Aimpoints or Red Dots

[Narragansett]

Or whatever you call them.

I must admit, I know nothing about them, so best to start here. I am thinking of putting one on a Ruger mk 4.

So, what do I need to know? Cost, brands, pistol and rifle the same? Average cost for a decent one, etc.

 

[M1A4ME]

What are you going to shoot with it? Targets? Squirrels? Some other varmint?

If I was going to put an optic on my old Mk1 I'd go with a small MOA dot optic. Not the rifle models, but the small pistol/handgun models.

The 2 MOA dots would be about 1/2" in size at 25 yds. and smaller (as far as the area they'd cover on the target) at closer ranges. A good Ruger Mk pistol with the right ammo and right shooter is pretty great.

Most of the optics I see on .22 pistols similar to the Ruger are on a rail mounted to the upper. Makes the dot higher above the bore. Just means you've got to decide on a most used range, sight it in there, then shoot enough to know how far above, or below to aim at different range from the muzzle. And stick with the same ammo.

I love the dots. Have them on any/every pistol I'd think about carrying/using for serious reasons. I have a couple three without dots but they don't even go to the range much these days.

Good luck with it.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I just bought this one.

Osight SE. from the makers of Olight.

I’m impressed. Especially for $199.99.

It has received very good reviews. I put 400 rounds through it last Sunday. I was immediately more accurate.

Easy to mount. Easy to use.

It will take much more practice to find the dot from the draw before I carry it.

It uses the RMSc mount which is becoming more common. You will need a rail on top of your Ruger and maybe an adapter plate.

Check EGW and/or Weigand Combat.

 

[Kanewpadle]

You could also get an inexpensive red dot if you’re just plinking. It’s still a lot of fun.

If your Ruger is drilled and tapped for a mount, buy this.

https://jackweigand.com/products/ruger-22-45-scope-mount-mki-mkii-mkiii-mkiv-weaver-weig-a-tinny/

Then find a red dot such as this.

TRUGLO Red Dot Sight 40mm Tube 1x 5 MOA Dot Integral Weaver Base Matte

For handguns, shotguns, rifles and paintball guns, this red dot sight has the power and construction to last through any shooting application. Features...

www.midwayusa.com

Inexpensive but practical and fun.

I used have this exact setup on my Mark II.

 

[Onomea]

This is Holosun HE507C-GR, a green dot. I see a green dot better than a red dot, and while I am red-green-brown colorblind, I have read that this can also be true for people who see color. The 2 MOA dot can be switched among the 2 MOA dot, a 32 MOA circle, or a combined circle dot.

For target shooting or distance, from what I have read, a 2 MOA dot is generally preferred whereas for self defense, quick acquisition, shooting 25 yards or less, generally 6 MOA.

On my Ruger MKIV, I removed the front and rear iron sights, and mounted it using a Farrowtech plate that mounts into the dovetail for the rear sight.



One interesting thing I learned is that if shooting the dot, I see it better with my regular glasses than with my prescription shooting glasses which have my dominant right eye focussed on my front sight. This is because with a dot you only need to focus on the target, one focal plane, as I understand it.

I am considering putting a dot on one of my SD and training guns, as most instructors and guys I train with seem to do nowadays, but haven't made up my mind about whether I want to try it or not.

 

[GnarlsR2]

This is Holosun HE507C-GR, a green dot. I see a green dot better than a red dot, and while I am red-green-brown colorblind, I have read that this can also be true for people who see color. The 2 MOA dot can be switched among the 2 MOA dot, a 32 MOA circle, or a combined circle dot.

For target shooting or distance, from what I have read, a 2 MOA dot is generally preferred whereas for self defense, quick acquisition, shooting 25 yards or less, generally 6 MOA.

On my Ruger MKIV, I removed the front and rear iron sights, and mounted it using a Farrowtech plate that mounts into the dovetail for the rear sight.

