Pistol RDS - 3MOA or 6MOA?

[Ben]

Okay, I'm blowing more dough on a pistol RDS. Right now I'm looking between the Vortex Venom and the Sig Romeo 1 (currently on sale at Midway for a similar price to the Venom).

For those who have a pistol RDS, what do you like for your MOA - 3 or 6? This will be my first pistol RDS, so I'm a newbie here. I've been watching the Youtube experts, and am seeing diametrically opposed arguments. These seem to be good representations of each argument:

Pro 6:
https://youtu.be/FBE8h1vDitI

Pro 3:
https://youtu.be/AyjA_DPWrGE

This will be an RDS for my FNX Tactical home defense pistol (home might mean outside). I'm kinda leaning towards the 6MOA argument, especially because if I'm heading outside at night, I might be tending towards my Canebrake (the "use a pistol to get to a rifle" argument, though the Canebrake is sort of a pistol), and if I'm already outside during the day and would have to pull a heater, it would likely be one pistol or another with no RDS anyway. Though both videos above make a good point (I guess) about just setting a 3MOA on high.

[Hawkmoon]

What's your intended use of the pistol, what type(s) of target will you be shooting, and at what distance(s)?

At night, you won't need to set a 3 MOA on high.

[Ben]

What's your intended use of the pistol what type(s) of target will you be shooting, and at what distance(s)?

See the post directly above yours.

[Hawkmoon]

See the post directly above yours.

You mean you'll only be using the pistol to shoot at moving targets, human or animal? You won't be using it to practice?

[Ben]

You mean you'll only be using the pistol to shoot at moving targets, human or animal? You won't be using it to practice?

Yes. I will be shooting at moving targets only, only at night, and I will never practice with this pistol.

As per the videos, it's not simply brightness, it's making the dot appear bigger to the eye.

[dogmush]

I have a sample size of 1: A FastFireIII (3MOA) on a G19 that I have put a couple hundred rounds through, including two "optics" fun matches in low light.  Not a ton of time or rounds, but while I had a little trouble finding the dot on my first range trip, I had it figured out in a couple mags with no issues.  I was kinda leaning towards wanting a bigger dot.  Then I ran the matches in actual low light conditions and had no problems finding the 3 moa dot pretty much instantly on presentation.  I decided that the 3 moa was fine for me in practice.

I have since purchased (but not installed yet) a Kingslayer and a Romeo 1, both in 3 moa.  For me, I think a bigger dot would lose me the precision I may want.

But honestly, it's going to depend a lot on you, your style and your eyes.

[Hawkmoon]

I have only shot red dot optics that had a 3 MOA dot. At the indoor range where I normally shoot, even with the lights on I had no trouble seeing the dot. If you aren't accustomed to shooting with a red dot optic, getting it aligned somehow feels different, almost backwards compared to using regular, open sights (at least, it felt strange to me). But actually seeing the dot wasn't an issue, and indoors I didn't need full brightness even with the lights on.

Outdoors, in sunlight, was a different story. I'm red-green weak, and in sunlight I can't see a red dot at all. And I don't think making the dot twice as big would make a difference. Outdoors, I need a green dot and that's the end of the story.

[Ben]

I have no problem seeing the 1MOA dots on my rifles, but that's a different animal. I guess one plus to the 3MOA would be if I wanted to someday move it to a PC carbine or AR pistol where the 3MOA would definitely be superior at longer ranges than the 6MOA.

Maybe if the local Cabelas doesn't have a "no touching" policy because of the virus, I might be able to do a hands on comparison, which would best. They currently have both a 3MOA and 6MOA Venom in stock. I also have enough Cabelas Bucks to just walk out with one. Though that Sig is still looking nice too.

[Kingcreek]

FWIW Jerry miculek just put a 6 moa venom on his new race gun.

[French G.]

See if you can handle both. Whatever you can see best in full sun. Either is an acceptable target area for a pistol. But for pete's sake, if you're dumb enough to head outside at night please be smart enough to grab a real rifle instead of a noisy range toy. 

[MechAg94]

I have a Holosun pistol red dot.  I think it is 3 MOA  It is easy to see.  I didn't have trouble in day time, but I can't remember if I tried it in bright sunlight or not 

A few years back, I got one of the Trijicon red dots.  I got the smallest dot I could get (2.5 MOA?).  It was a little small.  Works great for precision shooting, but I found the dot hard to find for quick shooting.  I last had it on a 22.  With a 9mm pistol, I think the zero was shifting on me.  On the 22, it worked great.

[Ben]

I have a Holosun pistol red dot.  I think it is 3 MOA  It is easy to see.  I didn't have trouble in day time, but I can't remember if I tried it in bright sunlight or not 

In bright sun, I always have to really bump up the brightness on my Romeo 5. I only just got the Romeo 4M so haven't used it yet, so don't know if the more expensive optic is easier to see at the same brightness settings.

I'm still deciding if I want to check the different Venoms at Cabelas right now. The governor here just extended lockdown to the end of the month. Maybe I'll wait till then. If I go the Venom route instead of the Romeo 1, I've got the Cabelas bucks to get one for free, so that's kind of a plus.