Handguns are not the easiest thing to master, and self-defense may require a rapid shot without much/any time to aim.
That old trope "beware the man who owns one gun, because he can shoot that one well" has a lot of truth to it.

You ideally want to be able to point-shoot a tight group of 3-5 rds within about 10 yds, without taking the time to "aim", with the pistol you may rely on to save your life in a worst-case scenario. That pistol should be able to be carried, and I would suggest it should be as sleek as possible. Not necessarily as small, it doesn't have to be sub-compact; but it needs to be able to deploy instantly. I personally don't want a light on it, because that's a bulky thing that may get snagged, adds weight to the front where it wasn't when I was training, and has doodads (buttons to push to turn on) that could distract and delay me. A red dot is just something protruding on the slide that might snag, too (in my estimation).

I don't mind lights, lasers, red dots and other optics on rifles, and on range toys. I put a red dot on a S&W 22A, but in all honesty it's play, I don't think it's helped tighten the groups any on that. At the range, at 15 yds I can shoot the clothes pins holding the target with iron sights with that.

Re lasers and red dots; at the range I've seen guys try to run lasers. I watch that dot bounce all around the place, and I've noticed people try to chase the dot instead of the target. When I have shot them, I notice that I don't really see the laser, as I'm focusing on the target. I teach my son to see the target, not the laser.

Again, on an AR, I don't mind them. We built my son an AR recently with a Crimson Trace light/laser combo mounted just in front of his front grip, at the very front of the handguard. A flick of the offhand thumb activates it, and I have the laser aspect zeroed with the 1-4 LPVO at 50 yds (we bounce back and forth between red dots and LPVO's with this gun).

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Posted by Jon A thon

Member since May 2019

1679 posts

Posted on 4/12/24 at 2:18 pm to Scoob

quote:
it needs to be able to deploy instantly. I personally don't want a light on it, because that's a bulky thing that may get snagged, adds weight to the front where it wasn't when I was training

I can agree on "snagging on some of the longer lights extending past the barrel, but I have the setup below and have never once had an issue and I practice drawing regularly. My holster is made for the setup. As far as adding weight compared to training.....train with it on the gun. Why would you not? It makes my gun shoot flatter.

My smaller conceal carry has a red dot. I'm no more accurate with it. However I can shoot it with both eyes open and a clear target with a clear point of aim a million times better than iron sights. My situational awareness is better with my Hellcat Pro and red dot even though it shoots no more accurate than anything else. Again, never had a snag and the weight/bulk is not noticeable to me.

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Posted by bbvdd

Memphis, TN

Member since Jun 2009

25080 posts

Posted on 4/12/24 at 3:27 pm to Scoob

quote:
I don't mind lights, lasers, red dots and other optics on rifles, and on range toys. I put a red dot on a S&W 22A, but in all honesty it's play, I don't think it's helped tighten the groups any on that.

I don’t really think it’s about shrinking groups as much as it is about speed.
If you practice with red dot, it will be faster on target acquisition.

That’s why people use them. I have one on my XL and for me, it’s faster.

ETA: as to lights, personal preference. I don’t have one but won’t fault someone for having one.

If you’re in a quick draw and fire, nobody is turning on a light. If you’re in a situation where you have a bit of time, a quick light to the face will help to cause an attacker to flinch and the guy with a light to get a good round on him.

This post was edited on 4/12/24 at 3:31 pm

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