Pros and Cons of Concealed Carry with a Red Dot Optic
Red dot optics, also often called by the Trijicon brand name “RMR” (for the brand’s ruggedized miniature reflex sights), are becoming commonplace on range pistols, having first met wide acceptance among sport shooters who love them for fast aiming as compared to iron sights (the term used here for traditional sights, even if they’re non-metallic). They’re popular, but is a red dot a good choice for concealed carry? Let’s take a look at some pros and cons of making the leap from iron to electronic sights.
Upside #1: Shooting with a red dot is more instinctive.
In a gunfight, it’s only natural for the intended victim to focus on the attacker. Bringing focus rearward to iron sights is difficult or impossible for most people. The red dot allows you to focus on your attacker and the sight without having to shift the distance focus of your eyes. What an advantage!
Upside #2: The time from draw to trigger press is shortened, with practice.
This is the primary reason there’s so much love for red dots in the tactical and competition arenas. It does speed up target acquisition and therefore time to the first shot, however this is a skill that must be practiced. Those who are accustomed to using a red dot on a carbine or shotgun usually find that using one on a pistol isn’t quite as natural at first.
Upside #3: A red dot can make shooting easier for those with aging eyes.
As eyes change with age, it can become difficult if not impossible to see the front sight clearly. A red dot can be a boon to those struggling with ocular aging. I have seen many aging shooters regain the skill and confidence of a youthful person after mounting a red dot on their favorite pistol.
Upside #4: It’s easier to be accurate at distance with a red dot.
This perk is listed last because distance shots of, say, 25 yards or longer in concealed carry situations are rare. However, it would be the top benefit if hunting or bullseye shooting was the interest. I’ve seen some shooters go from struggle to success on The Humbler drill after transitioning to a red dot.
Along with the impressive benefits, there are some drawbacks to choosing a red dot for your concealment gun. Here are the primary ones, at least in my view—
Downside #1: Red dot sights are bulky.
For some of us, it’s hard enough to comfortably conceal a pistol and holster under clothing. Adding a square metal frame to the top of your slide will probably require some adjustments to your carry system. While the sight itself will clear most holsters, that may put the metal in direct contact with your skin—a potential source of pain, chafing, or allergic reaction to the metal. There’s added clothing-snag potential from the taller iron sights that will likely be paired with the electronic sight.
Downside #2: Purchasing and mounting a red dot is expensive.
Plan on spending several hundred dollars for the sight itself. There are modular mounts that can attach to the slide of your pistol without modifying it, however accuracy and durability are bound to suffer, especially when the gun is subjected to the stresses of EDC. “Milling” or machining a slide to accommodate a red dot is far preferable, and will add $50-200 to the cost of the setup. And don’t forget your standard sights, which should still be visible as a co-witness in the event the electronic sight breaks or runs out of battery. They’ll likely need to be replaced with higher, suppressor-ready sights so as to be visible.
Downside #3: Effective red dot use requires training, even on a known gun.
There are a couple aspects of training with a red dot that are different from iron sights. Just like a rifle or carbine optic, a red dot must be zeroed at a chosen distance, say 10 yards for defensive purposes. The shooter must know his or her zero and how the gun places rounds on target at distances shorter or greater than the chosen zero.
For that “must make the head shot” moment at relatively close range, there is a mechanical offset between bore and sight to take into consideration. Shooters should know their holdovers (or hold-unders, perhaps) are for short and long distances. We are, after all, legally responsible for every round that leaves the muzzle!
I have found that red dot use requires a slight adjustment in the angle at which I typically hold a handgun while firing. Becoming accustomed to drawing and finding the dot takes practice, and is important to learn. Another shift required is the mental one, from focusing on the sights to focusing on the target. That one’s usually mastered fast. However, if the shooter carries an iron sight-only gun for work or other tasks, switching between the two systems causes some delays and mistakes for the vast majority of operators.
Downside #4: Dot size and brands are often not interchangeable.
Red dots usually come with a choice of dot size. A large dot is easier and faster to aim at close distances. However, it may also pose a risk if a precision shot needs to be made, even close-up. Some brands offer brightness settings for the sight—a great option, unless it becomes a distraction or a situation arises in which the setting of choice offers insufficient contrast during a criminal attack. But these are little details, and folks have gotten along fine for years compromising for the different but equal shortcomings of iron sights.
