Sights / Optics

Traditional iron sights can be highly effective—if you’ve got the right setup. Here are common modifications:

1. Fiber Optic Front Sights

• Purpose: Brighter and easier to pick up under pressure.

• Benefit: Rapid front sight acquisition, especially in daylight.

• Colors: Red and green are most common; choose what your eyes pick up fastest.

2. Blacked-Out Rear Sights

• Purpose: Eliminate distractions and help you focus on the front sight.

• Pair with: A high-visibility fiber optic front sight for ideal contrast.

3. Wider Rear Notches

• Purpose: Faster sight alignment.

• Trade-off: May sacrifice some precision at distance for speed up close.

4. Night Sights

• Good for carry guns or low-light training, but not ideal for most competitions in bright conditions.

Popular Iron Sight Brands for Competition

Brand Features

Dawson Precision Competition-focused fiber optics

TruGlo TFX Pro Durable and high-visibility

Heinie Sights Sleek, minimalist blacked-out designs

Warren Tactical Widely used in IDPA & USPSA

Red dots have revolutionized handgun competition shooting. They're faster, easier to track, and increasingly allowed in many divisions.

1. What Is a Red Dot Sight (RDS)?

A red dot projects a glowing dot onto a lens, giving you a single aiming point. It allows both-eyes-open shooting and reduces the need for sight alignment.

2. Benefits of Red Dots in Competition

• Eliminates sight alignment errors

• Improves tracking during movement and recoil

• Better at distance and on small targets

• More forgiving for aging eyes

3. Best Competition Red Dot Features

• Large window for fast acquisition

• Bright, adjustable dot (3–6 MOA common)

• Auto or manual brightness settings

• Rugged build and long battery life
  
  

Choosing Your Dot Size

Dot Size (MOA) Best For

3 MOA Precision shooting at distance

5–6 MOA Speed-focused competitions

8+ MOA Steel Challenge and fast close-in targets

Popular Red Dot Brands for Competition

Brand Models to Consider

Trijicon RMR, SRO (wide window)

Holosun 507C, 508T (affordable + reliable)

Leupold DeltaPoint Pro

Aimpoint ACRO P2 (closed emitter)

SIG Sauer MaxPro

Mounting Options for Optics

1. Direct Mount (Milled Slide)

• Cleanest, lowest profile.

• Requires your slide to be milled or factory-cut.

2. Mounting Plate Systems

• Modular systems like Glock MOS or Walther PDP.

• Good flexibility across optics.

3. Slide + Optic Combos

• Buy a competition slide already cut for your optic model.

• Less downtime, plug-and-play option.
  
  

Tips for Red Dot Success

• Zero it properly: Typically at 10 or 15 yards.

• Dry fire practice: Learn to “find the dot” quickly after the draw.

• Keep the lens clean: Dust or rain can obscure your view.

• Back-up irons: Optional, but good insurance.