RMR vs Irons for pistol

[Doublehelix]

I'm in a similar boat vision-wise in that as I age, my sight is deteriorating, and I am making the same transition decisions as you are. I am moving away from iron sights (FO) for competition over to a RDS.

I bought a SIG P320 X-5 about 3-4 months ago, and added a SIG Romeo 1 RDS with the 6 MOA dot. Everyone that I talk to says the 6 MOA version is light years ahead of the 3 MOA model, and not just because of the dot size. It is a newer design, and is much more reliable, etc. I also bought the SIG protective shroud, FWIW. The X-5 is already milled for the Romeo 1, so it made sense to mount it directly to the slide rather than use an adapter. That much force from repeated slams of the slide reciprocation need a secure mounting system to maintain the zero.

Another thing that I have recently done, which is a miracle in of itself, is to buy a pair of the Hunters HD Gold Progressive shooting glasses. I have tried several other ($$$$$) brands, including ESS glasses with the prescription insert that I spent about $375 on. The Hunters HD Gold glasses are the new "official" eyewear of USPSA and SCSA, and while pricey, they are truly the greatest thing that has ever happened to my vision needs with shooting glasses. The tint makes everything just POP, and they change darkness depending on the lighting situation like a transition lens.

I can see why there is so much buzz around these glasses nowadays, there is truly nothing else that I have seen that works anywhere near as well. I got a set of progressive prescription lenses using their "Caliber" frames, and I am just completely gobsmacked. They are not cheap! I paid $400 for the entire package, but after all the money I have spent on other glasses, this is finally a solution that works, and works well. Back to the "buy once, cry once" philosophy.

I know this seems like a lot of money, and it is. But then again, I just bought 3,000 bullets for $300+, then 8 lbs of Titegroup powder and 5,000 primers for another $350, and those are consumables! $400 for something that I will use every time I shoot for many years to come seems like a bargain when you put it that way!

https://huntershdgold.com/

I have been practicing a lot with the red dot and the new glasses, and things are finally starting to come around. I am getting much better drawing to the sight by dry firing a lot, and I have been trying to work on my target transitions during dry fire as well.

Accuracy-wise, I am doing pretty well, but I wouldn't say I am any "better" than I was with my iron sights. I am learning to shoot with both eyes open with the RDS, which is a great way to shoot. I worked on it for a while with iron sights last year as well, but it is much easier with the RDS than with the iron sights.

Overall, I am much happier shooting with the RDS than I was with the iron sights, it is really a great way to shoot when you have vision issues.

If you want to meet sometime, you are welcome to try out my gun and sight and see how it works for you.

 

[GlockRock]

I don’t have eye problems yet, but I’ve switched my duty gun to a Glock 17 MOS with the trijicon RMR. After hours of practice, my shooting is faster and more accurate. I imagine those of you with old eyes will benefit the same.
As far as milling vs a MOS model, I have both. I prefer the milled over the other, but haven’t had a single issue with the MOS and adapter plate. I put trijicon suppressor sights on both and they cowitness just fine.

 

[EricG]

Ive wondered why handgun red dots go so large on the dot size.

Helped me significantly. I can acquire sight picture significantly faster and the shake and wobble while aiming is less pronounced. I've had people try to convince me not to go to the 7 moa but I have to do what's best for ME.

I guess if I'm trying to shoot 8" plates at 100 yards, it'll come into play but I can't see the plate that far anyways LOL. At least not good enough to pick a spot to shoot on it with a 3 moa.

Now, my rifles...I prefer the 2 moa. The above issues obviously don't exist here.

Sent from my VS810PP using Tapatalk

 

[Vigilant]

I don’t have eye problems yet, but I’ve switched my duty gun to a Glock 17 MOS with the trijicon RMR. After hours of practice, my shooting is faster and more accurate. I imagine those of you with old eyes will benefit the same.
As far as milling vs a MOS model, I have both. I prefer the milled over the other, but haven’t had a single issue with the MOS and adapter plate. I put trijicon suppressor sights on both and they cowitness just fine.

