band of old broke down retirees trying to work as investigators. Accuracy, which wasn’t anything to write home about to begin with and dismissed further as times got faster.
He also did it with those “crappy” stock Glock factory sights that everyone says has to get replaced so when everyone tries to emulate it with their Red Dots try it with stock sights and make it a real comparison!
Thank you for the reality check. Some people need to be reminded of these things. I honestly prefer my iron sights for anything in realistic defensive ranges, It also slims the profile of my g19.
For the longest time I had two pistols, a Ruger Mk2 with heavy taper, target sighted barrel, and a Ruger Blackhawk in .44 magnum with 10" barrel. The .22 taught me sight picture and trigger control and the Blackhawk added flinch control. Now I can shoot most pistols well.
When I was going through the Oklahoma Bridge program several officers had brand new Glocks with optics that kept having failures. My M&P never skipped a beat. The folds with Glocks and Sigs without optics pretty much Ean flawless.
Thank you Reid! Over the years between your excellent content, excellent pistol and rifle books and the 3 classes I've taken since 2017, pistol 1 and 2, and rifle 1, you given me the tools to suck less! 👍
I bought the P365X. It came with a cheap red dot. I pulled it out to dump the ammo on a sunny day at my range. I experienced every problem with a red dot at once. Sand in projecter, brightness setting too low, scratches on screen. The arguable precision increase is not worth all that hassle. Tbf, it was a cheap red dot.
I have a farsighted issue so without readers I can’t make out the rear sight picture anymore. But with the readers on I don’t see far objects well. Having a red dot has helped this a ton. Now for the stigma I have seems to be worse at night and when tired. Which is normally a minus sign at a 45 deg. Angle that I can work through with training. So yes when I was your age Reed Hendricks I didn’t need a red dot sight now that I have aged it’s a game changer for me. But like someone else said just adding a red dot doesn’t make you a great shooter. I would say it helps I have seen the proof in department qualification scores of those that currently have them.
Good points, brother. But I'd like to make sure people don't twist the context of this message. Reid is not saying red dot suck, stick with irons *boomer noises*. He's saying that you need to have fundamentals to hit anything. Expert use of a gun is not point shoot and hope your bullets hit your intended target in the general direction of your aim. You apply the same fundamentals to red dots as you would with iron sights. Red dots on a pistol work different from irons and need to reapply your fundamentals slightly differently to work but it's still the same thing.
One of my reservations about red dots was long range shooting. I grew up reading Elmer Keith's stuff and I got pretty good at elevating the front sight. But red dots still work at long range, yea just gotta know your gun and loads.
I stayed with iron sights as long as I possibly could but, after cataract surgery then detached retinas in both eyes I either had to go with an optic or stop shooting pistols. For ME it was the only option I had . I dry fire one hundred "rounds " every night so now, when I bring the gun up the dot is exactly where it's supposed to be. Having said this, if I could, I would go back to irons immediately .
An accurate 9mm with a 3-4" bbl can hit 1' circles at 100m reliably. Movement and cover make it harder. At 250 yards, you have suppressive fire in a 3' cone of fire if you aim 4-6' high.
Liquidating my box of shame thats filled with all the "force multipliers" that lacked a foundation to stand on. Going to put that money into more ammo and training. Glad I found ya! Switching from consumer to producer. I've done the same thing with guitars and Pedals. Great analogy, Jeff Cooper!
I got a pistol red dot for my carry pistol for the first time this year. So far I only have about 3-400 rounds on it, and I'm still slower with the red dot than I am with irons, at least acquiring the dot, but I am more precise with the red dot, even at close ranges I find it more precise.
Reid, Great video and great job! I'm one of the ones that don't like red dots. I've had several of them and I always go back to my irons. I can shoot ten times better with iron sights. I've always wanted to come to one of your classes, but I'm too old and I don't think I could keep up with all the running and getting on the ground and stuff like that. Anyway good job.....
Shot years and years without a RDS on my pistol. Taught tons of students with irons over the years as an instructor. Competed in USPSA for years in limited division with iron sights. That being said, after being mandated to switch to a RDS on the Glock, I feel in love. As good as I am with iron sights, I’m better with a red dot. I think you should definitely learn the fundamentals on irons first but I believe RDS on handguns are the future. I believe this is especially true when it comes to threat focused combat shooting. Yes you can shoot irons both eyes open, but it’s much easier with two focal planes with a RDS as opposed to three with irons. Either way great video and interesting conversation. Also great shooting!
Great vid as always. This said, I don’t use a dot to be more accurate. I was sold on dots after I took a competitive shooting class and literally cut my time in half with my instructor’s Walther with Red Rot vs my Glock 19 Gen 5 with iron sights. Nowadays, I have a Hellcat Pro with Holosun Green Dot on it and initially found dot (not to be confused with target) acquisition to be challenging unless I lined up my front and rear sights anyhow (lol) due to small glass to go with my small firearm so… I dry fire regularly to practice proper grip when unholstering, trigger pull and both dot and target acquisition as well as mag changes.
Man, lots of people are missing the point of the video. Fundamentals and simplicity in equipment is king. Biggest issue I see with mass adoption of red dots on pistols is Maintaining the optic. How many regular people or even LEO are checking their brightness levels throughout the day, witness marking the screws, loctiting and torquing the screw down, etc. There is a higher level of learning to the dots on handguns especially for EDC and LEO types who are not into the gun stuff heavily.
I’m with you on iron sights. I’m 51, joined the Marine Corp in 1991 and got out in 1999. Barring catastrophic failure, iron sights are more reliable. I have a different opinion on distance shooting though. Semper Fi Reid
I see dots as high vis, adjustable, night sights. That's all. Same reason to put a red dot on a rifle. It just makes it a little bit easier. It's not a need to have, but a nice to have.
I agree with everything you said. It is also important to remember, when someone is shooting back, you will get tunnel vision and you will be shaking. You need to learn how to stay calm so you can make shots with a pistol, and I don't care what kind of sights you have.
Thanks for the info. I've been a firearm owner for around 8 yrs. I admit I suck as a pistol shooter. This has been a learn as I go. My pistol is on my person along with my wallet, phone and car and house keys. Carry to spare mags, knife and flashlight. I don't put in enough training. I want to put shots with the factory pistol sights. Having red dots gets expensive. Call me old school but I need to rely on the old methods of shooting, which have proven good. Appreciate the content of your videos.
