I have a glock 21 with a 460 rowland conversion kit. This is strictly a hunting/plinking pistol and not a defensive gun. How many of you run a red dot vs iron sights, im thinking in low light and nighttime conditions i believe the red dot would be more ideal than even nights sights, but i would like your guys input. FWIW i am considering a vortex venom 3 MOA red dot.
Red dot on hunting pistol or stick with iron sights
- Thread starter dkarre
- Start date
The traditionalists might argue, but red dots are beneficial in every way. Defensive handgunners and competition shooters are using them now because of their accuracy, quicker target acquisition, and speed in transitions. Obviously you are talking hunting, but the same principles apply. I don't see how it could negatively affect you when hunting. Just make sure you get something durable enough to withstand the recoil and can be dimmed enough to not wash out the animal in low light. The Geissele frame mount is nice so you don't have to deal with the sight moving with the slide, but then you can't really carry it in a holster. Otherwise a slide mounted one would work fine also.
I have a red dot sight {Nikon} on my Ruger Hunter MKIII. I hunt with it, but I use it to hunt raccoons at night with a light and dogs. The disadvantage to using a red dot sight for general hunting purposes is that it does not gather any light...in fact, since the lenses have to be coated with a tint to make the dot visible they knock back the light some and take away from what you can see with your eye. If you are trying to use it to hunt animals that typically come out right at or near dark you will find that you might be better off using a good quality scope.
This doesn't affect me with what I am doing because I have a bright headlamp to light up the entire tree. I also own a Trijicon RMR sight that is smaller and has a bigger dot that I use from time to time, but it has the same issue. Red dot sights are fun to shoot with and they are quick, accurate and deadly...but again, they just don't gather and enhance light in a hunting situation where you really need it the most. From my experience you will do best in a low light situation with something that gathers and enhances the ambient light available. Night sights might be a second best, because they don't detract from what you can see with your eyes. My thing has always been that if you need help just to be able to see your sights how can you positively ID what you are shooting at??? All this would be followed by looking thru the darker tint of a red dot.
This doesn't affect me with what I am doing because I have a bright headlamp to light up the entire tree. I also own a Trijicon RMR sight that is smaller and has a bigger dot that I use from time to time, but it has the same issue. Red dot sights are fun to shoot with and they are quick, accurate and deadly...but again, they just don't gather and enhance light in a hunting situation where you really need it the most. From my experience you will do best in a low light situation with something that gathers and enhances the ambient light available. Night sights might be a second best, because they don't detract from what you can see with your eyes. My thing has always been that if you need help just to be able to see your sights how can you positively ID what you are shooting at??? All this would be followed by looking thru the darker tint of a red dot.
Varminterror
New member
Red dot all the way. If you consider nothing else, consider the level of precision. Typically, a 1/8" wide front sight covers ~15moa or more. It's easy to also have 3-5Moa in light on the sides of your sight, allowing a bit of float. Now you need to place an assymetrical, non-center target, aka deer vitals, on top of a 15moa wide table with 3-5moa float. Instead, you could have a 2, 3, or 4moa dot to place on target.
I hunt with handguns more than anything else, all of them are red dots or scopes. I've hunted a lot with irons, still do sometimes (especially hogs), but predominantly, I want the extra range and precision offered by optics.
I hunt with handguns more than anything else, all of them are red dots or scopes. I've hunted a lot with irons, still do sometimes (especially hogs), but predominantly, I want the extra range and precision offered by optics.