Red dot sights vs. laser grips for target shooting--want your opinions

I'd like to hear your opinions (preferably qualified by experience) about the advantages and disadvantages of red dot sights vs. crimson trace laser grips on a revolver. Anticipated use--target shooting at distances of no more than 25 yards.

Red dots I'm considering right now--JPoint (0.05 oz), Ultradot FOUR 30 mm (4.8 oz)

Host--686, 4" or 6"

Thanks!

I cannot say anything about the laser, but the Ultra Dots are very nice. I own 4 of them, 30 mm single and 4 dot on a collection of Pardini (SP and GT45) and Custom guns by Clark. The batteries last a long time and the adjustments are good enough for serious bullseye shooting. The Ultra Dot is very popular at Camp Perry and they slide mount them on a .45 so they are really tough. They come with rings and are a bargain (I think). I am not sure how well the laser will work out to 25 yards in full sun, but others will chime in.

Home - Larry's Guns Inc. is a good source for Ultra Dot. Larry is a fine gunsmith and a fine shot as well. I have bought all of my UD's from him because of the great service. (I have no financial interest in the business)


DLB
FKWG

KMB said:

...Anticipated use--target shooting at distances of no more than 25 yards.

Click to expand...

I have used both but for your target shooting application I would recommend a good quality red dot sight.

Currently I use two different systems: A Nikon Monarch VDS Red Dot on my PC M627, and a Burris FastFire II on my Beretta 92FS. I can also mount the Nikon on my M617 using the same hardware I use for my 627.

Personally I like the fact that the red dot can only be seen by the shooter. It doesn't radiate high intensity light out the optics, and it's low power so you get longer battery life.

The advantage though may go to the laser if your battery dies on your red dot. With the laser you can still easily use you iron sights. This is probably more of any issue for "other than target shooting" events.

Red dot sight corrections are more precise and I suspect more repeatable. Accurate bore sighting at longer ranges seems easier and red dots generally minimize (not eliminate) parallax correction out to about 50 yards or so. The laser's impact point is moved - rather coarsely - with an allen wrench. I don't have any reason to believe that this is a bad thing or that it affects day-to-day repeatability but I do prefer the distinctive "click" of the adjust knobs on my Nikon.

For really precision target shooting having a small red dot is important. Many red dots allow you to dial in an array of MOA dot sizes. The laser's dot size is usually large and fixed, and subject to contamination or distortion because of cleaning materials, lubricants, or dirt getting into the laser's optics.

I have a set of laser grips for my Beretta that seriously distort the spot size if you are not careful avoiding the optics when cleaning the gun. Clearly, you could remove them when you are cleaning the gun to minimize this problem. However, it's enough of an issue with my Beretta laser grips that I consider them unusable. I've followed the recommended procedures for cleaning them but it didn't really help much.

Though I recommend the red dot system, I can see advantages to both. But for target shooting I think the red dot is a better choice IMHO. It offers both the reliability and precision you may be looking for in target shooting.
[/IMG]
[/IMG]

With my eyeballs continuing to decline, perhaps I too will come to the red dot/laser solution.

Have been trying to learn to use a Crimson trace on a 1911 model. So far I haven't adapted to the advantages. Yet. And shooting in bright sunlight or into the afternoon sun at short ranges, it has not been of any advantage due to poor visualization of the dot and I have to rely on the iron sights anyway.

Decades ago I had to have one of the original Accu-something or others. It actually did improve my 50' bullseye scores.

I don't like all that hardware of most of them cluttering up the bare gun.

The plain little holoscreens may bear investigating. Let us know what you find.

I've shot both. laser site is usless in the sun as it fades out and you can't find it. Am really enjoying the red dot on my 22a.
shermbob

Howdy, I use all the different combos for different reasons. Lasers (Crimson trace) on all my carry guns, great for low light, close up, quick situations). Not really intended for target work.

I shoot Bianchi and I have Bushnell holosights on my 617, bulky but great since no parallax issues. I have a fastfire on my 627 v comp. Millet on my 41. They all have different strengths but the main advantage is if you are over 50, you can see them!

The newest generation of red dots (jpoints, fastfire,etc) have a big advantage in size. You can use them on a carry gun too. I have a truglo trupoint, jpoint and a fast fire. They all work the same. But the big advantage are the newer ones that you can replace the 2032 battery without taking the sight off. the older models have to be resighted in for each battery change.

If you have any interest in bullseye competition forget the laser. 1st I do not believe they are legal, but most important I challenge you to see it in bright daylight at greater than 10 to 15 feet on a target.

I have used red dot's for about 15 years now, and have the Tasco PDP2 the entire time on one of my bullseye guns. I have also used an ultra dot, and a couple of Millet's. Be sure you get one that has an adjustable brightness control. I recently tried a Burris Fast Fire, and was very disappointed. It has a sensor that controls the brightness, and indoors I could just barely see the dot, (advertised as a 4 minute dot but was smaller than my Tasco 3 minute dot), outdoors it was so bright it "starred out" and I couldn't hardly see the target. I really thought the size was perfect, but the uncontrolled brightness wouldn't work for me.

My current favorite is a Millet with 3, 5, 8, 10 minute dots. (And adjustable brightness control). You can vary the size of the dot to fit your application. I so far like the 8 minute dot for 50' indoor bullseye. Another advantage of the Millet is it isn't the most expensive sight, and it will withstand up to 454 Casul (? sp) recoil.

Good luck, if your eye's have a little age on them like mine do, you will love a dot.

Thanks to all of you who replied. I'm leaning toward red dot. However, I'm not sure which to go with. On the one hand, JPoint/FastFire/Docter sights are very small and very light, but dot size and brightness cannot be manually adjusted. Additionally, these sights can be mounted on a mount that replaces the rear sight. As a result, the sight sits lower and looks better/more integral to the firearm. On the other hand, UltraDot Four allows one to adjust brightness and dot size, but weighs substantially more than JPoint and requires a separate mount and rings to install.

From what I have read here and elsewhere, this is a difficult trade-off but many seem to prefer adjustability of UltraDot Four (or similar) to weight savings of the JPoint.