Best thing I’ve found for the smallest of arms is Haley Strategic has a set of Glock iron sights that are meant to work when your heart rate spikes and you get tunnel vision and/or when you can function normally. And this might be the case with a red dot optic, I’m not here to say. Being able to function through the different coopers color codes is likely advantageous at any range. Please people, please read “Left of Bang” and apply what you learn. 🎶Meet me down by the railroad track, track. 🎶
I've been a watcher/subscriber for years and the black bell is lit. I'm a US Airforce vet., munitions systems specialist and small arms expert who grew up hunting for food with my dad since I was old enough to keep up (maybe 6) and it was he, a US Navy, WWII vet, Aleutian Islands theater against the Japanese (and was lost at sea for 3 mos. &pronounced dead) who tought me to shoot and i scored expert in basic training. I'm no kid (we'll say "over 50") and have much real world, first hand experience in the handling of weapons in peacetime and action. I say all this so that you understand the meaning behind my expressions of gratitude for what you do, the message that you put out and the valid, down to earth, no bs and obviously experience based information you give on all of the topics you broach. Thanks very much from an old war horse, maybe I can work my way from Atlanta up to your facility. It's not *that* far. 😊 That said, i remember the first time i stood on a stage and got paid to play instruments that id practiced for years and that's a great analogy. You buy the instrument, you learn the basics of the instrument and practice til your fingers bleed and build calluses. Then you become proficient enough to play with someone else, then to learn new things within that group/discipline and finally, you're ready to play a paying gig. Same with proficiency with firearms and, especially pistols. And I'm pretty good with both. 😉 (Red dots on pistols...) Red dots can make life easier but like anything and especially if you haven't mastered the tool/instrument before you start "adding things," it rapidly becomes a crutch and one that's really hard to shed. Learn the weapon and how to use it to its full potential *before* you start taking shortcuts. Theres always exceptions, such as someone with vision issues but, for the average shooter, learn the tool/instrument/weapon... Then start adding capos, "whammy bars" and red dots. 😊 "Bullets go where you point them, *learn to point!"* 😊
Who’s saying “just put something on your gun and you’ll be a good shot”? I’ve never seen anyone say that. I’m 56 and been shooting all my life. I shoot over 10k rounds a year. I grew up, as everyone else, on irons but dots are definitely easier for me. I have no idea why you wouldn’t use the easiest most effective method for you. Maybe we should all be using revolvers, it works for Jerry Miculek.
I have found that the red dot on a pistol is a pretty good training tool. The dot illustrates flaws in your shooting, I have actually gotten better with irons after using a dot for a while.
Same. It really helped me learn a consistent draw and presentation. I thought I had that but once I got a dot I realized how often I "couldn't find the dot" lol. Also helped me fine tune and see my smaller my mistakes and let me work on those issues. Plus with my bad eyes it helps a ton. Reid is correct on fundamentals, but I am still taking a dot on my handgun.
The key you said good sire, carrying for a decade or so. Dots are faster. Fundamentals are still Fundamentals, however, if you can make the training curve faster than why not.
“It’s like being a guitar player who wants to get paid for his work.” That’s an excellent analogy! It’s my opinion that if you can’t hit a man size target at 50 yards on the range there’s no reason to put one on your kit.
I have two glocks, a 17 and a 34. The 34 has a dot, (rmr) and the 17 does not. It has ameriglo trooper sights. It is harder for me to make hits on a 12" plate at 80yds. with the RMR. Yes- I can hold low at 6 o' clock with either and hit, BUT- BUT at those intermediate distances my irons are easier. It's all about the training and practice, both are good but 100% I agree it is the Indian NOT the arrow. Time on the gun = perfection. If you are practicing good habits. Thank's as always for a reality check......I totally agree with you Sir. Good stuff as always.
Ben Stoeger is a shooting game changer. Irons or red dot, can shoot faster at 25&50 and maintain acceptable hits when most handgunners cant even shoot at 20 yards slowfire
In this day and age, especially for us urban dwellers, finding a gun range that will allow you to train properly is next to impossible. The indoor pistol ranges have a plethora of very restrictive rules. rules. No rapid fire, no drawing and fire, and many more. In one place here in Houston, they refused to let me pick up my spent brass, stating that it was their "policy." I guess they sell it. Anything to make a buck. This is after I spent $200.00 on a yearly membership fee ($15.00 an hour after that for each session). I did not say anything and since I have paid up, I will use the range for the next 8 months but will not renew. The outdoor range that does allow you to train (pistol and rifle) is exactly 53 miles from my place. This is an impossible situation. Sadly, most of these ranges are just businesses and could care less for the 2nd Amendment or gun ownership. They would go into another business if they could make more money. I have not shot my AR in years because of this. If anything will affect gun ownership and training, it is time and economics. Here in Houston all the criminals are now armed with extended mag Glocks, ARs and AK-47s. Gone are the Raven Arms, Jimenez Arms, and other cheap firearms with these folks. Some a felons but a lot are first timers with no criminal history so they get their guns legally. Do not get into a road rage incident. There is no training needed to shoot the person in a car next to you or a few feet away. And since the system does not punish them, it goes on. There is a lot of unspoken tension here.
It's more than that. Red dot sights make shooting precisely easier, and shooting small targets at speed much easier. They also require more training to get off a well-aimed shot from the holster at 3 to 7 yards, which is probably more important to most people who need a pistol for defense. Most people don't train with any regularity.
I think the key term is "need". You do not need a red dot. It is a huge assist though. But pistol fundamentals are key. A tricked out Staccato with a dot won't make up the gap between you and Bob Vogel (who uses irons). That said, I have no issues with someone having a red dot. I even recommend it. Addition of a dot does not delete your irons, they are still there. The same fundamentals it takes to hit with a dot, also hits with Irons.
Not trying to be super argumentative, but all you proved in this video is that you can do all of this stuff with irons. Nobody who uses a red dot (to my knowledge, anyway) ever said you couldn't do what you did with irons. All any of of us have ever said is that once you get past the learning curve with an optic (and there is one), it becomes faster and easier to do it with an optic. It also doesn't hurt that there is science behind why an optic works as well as it does. There are tons of advantages to them, and tons of videos out there showing and proving what those advantages are and that they do exist .
