Tell me about pistol red dots

[HardDrive]

Considering getting some kind of optics for my Sig P365 Macro. I know nothing. Any recommendations? Are there good flip up options that will let you keep your iron sites?

[DavidI]

Pistol optics are game changers for shooters. If you understand the fundamentals of shooting (grip, sight picture/alignment, trigger press, etc.), the optic will make a good shooter much better. It will not make a bad shooter good because the shooter does not understand the fundamentals. There are hundreds of videos on YouTube such as Sage Dynamics and Wilson Combat that provide information. I was a firearms instructor in my previous job and have a competent understanding of them. PM me your number and I'll call you to discuss if you want, David

[masraum]

Down sides?
Battery powered which can be an issue if you don't maintain the battery.
Size

I don't know. I'm just asking and t thinking out loud.

[Cajundaddy]

For precision shooting with a handgun they are pretty great and you can put up nice groups @ 50 yards with good technique and practice. For self defense at close range I still prefer iron sights for simplicity.

[Rick Lee]

Allow me.

I had a Holosun on a P365XL. I ditched it, as Trijicon Bright and Tough night sights just grab my eyes better than anything else and I hate battery-powered everything. But they work. IIRC, the rule was to not try to co-witness the dot with your iron sights. I just hate the idea of 1) a battery, 2) a piece of glass getting smudged or cracked and 3) the SIG MOS plate screws are kind of fussy and you can't get them at the local hardware store if you strip the heads.

[Rick Lee]

I should add that I scored a $600 Eotech for $100 a few mos ago, so for that kind of deal I'll live with it. I slapped it on an AR build that I also put a forced reset trigger on. Firing something close to full auto, it's not like iron sights really matter. A decent red reticle will do.

[id10t]

Run a tube style dot on several guns, either solo or cowitnessed with the irons. Bushnell TRS25 or AT3 RD50, both basically the same but 2moa dot in the at3 unit vs 3 in the Bushnell. Change the battery once per year whether it seems to need it or not - testing I found a new battery could be left turned on for over 6 months and still work

Note that dots and astigmatism dont get along for many

[Skytrooper]

It all depends on whether this is are carry or range/ competition pistol. Concealed carry usually works best without any extra protuberances. An optic could make it harder to draw quickly. Besides, if you need to use your pistol quickly in an emergency, it will most likely be in close. You should be well versed in your carry weapon so that you can point and shoot without trying to line up sights, be it iron or optical.
A range/ competition pistol with a red dot is definitely a game changer.
I have red dots on all of my competition pistols. My carry pistol is iron sight.

[vash]

I want one. my brother uses one for work and I am much better with one than without.

I blame my non dominant eye vs dominant hand scenario (thanks mom)

downsides? battery life, buy in cost (imagine putting one on multiple pistols? OUCH), and you need to revisit holsters.

[Rot 911]

I find them to be very distracting. I would think in a high stress situation they would just get in the way.

[HardDrive]

Thanks for the replies all. This is not for carry, home defense/range. I have a P938 for carry.

[berettafan]

Amazing BUT they are a skill you have to develop. It's a different method of eye discipline.

[stevej37]

Have no pistol here....but I mounted one on my .22 semi-auto rifle for red squirrel control
Works great, just had to get used to powering it off when done with it.

I used a boresight to sight it in. Took about 5 minutes and I did it inside the house.

[Cajundaddy]

Have a look at the Sig Romeo 5. It is not super low profile but for precision shooting it is a 2 MOA dot @100 yds, completely scaleable in brightness for the conditions, and the battery only activates when you raise the gun so it lasts a really long time. I put one of these on a Henry rifle and like it a lot. Roughly $130 right now.

[stevej37]

Here is my Red-Dot. It also has 11 levels of brightness.
The Bore-Sight is in the 2nd pic. with the laser light 'on'

[HardDrive]

Originally Posted by Cajundaddy

Have a look at the Sig Romeo 5. It is not super low profile but for precision shooting it is a 2 MOA dot @100 yds, completely scaleable in brightness for the conditions, and the battery only activates when you raise the gun so it lasts a really long time. I put one of these on a Henry rifle and like it a lot. Roughly $130 right now.

I searched for them, and it looks like they just got recalled.

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/SIG-SAUER-Recalls-ROMEO5-Red-Dot-Firearm-Sights-Due-to-Ingestion-Hazard-Violations-of-Reeses-Law-Federal-Safety-Regulations-for-Consumer-Products-with-Button-Cell-Batteries-and-Child-Resistant-Button-Cell-Battery-Packaging

[Jeff Higgins]

They have become very popular because of their presence in the many forms of "action" shooting. Other such accouterments have become popular on shotguns and rifles for the same reason - we see them being used in competitive shooting. But, well, what gives one an advantage in competition, be it shooting, automobile racing, or whatever may very well prove to be a hindrance in "real life".

I call these things in their many guises "range guns". I'm glad to see that HardDrive plans to use it as such. Their many advantages and disadvantages have already been highlighted by others. I've noticed all of the advantages mentioned are only advantages at the range. We need to be careful if we wish to transfer these "range gun" advantages to the field, be that out in the wilderness elk hunting or on the streets prepared to defend ourselves. I've seen way too many things that just don't make that transition. I put optics of any kind on a defensive handgun in that category.

[Cajundaddy]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

I searched for them, and it looks like they just got recalled.

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/SIG-SAUER-Recalls-ROMEO5-Red-Dot-Firearm-Sights-Due-to-Ingestion-Hazard-Violations-of-Reeses-Law-Federal-Safety-Regulations-for-Consumer-Products-with-Button-Cell-Batteries-and-Child-Resistant-Button-Cell-Battery-Packaging

Sheesh! I guess if you allow your small child access to your firearms this could be an issue. I think there are a dozen gadgets around my house with button batteries that might present an ingestion hazard but this is probably the least relevant concern with firearms.

Maybe they will have a child-resistant updated design.

[Bill Douglas]

At the pistol club I belong to, if you put a red dot sight on a pistol it moves you into the modified class. Not always a good thing.

[911boost]

I have one on my M1A Standard from a hog hunting trip, a Leupold Deltapoint. It’s great for something like that, but I prefer to practice with irons since that’s what I carry.