GJM
05-16-2016, 08:10 AM
Over the last six weeks, I have been shooting a Glock 19 with a Delta Point Pro and RMR 06. Until the last week, I was shooting the Pro in USPSA Carry Optics competition and using the RMR on a carry Glock 19. I far prefer the RMR as a carry gun optic, as it has better battery life and a superior user interface, in that it has an auto setting and dedicated up and down intensity key. The main design advantage of the Pro, is the battery can be replaced without removing the optic, and that is a good thing based on my experience with the Pro's limited battery life.
About a week ago, in a fit of timmiedom, I talked myself into gaming the RMR06, instead of the Pro, so that it would be the same as my carry gun. Bright move, considering my first match with the RMR would be an important one. On day one of that match, with the RMR, I felt like I shot quite poorly compared to my expectation. I was able to confirm this, in comparing hit factors on stages against other shooters I compete against regularly. Saturday night, I decided to shoot my DP Pro on the second day of the match. While my day wasn't perfect, I shot very close to my expectation. Doing a deep dive into the numbers, comparing my hit factors against a number of known competitors, I shot 12 - 15% better with the DP Pro. In USPSA terms, that is a massive delta.
So as to why, I think there are two reasons:
1) the Pro display is taller, allowing you to keep sight of the dot easier in recoil.
2) The Pro display is clearer and overall larger than the RMR. When navigating a confusing array of targets, like you encounter in a USPSA match, the bigger display allows you to process that more easily, while looking through rather than around the display.
Note to self, this was a really tough way to test this, and is the reason you shouldn't be messing with changes like this going into a big match (or, if you prefer, a gunfight). Right now, I continue to be excited about the potential for red dot optics, but I am definitely dissatisfied with the offerings we have that excel both for carry and gaming. I am really hoping that Aimpoint brings something out at the NRA show that is great for carrying and gaming.
One final thought. We like to say on PF that it is the "Indian not the arrow." I generally think that is correct. However, the converse is that shooting games like USPSA are designed to amplify relatively small differences in performance to differentiate between competitors.
About a week ago, in a fit of timmiedom, I talked myself into gaming the RMR06, instead of the Pro, so that it would be the same as my carry gun. Bright move, considering my first match with the RMR would be an important one. On day one of that match, with the RMR, I felt like I shot quite poorly compared to my expectation. I was able to confirm this, in comparing hit factors on stages against other shooters I compete against regularly. Saturday night, I decided to shoot my DP Pro on the second day of the match. While my day wasn't perfect, I shot very close to my expectation. Doing a deep dive into the numbers, comparing my hit factors against a number of known competitors, I shot 12 - 15% better with the DP Pro. In USPSA terms, that is a massive delta.
So as to why, I think there are two reasons:
1) the Pro display is taller, allowing you to keep sight of the dot easier in recoil.
2) The Pro display is clearer and overall larger than the RMR. When navigating a confusing array of targets, like you encounter in a USPSA match, the bigger display allows you to process that more easily, while looking through rather than around the display.
Note to self, this was a really tough way to test this, and is the reason you shouldn't be messing with changes like this going into a big match (or, if you prefer, a gunfight). Right now, I continue to be excited about the potential for red dot optics, but I am definitely dissatisfied with the offerings we have that excel both for carry and gaming. I am really hoping that Aimpoint brings something out at the NRA show that is great for carrying and gaming.
One final thought. We like to say on PF that it is the "Indian not the arrow." I generally think that is correct. However, the converse is that shooting games like USPSA are designed to amplify relatively small differences in performance to differentiate between competitors.