And there's tons of disadvantages to red dots on a pistol that the red dot guys never ever talk about. Glass fogging, optics falling off, battery failure, emitter getting full of lint, added snag point, and absurd cost all come to mind.
@@jellyfrosh9102 So guys who don’t know basic maintenance and what anti-fog and Loctite are for are a good reason to not use them? As far as cost goes, you can get a very usable optic for $350 or less if you catch a sale. You may get to $400-$500 for a higher end RMR. That’s not exactly “absurd”.
I like red dots, not a hater at all, but do you ever notice all of those videos are generally shot out west in arid climates and not in North Carolina during a rain shower?
@@calebshipley4448 my RMR failed during a shooting. It also failed weeks later at the range when a mounting screw broke. During my last RDS instructor class 3/5 sights had failures.
I think dots help with transition between targets and seem to allow a lot of shooters to “target focus” easier. They definitely do not make the pistol more mechanically accurate
I’ve been shooting for 40 years and I don’t own a red dot. I’ve tried them out on the range but just prefer the irons because it’s what I know. To each their own.
Plus in the summer here in Arizona we have sometimes Red Flag conditions were it’s dry windy and low humidity and we can’t shoot outside because of wildfires
I rented the PDP the other day at the range to try it out and it came with a dot. Hated the dot. Same accuracy. I found it really annoying, though, to look for the dot, rather then the iron sights. Add on top of that numerous possibilities for malfunctions - electronics failure, mud on the glass, broken glass. And given that realistic engagement distances basically make the handgun a hand-to-hand combat weapon... Nop, not doing dots. Glad I tried before buying one. On rifles, though, 24/7/365 😁 Love holo sights on rifles too.
@@jiveturkey2875 I appreciate the advice. I'll give it a shot (no pun intended) next time I end up with a dot on a rental. I think I have my comfort zone with the irons, regardless.
I’ve got great fundamentals, sight picture, trigger discipline, and mental capacity, but because that’s only on a flat range, I don’t even bother carrying a gun because it won’t be relative should I encounter a defensive situation where a pistol is needed.
Ok I agree completely about having fundamentals first and foremost, but no-one is saying you NEED a red dot but rather there are advantages and outweigh the cons. I have bad eyes and frankly the dot HELPS ME at shooting faster and more accurately. Can I do it with irons? Yes, but I prefer a dot all day. Also a dot helped me improve very quickly as it let me see where I was making mistakes, shakiness, trigger pulls, etc. End of the day I agree with Reid here, that people should train fundamentals, but I am not going to pretend accessories can't give you an advantage. Good stuff Reid.
It’s going to be interesting if Reid addresses target fixation and how humans are programmed to focus on the threat and not on a front sight during a deadly force encounter. After much training on dots I’ve grown to trust them and I do believe they are better than irons. However I also believe iron sights will always have a place in the firearm industry.
@Reid Not sure if you mentioned or not…. I only heard you say “iron sights” multiple times… are you using XS big dot sights on this particular gun? Or, what iron sights were used in this video? I’ve been using XS big dots since James first mentioned them back in the day, and I have no problems at all making shots like this (my friends are always in shock when we go out shooting!), but I do dry practice at least 5-6 days per week as well
There's no such thing as an optic plate for my primary carry gun. A talented gunsmith could probably do some custom wizardry to adapt it which would cost as much as a quality dot. But my wife is hard of sight "slowly going blind" so I'm getting a dot set up for her to be able to hit a target at say 10 yards and in. Right now for her irons are useless, she can only point shoot. Which works close in "danger close" so for me I prefer irons, they're all I need but for her a dot is the difference of an aimed shot or just best pointed shot. In her case a dot can be very useful but most of us would be better off spending the money on training or ammo for training. Great video, thank you.
Yeah, I think the future is now I’m not saying irons are useless, but there’s nothing wrong with acknowledging advantages when they become event available and using them
@@mrRoverkane degenerative eyesight is a diet and lifestyle issue, which can be ameliorated; nonetheless is not problematic enough to avoid a red dot. Even starbursts are more precise than 10-20moa front sights.
Red dots are king. Very good training tool as you can see which way you pull, how hard, and anticipations you may have that you didnt notice. Red dot technology has made leaps and bounds and is now the better standard for pistols than irons. Just like rifles, yeah irons are good for backups and to know how to do, but red dots, scopes, and magnifiers have had great quality now compared to even 10 years ago. Now I agree on the roles of piatols and rifles, but extending the capability of both is paramount.
25 year LEO. FI (retired 01/23. To date, I’ve not yet shot a dot on a pistol. Yes, they intrigue me, but still haven’t shot one! I’ll continue to believe that if a person truly masters the basics (of any skill/discipline/art) they will be unstoppable! Great vid Sir! As always, Stay Safe & God Bless! 💥💪🙏 🇺🇸
The way I see it is this. If you can consistently ring steel at 50 yards with irons, then spending the money including ammo and training and time to learn to proficiency, on a red dot on might make sense as it will probably be a small advantage to you. If you are not ringing steel at 50 yards consistently, the money for the dot is better spent on more training and ammo to practice with.
As my friend once said: "red dot sights simply help you shoot faster. But if you aren't a good shooter, then all you'll do faster is miss".
I like that!!
Over the years you’ve put out a lot of great information. Thank you.
Wearing glasses and being nearsighted the red dot is a game changer for me. Can I shoot with irons? Yes, up to a point. While it’s still good it’s not better. Good is the enemy of better. That is why you have to continually work at getting better.
Yeah that is me. At 67 my eyes just can't do it anymore.
Right with you brother. Just ordered some fiber optic sights because the irons are just too fuzzy anymore. Was fooling myself in that I was just out of practice...no buddy, you're getting old.
Got so if not outdoors in perfect light that I could not see the sights well enough. An outdoor class in the drizzle and an indoor class in not so great lighting pushed me to a dot. At what might be 'typical' personal defense distances the dot isn't needed, but if I need a more precise shot or longer distances, then it's critical for me.
The reason i switched to red dot, my deteriorating eye sight…it was a need, not a tacticool
@@dofler Tacticool are people who are posers. Tactical is the use of tactics to your advantage.
Thank you reid for always focusing on fundamentals and simplicity
Most gun owners can't shoot. It's a thing. Dry fire, is life.
