You hold the red dot sight just like any other pistol. The dot sights do not change your arm extension, they just make it easier to see where the barrel is actually aligned on the target. Dot sights generally have no magnification. So they appear like looking through a tube with a bright spot in the center of it. The dot actually is projected internally on the objective lens and then its reflected back toward the shooter. You hold the pistol comfortably out at arms length and adjust your hold until the dot appears in the center of the scope. Then simply move the dot into the center of the target and squeeze carefully until the gun goes off. If everything is aligned properly, you'll see a hit in the same place on your target where the dot was just prior to the instant it jumped from the recoil. Another good thing about dot sights, if you have any bad habits, like jerking the trigger, the dot tells all and you'll see it track off in the direction of the jerk prior to the recoil.