View attachment 783644

One interesting thing I learned is that if shooting the dot, I see it better with my regular glasses than with my prescription shooting glasses which have my dominant right eye focussed on my front sight. This is because with a dot you only need to focus on the target, one focal plane, as I understand it.

I am considering putting a dot on one of my SD and training guns, as most instructors and guys I train with seem to do nowadays, but haven't made up my mind about whether I want to try it or not.

That's a catsass looking firearm!

 

[target tech]

This setup is with a maddmacs mounting plate. Great guy to deal with. This gun is a silencer central special. The red dot is just a mid grade Vortex. Sorry, I have no clue why the picture down loaded upside down

 

[jc2721]

I have a slabside Mk. II set up with a Holosun 407 green dot (2 MOA dot), Allchin scope mount.

The Allchin is a really well made, low profile mount that matches up nicely with the firearm and the green dot. I shoot it often and if newbies want to shoot, this is the gun I start them on.

IF I had to do it all over again I would consider buying a "Zulisy Oak" green dot--it has the same shake-awake feature as the Holosun at about 1/3 the price. The Oak has proven to be reliable for me--I have one mounted on a Victor and the other is mounted on my S&W 52-2--no problems with either one; they hold zero and I get a good sight picture with them (same goes for the Holosun).

The money I saved on switching to the Zulisy went towards buying more magazines, ammo and targets for all 3 guns--I think that is something to consider. For punching paper the low-end green dot makes a lot of sense.

I recently tried out another low end brand/style of green dot optic for my ARs--a S&W M&P 15 (5.56) and a home-built AR-22. Those sights have worked out really well for my rifles, so much so that I ditched the 6-18x scope I had on the AR-22 because the green dot shot just as well as the scope and sight acquisition was much, much faster with the green dot.

 

[Imissedagain]

Not sure of what an Aimpoint is, but I use an older DPP or 3.25 RMR, on my SS MKIV.
Modified a 10/22 rail to fit either or a scope.
For serious accuracy, I use a
2.5-8x32mm Leupold, or for less serious, an old M8-2x.
Pic on optic testing day.
Forward DPP, a Ruger Scout
pistol?
RMR & DPP

 

[Narragansett]

• Yesterday at 7:38 PM

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• #2

What are you going to shoot with it? Targets? Squirrels? Some other varmint?


Just targets

 

[GnarlsR2]

This setup is with a maddmacs mounting plate. Great guy to deal with. This gun is a silencer central special. The red dot is just a mid grade Vortex. Sorry, I have no clue why the picture down loaded upside down

Fixed it.

 

[Rodan]

I set up my wife's Mk4 with a Holosun 407. Don't remember which mount, but it mounts to the holes where the factory pic rail was on the Mk4 so you can retain the sights.

I have a variety of Holosuns on several guns and have been very happy with the performance. Before I retired, I had a couple of hundred students over several years on the range shooting duty guns with a variety of dot sights. The only ones I would consider for defensive/hard use are Holosun, Trijicon and Aimpoint. IMHO the Holosun is every bit as good as the other two. For a range gun, you're OK going with cheaper options.

I prefer the lower mounting of the handgun designed sights, but for a target gun, a pic rail mounted tube optic is OK.

 

[Fishinfool]

First, you have to decide if you want an open, or closed (tube) type sight. Open emitter red dots are popular, with Holosun getting good reviews. I can personally recommend Vortex and Burris as well. I have several of this type, mostly on range guns.

Frankly though, I like closed emitter (small scope looking) red dots, especially when used in the field. They are less susceptible to the elements. many offer very little added bulk as compared to an open emitter design. Figuring maximum concealment is not an issue here. Aimpoint, Ultra Dot and Vortex make good examples. A real bang for the buck favorite is the thumb sized Sig Romeo 5 red dot sight. I have them on 3 high millage guns, and they have held up perfect, with nice, crisp 2 moa red dots. Comes with a high and low picatinny mount, and is a bargain at about $130.00

It is also a good idea, especially if you have astigmatism, to look thru some before buying, as not all brands will present a crisp dot if your vision is off. There is no focus ring on a 1x red dot. The brands I noted above work well for me.