I’ve seen many first timers pick up a gun and make hits. It’s really not difficult. It’s the weapon manipulations, the movement, the difference between cover and concealment. Any fool can pick up a drill and drill holes. Apply some thought.
Wow you know most gun owners! You’re a popular guy! Good for you! I find it’s the guys running their mouth online quoting ASP that can’t shoot! But I can’t help but wonder why the top pistol shooters in the world all have dots on their guns? It’s almost like when you need to shoot multiple targets fast theirs an advantage to it!😂😂😂😂
I never dry fired. But I started on .22LR bolt action and shot thousands of rounds with it before moving up to larger centerfire rifles and handguns. Plinking with a bolt action .22 and iron sights is what helped me grow as a shooter and eventually qualify “Expert” on every rifle and pistol I ever shot in the military.
Repetitive sight picture, proper trigger squeeze, and breathing control are the keys to shooting well.
@@peterdarlington4117And the top competitive shooters aren’t betting their lives on a functioning red-dot. For police and military, they try not to be in a fight without backup. With a squad of troops or a few officers searching a building, you have other partners or squad members to cover you in the event of a malfunction. For a single defensive shooter, iron sights may not have quite as fast of a target acquisition, but they rarely malfunction or quit working.
@@twiggybones7040 Yeah. Sounds like you're one of those gun owners that can't shoot. That's what I'd bet on. Too funny!
God bless you Reid for all you do!!!
The issue with hitting 100y targets with pistol irons is that the front sight completely obscures the target. Especially since you need to aim a bit high. The red dot on my pistol allows me to actually see the target and where I'm aiming. I can consistently hit at 100y with or without a red dot on my pistol. The red dot DOES make it easier because I can see my POA.
I think you may be proving his point
Depends on the pistol I guess. My desert eagle, I think all desert eagles if I'm not mistaken are 100 yrd zero. My p210 is point of aim at 100. Ruger Blackhawk same. Same for my Beretta but I'm not sure it hasn't been modified. My Glock I have to hold high almost obscure the target. My p229 has such huge sights that I've never even bothered to try. I know it would cover the target for sure because it nearly covers at 50 and it shoots low as is. Now if I had a red dot on the 229 I bet it would be useable at 100 or more. Red dots have their place just people think it's more helpful than it is.
@@KurtOnoIR valid points and comparisons. I only own Glocks.
No doubt my old eyes would enjoy an optic. That being said, a 12" high hold at 100 brings 8" group,5" 1911,ball ammo 😊
That guitar analogy is junk. It doesn't take a year or more to learn to shoot pistol well. To get paid to play a guitar aint happening in a year. Of course a well trained shooter can hit with irons.
Red dot is not required to shoot very accurately as was impressively shown, but it is objectively easier to see target, especially with eye issues. A point for fundamentals I've noticed is a red dot shows you visually how much your sight picture moves if you are not focused on grip and trigger control. with irons these movements are much harder to notice, where as with a red dot its like the sensitivity is turned up 100 percent
Forsure, red dots are better training tools for new shooters than irons and is easier to explain things when teaching. Especially because half the population grew up with video games imo.
Thank you for all that you do- and especially for reminding people that its not the equipment that matters, its the FUN-da-MENTALs! Mental practice and physical training can't be beat. Fortitude. Determination. Resolve. Amen.
Thank you for reading the comments and making videos for the community that we ask for.
Honestly, I can't afford Red Dots so I just practice with whatever standard sights the gun comes with.
Depending on how much extra 💰 you have, check out cylee red dots, cost a little over 100 ish, depending on sales and footprint you use, I was the same everyone running holosuns.
good on you!!! you are probably a better shot than most.
@notlisted-cl5ls I'm okay.
I mostly run revolvers and can get pretty consistent shots between 20-30 yards.
I always have to be low and to the right, it seems though.
@@evangelion243 revolvers is where it's at bro, I just suck a$$ with them lol.
Same. Im spending the money i would on an optic on brass and powder for said tool.
Thank you, Reid.
Red dots don't buy fundamentals.
That being said, I carry a dot on duty for one reason. Target focused shooting.
Being target focused instead of front sight focused is the primary benefit of a red dot.
I would imagine a red dot would help especially on moving targets. I've never shot a red dot pistol so I can't confirm nor deny.
Optics of any kind do not buy fundamentals. I was a weapons instructor in the Marine Corps before we went to ACOGs. There something being lost by people training less and less with fixed (or flip up) sights versus LPVOs, MPVOs, red dots and holographic sights, or prisms on hand guns and rifles.
We can run irons and still be target focused. In fact, we should almost always be target focused regardless of sighting system.
Dots and irons are equally EFFECTIVE, but dots are more EFFICIENT because the shooter only has to manage 2 focal plans instead of 3. Nevertheless, the target should be our focused focal plane.
You can shoot target focused with iron sights.
Please keep your focus, there are innocent lives around you and your target
I’ve been thinking about this dynamic shooting lately. I’ve decided that I need to do competitive shooting. Not because I think I can compete, but it’s shooting in a dynamic setting. Great stuff to think about.
Do it! It’s the best decision I have ever made. After a while you will realize that the self defense world wants to keep you in a bubble and not push your limitations.
Accurate 50-yard shots demonstrate disciplined application of the fundamentals. I’m not opposed to red dots, but irons do not suffer as much from user neglect. Accuracy, however, suffers from user neglect regardless of distance. If I was still a LE instructor for an entity that issued red dots on pistols, I would likely have shooters coming up and asking for batteries at the range - and the thing had been dead a week after the last quarterly training session. I saw a fair amount of that with red dots and WMLs on carbines. Reed is giving advice worth heeding.
YES, a old acquaintance of mine who is a USMC vet and competed on their pistol teams. 1911, he said he didnt really AIM the pistol as mush as point it. AFTER so much practice, competition muscle memory takes over... but this is a great video... thanks Mr Henrichs... much truth here. every bullet has a attorney attached.
Got 'The American Rifleman', 'Pistolcraft', And 'The Well Regulated'. Plan on digesting them slowly and applying them to real practice. Also picked up 'C.S.A.T.' by Paul Howe. Found out about Paul because of you Mr. Henrichs. I am a greenhorn if you will to shooting/firearms. But I wasted time and money before on a lot of 'Tacticool Snake oil'. Mr. Henrichs thank you so much for what you do. I believe you and Paul Howe are the firearms/shooting defense training voices of wisdom and knowledge in these times.
