Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
There’s no denying the big spike in red dot sight use. Once upon a time, the guy in class with a red dot was the outlier. Nowadays, shooters with iron sights make up the minority (at least that’s how it seems). So are red dot sights that great, or are they just the current trend? Which one’s better, red dots or iron sights? Let’s answer that once and for all, and the answer might surprise you.
Table of contents
Red Dot Sights
Yes, we’ll cover what red dot sights are, partly because there’s more than one type. The term “red dot sights” describes any compact, box-shaped(ish) illuminated dot sights. That’s a bit of an oversimplification, but the gist is true. Red dot sights are more compact than rifle scopes and feature the expected glowing dot. Most also aren’t magnified, but they might have the option of changing the size of the dot itself. Red dot magnifiers are also available for some sights, but not all.
Three Main Types
The three types of red dot sights are most common: holographic, prismatic, and reflex. Without going too far into the weeds, let’s consider how they differ. Reflex sights use a light-emitting diode to project the dot onto a lens. Holographic sights create a reticle using a laser-transmitted hologram. Prismatic sights generally have the reticle etched into the glass and use a prism to turn the image right-side up. There’s way more to it, but this gives you a general idea of how each type works. Reflex and holographic sights seem to be the most common types used for pistol optics.
Green and Blue Dots
The term “red” dot is kind of a misnomer, because although most dot sights are indeed red, some of them aren’t red. Even so, all the dot sights are usually referred to under the term “red dot sight,” even when the dot is green or blue. And if you’re wondering if the color of the dot matters, the answer is yes—it really does.
Iron Sights
Iron sights are the standard metal or plastic sights on a gun. On handguns, there’s a front sight and a rear sight. Sights vary quite a bit. There are standard white three-dot sights, tritium night sights, fiber optic sights—the possibilities are endless. Iron sights are not and cannot be magnified, although you can buy oversized sights to make it easier for your eyes to focus on them. And much like the label of red dot sights, iron sights are covered as a blanket term, even though they’re certainly not all made from iron. One thing worth noting is that iron sights require the alignment of the front sight between the notches of the rear sight, and that’s not a thing with dot sights.
The Differences Between Red Dot Sights and Iron Sights
There are a lot of differences between red dot sights and iron sights, good and bad. Of course, the bad ones get a lot of attention, so let’s compare.
Downsides of red dots:
- Red dot sights usually depend on batteries
- Red colored dots can create a halo effect that’s hard for people with astigmatism to focus on
- Crushing force on a red dot sight can destroy it
- Lenses on a dot sight can crack or fall out
- Specific holsters are required to accommodate red dot sights
Downsides of iron sights:
- Iron sights can be hard to focus on, depending on eyesight
- Irons’ sight picture takes longer to acquire than red dot sights
- Follow-up shots are harder with irons due to the need to line up the front sight with the rear sight
- Longer-range shots are harder with iron sights
- Accuracy suffers more with irons
- Learning to use iron sights is harder than using dots
The downsides of dots versus irons usually play out the same way. Fans of dots point out that manufacturers have addressed battery life problems with auto on/off features, not to mention thousands of hours of run life. Those who prefer irons say running a dot sight for self-defense will get you “kilt in da streets” due to the inevitable failures and breaking points. The truth is that there are good and bad points to both dots and irons, but most of them are overblown one way or another.
My Experience With Red Dot and Iron Sights
Red Dot
Over the years, I’ve used enough red dots to have experienced a lot of supposed downsides. For example, I’ve had two different brands of dot sights get crushed. Both times, the housing bent, but the lens remained intact—it didn’t even crack. On one of those, it didn’t even lose zero (which you must admit is impressive). As for the halo effect, it’s something I struggle with at times. Green and blue dots largely resolve that issue for me, but I can usually still use red dots as long as I’m not using them at significant lengths of time without breaks. Also, I have yet to have a battery suddenly die on me.
Iron Sights
Regarding iron sights, it’s true that you’ll have a harder time seeing that front sight as you get older (or if your eyesight is less than great to begin with). There are prescription shooting glasses for just that reason, or you can wear contacts or even your normal glasses (although you might want shields on the arms and make sure they’re at least resistant to shattering). As time goes on, there have been times I’ve grudgingly gotten my glasses out (most often when I opted not to wear contacts). As for acquiring sights for follow-up sights, it does take practice, but so do dot sights. It’s just a different type of focus and aim—it isn’t impossible or even that difficult. I’ve had iron sights break, fall off, and melt, so it’s safe to say they aren’t bomb-proof.
I’m a fan of iron sights for their simplicity and resistance to damage. Despite the iron sights I’ve had that get damaged beyond repair, they’re still tougher than most red dot sights. Plus, I got my start in the gun world on iron sights, which has led to a higher comfort level using them. That’s true for many shooters. The fact that I don’t have to find red dot-compatible holsters is also a bonus. That is an issue because, as a gun writer, I go through a ton of handguns, and not all holsters are optics cut.
READ MORE HERE: Canik’s MECANIK® MO3 Red Dot Review
Winner – Use Both!
There’s a reason hunters and competitive shooters got things going with red dots. We knew the dots gave us an edge—and a welcome one at that. There are a lot of pluses to running handguns with red dot sights, and although it takes time and practice to make the transition away from irons, it isn’t nearly as challenging as you might believe. So, are there tons of pros to using dot sights? Yes. Does that mean they’re the best thing ever? No.
So, what’s better, red dot sights or irons? The answer is both. No, this isn’t a cop-out of a real answer. Ideally, you’ll set up your gun with a quality dot sight and iron sights designed to co-witness with the dot as needed. That gives you the best of both worlds. You’ll have a red dot and the ability to co-witness or use just irons. Not everyone likes having that combination, so it’s certainly an issue of finding out what works best for you. Before you switch to red dots or dismiss them entirely, try them out. You might find out that dot sights are a good fit.
Check out Trijicon’s red dots here and XS Sights’ irons here.
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Kat Ainsworth Stevens is a prolific outdoor writer based in North Texas. Her love and enjoyment of firearms extends to both self-defense and hunting, and she’s driven to teach safe gun handling. Kat’s the author of several books and thousands of articles as well as a successful editor with more than a decade of experience in marketing. With experience in everything from defensive handgun use to field dressing a deer, Kat’s background is varied and extensive. She firmly believes in the importance of protecting the Second Amendment as well as the First.
When she’s not behind a gun or processing her own game meat, Kat can be found trapping, boating, doing yoga, and mudding. The outdoors and the Lone Star State are where she belongs.
Experience
Author:
Handgun Hunting and anthologies including The Deer Shot Back: And Other Hunting Tales and How Not to Shoot Fish and Other Deer That Got Away.
Dedicated Outdoorsman:
Year-round enthusiast of hunting, trapping, and fishing.
Advanced Training:
More than 1000 hours of training in defensive handguns, long guns, edged weapons, self-defense law, force-on-force, handgun retention, and related topics.
Focused Specialty Skills:
Expert witness. Massad Ayoob Group certified Deadly Force Instructor and graduate of Active Self Protection The Practice & Preparation of Being an Expert Witness.