[Mr10mm]

When it comes to personal defense, having the right sights on your pistol can make all the difference. But with so many options available, it can be difficult to know which one is the best choice. Should you go with the classic reliability of iron sights, or the advanced technology of optics?

In this forum thread, we want to explore both sides of the argument and hear from you, the firearm community. Share your personal experiences and opinions on the use of optics vs iron sights for personal defense, and let's see if we can reach a conclusion on which is the better option.

Whether you're a seasoned shooter or just starting out, this thread is the perfect opportunity to expand your knowledge and connect with fellow firearm enthusiasts. So join the discussion and let's find out which option reigns supreme!

 

[Alferd]

Iron sights are the best.
Except in the dark, or at longer ranges.

Iron sights are faster.
Until you spend time learning how to use an RDS,and then THAT'S the best.

Unless the batteries die.

Except that never happens unless you are a moron.

I have both, and I think it's mission and gun specific.

My CZ 75 will never get a RDS. I put one on my XDm Elite 10....it's coming off. I have one on my XDm Elite Tactical...it's staying on. I have one on my P365 for EDC...I'm still undecided.

So there you go, we can pretty much shut this thread down now.

 

[Mr10mm]

Iron sights are the best.
Except in the dark, or at longer ranges.

Iron sights are faster.
Until you spend time learning how to use an RDS,and then THAT'S the best.

Unless the batteries die.

Except that never happens unless you are a moron.

I have both, and I think it's mission and gun specific.

My CZ 75 will never get a RDS. I put one on my XDm Elite 10....it's coming off. I have one on my XDm Elite Tactical...it's staying on. I have one on my P365 for EDC...I'm still undecided.

So there you go, we can pretty much shut this thread down now.

Have you seen the new holosun that never needs a new battery?! Its basically a Capacitor that recharges in daylight.

 

[Alferd]

Have you seen the new holosun that never needs a new battery?! Its basically a Capacitor that recharges in daylight.

Why...yes! Yes I have!

I also have one on an AR.

 

[gunsmoke92]

While I appreciate the advances with the RDS sights, and having tried one, I find I'm a solid iron sight guy. I tend to like Hackathorn's, black rear and a bright front that draws my eye to it. Irons take up no extra space, add no extra weight, and don't require a battery or being turned on to operate.

 

[M1A4ME]

Iron sights work great if your eyes can see them or your glasses stay on your face where they started out when the SHTF.

I know there's always people who say you don't need night sights or red dots because you should shoot at something in the dark anyway. But what if they are shooting at you and yours? Think they'll stop when you holler, Hey, it's too dark for this stuff guys, let's have a time out till tomorrow!" Lots of time when you can see the silhouette of someone and still not tell their skin tone, hair color, eye color, etc.

Whether your handgun has a red dot or not you should be practicing with it.

With the iron sights you have three things to align. Front sight and back sight must be aligned with each other and then aligned with the target. And keeping the front and rear sights aligned mean you're not really focusing on the target - you're focusing on the front sight. Means the target is a bit blurry.

With the red dot you should not be focusing on the dot, you should be focusing on the target and the dot appears in your field of vision, on the target, before you decide to squeeze the trigger, or not. In a lot of ways the dot is like a laser.

I don't carry a handgun when I go out because I expect trouble that might require the handgun to get me through. I carry it because something might happen. Same reason I have a spare tire and jack in the car/truck. Same reason I have blankets under the back seat of the truck when we take it to the mountains in the winter. Same reason I don't let the gas tank get below 1/2 full. Same reason I have a back up electrical system for the house. Etc., etc., etc.

All my rifles have back up iron sights, too, except that old bull barrel varmint rifle.

 

[Mike51392]

Iron sights are the best.
Except in the dark, or at longer ranges.

Iron sights are faster.
Until you spend time learning how to use an RDS,and then THAT'S the best.

Unless the batteries die.

Except that never happens unless you are a moron.

I have both, and I think it's mission and gun specific.

My CZ 75 will never get a RDS. I put one on my XDm Elite 10....it's coming off. I have one on my XDm Elite Tactical...it's staying on. I have one on my P365 for EDC...I'm still undecided.

So there you go, we can pretty much shut this thread down now.

So why will the 75 never get a RDS?

