OhShoot! wrote:
Keep the red dot off the iron sights.
Sorta but not really. It doesn't matter where in the window the dot is, that's where the bullet goes (assuming he's zeroed the dot). The dot can be right on the irons or not, it makes no difference.
Ops - zero your irons, then zero the dot separately. They are two separate systems that compliment each other, but they do not need to be aligned together for aiming. IF they are both zeroed to the same POI, obviously the dot will be superimposed right on the irons when the irons are aligned to your eye. But you don't have to shoot it that way.
And yes, as quantsuff said above, focus on the target not the sights.
However, an occluded sight picture as you describe does result in a different POI than looking through the optic, and the difference is not consistent, it changes with position of your head, where your eyes are focused, and other factors.