Sidearms & Scatterguns Not going back now

[308pirate]

If you have presbyopia and can not longer clearly focus on the front sight, or even if you can, reflex optical sights are fantastic.

So much so that I'm never going back to iron sights and will start converting all my other pistols to reflex sights.

This is my former USPSA Production pistol now turned into a USPSA and IDPA Carry Optics gun. Since this is mainly a sport pistol, iron sights tall enough to see through the lens are not important. They will be on my other pistols though.

If you have a strong, consistent presentation from the holster, finding the dot on the draw is a non issue. SHO and WHO need a little bit of work but nothing that 15 min of dry fire a day for a week won't fix.

Do not try to look "through" the lens, instead bring the pistol high up in front of the face and look "past" the optic at the target with your head erect (ditch the stupid "tactical turtle" posture). The dot just simply shows up where it should.

Being able to just focus naturally on the target and having the dot appear superimposed is a game changer. Transitions are incredibly faster with no need for focal shifts.

 

[Sieg]

Agree, as my eye sight deteriorates, a reliable self defense sight picture has become an issue. Recently purchased a SIG P320 X-Carry w/ Romeo optic and have regained confidence in being able to make a critical shot again.

Side note - I prefer to carry in a shoulder rig and had a tough time finding a company that accommodated optics with their shoulder rig holsters, Falco is the company that does. I have one of their shoulder rigs coming for my P365 (w/o optic) and if it passes the QC and fit tests I'll order the optic compatible shoulder holster for the X-Carry.

 

[perttime]

....
If you have a strong, consistent presentation from the holster, finding the dot on the draw is a non issue. SHO and WHO need a little bit of work but nothing that 15 min of dry fire a day for a week won't fix.

Do not try to look "through" the lens, instead bring the pistol high up in front of the face and look "past" the optic at the target with your head erect (ditch the stupid "tactical turtle" posture). The dot just simply shows up where it should.

Being able to just focus naturally on the target and having the dot appear superimposed is a game changer. Transitions are incredibly faster with no need for focal shifts.

With iron sights, dry firing can get you where the sights will appear aligned on the target automatically. I'm sure the same thing will happen with a dot too.

I can still see iron sights - but the time for a dot will most likely come.

 

[acudaowner]

I bought a red dot just for that reason but as of yet have not put it on when the time comes It's there till them the iron sights work just fine .

 

[kl3309]

Try an SRO if you haven't already, huge improvement over the RMR's little bluish window.

And I still turtle, I've got SROs and RMRs on everything so just learned to not bring the gun up so high.

 

[Racer88]

I have an RMR on my home defense / bump-in-the-night pistol (FNP-45T). I agree it takes some practice to bring the dot into view "automagically." It's different than iron sights, for sure. But, they are very cool, and they work!

I'm at that age, as well. I can't focus on the front sight. Though, at close distances (~7 yards or less), I won't be using the sights in a defensive situation anyway.

The RMRs (and similar quality optics) ain't cheap. They cost almost as much as the pistol. So, there's that. If I put optics on all my pistols... well... that would be a lot of $$$! Though the new SRO looks tempting.

There's also something else that works quite well, for a lot less money than a quality reflex sight. And it will bring your pistol front sight into sharp focus. From SSP Eyewear.... the "Top Focal" glasses. Granted, it's not likely, you'll have them nearby in case of SHTF out "on the street." Though, I suppose you could stage some at home for defensive purposes. However, for the range, they work a charm!

Basically, it's a set of glasses with interchangeable lenses. The "top focal" lenses have the bifocal at the TOP of the lens instead of the bottom. This allows you to see the front sight in proper sharp focus while keeping proper / normal head posture.

For the pistol range, I use a "top focal" lens in my dominant eye and a "bottom focal" lens for my weak eye. My right (dominant) eye naturally looks through the top focal lens and sees the front sight perfectly. The target will be slightly blurry through the dominant eye using the top focal lens.

The bottom focal lens on my left eye serves two purposes: First, it allows my left eye to focus on far objects, like the target (spotting impacts and keeping both eyes open for target / threat focus) by looking over the top, through the blank part of the lens. And, I can perform up close administrative tasks (manipulating the pistol controls to clear malfunctions, loading mags, etc.) by looking through the bottom focal lens. In this situation, your "weak" eye becomes the "dominant" eye for close-up admin tasks. It works! I hope that made sense!

For the rifle range, I use the "bottom focal" lenses on both eyes so reading the turrets is easy, along with other close-up administrative tasks.

I have no interests in SSP Eyewear. Just a happy customer.

 

[308pirate]

Try an SRO if you haven't already, huge improvement over the RMR's little bluish window.

I have, still decided on the RMR as my first one but will likely get an SRO next.

The way I use them, the size of the window matters less because I don't look at the target through just the window. I just look at the target "past" the optic. It's difficult to describe, but maybe the best way to understand how this works it is to cover the front of the lens with tape and use it as an occluded sight.

I went shooting yesterday after work and had zero trouble tracking the dot during recoil while hammering at 7 yards.

