red dot for beginners!! Hi all, I have a question about red dots and zeroing them. I have been collecting firearms since I was 18!! I have a really nice collection and my problem is that none of them have a red dot on them! I recently bought a sig p365x with a holosun 407k-x2 and I really don't know how to zero it correctly! I was wondering if my fellow members from sig talk could help me out.. I'm not sure if I have to co witness the dot with the front sight or should I have the dot in the middle of my dot window?? I read of both ways of doing it but i'm not sure which is the best way of doing it and the easyest way of zeroing my red dot!! If I could get some direction on the correct way of zeroing my red dot I would greatly appreciate it!!! THANK YOU VERY MUCH
RolexGMT
I would get to the basic by using Laser bore to zero-in at home
and go to range to fine tune it ..
I like Sig RomeoZero Elite .. Very clear red reticle + reasonable price
and go to range to fine tune it ..
I like Sig RomeoZero Elite .. Very clear red reticle + reasonable price
Read the instructions. To get close without a bore sight laser line up the iron sights at about 5-10 yards - unloaded - and adjust the dot to sit right on top of the from sight. It should get it close.
Rest the pistol on a sandbag or hard surface to do this, then shoot 3-round groups and adjust accordingly. I zero mine at 10-15 yards.
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Rest the pistol on a sandbag or hard surface to do this, then shoot 3-round groups and adjust accordingly. I zero mine at 10-15 yards.
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PS: After you get it zeroed give yourself plenty of dry fire practice to bring the dot up to your dominate eye and keep both eyes open and on your target.
Finding the dot and getting it on target from the draw or low ready is the single biggest obstacle new dot-users have to overcome, especially for those who have been shooting irons one-eyed for years.
Lots of people give up because it seems to take so long to get it down. It's a steep learning curve.
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Finding the dot and getting it on target from the draw or low ready is the single biggest obstacle new dot-users have to overcome, especially for those who have been shooting irons one-eyed for years.
Lots of people give up because it seems to take so long to get it down. It's a steep learning curve.
Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
Assuming your P365X is setup the same way as mine with it's Romeo Zero, you want to have the dot in the center of the window, ignoring the front sight, and adjust it until the shots and the dot are in the same place. Your 407k does have a notch in it like my Romeo Zero, but it really is not intended to be used as a rear sight, only to allow you to use a rear sight if it were still attached to the frame and high enough to be seen.
Where things can get kind of confusing is if you can clearly see the front and rear sights, and they are usable through the window. In this case, you can align the iron sights and adjust the dot until it is also in alignment with them as a starting point. The dot will be at the bottom of the window when in alignment with the iron sights, but when you go to shoot the thing, ignore the iron sights and put the dot back in the center of the window and on the target. If you look closely with the dot in the center, you'll see the iron sights will show you are aiming high, which will match up with where the dot, that is now above the front sight, is indicating as where you are aiming.
From there you can start learning how to use the optic. When switching from iron sights it does take some practice to be able to get the dot in the window fast and not be searching for it, but in the end, IMHO, it's worth the effort.
Where things can get kind of confusing is if you can clearly see the front and rear sights, and they are usable through the window. In this case, you can align the iron sights and adjust the dot until it is also in alignment with them as a starting point. The dot will be at the bottom of the window when in alignment with the iron sights, but when you go to shoot the thing, ignore the iron sights and put the dot back in the center of the window and on the target. If you look closely with the dot in the center, you'll see the iron sights will show you are aiming high, which will match up with where the dot, that is now above the front sight, is indicating as where you are aiming.
From there you can start learning how to use the optic. When switching from iron sights it does take some practice to be able to get the dot in the window fast and not be searching for it, but in the end, IMHO, it's worth the effort.
i just zero to where i am hitting, regardless of iron sights or "co-witness" options.
one tip i would give is to not "look for the dot" when you are presenting, and don't steer the gun around to get the dot to appear as you are drawing or bringing it into your sight picture.
present the gun the same way you have done countless times before with iron sights and the dot should be there. it will be there.
your existing muscle memory is your friend.
one tip i would give is to not "look for the dot" when you are presenting, and don't steer the gun around to get the dot to appear as you are drawing or bringing it into your sight picture.
present the gun the same way you have done countless times before with iron sights and the dot should be there. it will be there.
your existing muscle memory is your friend.
I bought a 9 mm bore laser to sight in the red dot. I put the gun in a vice to hold it still, marked the bore laser projection on the wall (at your preferred distance), then adjusted the red dot onto that same spot. You have to mark the laser impact point because the laser light is not visible through the red dot window. Anyway, this method has gotten me dead on when shooting, certainly more accurate than my shooting technique can achieve.
