By Justin Martinez
Like it or not, the red dot-equipped handgun is here to stay. Knowing this, the objective now becomes maximizing its benefits. Most of us are familiar with the major advantages of using a red dot on a handgun, such as the elimination of one focal plane and allowing the shooter to remain target-focused. The real question is: how do we maximize practical performance?
In this context, maximizing practical performance is going to be directly related to balancing both speed and accuracy. By speed, I mean the operator of the red dot-equipped handgun firing rounds as quickly as possible, without unnecessary hesitation. By accuracy, I mean ensuring that all shots fired impact the intended target area.
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Laying the foundation
Before diving into the key components of balancing speed and accuracy, an operator must first establish a solid foundation in red dot fundamentals. This includes:
- Remaining target-focused
- Keeping both eyes open
- Avoiding common marksmanship inefficiencies such as anticipation
For now, we’ll assume the shooter has a basic understanding of red dot usage and can apply marksmanship fundamentals properly. With this foundation in place, we can focus on the two critical elements that determine success: sight picture and trigger manipulation. These two concepts go together like cowboy boots and denim. One doesn’t work effectively without the other. The operator must understand the relationship between the two while accomplishing practical tasks.
The example
Before we get into these two concepts, it is important that we understand the details behind the example we’ll be using. For this example, we are going to assume that a shooter’s intended target area is an 8-inch circle on the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office official qualification target. Since we have a constant target area, the target risk (difficulty) will be determined by the distance from which the shooter is engaging the 8-inch circle.
There are three types of sight pictures that an operator will see when using a red dot:
1. Flash sight picture (low-risk targets) / trigger control at speed
Upon presentation of the firearm, the shooter will first see a flash sight picture. With a flash sight picture, the operator will see a momentary blur of red as the red dot moves into view. This is due to the operator presenting the handgun toward the target in a rapid fashion. In some cases, this sight picture may be appropriate for the operator to start manipulating the trigger. This would be when intended target areas are very low risk.
As previously mentioned, in this example, target risk is associated with distance. We can say that a flash sight picture for the 8-inch circle would be appropriate at 3 yards and closer. The appropriate trigger manipulation at a low-risk target such as this needs to be aggressive. This means the operator needs to pull the trigger as quickly as possible with minimal disturbance to their sight picture. Most know this concept as “slapping the trigger.” I like to call this “trigger control at speed” since it emphasizes that the operator must have some level of control alongside the aggressiveness. The operator must attempt to limit sight disturbance throughout the entirety of the trigger manipulation.
The phrase “trigger control at speed” comes from world champion competitive shooter Ben Stoeger. Throughout my experiences, I have learned that some of the best shooters in the world can apply this concept even on more difficult targets. With that being said, I recommend that operators attempt to master this concept.
To develop this skill, dry fire drills are invaluable. Try this:
- Fully present your firearm, aiming at a small reference point.
- Place your trigger finger lightly on the trigger. Do not prep the trigger.
- Upon a start signal (such as a shot timer), press the trigger aggressively.
- Observe how the red dot moves during the trigger manipulation process. The goal is to manipulate the trigger as quickly as possible while minimizing sight disturbance.
Mastering this skill allows shooters to fire faster while remaining accurate, even on higher-risk targets.
2. Floating sight picture (medium-risk targets) / trigger prep
A floating sight picture appears as the red dot settles into a controlled, oscillating motion within the target area. This occurs naturally as the flash sight picture stabilizes over time. This controlled pattern is not moving as aggressively as the flash sight picture due to the transition process. The transition from one sight picture to another happens over time — from flash to floating to eventually fine.
The floating sight picture is best used for medium-risk targets. For this example, we can say that a medium-risk target will be 7–15 yards away. It is important to note that the “risk” or difficulty of a target has a direct relationship to one’s skill level. One might see this example as a medium-risk target, whereas another might see it as a high-risk target.
Once the operator sees the red dot floating in a controlled manner anywhere in the acceptable target area, they can begin the trigger manipulation process. In most cases, an operator might not be able to get away with a “trigger control at speed” manipulation at a medium-risk target while remaining accurate. This means they would have to apply a different type of trigger manipulation. The most appropriate concept here is to prep the trigger before the shot is fired. Prepping the trigger means eliminating the pre-travel from the trigger before firing the round.
3. Fine sight picture (high-risk targets) / pause prep
For high-risk targets (such as an 8-inch circle at 25 yards), the shooter must exercise visual patience. This means allowing the sight to transition from flash to floating to a fine sight picture. A fine sight picture is a more controlled, minimal-movement version of the floating sight picture.
Even at this stage, the red dot will never be perfectly still. Factors such as breathing, grip pressure, and natural hand movement prevent absolute steadiness. However, the shooter must learn to recognize when the dot is stable enough for an accurate shot.
The best trigger manipulation method for this scenario is what I call “prep pause”:
- Prep the trigger by eliminating pre-travel.
- Pause briefly to confirm the red dot is within the desired target area.
The length of the pause depends on skill level. Highly experienced shooters may seem to fire instantly, but in reality, they have trained their eyes and hands to process the fine sight picture more efficiently and understand when it is appropriate to begin trigger manipulation.
Training tip: Avoid over-confirming
A common mistake operators make (especially at close distances) is over-confirming their red dot sight picture.
For example, an operator at 3 yards (a low-risk target) who waits until they see a fine sight picture before pulling the trigger is wasting time. The key is to see what you need to see — and nothing more.
Final thoughts
Next time you are at the range, apply these concepts and techniques. Mastering the balance of both speed and accuracy with a red dot comes down to understanding the relationship between sight pictures and trigger manipulations.
References
Cowan A. (n.d.). Miniaturized Red Dot Systems for Duty Handgun Use.
Stoeger B. (2014). Practical pistol reloaded. Ben Stoeger Pro Shop.
Stoeger B. (2017). Dry-Fire Reloaded. Ben Stoeger Pro Shop.
About the author
Justin Martinez serves as the Range Master for the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in El Paso, Texas. A highly skilled competitive shooter, he holds a Grandmaster ranking in the United States Practical Shooting Association. With multiple titles at the National, Area and State levels, Justin brings his passion and expertise to both his law enforcement agency and the wider shooting community.
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