 

[308pirate]

I have an RMR on my home defense / bump-in-the-night pistol (FNP-45T). I agree it takes some practice to bring the dot into view "automagically." It's different than iron sights, for sure. But, they are very cool, and they work!

View attachment 7222510

I'm at that age, as well. I can't focus on the front sight. Though, at close distances (~7 yards or less), I won't be using the sights in a defensive situation anyway.

The RMRs (and similar quality optics) ain't cheap. They cost almost as much as the pistol. So, there's that. If I put optics on all my pistols... well... that would be a lot of $$$! Though the new SRO looks tempting.

There's also something else that works quite well, for a lot less money than a quality reflex sight. And it will bring your pistol front sight into sharp focus. From SSP Eyewear.... the "Top Focal" glasses. Granted, it's not likely, you'll have them nearby in case of SHTF out "on the street." Though, I suppose you could stage some at home for defensive purposes. However, for the range, they work a charm!

Basically, it's a set of glasses with interchangeable lenses. The "top focal" lenses have the bifocal at the TOP of the lens instead of the bottom. This allows you to see the front sight in proper sharp focus while keeping proper / normal head posture.

For the pistol range, I use a "top focal" lens in my dominant eye and a "bottom focal" lens for my weak eye. My right (dominant) eye naturally looks through the top focal lens and sees the front sight perfectly. The target will be slightly blurry through the dominant eye using the top focal lens.

The bottom focal lens on my left eye serves two purposes: First, it allows my left eye to focus on far objects, like the target (spotting impacts and keeping both eyes open for target / threat focus) by looking over the top, through the blank part of the lens. And, I can perform up close administrative tasks (manipulating the pistol controls to clear malfunctions, loading mags, etc.) by looking through the bottom focal lens. In this situation, your "weak" eye becomes the "dominant" eye for close-up admin tasks. It works! I hope that made sense!

For the rifle range, I use the "bottom focal" lenses on both eyes so reading the turrets is easy, along with other close-up administrative tasks.

I have no interests in SSP Eyewear. Just a happy customer.

Thanks for the tip on SSP. I'll check them out. They might be the ticket for when I compete with revolvers, as there's no good home for optical sight revolvers outside ICORE.

 

[308pirate]

With iron sights, dry firing can get you where the sights will appear aligned on the target automatically. I'm sure the same thing will happen with a dot too.

The interesting thing is that, because presbyopia hit me in my mid 40s, I have been forced to develop a really good index in order to have a decent draw time. If I had a sloppy draw, my time to first shot would really suck because of how long it takes me to visually line up the sights if they are grossly off.

Because of that, and despite what many claim on the internet, my learning curve to avoid "losing the dot" on the draw has been nearly zero.

 

[Lightning8]

I have a CZ P10F Optics Ready with SRO and just put another SRO on a M&P Gen 1 Core 5 inch. I agree that the RDS is a benefit on a pistol

 

[Racer88]

The way I use them, the size of the window matters less because I don't look at the target through just the window. I just look at the target "past" the optic.

I think one key to using a reflex sight on a pistol is to keep both eyes open and focus on the target. Bring the pistol up to your line of sight, and the dot will be there. Both eyes open! If you close one eye, it definitely affects the amount of time and ease of finding the dot.

 

[308pirate]

I think one key to using a reflex sight on a pistol is to keep both eyes open and focus on the target. Bring the pistol up to your line of sight, and the dot will be there. Both eyes open! If you close one eye, it definitely affects the amount of time and ease of finding the dot.

Oh yeah, closing one eye or even trying to center the dot in the widow are both death.

 

[NC-K9]

I love mine. Holster selection sucks though.

 

[pmclaine]

Oh for a second there I thought you were being deported back to PR......whew!


Work is considering reflex for duty.

Cost will be a big issue, though guessing they could get mnfctr to include them with pistol being considered as they sell a sight.

Guessing for most though the reflex will become a turd magnet that few realizes contains the remains of a jelly donut until they really need it and cant afford a jelly donut obstructed view.

 

[AIAW]

I love mine. Holster selection sucks though.View attachment 7222711

Dara Holsters can mold custom Kydex for those. They fit wonderfully and are adjustable.

 

[NC-K9]

I'll have to check them out. I got a Blade-Tech and can't stand it. You have to twist the gun to remove it. I just can't get used to it.

 

[NC-K9]

Dara Holsters can mold custom Kydex for those. They fit wonderfully and are adjustable.

Damn! Thanks!!! I've never heard of Dara. I got an RMR cut and light bearing. Didn't think the combo existed. Can't wait to get it! Thanks again!

 

[AIAW]

Damn! Thanks!!! I've never heard of Dara. I got an RMR cut and light bearing. Didn't think the combo existed. Can't wait to get it! Thanks again!

No worries! Yeah I found them years ago when I ran into the same issues across Sig, STI and Glock pistols. It's amazing the options you get to pick. They all work just fine too. Their production time varies sometimes, but I think 4 weeks is the most I waited in the past.

 

[-Claybuster-]

I started using optics about 15 months ago, I'll never go back

 

[Alabusa]

This is the reason that my recent acquisition is optics ready.