Curious as to why, if you prefer milled, did you go MOS on your duty gun? Why not just milk another slide? I’ve seen many failures of the MOS system (broken screws with high round counts, failure to hold zero, looseness, etc.) none of which have I seen with a milled slide. I’ve even witnessed a guy that didn’t properly torque his screws on his milled RMR, they both “shot out” but the RMR remained in place because of the milling, and only shifted slightly as to poa/poi. That’s an extreme example, but still.

 

[Tryin']

Curious as to why, if you prefer milled, did you go MOS on your duty gun? Why not just milk another slide? I’ve seen many failures of the MOS system (broken screws with high round counts, failure to hold zero, looseness, etc.) none of which have I seen with a milled slide. I’ve even witnessed a guy that didn’t properly torque his screws on his milled RMR, they both “shot out” but the RMR remained in place because of the milling, and only shifted slightly as to poa/poi. That’s an extreme example, but still.

Assuming he is talking about a police duty weapon and assuming his department is like mine, a milled slide would be “user customization” vs the MOS being a factory supported “option” within the regular line up. A lot of department frown on user modifications to duty weapons.

 

[Vigilant]

Assuming he is talking about a police duty weapon and assuming his department is like mine, a milled slide would be “user customization” vs the MOS being a factory supported “option” within the regular line up. A lot of department frown on user modifications to duty weapons.

Makes sense, skip the better option for the “factory solution”.

 

[Hop]

So where do these lenses magnify? Top? Bottom? Straight up and down or tilted?

The idea behind a color tinted lens is to filter out the colors that don't focus at the same exact spot on your retina. Blue, being the hardest to focus, gets filtered out. RDS are amber & green but never blue dots.

I'm in a similar boat vision-wise in that as I age, my sight is deteriorating, and I am making the same transition decisions as you are. I am moving away from iron sights (FO) for competition over to a RDS.

I bought a SIG P320 X-5 about 3-4 months ago, and added a SIG Romeo 1 RDS with the 6 MOA dot. Everyone that I talk to says the 6 MOA version is light years ahead of the 3 MOA model, and not just because of the dot size. It is a newer design, and is much more reliable, etc. I also bought the SIG protective shroud, FWIW. The X-5 is already milled for the Romeo 1, so it made sense to mount it directly to the slide rather than use an adapter. That much force from repeated slams of the slide reciprocation need a secure mounting system to maintain the zero.

Another thing that I have recently done, which is a miracle in of itself, is to buy a pair of the Hunters HD Gold Progressive shooting glasses. I have tried several other ($$$$$) brands, including ESS glasses with the prescription insert that I spent about $375 on. The Hunters HD Gold glasses are the new "official" eyewear of USPSA and SCSA, and while pricey, they are truly the greatest thing that has ever happened to my vision needs with shooting glasses. The tint makes everything just POP, and they change darkness depending on the lighting situation like a transition lens.

I can see why there is so much buzz around these glasses nowadays, there is truly nothing else that I have seen that works anywhere near as well. I got a set of progressive prescription lenses using their "Caliber" frames, and I am just completely gobsmacked. They are not cheap! I paid $400 for the entire package, but after all the money I have spent on other glasses, this is finally a solution that works, and works well. Back to the "buy once, cry once" philosophy.

I know this seems like a lot of money, and it is. But then again, I just bought 3,000 bullets for $300+, then 8 lbs of Titegroup powder and 5,000 primers for another $350, and those are consumables! $400 for something that I will use every time I shoot for many years to come seems like a bargain when you put it that way!

https://huntershdgold.com/

I have been practicing a lot with the red dot and the new glasses, and things are finally starting to come around. I am getting much better drawing to the sight by dry firing a lot, and I have been trying to work on my target transitions during dry fire as well.

Accuracy-wise, I am doing pretty well, but I wouldn't say I am any "better" than I was with my iron sights. I am learning to shoot with both eyes open with the RDS, which is a great way to shoot. I worked on it for a while with iron sights last year as well, but it is much easier with the RDS than with the iron sights.

