While traditionally, many handgun enthusiasts have favored iron sights, in recent years the tide has begun to shift toward red dot sights. The police force, always on the cutting edge of law enforcement technology, has been instrumental in this change as more and more officers switch to handgun red dots. The police's real-world experiences and rigorous testing offer a wealth of insights for civilian users. In this article, we'll uncover what we can learn from police officers regarding the use of handgun red dots.
Why Red Dots Over Iron Sights?
The argument for handgun red dots over iron sights can be broken down into three core reasons: speed, accuracy, and situational awareness.
Speed: Police officers must be able to quickly sight and engage a threat. Red dot systems allow for both eyes open shooting, meaning quicker target acquisition and faster first shot.
Accuracy: With iron sights, the shooter has to focus on the rear sight, the front sight, and the target. However, with red dots, it simplifies things by allowing the shooter to concentrate on the target only.
Situational Awareness: By maintaining both eyes open during a high-stress situation, police officers maintain a greater level of situational awareness, making them better equipped to deal with threats.
Training Considerations
While police officers make using red dot sights look easy, it's essential to understand that there's a learning curve involved. Training is necessary for the shift from iron sights to red dots.
Mounting the Sight: Get accustomed to finding the dot fast. Officers drill this extensively before transitioning to the field. Practice presenting your dot-equipped handgun from both the draw and from ready positions.
Trigger Control: This is arguably even more critical with red dots since a poor trigger press can throw off your sight picture much more than with iron sights. Dots actually act as a training aid by clearly showing any wobble caused by poor trigger control.
One Shot Drills: Do a lot of one-shot drills. This helps with acquiring the dot quickly, mastering trigger control, and reinforcing good form.
Choosing the Right Red Dot Sight
While the police have ample resources to experiment with different types and models of sights, civilian shooters may not have that luxury. Learning from their trial and error can save you time, money, and effort. After studying various law enforcement officers' preferences, here are a few key factors to consider when selecting the right red dot sight:
Durability: Look for red dot sights that have a track record of standing up to harsh conditions and rough handling.
Battery Life: You don't want your sight failing you in the middle of a heated situation. Choose a sight with good battery life and preferably, auto on/off features.
Size and Mounting Options: Make sure the sight will fit on your firearm, and the sighting setup is comfortable for your shooting style.
Dot Size: The size of the dot can impact your shooting. A small dot is most suitable for long-range and precise shooting, while a bigger dot suits close-up, high-speed shooting.
Conclusion
The police's adoption of red dot sights on their handguns showcases how valuable these devices are in high-stakes, real-world scenarios. Following their lessons learned about speed, accuracy, situational awareness, and training can significantly improve your own shooting performance.
When it's time to buy ammo to practice your red dot sighting, take a cue from the professionals. Get yours here.
Remember, like any new skill, proficiency comes with consistent practice. The police force's shift to red dot systems underscores the profound benefits of these systems, providing a masterclass in proficiency with and effective use of handgun red dots.
Comments