Well, I’ll talk a bit more about Red Dots since we’re on the subject.

About the time I was testing Red Dots on my .44 Mag and had many unanswered questions in my mind, an old friend of mine came out to camp for the weekend with his family including an 11-year old boy and a 9-year old girl.

I asked Lyle and his wife if they would mind if the kids could take part in an experiment based on a theory I had been working on. So under my closest supervision, we started. I had 2 pellet pistols. I mounted Red Dots on each of them.

The 2 kids had never shot or handled a gun of any kind. I showed them how to hold and put the Dot on the target and shoot. At 7 good paces, 21 feet, we started shooting beer cans. They very rarely missed. We all had a great time. The kids did not want to stop.

Phase 1 of my experiment was over. The next morning I took the Red Dots off the pellet guns and after breakfast, I asked the kids if they were up for shooting again. Boy were they ever. So I brought out the air pistols and showed them how to sight with iron sights and we started. After about 30 rounds each, I had to move the cans closer by half the distance. They were unable to hit a can!

We started again with very little success. The experiment was over. The kids were bored and went to play at the creek. As they played, I re-mounted a Red Dot on one of the pellet pistols, tweaked it in and we brought it to the kids. The girl was ready to try it first. So I pointed at a wildflower about 15 feet away and she took it off at the stem and we were off again…..I gave the gun to Lyle for his kids. I had no choice but it was worth it for three good reasons.

Number 1 - I proved that anyone can pick up a handgun with a Red Dot on it and hit the target. This is good because a lot of handgun hunters don’t practice like they should. Reason being time and or money are big factors.

Then they go hunting and miss or wound an animal. Not good for the animal and the shooter becomes very discouraged. Self-confidence drops in handgun shooting and they become bored hunting with a handgun.

Number 2 - It requires a lot less practice to become a better handgun shot with a Red Dot. I’m not promoting less practice. The more the better, but the time and money factor is still there in today’s world.

Number 3 - They will never get bored with handgun shooting or handgun hunting and are more apt to promote the sport to others. My theory is now fact.

Dan