Overall, I am much happier shooting with the RDS than I was with the iron sights, it is really a great way to shoot when you have vision issues.

If you want to meet sometime, you are welcome to try out my gun and sight and see how it works for you.

 

[GlockRock]

Curious as to why, if you prefer milled, did you go MOS on your duty gun? Why not just milk another slide? I’ve seen many failures of the MOS system (broken screws with high round counts, failure to hold zero, looseness, etc.) none of which have I seen with a milled slide. I’ve even witnessed a guy that didn’t properly torque his screws on his milled RMR, they both “shot out” but the RMR remained in place because of the milling, and only shifted slightly as to poa/poi. That’s an extreme example, but still.

As stated by another user, it’s my department duty gun. Didn’t have the option of milling. If I did I would have had one milled.

 

[Ricnzak]

Another thing that I have recently done, which is a miracle in of itself, is to buy a pair of the Hunters HD Gold Progressive shooting glasses. I have tried several other ($$$$$) brands, including ESS glasses with the prescription insert that I spent about $375 on. The Hunters HD Gold glasses are the new "official" eyewear of USPSA and SCSA, and while pricey, they are truly the greatest thing that has ever happened to my vision needs with shooting glasses. The tint makes everything just POP, and they change darkness depending on the lighting situation like a transition lens.

I can see why there is so much buzz around these glasses nowadays, there is truly nothing else that I have seen that works anywhere near as well. I got a set of progressive prescription lenses using their "Caliber" frames, and I am just completely gobsmacked. They are not cheap! I paid $400 for the entire package, but after all the money I have spent on other glasses, this is finally a solution that works, and works well. Back to the "buy once, cry once" philosophy.

I know this seems like a lot of money, and it is. But then again, I just bought 3,000 bullets for $300+, then 8 lbs of Titegroup powder and 5,000 primers for another $350, and those are consumables! $400 for something that I will use every time I shoot for many years to come seems like a bargain when you put it that way!

https://huntershdgold.com/

You're post got me interested in the Hunters Gold glasses. I saw on the website they were going to be at the NRA convention. I reached out asking about a booth and Brian Conley the owner promptly replied and said he did not have a booth but would be walking the show meeting with shooters and vendors. He gave me his cell phone number and told me to text him when I was at the show. I look forward to meeting him and checking out the product.

 

[Doublehelix]

You're post got me interested in the Hunters Gold glasses. I saw on the website they were going to be at the NRA convention. I reached out asking about a booth and Brian Conley the owner promptly replied and said he did not have a booth but would be walking the show meeting with shooters and vendors. He gave me his cell phone number and told me to text him when I was at the show. I look forward to meeting him and checking out the product.

Let me just tell you that the personal attention you get from Brian and the rest of the crew is BEYOND BELIEF! I don't want to hijack this thread too far, but they go WAY above and beyond the call of duty. For example:

1) I filled out a form on their web page, and they sent me 3 different frames to check out for free. I was able to call and talk to Brian personally and get some feedback on how to get the right prescription, etc.

2) I sent back the frames along with my preferences and a copy of my prescription (pre-paid postage).

3) Less than a week later, I had my new glasses (I still have not sent them a SINGLE PENNY of my money).

4) I hated them. The "special prescription" that my eye doctor created was horrible. I called, and got hooked up with their lens maker specialist, and he confirmed with me that the prescription was crap. I went back to my eye doctor and got a copy of my "regular" progressive prescription, and sent that to them along with the glasses that did not work, ALL AT NO CHARGE!!!

5) A week later, I got my new glasses back, and they worked perfectly!!! The enclosed an invoice, and I called Brian right up and paid him over the phone.

Now that my friends is SERVICE!!!

Lesson learned: Use your regular progressive prescription!!! I love these glasses, best I have been able to see at the range for many, many years.


EDIT: BTW, with these glasses, I can easily shoot with both iron sights and the RDS. It is pretty amazing to get one set of glasses that works with everything.