How well can small optic-equipped pistols shoot?

[Ron3]

That's always a biggy. I had an Springfield XDS .45 for awhile and(to me) it was like .44 Magnum recoil while getting the mini barrel length drop in .45 velocity while another guy I know really like them and I have known a few people prior to mini size guns that disliked shooting a 9×19 vs. a .45 ACP out of the same size pistol due to the perception of faster 9×19 recoil aggravating bad wrists.

I have a Shield .45. Its softer than expected until the magazine gets low. (Fully loaded it's
28 oz) Then the front sight snaps up a good bit.

After 100 rds of it I'm done. (Mostly wrist fatigue)

I would hope a 9mm like the Hellcat would allow longer periods of practice.

[Ron3]

Ive shot a friends P365XL with the Sig red dot out to 100 yards on my 2/3 steel silhouette. Any misses were definitely me.

Once I get a red dot on my own P365XL Ill take it out to 150-300 yards.

Very cool!

[sidewaysil80]

...if you feel it’s slower using a dot. The bottom line is they aren’t unless you’re doing it wrong.

[17K]

I think it would mostly depend on the shooter.

I can shoot little Glocks (42,43,26) very well. In slow fire I can manage better groups at 25 yards than with a G17, 34, or 17L.

Add in draw time, recoil control, transitions, reloads, movement, and now the little Glocks are at the bottom of the heap and I do better with a G17, even compared to a G19.

So, it depends.

But if you’re good with a dot it won’t do anything but help.

[scooter22]

They shoot very well, just not as fast in my experience.

Glock 48 with Holosun 507K is the bees knees IMO.

For me I found the Glock 48 to be more accurate than the P365XL (also with 507K).

[Ron3]

Nobody in this thread has said Dots are slower that I've seen.

Because they (Hellcats and similar) are small I should probably handle one again before buying.

[LowSpeed_HighDrag]

As with anything, training is very important. Getting specific training for an RDS pistol is extremely important. Take a Modern Samurai RDS class, it'll change your life.

[WickedWillis]

I am about 1100 rounds into my P365xl, about 600 with the Holosun optic on it. This is by far the smallest sized dot I own and I am marginally slower with it over my RMR (on my larger guns). Recoil on the 365xl is better than the standard 365, so it's simpler to get good followups. I have made consistent hits out to 50 with next to no Kentucky windage with a 10yard zero. I would be confident making meaningful, defensive hits at 25 yards, easy with this small carry gun.

[Ron3]

These guns are really small.

They are in what I call the "uncanny valley" of pistol size just like a Glock 42. Too big for a pocket, too small for a belt.

I think ill get a S&W subcompact 2.0 instead for a carry gun with optic.

Edited to add:

Well CRUD!

S&W doesn't make an optics-ready subcompact!

I want a manual safety and the tiny safety lever on the Shield models is unsatisfactory so that rules those out.

Might have to look into that new optics-ready subcompact FN now.

Edited again:

Ha! No manual safety option on the sub compact / compact FN's. DOH!

[RWH24]

I changed my G48 & 43X MOS from the 507k-x2 to the 407k X2. The 407k has a 6 moa red dot. I pick up quickly. Better than 2 moa dots.

GLOCK4843XOP.jpg

I originally had the G48 MOS with rail. Found a complete 43X MOS slide here on M4C.
That did not las long as I bought a G43X complete lower from Big Tex Ordnance in Conroe, Tx. $219.00.
Thinking about selling the G43X and going back to my Shield 9mm.
G48 is set up for Shield Mags with mag release. My Slim G19 MOS.