Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Red Dot Sights and aging eyes

So I've been wearing bifocals for a few years now and they don't always play well with handgun iron sights.

Question, do the reflex style red dot sights (Burris Fastfire, Vortex Venom, etc) work well with aging eyes? Does the dot focus well?

I'm thinking about having one of my Glock slides milled for such a sight, but don't want to go down that road if it is a waste of time/money.


Thanks, Shane

Absent an astigmatism that causes other dots to be wonky I think it'll be fine. They appear the same as an Aimpoint to me.

I think this is where dots on pistols really shine. They give you an easy to see aiming point and one plane to focus on.

When I found myself needing bifocals, my ability to focus on sights at arms length had already been suffering to the point I'd pretty much given up on shooting handguns. Now that I wear trifocals, that middle lense helps considerably to focus on the sights, and reading glasses with a similar correction work even better. Regardless, I have to have that intermediate correction to shoot any handgun with open sights.

To answer your question about red dot sights, the Fastfire I put on a Buckmark is awesome for my aging eyes. I have no problem focusing the dot and target with my primary lense (distance correction) and don't have to rely in the other lenses for a closer in focus. I only have that type of sight on the one pistol, but it is much easier for me to shoot than any iron sight. I don't think you'd be disappointed...

to carry while hunting or hiking is one thing, I could not see the red dot on for instance the G43 I carry. I would look at other sights for a carry weapon. However I have wanted to do one of the G40's set up that way as a trail gun.

I have a J-point on a Buckmark and it works pretty well for my 52 YO eyes but it takes some practice to find the dot as quickly as I find the front sight. Still a S&W CORE with a Trijicon RMR is on my list of things to have.

For now I use Trijicon HD sights with the luminescent dot around the tritium dot. It works better for me than regular sights. The other thing I've been considering is a set of Dawson Precision fiber optic sights. They're very easy to see and require no special holster that a red dot would.

FYI There are business selling slides that are red dot ready with the higher sights ready to go. See https://suarezinternational.com/for-gen-4-glock-19/

In a word or four, yes, they work excellently. If your far vision is still okay you can use them without your prescription glasses although I find the dot is a bit sharper when I wear my progressive glasses and that's looking through the far vision part so the target is still in sharp focus. I'd prefer to use open sights for a few reasons but the red dot or small reflex sights - I use a Burris Fastfire - are a godsend for aging eyes.

Never one to waste old posts, here is my first impression of a Fastfire II from a few years ago. The latest Fastfire III has corrected the problems with sight adjustment, brightness and battery placement of the II model.

Fastfire II review


One thing to note is that I post from the perspective of liking to hit small targets far away where the red dot will sometimes cover most of the target. But for deliberate or fast shooting close in or on larger targets those red dots are super slick. Even then, match the target to the dot and you won't find better unless you go to a bulky scope. I was out this past Friday morning with a Fastfire on a 10/22 ringing a 4" gong at 100 yards with most every shot from the kneeling position, the little 3 MOA dot centered itself on the 4" round plate like a target sight.

Thanks for the info guys.

I did look at Suarez and a couple other slide/upper options. For the price of one of those with internals and iron sights and a barrel, I'd be ahead to just buy a new Glock MOS pistol.

Looks like I could have one of my Gen 2's milled and refinished with cerakote for about $150 by Battlewerx, or a few other places on the 'net.

http://www.battlewerx.com/vortex-venom-cut-for-glock/


Thanks for the help, Shane

With irons, focus is on the front sight, with target and rear sight out of focus.

Where is focal point with the red dot? Is it on the sight unit, or downrange at the target? Does the sight bring the target image to the sight's focal distance? Or are both eyes open and focused downrange?

Maybe I need to just get one of the sights, and play with it on a 10/22 or something to get smarter on how it works.

MontanaMarine, Simply put, Yes! At least for me. I was trying to get back into handgun hunting, and found I couldn't hit "squat" at hunting ranges. While certainly not match winning accuracy, I can keep most of my shots on a 4" square target at 100 yards, shooting off of sticks. Before the Burris Fastfire, I couldn't keep all shots on an 11x17" paper. memtb

Not sure of the mechanics of it, i.e. whether it actually brings the target and sight onto one focal plane. Be that as it may, that's how I use it, by focusing on the target and pasting the bead on it like you would the crosshairs of a scope.

Can't speak to other sights but the Fastfire does not have a sharply defined round dot reticle - almost but not quite - although it gives that impression on the lower brightness settings. It's not the greatest for precise holdover or under like one might do with a scope or more defined reticle, but is at its best when used within the point blank range of your load. Focus on the target, put the dot on the target and fire.

Regardless of your visual acuity, single aiming point systems like red-dots and scopes are easier to use than iron sights - that's not really open to much debate.

The question to ask and answer is what is your intended application. While you may be able to shoot with better precision with a single point aiming system, it may not be enough to matter at close range. For example, I'm mildly amused when folks brag about their 5 and 7 yards groups with their red-dot sighted pistols. You don't need a RDS to shoot at those distances - period.

But, as distances increase, the targets get smaller or the ambient light is diminished, the single point system is the cat's meow and all the shooting disciplines have proven that to be the case for about 30 years now.

With a red-dot sight, your focus is on the target and you must shoot with both eyes open to maximize the benefit of such a sighting system.

Both eyes open, focused on the target, dot superimposed on it.

Thanks for all the feedback.

