February 17th, 2022

6minute read

What began as a whisper has now evolved into a roar.

Ive been called many things in my life, but one label I proudly wear is old school.

I know iron sights and have used them for decades.

Man shooting pistol with Hex red dot sight

They had never failed me.

After being an observer of the scene, it was time to take the big plunge.

In the extensive Springfield Armory line, examples include theXD-M Elite,XD-S Mod.2 OSPand theHellcat OSP.

Hellcat pistol with both iron sights and red dot sight

Different size dots ranging from 1.0 MOA to 13.5 MOA are available.

Larger dots are faster to read but might be too coarse for targets in the distance.

To get on target, the shooter simply superimposes the red dot on the target and presses the trigger.

Cover for The Armory Life Digital Magazine Volume 9: EDC

In reality, this is much simpler than obtaining a proper sight picture with iron sights.

With iron sights, it is debatable whether you should keep both eyes open or close one eye.

However, with MRDS both eyes should be kept open.

Man shooting Springfield pistol with a red dot sight mounted on the slide

My newly found confidence has not elevated me to world-class quite yet, but things have improved dramatically.

Like many shooters, I have a keen interest in smaller handguns that can be utilized for concealed carry.

I would rise up from the ready position, find the dot, and press the trigger.

Man doing dry fire practice with red dot sight to help improve shooting skill

It is especially important you keep both eyes open and focus on the target.

This can be a very tall order for shooters with decades of experience using iron sights.

after you snag gotten the basics down, its time to up your game.

Live fire practice with a red dot sight

Those very same things you practiced with your iron-sighted pistol should now be run with the MRDS.

This could include movement, multiple targets, reduced light and extended distance.

Again, start slow and build up to game speed.

Man drawing a handgun from concealment

In the era of ammo shortages and outrageous prices, it can be tough to learn a new game.

And the price is right!

I find the key to finding the dot quickly is a consistent grip and presentation.

Hellcat® Series

Find a quiet area in your home with no live ammunition or loaded magazines in the immediate area.

Be absolutely sure your pistol is clear (check it twice!)

before engaging in any off-range practice.

XD-M® Elite Series

Find the dot on the target, press and repeat.

Avoid the temptation to run that new red dot 100 miles per hour right out of the box.

after you snag smoothed out the rough edges, speed will come.

XD-S Mod.2® OSP™ Series

Go to forum thread

HellcatSeries

XD-MElite Series

XD-S Mod.2 OSPTMSeries

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