The same guys I see that say irons obscure the target will run a dot on the max brightness to "see it faster" and it just turns the target into a red blob.
I carry the CZ P07 and recently put a set of Night Fision sights on it and vastly improved my accuracy. The front sight for day is yellow and for me it catches my eye quicker. I also dry fire practice every evening. I shoot from 25 yards to 3 yards regularly. At 56 my eyes were struggling with the factory sights.
100yds with a G19 using iron sights is definitely doable on a torso sized target. There's no problem with using optics as long as you have backup irons. Unfortunately this time of year the humidity fogs em out so it's a good opportunity to remove the aimpoint from my rifle and stick with irons on my handgun.
God does humidity suck. I love the southwest
Great stuff as always, I'm really on the fence. I love red dots, but I train with irons regularly also and at 50 yards and in, which are the only distances I train at with pistols, I just don't see a big difference, and quite frankly I'm staying target focused with the irons just like I do with the red dot.
Now let me start by saying that yes, you need a solid foundation in order to make any hits with any weapon, gear won’t magically make you an action hero, you need a solid foundation to do anything.
I do want to point out that this does have the same energy as people stating that “revolvers are just as good and if you can’t get it done in 6 then you can’t get it done at all” when autos made their way onto the scene and had, without a doubt a profound advantage over a revolver. Red Dots, yes even on pistols, have a profound advantage over irons, for the same reason the red dot on rifles over took the irons.
Again I can’t state this enough, just because you buy something, doesn’t make you better, you need to put in the work, but this video seems to miss the forest through the tree.
Much respect to you, I hope you continue helping the community overall become better and more capable.
You made an excellent statement with "Don't be a buyer. Be a producer.". That's sound wisdom! 👍
I've been shooting for over 65 years. Cataract surgery in both eyes a couple of years ago gave me fantastic vision at a distance, but 2 ft in front of me is a blur. I couldn't use dot sights or scopes even if I wanted to. Every weapon I own has iron sights. And when my neighbors and I get together to shoot, I consistently outshoot them all. Even those with scopes and dots. Where they're depending upon technology in hopes of achieving something they lack, I'm using the skills I've developed from years of solid experience using the fundamentals. Yes, they're trying to buy their skills, whereas I'm producing mine.
Good stuff. A strong foundation will go a long, long way. Proper stance, grip and sight alignment. Thank you for teaching.
i’ve been practicing for years shooting between two telephone poles, roughly 120 feet apart typically. Practicing my normal drawl stroke from holster, I can get every shot in the center of a standard paper plate.. I believe being able to make shots at distance can be extremely beneficial in certain situations. and not only that in certain situations whether it be an active shooter or something other ,if somebody has a rifle, you don’t want to get within handgun range typically
Very good video. One of the best. Thank you
About 7 years ago i was at the range runnin my AK with open irons and the guy next to me had an AR15 with every bell and whistle. His AR was either brand new or he didnt shoot it a lot. He tried giving me a hard time for some reason and we shot at 100yrds. I out shot him. Moved back to 200 yrds. I out shot him. And again at 300 yrds. Afterwards he said "what did you do to that AK?" I said "I practiced. Ive been shooting this same gun for 20 years. I know what its gonna do." And he just couldnt believe it. I told him "spend time with your rifle, get to know it and know it well. You cant substitute practice." And he seemed like he genuinely took that into consideration. I hope he did.
Eli Dickens is a big reason I practice at unreasonable distances
I've never found anything that shows how many hits he got, enough of course, but I've always been curious. I've also read the shots that actually hit the shooter happened when he closed the distance. Once again, I can't seem to find anything official, just news reports.
@@gator7082 yea. I heard more about the Dickens drills. They set some up at my local range. I think we had to hit 7 out of 10 to pass so that’d be my guess
The Dickens's range should be a standard now but really anything beyond is questionable even on the best of days, especially in a real situation where we got innocents running around and the target is potentially shooting back at you while moving around.
I understand that Dickens hit eight out of ten shots. Purportedly missed twice at the approximate 40-yard range but at least one of the ones that connected hit vitals. Then again, it may be hard to tell. I think the real Dickens drill should start at 40 using cover and support with four rounds, rapidly move thru clutter to the 25 and fire four, then to the 10 and fire two. Do this is 15 seconds. FWIW, I ran the scenario with my former band of old broke down retirees trying to work as investigators. Accuracy, which wasn’t anything to write home about to begin with and dismissed further as times got faster.
He also did it with those “crappy” stock Glock factory sights that everyone says has to get replaced so when everyone tries to emulate it with their Red Dots try it with stock sights and make it a real comparison!
Thank you for the reality check. Some people need to be reminded of these things. I honestly prefer my iron sights for anything in realistic defensive ranges, It also slims the profile of my g19.
NPOA for the 50yd headshot. Impressive shooting. You know that pistol!
For the longest time I had two pistols, a Ruger Mk2 with heavy taper, target sighted barrel, and a Ruger Blackhawk in .44 magnum with 10" barrel. The .22 taught me sight picture and trigger control and the Blackhawk added flinch control. Now I can shoot most pistols well.
When I was going through the Oklahoma Bridge program several officers had brand new Glocks with optics that kept having failures. My M&P never skipped a beat. The folds with Glocks and Sigs without optics pretty much Ean flawless.
Thank you Reid! Over the years between your excellent content, excellent pistol and rifle books and the 3 classes I've taken since 2017, pistol 1 and 2, and rifle 1, you given me the tools to suck less! 👍
I bought the P365X. It came with a cheap red dot. I pulled it out to dump the ammo on a sunny day at my range. I experienced every problem with a red dot at once. Sand in projecter, brightness setting too low, scratches on screen.
The arguable precision increase is not worth all that hassle.
Tbf, it was a cheap red dot.
I have a farsighted issue so without readers I can’t make out the rear sight picture anymore. But with the readers on I don’t see far objects well. Having a red dot has helped this a ton. Now for the stigma I have seems to be worse at night and when tired. Which is normally a minus sign at a 45 deg. Angle that I can work through with training. So yes when I was your age Reed Hendricks I didn’t need a red dot sight now that I have aged it’s a game changer for me. But like someone else said just adding a red dot doesn’t make you a great shooter. I would say it helps I have seen the proof in department qualification scores of those that currently have them.