When all is said and done, ease of wear is probably the most important factor in deciding whether a red dot is right for your concealment gun. Dedicated practice is a close second. The gun you don’t have on, or can’t operate well, can’t help you save a life.
Thanks to M at Courtesy Sporting & Pawn for modeling his Sig P320 and Trijicon red dot EDC setup. Thanks to Shaun at Trijicon customer service for answering product questions.
taking a close look at the iron sights on the gun pictured, I do not see how they are any way high enough, especially the front, to cowitness with the RMR OR see over a suppressor. Come on, Eve, before you print pics in your article, do you actually HANDLE the gun to do what you describe in the text? You usually don’t miss little details like that.
I’ve had the privilege of firing this pistol and yes the irons are visible through the lens.
A lower 1/3 of lens co-witness is a preferred design and that’s what this gun’s owner chose. Thanks for reading the article.
The fog from a change in temperature is a deal breaker for me.
Know nothing dummy
Given that a red dot is effective with both eyes open, I can’t see how seeing over a suppressor is at all relevant or necessary. The optic can be completely opaque on the business end and shooting can proceed normally.
Are you referring to a suppressor or suppressed sights? The higher sights (Suppressed sights) allow you to co-witness through the optic in case of optic failure. Has nothing to do with a suppressor.
I would think as a duty weapon or primary carry this would be a no brainer. Can’t walk around all day on duty with your scope on. The sights would must for a quick draw situation, correct ?
The article is supposed to talk about concealed carry . Yet the gun an mag is open carry and would not be concealed easily.
The holster in the picture is an (IWB) inside the waistband holster. The shirt is tucked behind the gun just for the picture. It wouldn’t look as good if it was just a picture of someone’s shirt, would it? And yeah it’s easy to conceal both the gun and magazine.
As far as using the restroom and sitting, it is quite easy and comfortable when done right.
Clearly, you’re new to concealed carry. That’s fine, everyone starts somewhere. We have lots of content explaining all about appendix carry if you’re really interested.
Some people just like to argue. Who puts a suppressor on a conceal carry gun? A compact optic doesn’t take up much space and is very fast and accurate. Many people still carry much larger guns in conceal carry so addition of an optic isn’t a deal breaker.
I love Red Dots on rifles (especially CQB) but:
For pistols:
Do you really think you will have time to turn on a Red Dot in a real fight?
“Hold on just a minute while I get this thing turned on.”
Have you ever been in a real fight?
For Rifles, competition and play guns – fine – they are fun and can be useful.
Especially with a magnifier.
For Real “Carry” Defense – I cant recommend it on a Pistol.
A lot of Red Dots are now motion activated.
THANK U
If you’re not using a motion-activated, red dot optic on your rifle, how would it be any better for CQB than a non-motion-activated red dot optic on a handgun? In neither scenario would it make sense to ask them to hold on a minute while you turn on the optic.
There are plenty of reasons red-dot optics are used on handguns, competition and for self-defense. They have their benefits and drawbacks as Eve covers in the article.
But one of the drawbacks is not that you have to turn them on. As long as you are not using a low-end optic on your handgun. And why would you, if it is going on your everyday carry gun?
Agreed. You have no prior notice in a random (emergency) shooter situation. If your red dot is turned off, or turned down too low, or fogged up (whatever), then you’re in trouble. Iron sites are guaranteed to be functional. I want to carry mine for grizzlies, and grizzlies don’t provide much notice.
In competitive shooting, or going into any other pre-known firing situation, I would prefer to have a red dot.
I bought a venom and it stays on automatic so I don’t have to think about it. Put it in dark place and it goes to dimmest setting if I pull it out in bright light it ramps up. 30000 hours of battery life lol I don’t worry about it. Change it once a year on New Years.
Micro red dot optics for pistols are generally always on. Modern optics battery life is in the years range.
On a Pistol dot on ALL OF THE TIME. Do you know anything about the technology at all. 2 year battery in many cases.
“hold on while I focus on these iron sights or get a sight picture”. have you been in a real fight?
-Making fun of you, of course. For good reason.
The motion on and off has been on the market for some time now on most brands.
Red dots stay always-on for 2-4 years per battery charge. And now, there’s motion activation. Moot point.
Most red dots are always on or “shake awake.” It is no different than my patrol rifle. I’ve never had to stop and turn mine on…because it’s always on.