Funny I'm rough on my firearms. I have no problem dropping, scratching, and dinging my guns. Except for my CZ 75 Compact. Im in love with that thing. I like 1911's and there are some beautiful models out there but damn those CZ's are hard to beat. I can honestly see why they carry the premium price. I know il be adding a full size CZ to my collection in the next coming months.

 

[Keebz75]

Had one on a shield plus (shield smsc) red dot. Didn’t like it. I do think I’d like a Holosun 507 on one. But I don’t like the holster options for it. I’m picky of my edc holsters. I like my weapon to sit deep so I use a barsony nylon. Anything with a red dot seems to sit too high. I’d like to have a rds on a home gun I think.

 

[M1A4ME]

So why will the 75 never get a RDS?

Funny I'm rough on my firearms. I have no problem dropping, scratching, and dinging my guns. Except for my CZ 75 Compact. Im in love with that thing. I like 1911's and there are some beautiful models out there but damn those CZ's are hard to beat. I can honestly see why they carry the premium price. I know il be adding a full size CZ to my collection in the next coming months.

You know, it didn't use to be like that. My XDMs cost more than my P07/P09, CZ75 Compacts, CZ75B .40, P01 Omegas, etc. Only the big competition guns were priced higher than I wanted to pay. But a year or so back the the CZ's seemed to take a $200 price jump. And to top that off they are stopping production on (or have already stopped production) on a large number of the good old models I like (the CZ85, the CZ75 B and similar pistols in .40 S&W, etc.) Not much they make these days that I'd be interested in paying for. I guess I've got mine and glad I got them when I did.

 

[Mike51392]

You know, it didn't use to be like that. My XDMs cost more than my P07/P09, CZ75 Compacts, CZ75B .40, P01 Omegas, etc. Only the big competition guns were priced higher than I wanted to pay. But a year or so back the the CZ's seemed to take a $200 price jump. And to top that off they are stopping production on (or have already stopped production) on a large number of the good old models I like (the CZ85, the CZ75 B and similar pistols in .40 S&W, etc.) Not much they make these days that I'd be interested in paying for. I guess I've got mine and glad I got them when I did.

I hear ya I purchased mine at a bad time. Paid $749 for my compact. 1 month later it was on sale for $639. I don't regret my purchase though. Between the 1911 officer and my CZ 75 compact. Il take the 75 all day long. My next purchase is gonna be a CZ 75 B in 9mm.

 

[cd4337]

I think the answer is the same for what gun, what ammo ... It is what you shoot the best with

 

[Rrkach]

When it comes to personal defense, having the right sights on your pistol can make all the difference. But with so many options available, it can be difficult to know which one is the best choice. Should you go with the classic reliability of iron sights, or the advanced technology of optics?

In this forum thread, we want to explore both sides of the argument and hear from you, the firearm community. Share your personal experiences and opinions on the use of optics vs iron sights for personal defense, and let's see if we can reach a conclusion on which is the better option.

Whether you're a seasoned shooter or just starting out, this thread is the perfect opportunity to expand your knowledge and connect with fellow firearm enthusiasts. So join the discussion and let's find out which option reigns supreme!

Depending on your source of information and who the target is in a gun fight, taking law-enforcement out of this statistical analysis, it seems that most engagements happen somewhere between 3 to 5 yards. So 15 feet and closer tends to be the normal engagement in a gun fight. I practice at 7 yards to 10 yards And for quick draw a practice closer as well. That being said I can put 95+ percent of my rounds in the center of the chest at 7 to 10 yards with a double tap in two seconds from the low ready.

It seems most of the time involved in shooting is actually drawing from the holster getting on target. Therefore, iron sights for me seem to be the way to go. Less expensive and less bulk to conceal plus I don’t have to worry about batteries.

 

[Mike51392]

Depending on your source of information and who the target is in a gun fight, taking law-enforcement out of this statistical analysis, it seems that most engagements happen somewhere between 3 to 5 yards. So 15 feet and closer tends to be the normal engagement in a gun fight. I practice at 7 yards to 10 yards And for quick draw a practice closer as well. That being said I can put 95+ percent of my rounds in the center of the chest at 7 to 10 yards with a double tap in two seconds from the low ready. It seems most of the time involved in shooting is actually drawing from the holster getting on target. Therefore, iron sights for me seem to be the way to go. Less expensive and less bulk to conceal plus I don’t have to worry about batteries.