This is way more simple than it is being made out to be. First off, don’t worry about cowitnessing your sights. If you’re serious about using your red dot in a defensive solution forget about your iron sights, unless your red dot fails. Take 3 shots at the center of your target (you can do this on a rest or offhand). Look at where your shots landed - in your case, low and left. Adjust your red dot by dialing the two adjustment screws toward up and right. A quarter turn of each screw at 15 yds will get you progressively closer. Shoot another 3 rounds and adjust until your shots are on target. I have red dots on at least 8 pistols and I zero them all this way. It’s very easy.
As you may, or may not know, shooting left and low is almost always an indication of bad technique. You do not want to adjust your red dot to compensate for bad technique. You need to be able to get your shots on target with your irons. Are they hitting left and low with your irons? If they are not and it’s only happening with your red dot then you should use a rest to zero your red dot.
As you may, or may not know, shooting left and low is almost always an indication of bad technique. You do not want to adjust your red dot to compensate for bad technique. You need to be able to get your shots on target with your irons. Are they hitting left and low with your irons? If they are not and it’s only happening with your red dot then you should use a rest to zero your red dot.
This is way more simple than it is being made out to be. First off, don’t worry about cowitnessing your sights. If you’re serious about using your red dot in a defensive solution forget about your iron sights, unless your red dot fails. Take 3 shots at the center of your target (you can do this on a rest or offhand). Look at where your shots landed - in your case, low and left. Adjust your red dot by dialing the two adjustment screws toward up and right. A quarter turn of each screw at 15 yds will get you progressively closer. Shoot another 3 rounds and adjust until your shots are on target. I have red dots on at least 8 pistols and I zero them all this way. It’s very easy.
As you may, or may not know, shooting left and low is almost always an indication of bad technique. You do not want to adjust your red dot to compensate for bad technique. You need to be able to get your shots on target with your irons. Are they hitting left and low with your irons? If they are not and it’s only happening with your red dot then you should use a rest to zero your red dot.
As you may, or may not know, shooting left and low is almost always an indication of bad technique. You do not want to adjust your red dot to compensate for bad technique. You need to be able to get your shots on target with your irons. Are they hitting left and low with your irons? If they are not and it’s only happening with your red dot then you should use a rest to zero your red dot.
When I shoot with my red dots I don’t even look at the iron sights. Using the front sight and notch is fine if your red dot ever goes down, but in the actual use of the red dot you should totally disregard them. A lot of competition shooters don’t even use a front sight. The Sig Max Michel P320 doesn’t even come with a front sight. The odds are if you find yourself in an SD situation and your dot goes down, you’re going to point shoot anyway.
Bring targets, the pistol and a small screwdriver to the range. Shoot and adjust the red dot until your bullet hits where the red points. Do not focus on the dot, focus on the target and see the dot on it. Your fixed sights have nothing to do with the red dot adjustment, they are independent of each other, you only use one or the other. You are not trying to make the dot aim to the point of the fixed sights, you are trying to make the bullet hit where the dot is located on your target. There is nothing complicated about the process. Don’t waste money on a bore sighting laser, that is unnecessary and an absurd thing to do.
Red dots on my handguns have never been co-witnessed to the iron sights. Adjust the dot so your POA = POI. If the red dot fails, sure, use the irons,
Also, when using a red dot, keep both eyes open. One of the significant benefits of a red dot is an increased field of view, which can become critical in a defensive situation.
Also, when using a red dot, keep both eyes open. One of the significant benefits of a red dot is an increased field of view, which can become critical in a defensive situation.
in my experience, the vertical position of the dot in the sight is purely dependent upon my eye position behind it.
if i raise my hold slightly (or dip my head), i can put the dot on the front sight for a "combat" hold, or perhaps what many people refer to as "co-witnessing"...
but in practice, this takes a little more time, imo negating one of the advantages of the optic...you don't have to wait until the front and back irons are lined up...the poa will be wherever the dot is pointing, regardless of where it is in relation to the iron sights in your sight picture.
for somebody that has been shooting a long time, they can already present the gun with iron sights quickly, so the speed improvement will be less drastic, but for somebody without years of muscle memory to rely on, the difference can be huge.
perhaps this explains it better than i can...
vortexoptics.com
basically for me, co-witness simply means either option hits the same point, not that you have to use both at the same time.
because i have been shooting a long time, i adopted red dots not for speed, but because my old eyes aren't good at focusing both at the front sight and downrange at the same time. also, floating the dot above the front post makes me more accurate at 25yds since the bullseye is not obscured by the front post of the combat sight picture on my p-series sigs.
if i raise my hold slightly (or dip my head), i can put the dot on the front sight for a "combat" hold, or perhaps what many people refer to as "co-witnessing"...
but in practice, this takes a little more time, imo negating one of the advantages of the optic...you don't have to wait until the front and back irons are lined up...the poa will be wherever the dot is pointing, regardless of where it is in relation to the iron sights in your sight picture.
for somebody that has been shooting a long time, they can already present the gun with iron sights quickly, so the speed improvement will be less drastic, but for somebody without years of muscle memory to rely on, the difference can be huge.
perhaps this explains it better than i can...
