Why I Prefer Red Dot Sights Over Iron Sights

Learning the Basics: Iron Sights First

When I first started shooting, I learned the same way a lot of people do — with iron sights. Line up the front sight with the rear sight, focus hard, and hope everything stays still. And while that’s a great way to build basic skills, once I started using a red dot sight, everything changed for me. Now, I honestly prefer red dots over iron sights, and I’ll tell you why.

Speed: Faster Target Acquisition

The biggest thing I noticed right away is how much faster I can shoot with a red dot. With iron sights, you have to line up the front and rear sights perfectly. That takes time and focus. With a red dot, you just put the dot on the target and pull the trigger. There’s no lining up two sights — it’s one simple point of focus. In a real-world situation where things are moving fast, that kind of speed could make a huge difference.

Accuracy: Tighter Groups at Longer Distances

Another big advantage is accuracy. Especially at longer distances, a red dot makes it much easier to hit what you’re aiming at. That little red dot is much finer than a big front sight post. You can place your shot exactly where you want it, instead of having a big chunk of metal covering up part of the target. When I switched to a red dot, I instantly noticed my groups getting tighter at 15, 20, even 30 yards.

Close Range Use: Even Easier Than Irons

One thing people always ask is, "Are red dots hard to use at close range?" Honestly, once you train a little with it, it’s even easier than irons. At very close distances, you can even use the window of the red dot like a big ghost ring sight — just put the dot somewhere on the bad guy and press the trigger.

Vision Changes: A Game Changer for Aging Eyes

Red dots also make a huge difference for people with aging eyes. I’m not too old yet, but I can tell you it’s harder for a lot of folks to focus on a front sight as their vision changes. With a red dot, you’re looking at the target and the dot at the same time. You don’t have to shift your focus back and forth between near and far. It’s way more natural.

Astigmatism: What to Know

One thing to know about red dot sights is that if you have astigmatism, the dot might not look perfectly round and crisp. Instead, it can bleed and appear blurry, smeared, or even star-shaped. That’s because astigmatism affects how your eye focuses light, and red dots are basically tiny points of light. It’s not the sight’s fault — it’s just how the eye sees it.
Some people can fix the issue by lowering the brightness of the dot, which can make it appear sharper.

There are some brands that carry certain red dot sights, like Holosun, Sig Sauer, and others, that people claim work better for those with astigmatism. It’s worth trying a few different models to find the best match for your eyes.

Parallax-Free Performance: What It Really Means

They’re also “Parallax Free” — meaning, the point of aim remains consistent regardless of eye position. Now, here’s something a lot of people don’t realize: red dots aren’t truly parallax-free from a physics standpoint. Technically, with most red dots, if you move your head way, way off-center, the dot will shift a little compared to the target. That’s just how optics work.

BUT — and this is important — in real-world use, they are basically parallax-free. When you’re using a quality red dot, the amount of shift is tiny, especially at normal handgun distances. If you’re aiming at something 10 or 15 yards away, and not perfectly lined up, the dot might move by a hair, literally. But not enough to matter in a fight or even in competition.

So if they’re still very accurate when your eye position is off, why mention it? I only bring it up because someone out there may say something about the claim of red dots being “parallax free.”

In practical terms, when you see the dot on the target, you can trust your shot is going to land where you want it. That’s what matters most. You don’t have to overthink it. Just train yourself to bring the gun up, find the dot, and shoot.

Low Light Advantage: Where Red Dots Shine

Another thing I love about red dots is shooting in low light. With iron sights, it can be tough to see your front sight at dusk or in a dark room. But a red dot shines bright no matter what the lighting looks like. That gives you a huge advantage in real-world self-defense situations, which almost always happen when it’s dark.

The Battery Factor: Always Have a Backup Plan

Of course, nothing is perfect. Red dots do rely on batteries, and they can fail (even though good ones are extremely reliable). That’s why I still train with my backup iron sights and check my batteries regularly. It’s just smart to have a plan B. Because of this, I like my red dot sights to co-witness with my iron sights. In the case that my red dot goes out, I can always line up my iron sights through the field of view.

Final Thoughts: Why I’ll Never Go Back

At the end of the day, though, the benefits of red dots far outweigh the downsides. Faster target acquisition, better accuracy, easier shooting for older eyes, and a clearer sight picture in tough lighting conditions — it’s hard to beat that.

If you haven’t tried a red dot yet, I highly recommend giving it a shot. It might feel weird at first, but once you get used to it, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. I know I do.