red dot sights on defensive handgun?

jtheise4 · May 18th, 2009, 01:38 PM

I'm considering putting a Trijicon Red Dot sight on my S&W M&P9. This gun will not be carried. It is on my nightstand. I have a red dot sight on my S&W 22A and love it. Makes shooting quickly much easier. Any thoughts? Anyone have a similiar setup? Thanks.

BKS · May 18th, 2009, 03:57 PM

I have been thinking about this also. A very hard core person, Kelly McCann advocates it due to commanality between guns, red dot on AR, red dot on handgun.

Watching to see what everyone thinks.

SilenceDoGood · May 18th, 2009, 04:18 PM

if it gives you an edge do it to it.

Janq · May 18th, 2009, 05:13 PM

I'd seriously entertained same for use on a carry gun with a dedicated purpose use slide.
I have not yet written the idea off...

Burris 'FastFire' (Not my own guns...sourced via GIS to show product mounting options)

Quote:

300230 FastFire with Picatinny Mount
300231 FastFire, no Mount
300232 FastFire II with Picatinny Mount
300233 FastFire II, no Mount
410335 Mount - Picatinny / Weaver for FastFire and FastFire II
410330 Mount - Picatinny Protector for FastFire and FastFire II
410321 Mount - 1911 Standard
410322 Mount - 1911 Novak
410323 Mount - Kimber Standard & Bomar
410324 Mount - Beretta 92, 96, 90-TWO, Cougar & Taurus PT99
410325 Mount - Beretta PX4 Storm
410326 Mount - Glock all
410327 Mount - Sig Sauer P226
410328 Mount - Springfield XD
410329 Mount - Ruger Mark I, II, III
410331 Mount - Sako Rifles (requires Picatinny Mount)
410332 Mount - Ruger rifles, Super Redhawk, Super Blackhawk Hunter
410333 Mount - Marlin 336, 444, 1895 pre-drilled and tapped
410334 Mount - Winchester M94 pre-drilled and tapped
Burris FastFire™

- Janq

CRags99 · May 18th, 2009, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilenceDoGood

if it gives you an edge do it to it.

Agreed. Any advantage and extra familarity you have with your chosen gun, the better. If you can use the red dot to more accurately and more efficiently fire rounds, go for it. If it doesn't make a big difference in your speed or accuracy, don't waste the money.

Rob72 · May 18th, 2009, 06:01 PM

It works extremely well- with the caveat that if you are not already point-indexing your pistol on the draw, you will be dot-chasing.

IOW, if you have good basics down, at at least moderate speed, it can be an asset. Batteries easily last 12 months; I changed mine out annually for yuks & giggles, no failures.

jtheise4 · May 18th, 2009, 08:19 PM

Thanks for the feedback.

heylin · May 18th, 2009, 08:53 PM

Mabey its a personal preference but ive used a red dot before for engaging steel plates at close range and to be honest at defensive distances (less than 7 meters), or in your home (less than 5 meters) im not sure a red dot would give you any extra benefit.

Considering most home invasions happen at night time and will be extremely close range, I would be more inclined to suggest a LED tactical light + laser and\or Trijicon 3 dot combat sights.

1boredguy · May 22nd, 2009, 10:39 PM

I would like to check one out for myself as well.

I would keep an eye out for a red dot that holds up well in daylight. Cheaper modules might get a washed out red dot on a bright day.

Jay6 · May 23rd, 2009, 01:08 PM

To be honest I think it would be a fantsatic idea. One of my match guns has a c-more optic on it and the challenge of this is the change of sight focus. You actually need to have a target focus when shooting a red dot and just let the shot break once the dot comes into your view. This very much lends itself to a defensive shooting situation where one of the largest challenges is taking your eyes off the target and coming back to the front site. With a red dot you would not have to do that (it is actually reccomended not to) and you can shoot what will feel normal.

If you are doing this though I would spend the money on a good red dot. C-more is the best in the business.

May 18th, 2009, 01:38 PM	#1
jtheise4 Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Livonia, MI Posts: 23	red dot sights on defensive handgun? I'm considering putting a Trijicon Red Dot sight on my S&W M&P9. This gun will not be carried. It is on my nightstand. I have a red dot sight on my S&W 22A and love it. Makes shooting quickly much easier. Any thoughts? Anyone have a similiar setup? Thanks.

May 18th, 2009, 04:18 PM	#3
SilenceDoGood Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 685	if it gives you an edge do it to it. __________________ "A government is like fire, a handy servant, but a dangerous master." -- George Washington

May 18th, 2009, 08:53 PM	#8
heylin Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 371	Mabey its a personal preference but ive used a red dot before for engaging steel plates at close range and to be honest at defensive distances (less than 7 meters), or in your home (less than 5 meters) im not sure a red dot would give you any extra benefit. Considering most home invasions happen at night time and will be extremely close range, I would be more inclined to suggest a LED tactical light + laser and\or Trijicon 3 dot combat sights. __________________ ------------------------------------------------ War is not about dying for your country, but making your enemy die for his. ------------------------------------------------

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May 18th, 2009, 03:57 PM	#2
BKS Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Arkansas Posts: 28	I have been thinking about this also. A very hard core person, Kelly McCann advocates it due to commanality between guns, red dot on AR, red dot on handgun. Watching to see what everyone thinks.

May 18th, 2009, 06:01 PM	#6
Rob72 VIP Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: OK Posts: 3,468	It works extremely well- with the caveat that if you are not already point-indexing your pistol on the draw, you will be dot-chasing. IOW, if you have good basics down, at at least moderate speed, it can be an asset. Batteries easily last 12 months; I changed mine out annually for yuks & giggles, no failures.

May 18th, 2009, 08:19 PM	#7
jtheise4 Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Livonia, MI Posts: 23	Thanks for the feedback.

May 22nd, 2009, 10:39 PM	#9
1boredguy Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 129	I would like to check one out for myself as well. I would keep an eye out for a red dot that holds up well in daylight. Cheaper modules might get a washed out red dot on a bright day.

May 23rd, 2009, 01:08 PM	#10
Jay6 Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Lewiston, ME Posts: 195	To be honest I think it would be a fantsatic idea. One of my match guns has a c-more optic on it and the challenge of this is the change of sight focus. You actually need to have a target focus when shooting a red dot and just let the shot break once the dot comes into your view. This very much lends itself to a defensive shooting situation where one of the largest challenges is taking your eyes off the target and coming back to the front site. With a red dot you would not have to do that (it is actually reccomended not to) and you can shoot what will feel normal. If you are doing this though I would spend the money on a good red dot. C-more is the best in the business.