How To See Your Red Dot Every Time

I (John Lovell) have talked to people so frustrated by their red dot that they've been tempted to get rid of it. This is almost guaranteed to be user error and easily corrected with consistent, meticulous draw and presentation.

As you probably already know, I'm a big fan of red dot sights. I keep one on my pistols at all times, including the WarPoet CR920, which comes with a Holosun 507K. I love red dot sights for multiple reasons, but the most important is that they're quick to get on target and they remove a lot of the guesswork about where my bullet will land.

But I also understand the frustration of those who want to return to regular sights when it seems that you're not able to consistently locate your red dot. More than 9 times out of 10, this inconsistency with red dot positioning is a result of inconsistent pistol draw and presentation.

One Problem with Your Red Dot Could Be Retention Drawing

Police officers and other tactical professionals might have grown up with the idea of taking a defensive position with their pistol. The draw and have the immediate instinct to set up near their armpits.

In close quarters, drawing the pistol up into retention keeps the gun out of reach of bad guys. But when this is your automatic go-to as your "2 Position" before presentation, you're setting yourself up for frustration because your presenting from your rib cage area instead of straight out.

This is a habit you likely will need to break with some good repetitions of new mechanics. A consistent and meticulous draw and presentation are the key to getting the red dot on target every time.

Your Red Dot Problem Solved

It may be as easy as 1, 2, 3 to get you and your red dot aligned on target.

Your 1 Position. This is your holstered pistol. It can be from your side, from your appendix, from wherever you keep your pistol. That's simple enough.

Your 2 Position. This is where the problems begin, but here's how to fix them. Your 2 Position should bring your gun center of the chest with your front sight slightly elevated.

This accomplishes two things: it prepares you for a centered and symmetrical presentation and it preps your front sight for easy locating when the gun is presented straight out.

Your 3 Position. As you snap from the 2 Position to the 3 Position, your eyes get to follow a straight line out, following your front sights, which your seeing through your optics, which should now be giving you a good, clean view of your red dot on target.

Now your job is to get back to the range and practice this until you've developed new instincts.

Pro Tip: Don't Look for the Red Dot

Usually if you're searching frantically for your red dot, you're likely not to find it. However, what I've discovered is that if you search through your optic and find the front sight, the red dot will appear.

So find that front sight and all else will fall into place.

Eventually, though, you won't even need that "training wheel" for finding your red dot. Your mechanics will eventually become consistent and with consistency will come speed.

A meticulous and exacting and consistent draw stroke–Every. Single. Time.–is the mark of someone who's going pro.

Get Out There and Practice. Train Hard. Train Smart. Find Your Front Sight.