Pros & Cons of Handgun Optics

The Pros & Cons of Handgun Optics

 

With the development of compact, affordable ‘red dot’ and holographic sights, handgun owners have aiming options that were not available a generation ago. What are these sights, and how can they help the shooter? What are the pros and cons of using these systems, versus conventional open (or ‘iron’) sights?

While some use the terms ‘red dot’ and ‘holographic’ sights interchangeably, they are not the same technology. Red dot sights use a small LED to bounce a red dot off or crosshair off a semi-reflective optic (usually glass but can be polymer) which the shooter sees superimposed over the target. The sight’s mechanism allows it to be adjusted to be over the point of impact. Holographic sights perform a similar task, but in a slightly different way. They project a holographic image of the dot or crosshair that appears to be in front of the optic, over the target. While they perform the same function, there are several differences between these technologies. The first is price: red-dot technology (which is more common commercially) will cost around half of what holographic sights cost. Holographic systems are also a bit heavier, though they have the advantage of working even if the optic window gets broken. A final subtle (but important) difference is ‘where’ the image plane of the dot (or crosshair) is; with a red dot system, the dot is a spot that is on the glass just in front of the shooter, while the holographic spot appears to be in the same image plane as the target. This seemingly small difference affects how the sight is perceived; while in both cases, the shooter should focus their eye on the target, with the red dot system the dot will be slightly out of focus, while the holographic dot will be in sharp focus. While the holographic system offers some advantages (works when lens is broken, will appear sharper focus on the target) this is greatly offset by the difference in price, and in physical size. Red-dot systems (sometimes called ‘reflex’ sights) are much more common in commercial use and are also often used in military sights as well for the same reasons.

 

The real debate, though, is between the use of an optic (we’ll go with ‘red dot’ systems here, as they are much more common than holographics) versus open or “iron” sights. This is a debate that is hotly contested, especially in the concealed-carry world, with ardent supporters of both. So, what are the pros and cons of optics, vs. iron sights?

Traditional iron sights have been around, in various forms, since the introduction of the firearm. Iron sights offer extreme simplicity compared to optics, low profile (allowing for easy fit in holster, and less to catch on clothing during a draw), and are not dependent on batteries; the battery issue is often touted as a main reason not to use optics, for fear the battery will die at the worst possible moment. They also generally do not add to the cost of the weapon (virtually all handguns are equipped with iron sights from the factory), unless aftermarket iron sights are used.

Red-dot (or holographic) optics offer simplicity of use: if sighted properly (which is also a requirement of iron sights), you simply place the dot on the target to aim. You do not have to line up front and rear sights, which can make target acquisition much faster. Most quality optics are parallax corrected; parallax is the phenomenon where an object appears different from different angles. In this case, if an optic is parallax corrected, the dot will appear to be on the same target even if your head and eye are not lined up with the gun. Even if you don’t have your eye perfectly aligned with the gun, as long as you see the dot on the target, then the gun is pointed properly at the target. This provides a speed advantage, since the shooter doesn’t have to line their eye up with the sight axis, as is the case with iron sights.

However, some folks require some practice to get used to red-dot sights. This is particularly the case with people who have shot exclusively with iron sights for many years and are used to the “front sight focus” that is required with iron sights. With red-dot systems, the focus must be shifted to a target focus, and the dot is allowed to be slightly blurry. This requires a bit of practice; sometimes, long time iron sight shooters will actually see worse performance when initially switching over to red-dot systems, until they get used to it. However, for those that stick with it, there is usually a significant improvement after that initial period, even over their performance with iron sights. After the adjustment period, many shooters will strongly prefer using optics.

 

So which system is right for you? Red-dot optics offer fast target acquisition and ease of use, but sometimes require the shooter to adjust to the new system. They also do add a bit of cost, are slightly bulkier than iron sights, and require batteries, which can fail. While the power usage of these systems is low (batteries often last 2 or more years), higher-end optics offer ‘shake awake’ features which keep the optic powered when it is moving (such as during carrying) but turn it off if the gun is still for a period of time. Of course, the battery concern can be largely mitigated by simply changing batteries on a regular schedule, perhaps once a year. Iron sights offer the ultimate in simplicity and reliability, but also require training and skill to master.

So which system is best? That’s truly an individual choice. Whichever you choose, you need to train to be proficient… this is especially important for concealed carry, where the use of your gun will (by definition) be in a life-threatening situation. If your performance is the difference between living and dying, you better be ready for it. That being the case, the shooter should train hard with either sighting system, and know it inside and out, before betting their life on it.

 

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