Good points, brother. But I'd like to make sure people don't twist the context of this message. Reid is not saying red dot suck, stick with irons *boomer noises*. He's saying that you need to have fundamentals to hit anything. Expert use of a gun is not point shoot and hope your bullets hit your intended target in the general direction of your aim. You apply the same fundamentals to red dots as you would with iron sights. Red dots on a pistol work different from irons and need to reapply your fundamentals slightly differently to work but it's still the same thing.
Legend in my eyes to the 2A Community thank you for all you do man I'd love to get out there and train
One of my reservations about red dots was long range shooting. I grew up reading Elmer Keith's stuff and I got pretty good at elevating the front sight. But red dots still work at long range, yea just gotta know your gun and loads.
I stayed with iron sights as long as I possibly could but, after cataract surgery then detached retinas in both eyes I either had to go with an optic or stop shooting pistols.
For ME it was the only option I had . I dry fire one hundred "rounds " every night so now, when I bring the gun up the dot is exactly where it's supposed to be.
Having said this, if I could, I would go back to irons immediately .
An accurate 9mm with a 3-4" bbl can hit 1' circles at 100m reliably. Movement and cover make it harder. At 250 yards, you have suppressive fire in a 3' cone of fire if you aim 4-6' high.
Liquidating my box of shame thats filled with all the "force multipliers" that lacked a foundation to stand on. Going to put that money into more ammo and training. Glad I found ya! Switching from consumer to producer. I've done the same thing with guitars and Pedals. Great analogy, Jeff Cooper!
I have never had a day where this guy has ever said anything I didn’t agree with.. another great video 👍🏻
I got a pistol red dot for my carry pistol for the first time this year. So far I only have about 3-400 rounds on it, and I'm still slower with the red dot than I am with irons, at least acquiring the dot, but I am more precise with the red dot, even at close ranges I find it more precise.
Reid, Great video and great job! I'm one of the ones that don't like red dots. I've had several of them and I always go back to my irons. I can shoot ten times better with iron sights. I've always wanted to come to one of your classes, but I'm too old and I don't think I could keep up with all the running and getting on the ground and stuff like that. Anyway good job.....
Shot years and years without a RDS on my pistol. Taught tons of students with irons over the years as an instructor. Competed in USPSA for years in limited division with iron sights. That being said, after being mandated to switch to a RDS on the Glock, I feel in love. As good as I am with iron sights, I’m better with a red dot. I think you should definitely learn the fundamentals on irons first but I believe RDS on handguns are the future.
I believe this is especially true when it comes to threat focused combat shooting. Yes you can shoot irons both eyes open, but it’s much easier with two focal planes with a RDS as opposed to three with irons. Either way great video and interesting conversation. Also great shooting!
Awesome Marksmanship Reid!. I agree and that's why I roll with irons on my pistols. Semper Fi bro!
Great vid as always. This said, I don’t use a dot to be more accurate. I was sold on dots after I took a competitive shooting class and literally cut my time in half with my instructor’s Walther with Red Rot vs my Glock 19 Gen 5 with iron sights.
Nowadays, I have a Hellcat Pro with Holosun Green Dot on it and initially found dot (not to be confused with target) acquisition to be challenging unless I lined up my front and rear sights anyhow (lol) due to small glass to go with my small firearm so… I dry fire regularly to practice proper grip when unholstering, trigger pull and both dot and target acquisition as well as mag changes.
Man, lots of people are missing the point of the video. Fundamentals and simplicity in equipment is king. Biggest issue I see with mass adoption of red dots on pistols is Maintaining the optic. How many regular people or even LEO are checking their brightness levels throughout the day, witness marking the screws, loctiting and torquing the screw down, etc. There is a higher level of learning to the dots on handguns especially for EDC and LEO types who are not into the gun stuff heavily.
I’m with you on iron sights. I’m 51, joined the Marine Corp in 1991 and got out in 1999. Barring catastrophic failure, iron sights are more reliable. I have a different opinion on distance shooting though. Semper Fi Reid
I see dots as high vis, adjustable, night sights. That's all. Same reason to put a red dot on a rifle. It just makes it a little bit easier. It's not a need to have, but a nice to have.
Great vid Reid.
Good stuff. I am a retired LEO, and I never liked or will never use a red dot on a pistol.
I agree with everything you said. It is also important to remember, when someone is shooting back, you will get tunnel vision and you will be shaking. You need to learn how to stay calm so you can make shots with a pistol, and I don't care what kind of sights you have.
Thanks for the info. I've been a firearm owner for around 8 yrs. I admit I suck as a pistol shooter. This has been a learn as I go. My pistol is on my person along with my wallet, phone and car and house keys. Carry to spare mags, knife and flashlight. I don't put in enough training. I want to put shots with the factory pistol sights. Having red dots gets expensive. Call me old school but I need to rely on the old methods of shooting, which have proven good.
Appreciate the content of your videos.
Nice job.... I can't wait to hear your opinion on pistol red dots. I have never even considered them.
Great video!!!
How are you overcoming the front sight cover up the whole target at 150. Is your front sight a fiber optic?
Reid I love and trust you but why was there an edit on all those long range shots? 13:30
Hey man, nice shot. When i was younger i could hit anything with irons. Now i need an optic. A red dot is just a blurr. Getting old sucks.
Thank you, Reid, we really needed this video and information.
Reid, thnx Man! My bud & i put in some work today... pistol fundamentals! Iron sights. Can't wait to go again.
Best thing I’ve found for the smallest of arms is Haley Strategic has a set of Glock iron sights that are meant to work when your heart rate spikes and you get tunnel vision and/or when you can function normally. And this might be the case with a red dot optic, I’m not here to say. Being able to function through the different coopers color codes is likely advantageous at any range. Please people, please read “Left of Bang” and apply what you learn.
🎶Meet me down by the railroad track, track. 🎶
I've been a watcher/subscriber for years and the black bell is lit.
I'm a US Airforce vet., munitions systems specialist and small arms expert who grew up hunting for food with my dad since I was old enough to keep up (maybe 6) and it was he, a US Navy, WWII vet, Aleutian Islands theater against the Japanese (and was lost at sea for 3 mos. &pronounced dead) who tought me to shoot and i scored expert in basic training.
