In the line of duty, being accurate with your firearm is vitally important. While accuracy is a trait that comes with a steady hand and lots of practice, the type of weapon sight you use on your weapon will make a big difference. But which type should you use?
When it comes to most firearms, you can choose between iron sights and a scope / red dot optic. If you aren’t sure what their differences are, we’re here to help. This guide will dive into the key differences between each option and go over which one will be best for your specific needs.
The Design
The most significant difference between iron sights and scopes is their ease of use. Iron sights require the user to align the rear sight, front sight and keep their eye on the target at the same time. Most often, this requires the use of a single eye with the second eye closed. A scope or red dot sight allows for quicker target acquisition and some optics allow you to keep both eyes open for maximum situational awareness.
Modern day technology has enabled manufacturers to design different optics for a variety of uses and situations. For example, some scopes require batteries while others utilize battery free technology like tritium and fiber optics for performance in all lighting conditions. Another example is the ability to magnify a target with precise adjustments as opposed to having fixed magnification like a Trijicon ACOG. An ACOG sight tends to be more durable as it has less moving parts therefore being a better option for the battlefield. Scopes have more variety when it comes to their design, but they all boil down to the same basic concept - target acquisition.
The Features
Due to the simplicity, scopes are typically easier to aim with and provide multiple advantages over the traditional Iron Sights. Both serve the same purpose - to get up on your target as quickly and efficiently as possible. Magnification may be a feature one would need if their target is at a distance not suitable for iron sights. Whereas a red dot sight is going to be better for closer / higher speed encounters.
Scopes also offer other features, such as night vision and infrared, which allow a completely different experience for the user. Some iron sights use reflective materials and tritium that make them easier to see in complete darkness. Most law enforcement officers utilize these night sights with their handguns in the event there is not an ample amount of light to physically see their sights. Red Dot Pistol Sights like the Trijicon RMR are becoming increasingly popular. Using a red dot in combination with a pistol provides an eye opening experience (literally) - going back to the original concept of quicker target acquisition and maximum situational awareness.
The Price
Of course, the biggest difference between firearm iron sights and scopes is the price. All those fancy features won’t be free, after all. Most scopes will go for a few hundred dollars each, whereas sights might only be $100 or so. Obviously, red dot sights will cost a little more, but not as much as most scopes. Plus, almost all modern guns come with iron sights built in, which means choosing to stick with irons could cost you nothing at all.
If you want to upgrade your precinct’s firearm optics, AAA Police Supply is the best place to do it. We have plenty of sights and scopes for sale, all of which are made specifically with cops’ needs in mind.