Isn't the Trijicon RMR Type 2 it?
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It wasn’t eyesight-based for me. I’m in the back half of my thirties, and I’ve gotten genetically lucky with eyesight.
I am, however, mildly obsessive and hobby-interested in pistol sights. My first handgun, as a teenager, was a fixed-sight Single-Six, but the first handgun my family got that we all started shooting with was a dot-sighted Smith 22A. As long as I’ve shot pistols, I’ve been aware of what dits have had to offer, but my interest has been in practical sorts of pistols. P-F gave me confidence that a pistol with a modern dot could be practical and useful, and I think I’m fully onboard this train.
While I reduced my inventory of iron-sighted pistols, I have not and will not completely divest myself of them. As others have said, shooting a dot can improve your ability to shoot irons.
I guess I’m the odd man out with RDS. At 60, I still feel very comfortable with my marksmanship abilities with iron sights. Probably long term muscle memory helps as well. Also, I’m the last one to change until all the bugs have been worked out of a system. When a major, big city police department (ie., NYC, LAPD) has tested/issued RDS pistols to the line troops for at least three years, and reported out positive results, then will I start looking for a gunsmith to mill out a cut on my G17 gen 3.
The title of this thread is a bit of a misnomer, since iron sights are going to be around, either in the form of BUIS or on pistols not suitable for a red dot, for a very long time. I think the question really should be, “when are you going to make a red dot part of your pistol shooting experience?” The reason to include a red dot is not because the current optics are bombproof durable, because they are not, as those of us shooting matches every week frequently observe. The reason to incorporate a red dot pistol into your pistol shooting is not because X department has issued Y optic to the rank and file successfully for however many years, because they haven’t. The reason to incorporate a red dot on your pistol is not because it is realistically likely to improve your odds in a defensive gunfight.
The reason to incorporate a red dot into your pistol shooting is because it makes you a better iron sight shooter, a better red dot shooter, and a better laser shooter. Regardless of what sighting system you use now, and likely will in the future, your red dot pistol experience will make you better with that system. You might even have some fun with the red dot, although I know that fun is considered hobbyist in some circles.
What GJM said. A dot sighted 22 is the easy button to try before considering going “all in”.
I like Aaron's work and reviews. I agree the RMR is proven as the most durable right now. I have a type 1 on a Gen 3 19 that has been on there about 10 years and 80,000 rounds now. It has seen a lot of classes and some mild abuse. I have a second type 2 on a Gen 5 because the first one flickered during DRY FIRE. Overall they are great. Just still not where I would like to see them.