This is just a head's up for anyone ordering a Red Dot Sight for a S&W 22A-1.
MAKE SURE you order a sight built on a Wever-Style base rather than one for a Standard Microgrove 3/8" Rimfire Style base if you have a pistol with the top rail like mine. I've had to change my Red Dot order today to one for the Weaver-Style base on the 22A-1 (see photo). Some of the newbies to these pistols like me might make the same mistake!
I had originally ordered the Tasco BKRD3022 Red Dot with the 3/8" Microgrove Rimfire -Style base, but called today and changed the order to BKRD30 with the Weaver-Style base.
I'll post a photo of the pistol with the Red Dot as soon as I get it and get it mounted on my 22A-1.

This is just a head's up for anyone ordering a Red Dot Sight for a S&W 22A-1.
MAKE SURE you order a sight built on a Wever-Style base rather than one for a Standard Microgrove 3/8" Rimfire Style base if you have a pistol with the top rail like mine. I've had to change my Red Dot order today to one for the Weaver-Style base on the 22A-1 (see photo). Some of the newbies to these pistols like me might make the same mistake!
I had originally ordered the Tasco BKRD3022 Red Dot with the 3/8" Microgrove Rimfire -Style base, but called today and changed the order to BKRD30 with the Weaver-Style base.
I'll post a photo of the pistol with the Red Dot as soon as I get it and get it mounted on my 22A-1.

What saved me was that I had recently mounted a scope on a Ruger 10/22 and noticed the difference. Here's a pic of my 22A with a Tasco Accudot mounted.

__________________
USAF Retired IYAAYAS

Just so you know, I just sent back a BKRD30 because it would not seat properly on my 22s. The bolts which tightened on the rails wouldn't match up with the grooves.

Maybe you will have better luck that I did.

jeff

Wowsers, sound like I might have to go with a seperate rings / scope setup to get one to fit a 22A-1! I'll check the Tasco first to see if it will work! Thanks for the reply!

There should be several old posts about this issue. Most of us have used a small round file and cut a new groove on the rail. I used a permanent black marker to die the fresh cut in the aluminum. If done carefully you can not tell that the pistol has been modified.

Is the problem of the TASCO BDRK30 not mounting correctly unique to this particular sight, or do other/most red dot sights also not fit the 22A-1 without modifying the Weaver rail?

Good point. I got my 22a-1 a couple of weeks ago. I had a micro red dot with built in mounting for a Weaver base and it worked fine on the S&W. Then I got a Tru Glo reflex red dot with built in Weaver base adapter and it also works fine.

True "Weaver" mounts probably work fine, 1913 Picatinny mounts do not. I discovered an Eotech wouldn't fit mine. Looked at milling the entire rail to the 1913 standard and refinishing, but the existing grooves don't line up perfectly. Then I thought about making an entirely new rail, but finally decided a 22A isn't worth that much of my time. Evidently S&W thinks the same thing or they would have updated the design to the Picatinny which would work with both.

Hi All:

Please note: I am not a gunsmith and am only suggesting that you read what I was able to do for myself at a very reasonable price. If you are not 'handy' or comfortable working on your pistol take your gun and the scope to a gunsmith.

There have been several posts here and elsewhere regarding mounting the BSA RD30 Red Dot illuminated scope on the S&W 22A-1. Yes, it can be done fairly easily, in about 35 minutes total, and fairly inexpensively, $25.00 for the needed equipment. I first thought about simply using a precision small round file and cutting a groove in the rail manually until I priced those files: Aro $38.00 to $65.00, so I looked for an alternative method and came up with this. I did this project Friday evening and took the gun out Saturday to test. It worked fine and turned out looking exactly as it should.

Here are the pics and instructions:

Additional Parts/equipment needed

1. Small triangle file about the size of a Number 2 pencil. (Had one, so price unknown.)
2. The Dremel Model 7300 cordless two speed rotary tool or equivelent. The Dremel sells for about $19.88 at Walmart.
3. A set (2) of Dremel Chain saw sharpening tools, $4.50 at Walmart. The beauty of these and the reason I knew this would work, is they are exactly the same (at half-circle) size as the existing grooves in the rear of the rail.

1. Make sure the gun is Unloaded!
2. Remove the barrel from the pistol.
3. Place the barrel in a small vise and use a small towel or similar material so the barrel is held securely, but there is no touching of metal to metal.
4. Carefully scribe a straight line with the file at exactly 1 and 3/4 of an inch from the second groove from the front (muzzle end) of the barrel.
5. Use the Dremel saw sharpening stones to cut a groove to exactly the same depth as the existing grooves in the rear of the barrel. It will take both of them to to do this. Use a cutting or honing oil so that you don't 'glaze' the stones at the beginning of the cutting.

6. Once the proper depth was achived, I throughly cleaned the rail and barrel with a spray cleaner, and then lightly spray painted the groove area using a good black semi-gloss multipurpose spray paint. I let it dry completely and then assembled the Scope to the gun rail. The 3/8 " part of the adapter goes on the rail, and the 5/8" part fits on the Scope mounts. The small square hole of the adapters is in the rear and the adjustable slots face forward as seen in the pictures.

I would be happy to answer any questions about this procedure. Bob

Attached Images

	Closeup Left view (Medium).jpg (34.9 KB, 1368 views)
	Closeup Right view.jpg (55.2 KB, 1190 views)
	Dremel Cordless #7300 w Chainsaw Sharpener.jpg (25.8 KB, 1006 views)
	S&W 22A-1-LSide view.jpg (26.4 KB, 1286 views)
	S&W 22A-1-Rside view.jpg (30.3 KB, 1386 views)

I have a Bushnell Trophy model scope with 4 seperate recticles in it which fits extremely well on my 22A or my Berretta Neo's. Its extremely easy to mount on either and has a Bullseye, a-t or a big dot or smaller red dot to choose from in sighting. Also has up to 11 different brightness ranges as well and has worked extremely well so far for me when I use it. Cost was a little over $105.00 with taxs here in Canada. The rings and mounts are with it and need NO modification of any kind at all. They just bolt right on to the rail on top and are very sturdy. Takes about a minute to mount and is not oversized for the gun as well. Everything is in the box when you buy it.