Are red dots reliable?

[crookcountygo]

A while back, I posted a set of requirements for my next pistol. One of the requirements is that it be red dot ready. I was in one of my local gun shops a few days ago looking at pistols that can accommodate them, and the guy behind the counter said "Pretty much any red dot you get, unless you pay for top of the line, is going to lose its zero after a few shots. That's just how it is."

I've never used a red dot and know nothing about them. For those of you who carry and practice regularly with a red dot site equipped pistol, what do you think of that?

 

[Whip_McCord]

I have been using red dots on pistols since 1995. I do not have any on my carry guns, but I use them quite often for shooting matches; local, regional, and national. I have had maybe two die throughout the years, either in a match or practice. Most of mine are the tube variety and most do not ride with the slide, so there are those differences from carry guns. Most of my buddies that shoot bullseye with me have a red dot mounted on the slide of their 45ACP 1911s. I do not recall them having issues, but most of them use either Ultra Dot or Aimpoint.

That's my experience. I think if you get a good brand of red dot, you should not have any problems. But like any mechanical device, sometimes there could be an issue. On a couple occasions, I have had iron sight drift out of alignment and even fall out once. That does not mean iron sights are worthless. Stuff happens. You just need to check equipment frequently to avoid potential issues. Good luck.

 

[DocIndy]

I think he needs to find a new line of work. He obviously doesn’t know what he is talking about. Rule of thumb… if you’re going to put an optic on any firearm you plan on using to defend your life, don’t go cheap. Trijicon RMRs, Vortex Razors and Leupold DeltaPoint Pros are “expensive” for a reason.

 

[MCgrease08]

Yes, there are plenty of reliable red dots out there. You need to find a new gun store. The guy you talked to at the counter must think it's the 1990s.

Lots of threads here about red dots if you search. Unfortunately, we have more than a few members here that agree with the counter guy that they aren't reliable.

Are they perfect? No. Anything can fail.

Do I have one on my EDC that I trust my life to? Yep.

 

[Fixer]

I have a Swampfox sentinel on my Springfield Hellcat Pro. I have been to the range several times now and the bullets still show up at the dot when you pull the trigger. My set up is fairly new but I would say I have ran 300-400 rounds thru the gun with the sight on it. I have not had to adjust the zero on it yet. Of the available red dots out there it isn't the most expensive but is a metal body sight that got good reviews.

 

[crookcountygo]

Much appreciated, guys. That was my initial thought (that he's wrong), but I wanted the input of others who, unlike me, actually have experience with red dots.

Fixer - the Hellcat Pro is one of the 3 pistols I'm seriously considering for my next one. I want red dot capable with the ability to co-witness with the iron sites, so that if I experience an issue with the electronics I'm not out of the fight. How do you like Hellcat?

 

[Skip]

I literally have a RDS on every handgun I carry.
Holosun 507CX2: gty 4
Holosun 507KX2: qty 1
Hi-Lux TD-3C: qty 1
Swampfox Justice: qty 4
Swampfox Sentinal: qty 3
Not an expert by any means. I do carry every, single day.
The other day, people were ragging on my P320 and how "dropping it would make it kill you". So, once again, I figured I’d do a drop test. 8’ landing on a carpeted floor on the beavertail with a full mag and a snap cap in the chamber. It happens to have one of the Swampfox Justice. It didn’t "fire" and the next day I went to the range to check zero, just in case….
Could still hit a golfball @ 20 yards with no change in zero.
YMMV
Mounting them properly is the key though…..

 

[SmokingTrigger]

I'd say with cheap red dots this is the case. I had a $120 red dot on a rifle that wouldn't hold zero.

Pistol wise I only own trijicon and haven't had a problem. But wouldn't hesitate with holosun, delta point, or aimpoint. These are the ones I can definitely speak for. Vortex rifle dots the battery life isn't what I'd like but it was fine optic. Not sure if that carried over to the pistol optics.

 

[tcecil88]

I had a Vortex Viper on my Glock 40 10mm. It would not hold zero. I swapped it out for a Trijicon RM06 and it holds zero fine. I moved the Viper over to a long gun and it does fine over there.

 

[G192127]

 

[NHT3]

No problems with anything other than a Trijicon. That was several years ago before the V2 RMR came out but customer service sucked to the point that I'll never own another one of their products. ( Yeah, I hold a grudge) Started with a vortex venom, no issues with it but it's been relegated to a TX22 competition.. Holosun 507s on everything else and no problems with any of them.. As another said I trust my life with them and I have thousands of rounds through pistols, Glock & PSA Daggers with Holosuns riding the slides without issue.

 

[VERT]

The gun store guy might not be wrong. It pretty much depends on what he considers “top of the line”

 

[DadSmith]

A while back, I posted a set of requirements for my next pistol. One of the requirements is that it be red dot ready. I was in one of my local gun shops a few days ago looking at pistols that can accommodate them, and the guy behind the counter said "Pretty much any red dot you get, unless you pay for top of the line, is going to lose its zero after a few shots. That's just how it is."

I've never used a red dot and know nothing about them. For those of you who carry and practice regularly with a red dot site equipped pistol, what do you think of that?

Are you talking red dot or micro red dots?

Red Dot



Red dot


Red dot


Micro red dot







.

 

[ditcherman]

Are you talking red dot or micro red dots?

Red Dot
View attachment 269088


Red dot
View attachment 269089

Red dot

View attachment 269091
Micro red dot

View attachment 269090


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. View attachment 269093

Wait seriously?
Do you think any of those are the dots we're putting on our pistols?
What am i missing here?

 

[Born2vette]

Read some of this, watch some of his YouTube videos

https://www.sagedynamics.org/_files/ugd/7dc128_6377087e72264cd18dbcb04eea4686ce.pdf

I have two EDCs with both with Holosuns, a 507k and a 407k. No issues with either, hold zero like a rock. But both have BIS I could use if needed.

 

[DadSmith]

Wait seriously?
Do you think any of those are the dots we're putting on our pistols?
What am i missing here?

I've seen some pretty big red dots on pistols. Not AR red dots but big round red dot sights.

Point is red dot or micro red dot. There is a difference.

 

[ditcherman]

A while back, I posted a set of requirements for my next pistol. One of the requirements is that it be red dot ready. I was in one of my local gun shops a few days ago looking at pistols that can accommodate them, and the guy behind the counter said "Pretty much any red dot you get, unless you pay for top of the line, is going to lose its zero after a few shots. That's just how it is."

I've never used a red dot and know nothing about them. For those of you who carry and practice regularly with a red dot site equipped pistol, what do you think of that?

I'm wise enough to understand that I don't know what I don't know, but on the other hand I'm pretty sure the gun clerk dude definitely does not know.

Just agreeing with the consensus in this thread, but will throw in that I have 2500-3000 rounds through a P320 with a Romeo 1 Pro and never remember adjusting the zero after initial.
That gun is traded off but have several others, 320's and CZ 75's with Romeo 1 Pros. They get a bad rap but I've had luck with them.

 

[ditcherman]

I've seen some pretty big red dots on pistols. Not AR red dots but big round red dot sights.

Point is red dot or micro red dot. There is a difference.

Well I'd be willing to bet that no one here is talking about anything like the first three, and I suppose the Romeo Zero is a micro but even that is an extreme. The g**** you added with the RMR is the only normal one that normal people are normally talking about.

 

[DadSmith]

Wait seriously?
Do you think any of those are the dots we're putting on our pistols?
What am i missing here?

Red dots

 

[ditcherman]

Red dots
View attachment 269094

View attachment 269095

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View attachment 269097

The 1980's called and they want their race guns back.

ETA how do those even eject?