Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

I'd like to get a decent red dot sight for my G17 G4. Because I will eventually OC it, I want the sight to be compact as possible while still being effective.

I've found many different red dot sights online and in magazines, and their prices are all over the place. Some are $50 while others are over $500, with lots in the middle.

Are there any particular brands and models I should be looking at without breaking the bank?

Using a red dot on a carry weapon for self defense is a bit of a liability. It is never going to be 100%. But if thats what you want no prob. I have a burris fastfire dovetail mounted on my Glock 10mm longslide and is a joy to shoot. The only problem with it is the on/off switch. It and the Doctor sight are nearly identical except for the switch. The fastfire requires the purchase of a seperate mounting base for dovetail mounting and will stay secure once installed. If you are really serious about a red dot on your weapon send it to glockworx and they will mill out the slide and direct mount it. There are various mounting cuts for the different sights, fastfire & Doctors use the same hole pattern so you have the option of starting cheaper & then going for the more expensive option later, but there is no going back after doing this.

mut617 wrote:Using a red dot on a carry weapon for self defense is a bit of a liability.

+1 Not recommended.

- one recomended, I have a Crimson Trace on my Glock 22 and I love it along with one on my S&W Mod. 686 .357 Magnum. Both are finger activated without worry about an off or on switch.
Bill

I think he's asking about a mini red dot sight Bill, not a laser. +1 for a laser.

Pardon my naiitivite, but why is it a liability? Legality or defensive?

mut617 wrote:I think he's asking about a mini red dot sight Bill, not a laser. +1 for a laser.

Yes he most likely is but I hope he will look into a laser instead.
Bill

@ Dobeman -The user is liable to come out on the short end of the stick...

pushing daisies

It is just that they are over complicated. Many people use them and all of them quit at some point. It would be really bad if it quit when you really needed it. Although there is a new very expensive model by trijicon that uses tritium and fiber optics that should be very reliable & tough.

Shouldn't use anything other than irons/night sights on a OC/CC pistol, IMO.

Sure scopes and red dots work fine on hunting, plinking, competition guns, but you need simple and reliable on a carry gun. Also, you likely will be shooting instinctively as most OC/CC shots are very short ranges.

gunderwood wrote:Shouldn't use anything other than irons/night sights on a OC/CC pistol, IMO.

Sure scopes and red dots work fine on hunting, plinking, competition guns, but you need simple and reliable on a carry gun. Also, you likely will be shooting instinctively as most OC/CC shots are very short ranges.

Yes Garret, I agree with what you say but I still like a good laser that is not bulky. You must train with it so that you don't have it on untill you need it. Trust me I know where you are comeing from on the instinct part. As far as instinct shooting go's trust me been there done that more time's then I like to remember.
Bill

OK - the optics for range, and a set of GTLS sights for defensive carry - gotcha!

DobeMan wrote:OK - the optics for range, and a set of GTLS sights for defensive carry - gotcha!

You should practice how you carry too...use the red dot for target practice and take it off for defensive practice and carry.

FN has a production pistol with a red dot.

They're quite useful. They seem to be reliable, if increasing military use is any indication.

Would I? No, but then a red dot on a J-frame would be terribly awkward.

Diomed wrote:FN has a production pistol with a red dot.

They're quite useful. They seem to be reliable, if increasing military use is any indication.

Would I? No, but then a red dot on a J-frame would be terribly awkward.

What is the military using on pistols?

AFAIK, they use things like the aimpints M series on rifles and shotguns. EoTech and Trijicons too. While they still have quite a few of those, they are shifting over to traditional rifle scopes with variable magnification starting at 1x (sometimes 1.1x) and lit reticles. Nightforce, S&B, Hensoldt, etc. are all trying to get those contracts.

I don't know anything about them using the cheap, little, hunting red dots on pistols.

gunderwood wrote:What is the military using on pistols?

I did not mean to imply that they're using them on pistols. Sorry for the confusion.

They are, of course, using the Docter-style sights as adjuncts to magnified optics, at least on a limited basis.

I don't yet own a handgun but I did recently get a great red-dot for my AR from PrimaryArms.com

It was definitely reasonably priced and they had quite a few to choose from. I love mine and it stays on and re-aquires just fine even with rapid fire kick from my AR.

Maybe they have some for handguns. Check it out.

gunderwood wrote:Shouldn't use anything other than irons/night sights on a OC/CC pistol, IMO.

Sure scopes and red dots work fine on hunting, plinking, competition guns, but you need simple and reliable on a carry gun. Also, you likely will be shooting instinctively as most OC/CC shots are very short ranges.

Hi ev'ryone , I completely agree, the simpler the better, cumbersome attachments just make things complicated, unless you have the advantage of a secure position and complete control of the situation, however you can enhance your regular sights like this ones:


It can be done for little money and will stretch the efficiency of your pistol sights.
Anyway my two cents, there are several brad of phosphorescent enhancers, my favorites are glow-on.com you could check it out if you like herehttp://glow-on.com/gun_sights.html

If you're worried about battery life and reliability, have you looked at Aimpoint's Micro red dot sights? They measure battery life in years, and Aimpoint makes solid equipment. Just a thought. I may put one on my G35 if I can get the money together for it. Not cheap, but worth it.

Jim