Red dots or steel sights
Red dots or steel sights
Is it a generational thing? I remember back in my military days all we had pretty much were steel sights. We would go to the range and shoot thousands of rds per day and learned steel sights out to 800 yards. Now adays everybody is using red dots and only if any use their steel. How many of you still use steel on anything? I know red dots are nice at night and during low light.
Last edited by Elk34 on April 23rd, 2020, 1:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Tim McBride
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Re: Red dots or steel sights
I have guns with irons, most have RDS, a few have both. I greatly prefer the red dot over anything else.
Re: Red dots or steel sights
But do you train with just the irons sights just in case your red dot goes down?
Re: Red dots or steel sights
My opinion is that some guns are just meant to use iron sights. I prefer iron on my AKs, FAL, and long rifles, but love red dots on my AR platforms. Just a preference thing I guess
- Dace
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Re: Red dots or steel sights
Its not generational unless you mean older generations dont like change. Modern red dots and LPVO scopes are superior in every way to iron sights.
Once you train and use your sights regularly you quickly realize the massive limitations of irons.
The only place irons might still have a place is on a defensive pistol where its more about point shooting and muscle memory at close distances. But even these are starting to get replaced.
Once you train and use your sights regularly you quickly realize the massive limitations of irons.
The only place irons might still have a place is on a defensive pistol where its more about point shooting and muscle memory at close distances. But even these are starting to get replaced.
Re: Red dots or steel sights
I know the target acquisition is faster with red dots but there is something to say about iron. No batteries, less weight, you can drop your rifle pick it up and it's still zeroed. Less to get hung up on gear. No optics glint in the sun. I have red dots with ruby red lens coatings. I don't hate either one. I just think that the newer generation relys on the red dot to much and they don't trust the irons or train with them as much.
- Jack Dupp
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Re: Red dots or steel sights
It's not like those of us that prefer red dots and low power variable optics wouldn't be able to rock a target with irons if the non-iron sights went down. I don't think too many serious shooters would suddenly become retarded. It's not that hard to shoot a rifle or handgun with irons so I don't really see the NEED to train with them. Heck, I can hit a man sized target with a rifle at 300 yards within 3 shots with NO sights whatsoever. And the same target at 100 yards with a handgun with no sights. And I'm no David Tubb or Rob Leatham.
Re: Red dots or steel sights
No but I think you may train more than most.
Re: Red dots or steel sights
No but I think you may train more than most. You may be able to but I don't think you talk for the majority. That would be a bad assumption.
- cool arrow
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Re: Red dots or steel sights
I have both, and love cool optics, but prefer steel sights.
You can bounce an AR around alot and never lose zero with iron sights, but can alter zero on optics/scopes.
You can bounce an AR around alot and never lose zero with iron sights, but can alter zero on optics/scopes.
- Tim McBride
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- Tim McBride
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Re: Red dots or steel sights
I beat the s*** out of my Aimpoint on my 2Gun setup and it hasn't lost zero yet.cool arrow wrote: ↑April 23rd, 2020, 12:36 pm I have both, and love cool optics, but prefer steel sights.
You can bounce an AR around alot and never lose zero with iron sights, but can alter zero on optics/scopes.
Cheap mounts and shitty optics lose zero. Buy quality.
- cool arrow
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Re: Red dots or steel sights
^^^ this
I was thinking mostly scopes, but you are right about the Aimpoint, mine has never failed me either, BUT I can do better for distance with steel sights, the Aimpoint is great for CQB but I still like my plain old iron sights when shooting over 50yds out. Just my "crazy old man preference."
I was thinking mostly scopes, but you are right about the Aimpoint, mine has never failed me either, BUT I can do better for distance with steel sights, the Aimpoint is great for CQB but I still like my plain old iron sights when shooting over 50yds out. Just my "crazy old man preference."