Pew-pew with the Glock 34... The dot said "Now!!!" - my hands ruined the shot!

[rodralig]

This evening’s range time: Gen 3 Glock 34 with a Holosun 507Comp, working scaled BT-5 targets. Each orange rectangle is roughly 2.7 × 2 inches, about the same area as a 2.6-inch circle.

The biggest takeaway? I still need more visual patience at distance (20-yards and out). With a small target and mild astigmatism, every tiny sight movement feels exaggerated. The moment the dot looks perfectly centered, my brain screams, “NOW!” - my firing hand adds just enough extra input to ruin the shot: snatching the trigger, tightening the whole hand, or pushing the gun.

Back to the drawing board!!!

PS: Trying to get a decent zoom at 20+ yards - 6× digital on an iPhone just does not cut it. LOL.

 

[NorCALSpeed]

This evening’s range time: Gen 3 Glock 34 with a Holosun 507Comp, working scaled BT-5 targets. Each orange rectangle is roughly 2.7 × 2 inches, about the same area as a 2.6-inch circle.

The biggest takeaway? I still need more visual patience at distance (20-yards and out). With a small target and mild astigmatism, every tiny sight movement feels exaggerated. The moment the dot looks perfectly centered, my brain screams, “NOW!” - my firing hand adds just enough extra input to ruin the shot: snatching the trigger, tightening the whole hand, or pushing the gun.

Back to the drawing board!!!

PS: Trying to get a decent zoom at 20+ yards - 6× digital on an iPhone just does not cut it. LOL.

How's the optic with your astigmatism? I have one as well and know that a red dot is in my future. Are there any good etched ones that are astigma proof?

 

[rodralig]

How's the optic with your astigmatism? I have one as well and know that a red dot is in my future. Are there any good etched ones that are astigma proof?

It’s not terrible, but the dot still blooms or starbursts. That normally isn’t a major issue for most defensive/tactical, or competition shooting. The problem becomes more noticeable when shooting for precision because the bloom is not concentric. The apparent center of the starburst is not necessarily the true center of the dot (brightest). I could unknowingly hold slightly left, right, high, or low.

It also changes depending on the time of day and how tired my eyes are. Sometimes the dot looks relatively clean; other times, the starburst is pretty bad.

As for an optic being completely “astigmatism-proof,” I don’t think there is a universal answer. It seems specific to the individual. Some people see green better, while others prefer red. Some do better with smaller MOA dots, while others find larger dots clearer. Even the glass or emitter from one particular brand may work well for one person and look terrible to another.

Unfortunately, the best approach is to look through several optics in person and find the one that works best with your eyes.

 

[RustVendor]

The vortex defender XL is the only one that doesn't starburst for me

 

[OctoB]

The vortex defender XL is the only one that doesn't starburst for me

Which moa?

 

[peahi2]

Snatching the trigger for sure disturbs the gun.

Holosuns have been best for my astigmatism, specifically the closed emitter models. EPS and EPS carry are the ones for me. I have an SRO, Rmr, and RMR HD too and the holosuns are better for my eyes

 

[rodralig]

Snatching the trigger for sure disturbs the gun.

I think I tend to overthink longer-distance shots or smaller targets, and that usually leads to what Larry Vickers calls "El Snatcho."

The way I look at it, it's really a mindset shift. No matter how difficult the shot appears, the fundamentals don't change. Accept the wobble, trust the process, and press the trigger straight to the rear without trying to time the perfect sight picture.