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Co-Witnessing Part One
A closer look at what co-witnessing can and can’t do for you as a shooter, and dive into some of the most frequently discussed co-witnessing topics.
vortexoptics.com
basically for me, co-witness simply means either option hits the same point, not that you have to use both at the same time.
because i have been shooting a long time, i adopted red dots not for speed, but because my old eyes aren't good at focusing both at the front sight and downrange at the same time. also, floating the dot above the front post makes me more accurate at 25yds since the bullseye is not obscured by the front post of the combat sight picture on my p-series sigs.
I have P365x w/Holosun HE407K-GR X2 Green Dot. Set it up simply by adjusting the Dot to sit directly on top of front sight post when aligning rear sight slot on the Holosun with front sight. Very close, tweaked it my G-Sight laser. Perfect score at LEO annual Qual. GTG!
Attachments
I have a quick question about installing my holosun 407k-x2? The screws I used the screws that came with my red dot they had blue Loctite on the bottom of the screws. Is that ok to only use the loctite that were on the screws or do I have to put on some more on the screws? The reason I ask is because I only used the blue Loctite that was on the screws and didn't put any additional loctite on them! Your help would be appreciated
Tons of good info in this thread. It should be pinned and be 'recommended reading' imo:
www.sigtalk.com
RDO, RDS, PMO, RMR, DOT Optics: How to Zero, How to Use
It's not uncommon for people new to pistol optics to want to use their steel sights to find the DOT of their optic, but that "crutch" is often a hindrance to learning to use the DOT Optic as the primary sighting device, according to many top instructors. It seems many who are new to pistol...
www.sigtalk.com
Buy a cheap laser boresite on Amazon to set it up initially to save on ammo. They are really handy. I'm not familiar with the romeo sights, but none of the red dots I've tried would co-witness with the iron sights unless you had suppressor height sights. When you get to the range, I would zero it at 5 yards. Aim at a dot on the target. Keep shooting and adjusting until you hit the dot. At that distance the bullet holes should be touching. Send the target out to 10 or 15 yards. If you can get a 9 inch group you're good enough. If you're a really good shot with a pistol and think you might want to make a 15 yard head shot on an active shooter, which is possible with a red dot and a good trigger finger, work your zero out 5 yards at a time until you get to 15 yards or whatever the max range is for where you shoot.
All that said, I'm not big on red dots, lights, and lasers on guns, because they always seem to break. I put one on my new Springfield XDM Elite Compact 10mm and it came loose and quit working the first time I took it out. I mounted it myself using the Loctite that already was on the screws. I remounted it using my own Loctite, so we will have to see...I can shoot it way better with the red dot than with iron sights. My other issue with red dots, is they seem to make the guns a lot bulkier. Now that it is summer, I don't even try to carry it.
All that said, I'm not big on red dots, lights, and lasers on guns, because they always seem to break. I put one on my new Springfield XDM Elite Compact 10mm and it came loose and quit working the first time I took it out. I mounted it myself using the Loctite that already was on the screws. I remounted it using my own Loctite, so we will have to see...I can shoot it way better with the red dot than with iron sights. My other issue with red dots, is they seem to make the guns a lot bulkier. Now that it is summer, I don't even try to carry it.
I went to the range today with my sig p365x and my holosun 407k-x2 and while shooting my red dot I actually did pretty well with all that great info coming from you guys and girls.. The one problem I did have was the first time ever with that specific gun. I was firing at my zeroing target and the striker fell and no bang? I looked at the round and there was a striker mark but like I said no bang.. So I loaded that round back into my gun and it went bang. I have to say I was using steel ammo but it did go off the second time I fired it! Does anyone have any thoughts about what could of happened and is it prevalent to that gun(p365x) Thank you all for your time
My first bet would be on the ammo, not the gun. Especially if it's only happened one time so far, and especially if it's cheap steel case target ammo.
I purchased a protective cover for my 507K. Something to consider.
dreamplastics.com
![Image]()
HoloSun 407K/507K Scope Cover – Dream Plastics
dreamplastics.com
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