Larry

 

[BloodyThumb]

I guess I have too much experience with them according to some folks who shall remain uhhhhh… out of the room. I have more than one of Vortex, Aimpoint, Trijicon, and Holosun. I will rely on the Holosun, Trijicon, or Aimpoint that I have for anything. My departments, and my sons department both use Holosun on issued duty guns.

I shoot a lot. The only red dots I have ever owned that have failed me were SIG. I killed 2 of them, and it didn’t take a lot to kill them. SIG warranty turned out to be a swap for a used and repaired optic that somebody ELSE sent in for warranty return.. both times.

There are many other brands that I have not used.

I have a MK3 Ruger. I put a Vortex on it about 4, maybe 5 years ago. Between the grandkids and myself I would estimate we have put 8 or 9 thousand rounds through it in that time. All I have had to do is put a battery in it now and then. My recommendation would be Vortex. Save the $$ for the others on more serious guns that you might HAVE to depend on. I have Vortex on other guns as well including a Galil 556 pistol and they are holding up to that as well.

You don’t need to spend a lot of $$ for a good rimfire dot.

 

[kshock]

I run a UltraDot MatchDot on my MkIV but it’s a competition gun. Tube style which I like however I run a Sig Romeo open style dot on a centerfire competition gun and I like it too

 

[SS336]

I like red dots for target shooting and small game hunting on .22’s. Lots of fun and much more accurate than open sights. I have used mine on my 629-4 to test ammo also.
I have two Burris FF3’s and they have worked fine for years as well as an Ultra Dot on my Hammerli 280 for bullseye winter league.
Lots of choices for red dots and mounts to fit just about anything, get one and have fun.

 

[H Richard]

The red dot has added over 20 years to my competition shooting. There are many good dot sights, I recommend the one that will sit lowest to the receiver ad give you a good sight picture. The use can dictate the size dot. If you are precision shooting a 2-3 MOA dot will be good, but if your eyes are getting older a little larger can help. Outdoor i bright sunlight you will want a larger dot, 5-6 MOA to be able to see it easily. You should also consider green over red depending yo the acuity of your eyes. I have used a Burris FastFire 3 and am well satisfied.

 

[Hawg Rider]

Aimpoint, Leupold, EOTech, and Trijicon are rough, tough police and military-grade RDOs and they're usually very expensive. I don't think you need anything like that for your Ruger .22 LR if you're just plinking or shooting varmints up close. I have several Holosun RDOs and they're great optics. But Vortex, Sightmark, SIG, and others make very good optics and are reasonably priced. If you prefer to have a Red Dot scope instead of a reflex sight, then Vortex, Burris, Bushnell, and Tasco have lots of options.

 

[mgriffin]

I like the Vortex Venom. One thing to consider is changing the batteries. You don't have to remove the Vortex to change the batteries due to it being on top of the Red Dot. I use a Lobos Industries mount.

Low Profile Red-Dot Mount, Ruger Mark Series (Venom, Viper, FF3)

Please Read Compatibility Notice Below! Our low profile mount for Ruger MARK series pistols allows the end user to mount a Red Dot Optic directly to the frame of the pistol. This allows for a much lower bore axis vs. picatinny rail/mount stack up and has been designed for a clean integrated look...

lobos-industries.com

 

[bobcantshoot]

Or whatever you call them.

I must admit, I know nothing about them, so best to start here. I am thinking of putting one on a Ruger mk 4.

So, what do I need to know? Cost, brands, pistol and rifle the same? Average cost for a decent one, etc.

I put a 1 MOA (minutes of angle) green dot on my 605 revolver for $140. Does all it said it would and has greatly increased my accuracy (old man eyes) at 20 yds. Research the models that fit yours, then look for price breaks with customer ratings. Got mine on Amazon.