Choose your Crutch - Red Dot on PRS Rifles 

Competition breeds innovation by thinking outside the box. I'm thinking your red dot crutch might actually teach you how to best point the rifle. Then at some point you'll be able to stop using the red dot crutch.

A red dot drastically increased my scores when i was starting out in PRS. I practice in my back yard on a wooden prop with multiple positions and small chalk dots on my back wall. I can practice position building, target transitions, dialing, holdovers, and stage instruction memory. I absolutely practice using the red dot during this and it translates very well to matches. Edit: for clarity, this is dry fire practice in my backyard.

At least for older guys like us, I would have to disagree with your analogy of a red dot being a crutch. Our eyes just don't work as well later in life so in order to compete with younger shooters with better eyesight, we need to adapt and overcome the problem that nature has presented us with. We do this all the time in life, that's what separates the successful from the unsuccessful... the ability to solve problems through adaptation. So, my word for the red dot is adaptation rather than crutch. It's a mighty thin line but one that makes old fogies like us feel just a little better... and I need to feel a little better after doing my best to shoot iron sights yesterday.

I run a RDS and my magnification at 20x (Tangent Theta 525p JTAC)... I have have not touched my magnification in the past several seasons. The RDS works for rapid target acquisition.

15 power is enough for 95% of targets.....20 power is enough for 99.9%.....

Are you still using the red dot? I’m contemplating switching to this for next season. On a timer during dryfire, it is faster and more precise. My concerns are there it will create training scars and I will rely on it too much, introduces complexity to the shooting system, and might cause obstructions in tight ports/positions.

I’m in the process of adding a red dot for PRS. At 70 and bilateral pterigium causing astigmatisms creates problems finding targets with the naked eye. I looked through several models and found some to be useless as my eye problems caused the red dot to “bloom” or “explode” on the screen. The Holosun HS507C x2 worked for my eyesight issues. But everyone’s eyes are different. Would you please address wearing/not wearing glasses during a match. I haven’t tried it because so many folks have problems with bifocals shooting both prone and non prone. Perhaps you’ve found a prescription eyeglass company that meets our needs.

I call it a tool. It can also teach you aiming procedures. Use the tools required to complete the job effectively. Win the match. Put meat on the grill. Halt the offensive, offending, offender. Whatever your gig is, use the technology at your disposal.

Landmarks are key. Red dots are a tool. Field match repetition will make you better. Magnification isn’t the end all be all. Depends. Keep learning every match

I typically run 18x all match and never move it

Don't listen to the haters, if you are faster with the Red dot, use it. With time and experience you learn your brain to be more precise and you can stop using it and be even faster. A great way to practice is through dry fire, and by that I don't mean run the bolt and trigger. Preferably you break it down to "find target (or target references) with naked eye", "put Rifle on bag pointing at target or target reference", "verify with red dot", "verify through scope". With 10-15min practice a day you won't need the red dot in a couple of months. Then you layer in your shot process and before you know it you have build and break times in 6-8s.

Just turned 54 , but my ego tells me I am still 34 lol , Physically Im good , still very athletic however my vision is going to do what it does with age , its still good but my upclose struggles , so I use readers , but dont want them on while shooting , I just added the magnifier and its great , it took alot of me to add it but I am glad I did , see my elevation marks easier , , moving forward , Ive worked on locating targets, using reference points , Andy Slade with MDT( 2023 AG Cup winner ) has a great video on this ,I use his tips and I do well , however , every little bit helps , and with only 5 matches under my" bolt ", soooo much to learn , but if I can add something to my process to make things better , well , I added a red dot on top of my gen 3 razor a few days ago , and trust me my pride battled over doing so lol .... havent had it out to a practice session or match yet , but I was testing it a bit yesterday when I was burning in a new barrel/forming some new brass ... I can see how it could advance my target acquisition , so , after load development today , Ill have it out at a practice session next weekend to try it out ... I plan on running a stage without it , then run the stage with it and compare . Ill do it a few stages and finalize my thought on using it or not . Keith , thanks for your videos and approach to sharing knowledge , its different than most in a good way , were on the same page as far as our ages changing things and having to adapt and over come , after all thats what winners do , not only in sport but life in general . Aldo

Not a crutch, just an evolution of target acquisition. We have been using this method of acquring targets for hundreds of years to sight out targets further than any type of precision shooting and for objects that are many times smaller than what is seen on the range. And we continue to use sighting optics even today. The only people upset here are the ones who now have a skillset that is made obsolete by a $300 red dot.

If something works and is allowed by the rules do it who cares what other people call it.

I wonder how long it will be before we see dual-magnification scopes (instead of zooms) with a remote switch to switch the magnification mounted on the pistol grip...

I have always found it incredibly easy, no matter the magnification, to open both eyes to find a target and put it in the scope.

Red dots are a great tool (crutch) to help. Proficiency in building a position and movement helps a lot. The goal is to keep your eyes on the target as you build your position before getting down on the scope. Most pro shooters will get a shot off within 8-10 sec from the buzzer.

Thanks Keith !!

I learned one thing, years back to find a object in my scope from my oupa/grandad. Both eyes open look at your target shoulder the rifle both eyes still open it took some practice especially on a higher magnification, so start of with your lowest magnification in your yard move further out then when you are use to that add magnification practice and more practice it's like dry firing.

Thanks for all your help and information you provide for us, especially for the sand in my front bag!😀

What muzzle brakes/comps are you using on your rifles ?.

When I have taken friends into the field, you find out that one of the biggest differentiators between flat range shooters and folks who grew up hunting is how fast they get onto targets in difficult terrain. Folks who can be amazing shooters on a flat range, can fall apart in a prairie dog field or while hunting elk in cover on terrain.

Teaching an "Old Dog" new tricks 😃. Keep up the good work.

Have you considered trying a D.F.A.T.?

I see a next level nonsense layer version of this with a red dot way off to the side so you can do it with your second eye open.

I have no doubt that you will overcome the challenge.

Do they allow PEQ15’s?

Great tip... not that I plan on shooting PRS

I've noticed some Coyote hunters use a red dot for similar reasons. However, they don't mount up top, the mount to the non-dominant eye. The "eye-dea" being that they don't ever have to break the cheek weld. Do you think this would be effective in PRS, or is it sill easier to look over the top?

I like your idea. How precise do you have to be at what range for these competitions?

Did it help?

Thanks!

A red dot can definitely speed things up if you're losing time trying to get targets in scope and zooming in/out. However long run I think you will be faster if you get good without it. One thing to think about when practicing is the idea of aiming your entire body position + rifle as a system, aiming with your body position first then the rifle follows suit. Not only will you be faster, but the resulting position will be more stable. Use down time at the range to dry fire while your barrel cools, building positions aiming at different points on the back berm to improve the accuracy of how well you can point the entire system.

If you have a good binocular, if you have 3 minutes to learn your target spots on the field, if you have a good short-term memory, you do not need the red dot.

A bag is not a crutch, it's a useful tool. Learning to get on target without a dot is much faster. It is a crutch. A crutch is something used to work around putting in the hrs of training and practice. A bag is not that.