Dots vs Irons target acquisition

Published on April 22, 2025
Duration: 3:48

This video addresses a common issue where shooters find their transitions slower with red dot sights compared to iron sights. Instructor Ben Stoeger explains that this is often due to over-confirmation of the dot or excessive time spent reacquiring it after recoil. He provides a practical drill to help shooters trust the dot and trigger pull based on the 'flash of color' rather than perfect stabilization, emphasizing that this technique is sufficient for most pistol-distance targets.

Quick Summary

Improve your red dot sight transitions by practicing the 'flash of color' technique. Instead of waiting for the dot to fully stabilize after recoil, pull the trigger as soon as you see it appear on target. This method, recommended by Ben Stoeger, is faster and sufficient for most pistol-distance shooting.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction: Dot vs. Irons Transition Speed
  2. 00:13The Problem: Slower Dot Transitions
  3. 00:25Suspected Cause: Over-Confirmation
  4. 00:43Analyzing Recoil and Sight Acquisition
  5. 01:20What It Should Look Like: Eyes Shifted
  6. 01:35Over-Confirmation Explained
  7. 01:57Red Dot vs. Iron Sight Visuals
  8. 02:22Why Stabilization Isn't Always Needed
  9. 02:30Drill: Flash of Color Trigger Press
  10. 03:00Drill: Stabilize vs. Fast Trigger
  11. 03:20Isolating the Transition
  12. 03:44Conclusion and Next Steps

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my red dot sight transitions slower than iron sights?

This is often due to over-confirming the red dot's position on target or spending too much time reacquiring it after recoil. The visual feedback from a red dot can be more dramatic, leading shooters to unnecessarily stabilize it before firing, which slows down transitions.

What is the 'flash of color' technique for red dot sights?

The 'flash of color' technique involves pulling the trigger as soon as you see the red dot appear on the target, rather than waiting for it to perfectly stabilize. This method is generally faster and sufficient for most pistol-distance shooting scenarios.

How can I practice faster red dot sight transitions?

A good drill is to start at low ready, bring the gun up to the target, and pull the trigger on the 'flash of color.' Use a timer and compare this to a method where you deliberately stabilize the sight first to see the speed difference.

Should I always wait for my red dot to stop moving before shooting?

No, for most pistol-distance targets, waiting for the red dot to completely stop moving is unnecessary and will slow you down. Trust the 'flash of color' and initiate your trigger press as soon as the dot is visible on target.

Related News

All News →

More Training & Techniques Videos You Might Like

More from Ben Stoeger

View all →