Iron Sights CCW
- Thread starter Gawernator
- Start date
- Messages
- 174
- Classified ads
- 1
Red dots and lights are force multipliers. Shooting with dots makes target acquisition 100x times easier IF you are shooting a dot correctly. Time and again you see people complain about dots and while they are explaining why dots are bad they tell on themselves by saying they're dot focused instead of target focused.
Dots make shooting easier. It is a fact. If I am carrying a gun, I want every single advantage accessible to make sure I get back home to my family
Also somewhat related you see time and again online people will try bashing others for carrying with a dot because it's "not manly" or "just say you suck with irons". Whatever the case may be, why does it matter? If I carry a gun, it's for the sole purpose of defending myself or a loved one. I don't carry a gun then seek for validation from others
Dots make shooting easier. It is a fact. If I am carrying a gun, I want every single advantage accessible to make sure I get back home to my family
Also somewhat related you see time and again online people will try bashing others for carrying with a dot because it's "not manly" or "just say you suck with irons". Whatever the case may be, why does it matter? If I carry a gun, it's for the sole purpose of defending myself or a loved one. I don't carry a gun then seek for validation from others
- Messages
- 1,459
- Classified ads
- 3
There's nothing to say really. Up close and personal, you don't really have time to aim and you're trying to shoot as fast as possible. So any sights are useless.
- Messages
- 193
I generally keep my critical setups as simple as I can to maintain absolute reliability when I need it. For fun setups, then I throw everything on it including the kitchen sink. 
Full disclosure: I'm just a regular dude with some experience and regular training. So I can only speak from that perspective.
Full disclosure: I'm just a regular dude with some experience and regular training. So I can only speak from that perspective.
- Messages
- 337
What's even more crazy is they make up different qualifications for each county. My renewal class had 3 counties. San Mateo, Santa Clara, and San Francisco.
- San Mateo - 10yrds, 7yrds, 5yrds. NO TIME LIMIT
- Santa Clara - 15yrds, 10yrds, 5yrds. 5 rounds each timed under 20 seconds at 15 yrds, 10 seconds at 10 yrds, and 5 seconds at 5 yrds.
- San Francisco County - 15yrds, 10yrds, 5yrds. 5 rounds each timed under 40 seconds at 15 yrds, 50 seconds at 10 yrds, and 30 seconds at 5 yrds. Then Strong hand only at 5yrds.
Vurtne
Member
- Messages
- 50
That's a very what-if scenario and no one gets to choose how those play out when they do. You absolutely should be using your sights with a proper index when shooting at anything. Isn't that why we have drills with standards and par times to set the bar for measured performance?
- Messages
- 1,459
- Classified ads
- 3
Everything is what ifs. Just practice however you choose to carry.
11thfinger
Active member
- Messages
- 81
I had to do 25yrds for Alameda County. I missed a three times with my Hellcat because it was so much more snappy than my others. I definitely need to train more with it.
- Messages
- 5,674
What dat
Also performance difference at 10< yards with irons or dot is really nothing for me in a real life CCW. Last time I used my CCW I had irons lol
- Messages
- 5,674
Yes however if you ever get to combat like that IRL you will see how things go out the window lol
.308/.431
⚠️ New Member | No Deposits ☢️
- Messages
- 12
- Classified ads
- 1
Red dots create and overall bigger footprint, most have batteries, and crap gets on the lens from time to time. One of my carry pistols has a red dot optic, but I usually just carry the other without an optic because I want less of a footprint..., and most SD distances are well under 5 yards.
If you can't pull and shoot instinctively and have your rounds hit within an 8 inch circle at 12 feet away there's an issue that needs attention.
Optics are great, especially for intermediate distances, but they can get caught/ hung up, get blurry when the optic lens gets crap/ rain etc.. and relying on batteries.. and I will say that there are recharging capabilities of some, but I'm not much a fan.
At first I was thinking an red dot was the way to go, but the more that time passed while carrying and I wanted "comfortable compact with little foot print".. My iron sights are premium tritium style though..
I ain't slim Jim any more and my night fision "accurate 8" (-align 2 tritium Os in the shape of an 8) are so easy to align without taking focus from my foresight.
To each his own. But I'm partial to the iron sights because I'm old school and needed to learn this when red dots weren't around. I actually prefer red dots for distance shooting... like 100 yard silhouette steel with my G34 with the BB3 3MOA red dot.. using Winchester Active Duty..... 115gr truncated fla...
If you can't pull and shoot instinctively and have your rounds hit within an 8 inch circle at 12 feet away there's an issue that needs attention.
Optics are great, especially for intermediate distances, but they can get caught/ hung up, get blurry when the optic lens gets crap/ rain etc.. and relying on batteries.. and I will say that there are recharging capabilities of some, but I'm not much a fan.
At first I was thinking an red dot was the way to go, but the more that time passed while carrying and I wanted "comfortable compact with little foot print".. My iron sights are premium tritium style though..
I ain't slim Jim any more and my night fision "accurate 8" (-align 2 tritium Os in the shape of an 8) are so easy to align without taking focus from my foresight.
To each his own. But I'm partial to the iron sights because I'm old school and needed to learn this when red dots weren't around. I actually prefer red dots for distance shooting... like 100 yard silhouette steel with my G34 with the BB3 3MOA red dot.. using Winchester Active Duty..... 115gr truncated fla...
It’s funny to me how you’re required to be proficient at a distance that they will probably argue against being reasonable in a self defense scenario
- Messages
- 5,674
I thought the same, how would it be self defense at 25 yards unless the guy shot first or something
- Messages
- 1,459
- Classified ads
- 3
Exactly this. Violence and criminals don't set appointments and wait for you to line your
up.
- Messages
- 337
Maybe the thinking is if you are proficient at 25yrds you will plenty proficient at 15, 10, and 5. But then again based on each county have their own rules (no Red Dots, no off roster, different distances, different rounds shot, different % of shots on target) there doesn't seem to be any logic to it.
The thought had crossed my mind (aim small, miss small and all that), but I have a hard time believing any of these requirements are intended to be for our benefit. Like you said, there’s just way too much variation between counties. And having to get a new license if you move counties is absolutely wild.
- Messages
- 337
Or maybe they make the distance 25yrds to fail more people!
I thought once you get your CCW in any County it is good state wide? Did that change? I hope not. I live in San Mateo and cross Santa Clara County to get to Alameda County every day for work.
- Messages
- 33
Red dots are not really necessary for ccw. This has been studied. Numerous videos on YouTube, etc about it. Anything 7 yards and in is typically point and shoot in high stress situations. Yes you can use irons and even a red dot....but do you need to for those distances? And is it worth the weight and bulk? That's for you to decide....
I have an optic on the pistol I carry the least. Irons on my main carry and the revolver on the permit.
I practice with the irons way more than the dot. The dot is far better to shoot, far worse to carry, so I put 80% of my practice time into the little pistol that’s comfortable to carry. And I find that getting better with irons translates to being better with the dot, but it doesn’t work as well the other way.
I practice with the irons way more than the dot. The dot is far better to shoot, far worse to carry, so I put 80% of my practice time into the little pistol that’s comfortable to carry. And I find that getting better with irons translates to being better with the dot, but it doesn’t work as well the other way.