I'm no kid (we'll say "over 50") and have much real world, first hand experience in the handling of weapons in peacetime and action. I say all this so that you understand the meaning behind my expressions of gratitude for what you do, the message that you put out and the valid, down to earth, no bs and obviously experience based information you give on all of the topics you broach.
Thanks very much from an old war horse, maybe I can work my way from Atlanta up to your facility. It's not *that* far. 😊
That said, i remember the first time i stood on a stage and got paid to play instruments that id practiced for years and that's a great analogy. You buy the instrument, you learn the basics of the instrument and practice til your fingers bleed and build calluses. Then you become proficient enough to play with someone else, then to learn new things within that group/discipline and finally, you're ready to play a paying gig. Same with proficiency with firearms and, especially pistols. And I'm pretty good with both. 😉
(Red dots on pistols...)
Red dots can make life easier but like anything and especially if you haven't mastered the tool/instrument before you start "adding things," it rapidly becomes a crutch and one that's really hard to shed. Learn the weapon and how to use it to its full potential *before* you start taking shortcuts. Theres always exceptions, such as someone with vision issues but, for the average shooter, learn the tool/instrument/weapon... Then start adding capos, "whammy bars" and red dots. 😊
"Bullets go where you point them, *learn to point!"* 😊
Who’s saying “just put something on your gun and you’ll be a good shot”? I’ve never seen anyone say that. I’m 56 and been shooting all my life. I shoot over 10k rounds a year. I grew up, as everyone else, on irons but dots are definitely easier for me. I have no idea why you wouldn’t use the easiest most effective method for you. Maybe we should all be using revolvers, it works for Jerry Miculek.
Muskets worked for god knows how long let’s just go back to them.😂
I have found that the red dot on a pistol is a pretty good training tool. The dot illustrates flaws in your shooting, I have actually gotten better with irons after using a dot for a while.
Same. It really helped me learn a consistent draw and presentation. I thought I had that but once I got a dot I realized how often I "couldn't find the dot" lol. Also helped me fine tune and see my smaller my mistakes and let me work on those issues. Plus with my bad eyes it helps a ton. Reid is correct on fundamentals, but I am still taking a dot on my handgun.
@Masta_E My presentation also improved a lot, trigger control got better because I could better see how much I was moving the gun.
The key you said good sire, carrying for a decade or so. Dots are faster. Fundamentals are still Fundamentals, however, if you can make the training curve faster than why not.
“It’s like being a guitar player who wants to get paid for his work.” That’s an excellent analogy! It’s my opinion that if you can’t hit a man size target at 50 yards on the range there’s no reason to put one on your kit.
Spot on video.....great job Reid
People aren't interested in the truth Reid, that's why we are where we are today.
I would like to see you do it without the known distance. As you said a flat range is very different than a gun fight.
I have two glocks, a 17 and a 34. The 34 has a dot, (rmr) and the 17 does not. It has ameriglo trooper sights. It is harder for me to make hits on a 12" plate at 80yds. with the RMR. Yes- I can hold low at 6 o' clock with either and hit, BUT- BUT at those intermediate distances my irons are easier. It's all about the training and practice, both are good but 100% I agree it is the Indian NOT the arrow. Time on the gun = perfection. If you are practicing good habits. Thank's as always for a reality check......I totally agree with you Sir. Good stuff as always.
Ben Stoeger is a shooting game changer. Irons or red dot, can shoot faster at 25&50 and maintain acceptable hits when most handgunners cant even shoot at 20 yards slowfire
In this day and age, especially for us urban dwellers, finding a gun range that will allow you to train properly is next to impossible. The indoor pistol ranges have a plethora of very restrictive rules. rules. No rapid fire, no drawing and fire, and many more. In one place here in Houston, they refused to let me pick up my spent brass, stating that it was their "policy." I guess they sell it. Anything to make a buck. This is after I spent $200.00 on a yearly membership fee ($15.00 an hour after that for each session). I did not say anything and since I have paid up, I will use the range for the next 8 months but will not renew. The outdoor range that does allow you to train (pistol and rifle) is exactly 53 miles from my place. This is an impossible situation. Sadly, most of these ranges are just businesses and could care less for the 2nd Amendment or gun ownership. They would go into another business if they could make more money. I have not shot my AR in years because of this. If anything will affect gun ownership and training, it is time and economics. Here in Houston all the criminals are now armed with extended mag Glocks, ARs and AK-47s. Gone are the Raven Arms, Jimenez Arms, and other cheap firearms with these folks. Some a felons but a lot are first timers with no criminal history so they get their guns legally. Do not get into a road rage incident. There is no training needed to shoot the person in a car next to you or a few feet away. And since the system does not punish them, it goes on. There is a lot of unspoken tension here.
Dude that's high level shooting , especially with that gun. Most normal people are never gonna be able to do that. Irons or dot. But especially irons.
This was a fantastic video Reid
It’s not that you need a red dot to do it. It just makes it easier because you can actually see your target
It's more than that. Red dot sights make shooting precisely easier, and shooting small targets at speed much easier.
They also require more training to get off a well-aimed shot from the holster at 3 to 7 yards, which is probably more important to most people who need a pistol for defense.
Most people don't train with any regularity.
Ben Stoeger literally makes it so simple… shooting is shooting. Fudds are fudds
Thank you Reid, you just became my defense lawyer.
I think the key term is "need". You do not need a red dot. It is a huge assist though. But pistol fundamentals are key. A tricked out Staccato with a dot won't make up the gap between you and Bob Vogel (who uses irons). That said, I have no issues with someone having a red dot. I even recommend it. Addition of a dot does not delete your irons, they are still there. The same fundamentals it takes to hit with a dot, also hits with Irons.
Great INFORMATIVE video
Not trying to be super argumentative, but all you proved in this video is that you can do all of this stuff with irons. Nobody who uses a red dot (to my knowledge, anyway) ever said you couldn't do what you did with irons. All any of of us have ever said is that once you get past the learning curve with an optic (and there is one), it becomes faster and easier to do it with an optic. It also doesn't hurt that there is science behind why an optic works as well as it does. There are tons of advantages to them, and tons of videos out there showing and proving what those advantages are and that they do exist
.
