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For most shooters, choosing between iron sights or a red dot optic is a matter of preference. Both systems have pros and cons, but is one better than the other? Read more to find out.
Iron sights have long been the standard for handguns, but red dot optics are quickly overtaking them as the most popular sighting system for self defense. When properly zeroed, red dots are fast and precise when compared to standard iron sights.
Even so, some shooters still prefer hi-viz fiber optic or tritium three-dot sights as they are simple and do not depend on a battery. No electronic components means there are fewer parts that can fail.
Most current production handguns come equipped with an optics-ready slide from the factory, so mounting a red dot sight is fairly straightforward. The benefits are twofold: you have a precision sight picture plus variable brightness settings that afford rapid target aquisition in ambiant and low-light environments.
In today's market, there are many excellent choices available at an affordable price point. Budget-friendly options from manufacturers like Swampfox and Holosun offer great features and are reasonably failure resistant.
There are few true "drawbacks" to running a red dot on an EDC pistol and most have been remedied in modern electronic optics. A model with "shake awake" technology, solar charging, and the ability to co-witness with iron sights (a plus in the off chance that an optic completely fails) will address the majority of concerns raised by the red dot rejectors.
Despite the numerous advantages of red dot optics, it's still a good idea to have a solid set of iron sights as a backup. There's also nothing wrong with running a handgun with a traditional three-dot setup, as long as it is accurate and offers comparable visibility in different scenarios.
Iron sights feel more natural to some shooters, and also have less of a learning curve. Several companies offer aftermarket competition and defensive sight sets to replace the inferior factory sights that come standard on certain handguns.
While it is presumably less likely to happen, iron sights are still prone to failure. Normal use can cause some sights to drift or fall off completely and if you only run iron sights, you won't have a backup when you need it most. Also, shooters with diminished eyesight may find that red dots are easier to pick up than standard three-dot sights.
The ability to shoot well with iron sights is a plus, but there's no good reason not to try a red dot or holographic optic. There are many benefits and fewer drawbacks than with irons. At the end of the day you can run what fits best with your EDC, whether that's a low-profile dot or a set of tritium night sights. And remember, there's nothing stopping you from using both.
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