I'm considering getting a new pistol, looking at the Springfield XD-M Elite with a 5.25" barrel, https://www.springfield-armory.com/...ns/xd-m-elite-525-precision-9mm-handgun/

Then I saw the model that is cut for a red dot optic and it got me thinking, which would I be more accurate with? Longer barrel with iron sights or slightly shorter barrel with a red dot sight.

I would mainly use this for plinking, friendly competitions and use around the deer lease.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

I would skip Springfield

I would get a Walther PDP

If you're not going to carry it, I think in general the red dot gives better accuracy than open sights for most people. But in a life or death situation, I don't want anything to do with a red dot on a handgun.

You will be more accurate with a red dot, that's pretty much undebatable. I fired literally tens of thousands of rounds through xdm's and all of them have been pretty accurate whether with irons or with a red dot. Good luck

I'm with Texan on this one. You can do amazing things with red dots on a handgun. But add in dirt, rain, poor light and stress and good old irons do better. I shoot and train with guys who have red dots on their guns. The can do very well but they (IMO) are much more training intensive to get full performance out of them under all conditions.

Can't go wrong w/Springfields XDM!! Have 2, 45 5" and 9 3.5". Accurate as my Sig's. Have 3 pistols with red dots helps with OLD eyes.

I shoot pistols a good bit and I much prefer irons on a plinker. If you are steady, have good trigger control, and your eyes, handgun and ammo are up to it, you can shoot one hole groups at 25 yards and silhouettes at 100 yards with iron sights. The pistol shooter that can capitalize on more precision than that is very rare. Technique for the most part is the biggest limitation for the majority of hand gunners.

That's a fine choice in my professional opinion....and since it has the ability to have a red dot, you can just see what works best for you.....I find that older eyes enjoy the single plain focus of the dot....but it's a fine, general purpose 9 mm....defense, plinking, small game hunting....MJ

No experience with one on a pistol but I'm fixing to remove the one on my AR and go back to a scope. I'm going to leave the ones on my 22 and my 9mm carbine. Once you get past about 75 yards they're just not accurate enough. I've got one ordered for the 365 XL so I'll know a little bit more pretty soon. With that said I'm awful comfortable with just iron sights on a pistol.

I run red dots or scopes on all my hunting pistols and a few plinkers. Open sights on carry pistol

Red dots on hunting pistol, maybe a plinker, but my duty gun and off duty carry gun will never have one.

Beretta PX4 storm 40 cal, very accurate

I carry a red dot FN, but also have co- witness sights. Cleaned regularly.

If you’re looking for a target gun, something like this might be an option. S&W 27-2 with a 10” aftermarket barrel. 1.07” at the muzzle. All depends on what you’re looking for.

PDP Pro. Highly Recommend.

Youll never be more accurate than your fundamentals will allow. Many red dot shooters make that mistake- you cant hold the equipment to a higher standard— now being able to see more and quickly diagnose issues is a huge plus and will facilitate greater accuracy over the long run.

If you go RDS Id strongly encourage taking a RDS specific course- makes a world of difference!

this

Why is that? Just curious.

Barrel length doesn’t affect accuracy. Sight radius does.

You don’t have to worry with sight radius if you have a dot. You’ll most likely be more accurate with a dot than irons.