Correct.
And there's tons of disadvantages to red dots on a pistol that the red dot guys never ever talk about.
Glass fogging, optics falling off, battery failure, emitter getting full of lint, added snag point, and absurd cost all come to mind.
@@jellyfrosh9102 So guys who don’t know basic maintenance and what anti-fog and Loctite are for are a good reason to not use them? As far as cost goes, you can get a very usable optic for $350 or less if you catch a sale. You may get to $400-$500 for a higher end RMR. That’s not exactly “absurd”.
I like red dots, not a hater at all, but do you ever notice all of those videos are generally shot out west in arid climates and not in North Carolina during a rain shower?
@@calebshipley4448 my RMR failed during a shooting. It also failed weeks later at the range when a mounting screw broke. During my last RDS instructor class 3/5 sights had failures.
I think dots help with transition between targets and seem to allow a lot of shooters to “target focus” easier. They definitely do not make the pistol more mechanically accurate
Yup, you said it sir. Basics & practice practice practice. Thank u for 5he video 👍
I’ve been shooting for 40 years and I don’t own a red dot. I’ve tried them out on the range but just prefer the irons because it’s what I know. To each their own.
Plus in the summer here in Arizona we have sometimes Red Flag conditions were it’s dry windy and low humidity and we can’t shoot outside because of wildfires
I rented the PDP the other day at the range to try it out and it came with a dot.
Hated the dot.
Same accuracy.
I found it really annoying, though, to look for the dot, rather then the iron sights.
Add on top of that numerous possibilities for malfunctions - electronics failure, mud on the glass, broken glass.
And given that realistic engagement distances basically make the handgun a hand-to-hand combat weapon...
Nop, not doing dots.
Glad I tried before buying one.
On rifles, though, 24/7/365 😁
Love holo sights on rifles too.
If you had to look for the dot, then you weren't doing it right.
Irons were meant to see the sight before the target, dots are the opposite.
@@jiveturkey2875 I appreciate the advice. I'll give it a shot (no pun intended) next time I end up with a dot on a rental. I think I have my comfort zone with the irons, regardless.
I’ve got great fundamentals, sight picture, trigger discipline, and mental capacity, but because that’s only on a flat range, I don’t even bother carrying a gun because it won’t be relative should I encounter a defensive situation where a pistol is needed.
Ok I agree completely about having fundamentals first and foremost, but no-one is saying you NEED a red dot but rather there are advantages and outweigh the cons. I have bad eyes and frankly the dot HELPS ME at shooting faster and more accurately. Can I do it with irons? Yes, but I prefer a dot all day. Also a dot helped me improve very quickly as it let me see where I was making mistakes, shakiness, trigger pulls, etc.
End of the day I agree with Reid here, that people should train fundamentals, but I am not going to pretend accessories can't give you an advantage.
Good stuff Reid.
If I had a dollar for every time I've seen or read someone say that you "need" a red dot to "shoot better," I would be able to afford one by now!
It’s going to be interesting if Reid addresses target fixation and how humans are programmed to focus on the threat and not on a front sight during a deadly force encounter. After much training on dots I’ve grown to trust them and I do believe they are better than irons. However I also believe iron sights will always have a place in the firearm industry.
Keep the posts / videos rolling
@Reid
Not sure if you mentioned or not…. I only heard you say “iron sights” multiple times… are you using XS big dot sights on this particular gun? Or, what iron sights were used in this video?
I’ve been using XS big dots since James first mentioned them back in the day, and I have no problems at all making shots like this (my friends are always in shock when we go out shooting!), but I do dry practice at least 5-6 days per week as well
There's no such thing as an optic plate for my primary carry gun. A talented gunsmith could probably do some custom wizardry to adapt it which would cost as much as a quality dot. But my wife is hard of sight "slowly going blind" so I'm getting a dot set up for her to be able to hit a target at say 10 yards and in. Right now for her irons are useless, she can only point shoot. Which works close in "danger close" so for me I prefer irons, they're all I need but for her a dot is the difference of an aimed shot or just best pointed shot. In her case a dot can be very useful but most of us would be better off spending the money on training or ammo for training. Great video, thank you.
Excellent job 👏👏👏👍👍👍
Yeah, I think the future is now I’m not saying irons are useless, but there’s nothing wrong with acknowledging advantages when they become event available and using them
Most of america has astigmatisms and can’t even see the actual dot lol
@@mrRoverkane degenerative eyesight is a diet and lifestyle issue, which can be ameliorated; nonetheless is not problematic enough to avoid a red dot. Even starbursts are more precise than 10-20moa front sights.
@@sheepdog916 my astigmatism eyes would highly disagree with that.
@@jellyfrosh9102 No they wouldn’t. Every dot looks like a snail trail; astigmatism or not. You don’t have any experience on a dot (self evidently).
@@sheepdog916 your username is Sheepdog. Enough said. Keep being super super tacticool brah
Red dots are king. Very good training tool as you can see which way you pull, how hard, and anticipations you may have that you didnt notice. Red dot technology has made leaps and bounds and is now the better standard for pistols than irons. Just like rifles, yeah irons are good for backups and to know how to do, but red dots, scopes, and magnifiers have had great quality now compared to even 10 years ago. Now I agree on the roles of piatols and rifles, but extending the capability of both is paramount.
2 years ago I tried red dots on pistols. Trained with them for a long time. Took my g19 shot it with both. A lot faster with iron sights. Great vids,,
Tried it two years ago. Trained a long time. That math don't math.
25 year LEO. FI (retired 01/23.
To date, I’ve not yet shot a dot on a pistol.
Yes, they intrigue me, but still haven’t shot one!
I’ll continue to believe that if a person truly masters the basics (of any skill/discipline/art) they will be unstoppable!
Great vid Sir! As always, Stay Safe & God Bless! 💥💪🙏 🇺🇸
If you need a red dot for accuracy to stop a threat, that shot was to far away to begin with and you better have a damn good lawyer
The way I see it is this. If you can consistently ring steel at 50 yards with irons, then spending the money including ammo and training and time to learn to proficiency, on a red dot on might make sense as it will probably be a small advantage to you. If you are not ringing steel at 50 yards consistently, the money for the dot is better spent on more training and ammo to practice with.
Technique over stuff is the rule to live by.