My RMR on my handgun is always on thus there is no need to turn anything on. 2 year battery life and you should always check to see if the battery needs replacement. I’ve replaced mine once in 2 years.
I have to agree with Defender on this matter. Having used Red Dot sight for a number of years, it is not practical in emergency situations.
I currently have the AT3 on this list: https://www.pointoptics.com/best-red-dot-sight/
It is particularly bulky but has made hunting far easier – Whether or not this is practical on a concealed is debatable.
@KG – How often do you use your handgun?
No. For DEFENSIVE purposes. No.
For Long Range targets? Yes. For IDPA or other competition shooting? Yes.
For Tacti-Coolness Factor? Yes.
Don’t get butt-hurt when people with common sense will disagree with you. Especially when they say, “No, a red dot sight is not practical for an DGU situation.”
Get over it.
Aside from your high level of common sense, what other reasons is a red dot a no for you?
Nearly every respected self-defense firearm instructor disagrees.
Eve, I’ve got a problem with how you describe the machining of the slide for a red dot sight. Let me preface this comment by stating I’m a Journeyman Tool & Die Maker. I have extensive experience with both conventional and EDM machining methods. EDM introduces way less stress into the metal than conventional machining. EDM uses electrical spark erosion, there is zero contact between the metal and electrode. Conventional methods use a cutting tool, i.e., an end mill to cut the slot. This DOES introduce a fairly large amount of stress to the workpiece. If you are not careful the stress can cause a workpiece to distort. Conventional (ram) EDM only requires a rectangular electrode the same size as the cut you want to make. Locate the electrode where you want the slot to be and let the machine descend to the depth you want. Anyone who has used a conventional or CNC milling machine would tell you that there is much more setup and machining time involved.
Several comments hit it on the head, in the end, it is your personal preference. No matter what you choose you need to train with it. I have one on a beside home defense gun ( which I agree is a different setup for most vs edc) and may add one to my EDC setup. The red dot is a shake to wake auto-dimming unit and works very well. I have noticed a number of top trainers carrying red dots as well now when showing off their EDC rig. The trend is obvious as we move forward in technology.
Informative article and comments. I like hearing different view points on any subject. Researching as I’m considering one for my EDC.
How does the person in the picture use the restroom? Sitting or standing seems like it would be difficult.
That’s wild you would censor my comment. On pro a 2nd amendment site. Hypocrisy
James, we read and manually approve all comments. Nobody censored your comment, relax.
I have a Glock 43x MOS. If I want to buy an RMR sight do I need Suppressor height night sights?
Should I just go with a plain front sight (no co-witness?).
Looking for solid advice. My father is 72 years old and he carries his 43x MOS (eyes are going bad).
Not sure if I will put one on. Take me to Church. Thanks guys. Stay oiled. Matthew M. Semper Fi 3/4 Kilo company 03-07.
Jason
Semper Fi Jason! 2/1 Golf Co. 00-04 As far as the dot I am a big proponent of them. I am nearsighted but require bifocals, my eyes are not great. I find the dot helps me because I don’t have to wear my bifocal glasses. As far as the co-witness, a lower 1/3 is good because it doesn’t obstruct too much and still allows you to use them if necessary. I just put a Shield RMRsc on my buddy’s 48MOS and he needed suppressor height for a lower 1/3 co-witness. I’ve heard some say that the Swampfox will co-witness with factory-height sights, but I haven’t used a Swampfox and don’t know enough to recommend them and haven’t had the opportunity to try a setup like that to see if it’s true. Sorry, I am not more helpful.
Red dot sights are fine if you’re shooting at a stationary target that doesn’t move or shoot back, by the time you get the gun out of your canceled carry holster, wake up the sight and find the red dot you’re enemy will have emptied his magazine in you and reloading. They’re fine for target practice.
The primary reason I no longer use a red dot on my concealed pistol is not mentioned. However for me, it is by far the biggest drawback. Oil and lint that come from my body and clothes, collect on the lens. It quickly becomes an impractical cleaning schedule, just to see through it.
This article was far more helpful than others – thanks! It’s a shamef some of the comments are needlessly rude. Would you consider making an article on the best red dot sights for concealed carry?
Combat/self defense is 15 feet. More often than not, point and shoot situations. I choose not to use them on a ccw.