Picked up my NEW TOY today...always fun!!!

[Delija]

Shot the gun with the red dot sight.

Big disappointment really.

A great "night sight". But it did nothing for my accuracy. I did better with my iron sights at distances of 35 feet or so. I was hoping that at greater distances the red dot sights would help.

Maybe I just need to get used to the sight. More practice. It does make target acquisition easier. It makes it easier to see (focus on) the target and the sight at the same time, which I cannot do with iron sights. I don't think anyone can.

I had a (much) better shooter than me shoot the gun at 60 feet and he was able to get better groups...he's much more steady than I am. He played around with the adjustment screws and after perhaps 30 rounds he was able to hit a dime size target at 60 feet, which is pretty impressive off hand with no magnification. At least it's impressive to me.
So I am hopeful that with practice my accuracy will get better and the red dot will be a contributing factor.

But the first time out....no.

The good news is I shot my XD9 Sub extremely well...much better than ever before. At 25 feet I was hitting the black stick-on "Shoot-N-C" three inch targets about 70%......I also had a good day with the .45 1911. I am still a bit low at 25 feet, but hitting those same targets about half the time. (maybe slghtly less, but close). Which is pretty good....for me. Still missing low when I miss, but centered...not right or left. Tight groups. I really like shooting the .45...I wish ammo was cheaper!!!!!

Peace,
D.

[DigMe]

Originally Posted by Delija

It makes it easier to see (focus on) the target and the sight at the same time, which I cannot do with iron sights. I don't think anyone can.

This has always been my understanding of the benefits of a red dot sight.

If you're looking for some magic shortcut to better shooting then you will be sorely disappointed!

brad cook

[Delija]

Originally Posted by DigMe

If you're looking for some magic shortcut to better shooting then you will be sorely disappointed!

brad cook

Yeah, I was sort of looking for the "magic bullet"..LOL...(Pun intended).

I do think it will help at longer range distances with practice. Being able to see the sight and the target in perfect focus seems like it should be a real advantage. I think I just need to start at a closer range. I should adjust the thing for maybe 30 or 35 feet and work up from there. At 25 feet I am very accurate with the iron sights. The long sight radius of a 7 inch barrel gun really helps. The red dot would probably show faster improvement on a gun with a lesser sight radius like my XD Sub...Just would look weird.

Peace,
D.

[bd]

I put a low priced red dot sight on my Browning Buckmark one time. I had about the same reaction you did. After all was said and done and I shot it some I wasn't real impressed. At the range I'm going to be shooting a .22 pistol, out to 25 yards or thereabouts, those sights are not going to be that much help anyway. Anything beyond that and I can't hold still enough to shoot with anything but iron sights.

bd

[XDman1000]

Great target gun, just be sure to keep it wiped down with a silicone cloth, some blued MkII's have a tendency to rust.

[Delija]

Originally Posted by XDman1000

Great target gun, just be sure to keep it wiped down with a silicone cloth, some blued MkII's have a tendency to rust.

I guess this one has passed the test of time. No rust and it's been around since 1991. Whoever owned it prior to me kept it in nice condition. It looks new. Although the insides needed a detailed cleaning. It wouldn't go into full battery at all until it was completely disassembled and cleaned by a pro. I have probably shot it 2000 times in the month or so I have it (gotta love the cost of .22 ammo). Not one single jam of any kind. Which is what I expected...I had a MK I 20 years ago and it too was a flawless shooter.

It is deadly accurate even in my unskilled hands (Out to about 35 feet). I was hoping the red dot would let me take on a bit more distance. I am sure it will with practice. I am also hoping the red dot sight will help me to develop my ability to shoot with both eyes open. It sure is a LOT easier with the red dot sight than the iron sights to keep both eyes open...tough for me because I'm right handed and left eye dominant. I need to work on it.. . I have a feeling this will speed up the process.

Peace,
D.

[xHypex]

I always though people went for Red Dots for fast target acquisition rather than tack driving. Try shooting some reactive targets with your 22
-hype

[Delija]

Originally Posted by xHypex

I always though people went for Red Dots for fast target acquisition rather than track driving. Try shooting some reactive targets with your 22
-hype

yeah...target acquisition is very fast. It is an ideal night sight.

The sight has four different reticle patterns. The fine dot would not be ideal for fast target acquisition. But it allows you to put the sight on a very small and specific part of a target. Pretty much the effect is like looking at a very small pinpoint laser beam projected on a target. Good for precision, not so good for fast target acquisition. The cross-hair and large dot and concentric circles are very quick to acquire a target. It is more or less like enlarging a front dot on a standard three dot type iron sight. Or maybe like I would imagine a "ghost ring" type sight. The larger the reticle the faster it is to see. Or maybe a good analogy would be a very large laser sight dot.

I believe (could be mistaken) that it will also help with accuracy in that it allows the shooter to have both the target and the sight in focus simultaneously.

Peace,
D.