💯% agree

 

[shabodah]

Being that most ccw related shooting happen at very short distances, it would seem learning to point shoot would make more sense than using irons or a red dot. Having both eyes open for as good of situational awareness as possible is extremely important. IMHO, the Meprolight bullseye is a good way to train yourself in such a manner, and as close as a compromise between irons and a red dot that can exist. Now, which is better, a front mounted or rear mounted bullseye? I can see the argument for both.

 

[Cuda66]

On the “most gunfights take place at close range, so I only need sights good enough for that”…

The vast majority of non-LEO defensive shootings are over in less than two rounds fired.

Using the same mindset, all you need is a derringer with no reloads, right?

Fact is, at the extreme close range, you don’t need sights…nor will you likely use them. Why even bother with sights at all? They only get stuck on stuff when trying to draw…

 

[Mike51392]

On the “most gunfights take place at close range, so I only need sights good enough for that”…

The vast majority of non-LEO defensive shootings are over in less than two rounds fired.

Using the same mindset, all you need is a derringer with no reloads, right?

Fact is, at the extreme close range, you don’t need sights…nor will you likely use them. Why even bother with sights at all? They only get stuck on stuff when trying to draw…

Not 💯% with you on that 1. I want sights, preferably night sights.

 

[Cuda66]

Not 💯% with you on that 1. I want sights, preferably night sights.

Which is why all of my carry pistols have sights; and I’m working on transitioning to dots…because I’ve said for a long time that in the ( EXCEEDINGLY UNLIKELY) event of being present at a mass shooting, that precision, long range work will likely be the order of the day…and damn if Indiana didn’t prove me right.

But, also—I’ve also suspected that longer range work is useful for other defensive events, as well.

Fact is, for the close range stuff? I don’t bring my pistol up to eye level; I’m shooting at 1/4 or 1/2 hip presentation, allowing retention. There won’t be time for sights.

But the fact is, at the end of the day—saying you won’t need to shoot at longer distances is as equally short sighted (pun intended) as saying you won’t need more than two rounds, because statistics.

 

[Mike51392]

3 (minimum) to the chest is what I prep for. I once shot a derringer in 357mag came right out of my hand 😂 couldn't hear a thing for about 2 hours 😂.

 

[robert1952]

Iron sights work great if your eyes can see them or your glasses stay on your face where they started out when the SHTF.

I know there's always people who say you don't need night sights or red dots because you should shoot at something in the dark anyway. But what if they are shooting at you and yours? Think they'll stop when you holler, Hey, it's too dark for this stuff guys, let's have a time out till tomorrow!" Lots of time when you can see the silhouette of someone and still not tell their skin tone, hair color, eye color, etc.

Whether your handgun has a red dot or not you should be practicing with it.

With the iron sights you have three things to align. Front sight and back sight must be aligned with each other and then aligned with the target. And keeping the front and rear sights aligned mean you're not really focusing on the target - you're focusing on the front sight. Means the target is a bit blurry.

With the red dot you should not be focusing on the dot, you should be focusing on the target and the dot appears in your field of vision, on the target, before you decide to squeeze the trigger, or not. In a lot of ways the dot is like a laser.

I don't carry a handgun when I go out because I expect trouble that might require the handgun to get me through. I carry it because something might happen. Same reason I have a spare tire and jack in the car/truck. Same reason I have blankets under the back seat of the truck when we take it to the mountains in the winter. Same reason I don't let the gas tank get below 1/2 full. Same reason I have a back up electrical system for the house. Etc., etc., etc.

All my rifles have back up iron sights, too, except that old bull barrel varmint rifle.

^^^ What He said and being shot at during nighttime, at least you see their muzzle flash and have a basic target. At night I don't know if an RDS or irons are going to be that helpful

 

[Mike51392]

^^^ What He said and being shot at during nighttime, at least you see their muzzle flash and have a basic target. At night I don't know if an RDS or irons are going to be that helpful

So your gonna wait to be shot at from your target? 😂

I don't care for a RDS on ANY of my "EDC" pistols, but night sights are a requirement.
TFO's after install
Tritium after install
I prefer the Truglow Tritium sights over the TFO's and there half the price. I'm 39 my eye sight is still "Good" but it ain't what it use to be and it ain't gonna get any better. I have woken up startled in the middle of the night and picking up the sights was amazingly easy. I highly highly recommend night sights for defense guns.