Red dots on pistols are the new fad; it has fans in every field, from casual shooters to law enforcement. Why is that so? One sole reason for this love and popularity would be TARGET FOCUSED SHOOTING. You get to focus on your target and get speed in the shooting. And who doesn’t like speed while shooting?
However, using red dot sights will not make you a better shooter. An optic is as good as the shooter behind it. So, learning how to aim with a red dot sight is an important step in properly using a red dot sight.
In this article, I will explain how you can aim with your red dot sight. So, if you are transitioning from iron sights to red dots, this article will make the process much easier for you.
Aiming With A Red Dot Sight On A Pistol
The following steps will help you learn how to aim with your red dot sight on a pistol.
Focus On The Target
The more traditional sights, i.e., iron sights, work with front sight-focused shooting. When aiming with iron sights, the shooter is supposed to focus on the front sight; the target and the rear sights are blurred. You move your focus from the front sight to the target and back.
With red dot sights, the focus is on the target, which has the red dot.
So, The first step of aiming with a red dot on a pistol is to keep your eyes focused on the target.
Finding The Red Dot
You will only be able to get on to the target once you find the red dot on your sight. You will find many of your shooter friends who are reluctant to transition from iron sights to red dots because it’s hard for them to find the dot on their red dot sight.
Finding a red dot on your sight can sometimes be so annoying that new shooters can drop the idea of using a red dot altogether.
So, for aiming with a red dot sight, the first step is to find the red dot.
The following methods will help you to get the red dot every time you pick up your pistol.
- The 80-20 Method Of Draw
The 80-20 method is a general rule that many experts recommend. Everyone wants to be fast when using a red dot. So, the first 80 percent of your draw should be fast, and the last 20 percent should be slow. This is the part where you have to find the dot, so going slow and smooth will help to find the red dot every time. So, go fast at the beginning of your draw, and slow down at the last precise moment.
- Find Your Natural Point Of Aim
Finding the natural point of aim means finding a spot in the space where your eyes are aligned with the red dot sight and the target. Figuring out your natural point of aim will help you to find the dot every time you draw your pistol.
Follow the simple process to find your natural point of aim:
- Close your eyes
- Draw the gun
- When you open your eyes, you should see the dot in the center of the screen.
- If you don’t see the dot, make the corrections with your gun without moving your head.
- Practice consistently with this process, so it becomes subconscious and easy to get every time.
Example: If you are cross-eye dominant, you shoot with your right hand and dominant left eye. In this case, you will draw your pistol, move it to the left side of the body, and turn the head slightly to align the eye with the dot. But you must avoid a lot of movement.
You have to keep practicing drawing the pistol with your natural point of aim. The more you practice, the better you become at it.
- Downward Muzzle Position
When they draw their pistol, most people have their muzzle come in slightly elevated. If you do that with a red dot, you may not get your dot because the dot is high in the window. To combat this, draw and present the gun horizontally as soon as possible.
Put The Reticle On The Target
You put the reticle on the target with the red dot sights. Unlike iron sights, you don’t need to align anything; your focus should be the target with the dot superimposed on it. After that, you pull the trigger.
Practice Makes It Perfect
If you think using a red dot sight over the traditional irons sights will make you a better shooter, then you are wrong. Practicing with a red dot and consistently practicing drawing with your natural point of aim allows you to find the dot every time you pick your gun and get a perfect aim.
Zero Your Red Dot Before Aiming
Before aiming, you have to zero your red dot, which ensures that your point of aim matches your point of impact. Learning and practicing aiming at a sight that is not zeroed is useless.
Endnote
Red dot sights have made shooting faster; you get to the target fast because you are focused on it. This one-point focused shooting allows you to shoot faster than iron sights, where you have to move your focus from the front sight to the target and back. But, learning to aim with a red dot sight needs work. You must learn techniques to find your red dot every time you pick your pistol. This is what the above article has done for you.
I hope this information helps you to become a better shooter!
FAQs
Where do you aim on a red dot sight on a pistol?
While shooting with a red dot sight, the shooter has to aim at the target, put the dot on the target and press the trigger.
Is shooting with a red dot easier?
Shooting with a red dot is easier than iron sights because you put the dot on the target and shoot. On the other hand, with iron sights, you have to align the front and rear sights with the target before shooting.
How far does a red dot sight shoot?
Generally, a red dot sight can shoot up to 100 yards.