I'm going to get one. I'll mount it on the 22/45 first, and get some trigger-time on it before sending a Glock slide to get milled.

Shane

What size dot do you all like for general purpose. I'm thinking something around 4-6 moa?

I like a 2 MOA dot for all around use. One thing about a red-dot sighted pistol is that your effective range is extended; unless you only intend to shoot fast and up close, there's no need to forego the greater precision a 2 MOA dot allows.

That makes sense.

I was looking at the Vortex Venom with 3 moa, and 6 moa 'coming soon'.

Maybe the 3 moa will work for me. It's probably a safe bet that I can't shoot a Glock better than 3 moa anyways.....grin.

I'm thinking I'll likely get the Glock 22 milled out, and whenever I get an extended 357 Sig barrel, it should be pretty flat shooting to 100 yards.

On a pistol? I shot with a 3.25 and wouldn't have wanted it any smaller. But I never tried a smaller one either so can't say for sure.

Yes, on a handgun. I was skeptical of the smaller dot as well, but after shooting it for awhile I find it easier to hit with past 50 yards compared to a 4 MOA dot, which is the only other size I've tried on a handgun. If I were concerned about speed, though, I'd go with the 4 MOA dot. It is noticeably faster to acquire, particularly if the sight window isn't exactly aligned with my line-of-sight when the gun comes up.

For a tactical type situation, probably a larger dot. For hunting, particularly for longer ranges and especially a smallish target, the smaller dot. I went with the smallest FastFire on my Smith X-Frame. You'd cover a lot of coyote at 100 yrds..... But with me shooting,he's probably relatively safe anyway! memtb

That's cool, I'll try a smaller one if I come across one.

I had the dot in a Trijicon sight go "out of focus". Got glasses and the problem was fixed.

Shane, don't know if you've gone down the road yet or not. But, this is a darn good deal.

http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=2047219&categoryId=0&parentCategoryId=0&subCategoryId=0&indexId=0&itemGUID=ae8b749fac1084506db022d3027f343a&destination=%252Fuser%252Forder_details.cmd%253Fid%253D4GMbX1fjI4ZrBkrNSO0e9w%25253D%25253D%2526key%253D82d72be396bc464d99aac30724a73bb8

Use code 7DADSDAY for free shipping.

I just bought one and don't even have the gun yet.

Figure the money I saved can flush out some of the gun cost.

I went with the 3.25 MOA after reading up on the differences. Here's one of the articles.

https://bigtexoutdoors.com/blogs/news/differences-between-trijicon-rmrs

Good luck with the eyes. I'm in the same boat, but have been there longer.

That IS a good deal. I have a Leupold Delta Point on my MOS 40 and really like it. I may have to pick up one of these, too. I'll find someplace to use it.

Greg, the $349 price from Cabelas was too good to pass up. It's the LED version, not the dual version, but I can live with that. Out of stock though, two week back order. Had to place a separate order with Amazon to get the AC32064 mounting kit. Trijicon customer service said that the MOS kit that came with the G40 does not have the right screws or the water proofing plate. Another $17 bucks.

Sam, I felt the same way. Glad you were able to pick one up at that price. Forgot to point out, a lot of the reviews I read favored the LED's over the dual illumination models. The duals don't have a manual brightness adjustment. The LED's do. You can take the LED's up from 3.25 (if you buy that model) to about a 5-6 MOA dot by simply bumping up the brightness adjustment. The dual illumination models' dots start with a 7 MOA model and go up to 12.9 MOA model. I liked the idea of starting with the 3.25 MOA and being able to work up to around a 5-6 MOA. The duals were also reported to have problems with the dot washing out in low light. One last reason I chose the LED is when the tritium goes dead in 10 years on the duals, you have to buy another sight. Not simply replace a battery.

At that price, I'll just keep it in the safe until I get the G41 or G40. Your purchase of the G40 intiated a blast of research on my end and I may end up with that one instead.

BTW- the 3.25 MOA LED model is the RM06.

Had to jump in on this as well - had some Cabelas bucks I wanted to use which got it under $250...

What is there to "live with" in that deal? The LED is by far the better version for anyone who can access batteries once a year or so. It's also significantly more expensive, making this an even better deal.

I'm in the "over 50" bi focal group also. I had S&W performance center 9mm with a Trijicon dual illumination dot sight.
It had a 9moa dot. Two things I didn't like about the sight. One, the dot was to large beyond 25 yards. Two, I disliked the pinkish lens coating on that model. It sucked in low light and obscured the front sight. I did work well with my aging eyes as far as the red dot sight was considered. Fast and accurate. My next one will have a battery and a 3-5moa dot, with clear lens coatings.

There are mounts that replace the rear sight on a Glock slide, so milling the slide is not required. I had one on a G20 to mount a Fast Fire III, and never had a problem with it. Might do the same on the G23 .40 S&W I will be using with a suppressor a lot - avoid needing "suppressor height" sights, and get a better sighting system, also. This will be a home defense and truck gun, mostly, not much carry use.

Mike

JGray, that ended up at a great price. Was telling my bud Mannlicher I wish I'd signed up for Cabelas rewards many years ago when I was buying tons of ammuntion from them.



Rugernut, what you described is exactly what is on sale right now for $349.

You are correct that dovetail mounts are available, but it would be a mistake to think they are anywhere near as good as milling the slide and having co-witnessed sights. The only advantage of a dovetail mount is price, and they have serious disadvantages especially when you need to aquire the dot in a hurry, like a defense situation.