Now that red dot sights have caught on, optics-ready slides have become standard on defensive handguns.
But popularity doesnt establish technical superiority.
This was reinforced when I hit the range with the Springfield Hellcat OSP.
Red dot vs. iron sights — which is best for concealed carry? That’s a question the author sets out to answer for himself with his Springfield Armory Hellcat OSP pistol.
I found the design of the stockU-Dot Hellcat sightsvery easy to pick up and align.
Could they be all I need?
However, the more proficient you become with your pistol the narrower the red dots edge becomes.
For the red dot sight, the author mounted a Vortex Defender-CCW optic on his California-legal Springfield Hellcat. It has the required loaded chamber indicator.
Afterall, the mechanics of presenting the pistol to the target remains the same.
The difference is what your eyes focus on.
There were no brightness controls.
The Springfield Armory Hellcat used for performance testing in this article is an excellent self-defense firearm in all variations.
I placed a white target in bright California sun and shot underneath an enclosed awning.
When I raised the red dot to the target, it was faint.
Its electronics adjusted the brightness to the ambient light of my shooting position.
Accuracy testing was performed with the same gun using both iron sights and a Vortex red dot sight.
If it read the light at the target, the dot would have been brighter.
Not wasting a trip to the range, I used the factory sights instead.
I found the bright yellow front ring and U-lined rear notch simple to pick up and easy to align.
In addition to accuracy testing, the author tested his shooting times with both the factory U-Dot sights and a red dot sight.
I continued shooting and enjoyed the rest of the day.
New Pistol Optic Vortex Defender CCW
The red dot I selected was aVortex Defender CCW.
For me, a 6 MOA dot makes for quick placement on close-distance targets.
A red dot sight can offer advantages in low-light shooting. However, the Hellcat’s U-Dot sights are very useable in nighttime conditions.
The lens on some red dots alters the perspective.
Which Has Better Accuracy Red Dot or Irons?
At the range, I set up 1 and 6 pasties at 10 yards.
A 6 target is roughly the size of the vital zone.
The 1 target was for precision.
My goal was to get a proper sight picture, shoot a single shot, and repeat 5 times.
The groups would be what they were.
I shot the test without corrective lenses.
I tested the stock sights first.
The group size was 1.9 and within the center of the 6 target.
I call that a success.
I then switched to the red dot.
The group size was 1.9 also.
In a defensive situation you dont get extra points for group size, anyway.
The goal of a chest shot is to stop a deadly attack.
I turned my attention to the 1 dots and fired a single round with both sights.
I was marginally closer with the stock sights.
Speed
What about speed?
Can I pick up the red dot faster than the stock sights?
I tested this at home with dry-fire drills and utilizing a Mantis X10 Elite as a shot timer.
I have aN8 Tactical Xecutiveholster for this purpose.
note: Be sure to read Paul CarlsonsMantis X10 Elite review.]
The Streamlight TLR-7 Sub option fits the Mantis X10 Elite perfectly.
I wore the holster inside the waistband on my hip.
I shot the drills without warming up.
My initial times with the red dot were 1.7 seconds and dropped to 1.6 seconds.
Faster is always better as long as the accuracy doesnt suffer.
The red dot got the edge here, but not by much.
The times are close because the mechanics to get the sights eye level is the same for both sights.
With the red dot, my focus remains on the target.
Encapsulated in the Hellcat OSPs front sight is a Tritium vial.
It is surrounded by a luminescent ring.
Together, they form a large yellow-green dot that is highly visible in the dark.
The white line on the rear sight does not glow, so it disappears when there is no light.
The light will splash onto the sights, making the rear sight visible.
Summary
Typically, my first upgrade on a pistol is replacing the factory sights.
Not so with the Hellcat OSPs sights.
They show that Springfield Armory understands the importance of visibility under many light conditions.
The front sight is bright and seemingly large, making it quick to pick up even with older eyes.
[Be sure to read Justin Opinions articleBest Pistol Sights for Old Eyes.]
The U-notch makes for very instinctive alignment.
In a defensive situation, the limiting factor will be you and not the sights.
