I get a lot of enjoyment from shooting my handguns, but it is getting to be a struggle with the iron sights. The eyes and age thing. I never liked the carry qualities of scoped handguns but some of the red dot stuff appears to be much smaller than a scope, some about the same as a small scope. I would be interested in others experinces w/red dot sights, and recommendations as to types, brands, models etc.

Thanks, and good shooting

My experience with red-dot sights is an Eotech mounted on a Ruger Range Rifle. That's a little big for a pistol (or Ranch Rifle, for that matter), but I've seen good reports on the Burris FastFinder, used on pistols and long guns. It is very reasonable at $150, and able to withstand recoil with impunity. They certainly make pointing easy.

The downside is that you have to loosen the mount to adjust the centering. That's no major impediment to pistol use. I haven't adjusted handgun sights in years. What's the point when the impact point changes dramatically with ammunition. Like Hickok45, "Kentucky Windage" works well enough for my needs. With a red-dot sight, I don't need my reading glasses to shoot.

Fish, I have a Ruger Super Redhawk with 7 1/2'' bbl on which I have put an Ultra Dot 30mm. I am tickled with it. Sighted it in at 75 yards with Hornady 300 gr XTP. At 25 it is 1 1/2'' high, two inches high at 50 and 3'' low at 100. I plan to hunt deer with it. You will love the red dot sights.

I hear you. Eyes aren't not what they used to be....I have experience with two Red Dots, one a 'tube' type, the other Burris 'fast-fire' type (Docter), both on a 629. I much prefer the second type. Although the weight of the tube type is incidental on paper, I find it changed the balance of the gun. Don't forget to factor in the mount as well. The 'fast-fire' type at little over an ounce is much better arrangement and doesn't change the balance dynamics. Still much prefer the lines of a gun with no scope/Red Dot...but I also love blowing the center out of the 10 ring.

Based on your eyes and the quality of the Red Dot....be prepared for a 'fuzzy' dot (perhaps) if you have a particular prescription (stigma).....unfortunately unavoidable, but also not a big deal. still much better than the blur of the Iron sights. Good luck, have fun

I've got a Burris FastFire on a Ruger Mark II after removing a tube type dot. I agree with Engieman as far as balance and weight is concerned.

I have terrible astigmatism but have no issues with fuzziness with glasses.

I'm waiting for easily obtainable mounts for S&W revolvers for the FastFire type sights

Yep....Same boat here. I got this strange desire to hit what I am shooting at........To be more specific, the point on the point.

An UltraDot or a Fastfire is in my near future. I am just waiting for the FastFire III to hit the market before I make the final commitment.

i have an ultra dot 30m/m on tc contender in 7 tcu ,i prefer to an scope never shoot well with an scope on an handgun try on ruger 22
and an 686 too unsucessfull.

Had a first year 610 five inch with a Ultra dot. the tube was small and light. Shot very well out to 100 yds. Several wood chucks fell victum to this pistol. The ultra dot wasn't very expensive as compaired to the electronic dots at the time, It held up well to the 10mm loaded hot with 135 gr noslers. Good luck!

Look at the new Untra Dot Match Dot II. Added features and a verticle adjustment knob that is finger adjustable. There are some posts on this board about them.
xb

Aimpoint Micros. They're expensive but worth it.

my experience has been with bullseye guns. Had a Ruger 22/45 with an aimpoint and it was entirely satisfactory. I'm shooting a 625 with a Bushnell tube type sight now, and it has also been very good. I'm working on mounting a Burris Fastfire on a 45 slide, but haven't gotten far enough to test fire yet.

Thanks for the great input, as follow up, I expect I will like the Burris fast fire III, so 3 MOA sounds a little small and 8 MOA sounds a little big. What would be the best choice between the two?

Thanks fcr

I agree, best thing I've seen for a handgun, small, lightweight, variable intensity for changes in light and accurate. I'm a big fan of Aimpoint red dots, used their stuff in combat (and hunting) and swear by them. However, you might look at Docter red dots. I think that Leupold, Burris and some others are making similar sights like the Docter. I'm stickin' with the H-1/R-1, though.

I really like the open type red dots. I currently use the Burris FastFire and a Hakko reflex sight. Even though it is larger, I really prefer the Hakko as it has a choice of 4 different reticles.

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Dick

burris fastfire11 my choice...

I have at least a half dozen red dot sights on an equal number of revolvers. I use Simmons Red Dots for the mild cartridges (they are rated just fine up to and including the .44 magnum) are inexpensive and have held up just fine with my use (.45 ACP and .38 Special/.357 magnum).

Ultra Dots are rated as hot as they make them. I have a couple of those, also. They are twice the cost of Simmons but worth it for the "big boys".

Here is my 625-6 with 5" barrel and Simmons Red Dot:


Due to deteriorating eyesight, my performance was dropping. Red Dots gave me back my skill set. I am a BIG fan.

The only downside, is that they take a battery. I buy in bulk from Battery Bob.com. Keep in mind, the batteries last about a year unless you leave them on when you put the guns away (yes, I have, on occasion, forgotten to turn them off - hence the bulk battery purchase). The battery cost is insignificant (just over a $1.00 when bought in bulk). You can pay as much as $5.00 locally... Shelf life of batteries is rated in the years.

FWIW
Dale53

What brand of sight and mount is that ?

I use C-more with the smallest of the interchangeable dots, 2 mins I think. Current one has been on top of a 38 Super shooting major power factor loads for perhaps 20K rounds, no problems. Battery life kind of sucks though. Keep both eyes open and focus out on the target, not the dot.

I have posted these before, but here are Leupold DeltaPoints on my 617 and 625, on Allchin mounts (a great setup). The 617 now has a Burris FastFire III, which is not as good a sight as the DeltaPoint but is easier to adjust, and much less expensive. For that reason, FF IIIs are also going on my 624 and 25-2.

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Aimpoint Micro H-1 with Aimpoint's Ruger MK III mount (it seems to work fine with my MK II). I bought it about a year ago; looking at SWFA and Aimpoint's website, I do not see the brushed aluminum finish, only the black. I'm not going to recommend it over any other sight, but I will say that it's an outstanding sight and if I had it to do over, I'd buy it again.

I have used Tasco PDP2 and AccuDot red dot's and Millet variable red dots on my bullseye pistols for quite a number of years. Without them I would have had to quit any form of competition. I tried an early Burris Fast Fire, but it was not user variable and got Too bright in the daylight, and with my eyesight "starred" out so bad I couldn't see the target center. I am anxious to try the new Fast Fire III which is user variable. All my rifles have scopes on them.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Any of them will work for you, the cheap one have some parallax issues and the dot brightness may not be bright enough on a sunlit targets in some cases. I'd try a cheap one first as the diminishing returns kick in early with that type of sight, I use a ultradot matchdot on my bullseye gun.

I'm thinking of getting a Trijicon RX34-11 for my 10.5" 460XVR. Has anyone had any experience with one on a handgun with as much recoil as the 460XVR? What about the 4.5MOA reticle in amber? Any pros or cons. Thanks for your help.

Trijicon makes good stuff and they warranty it for life so I wouldn't be too concerned about using one of their products on a 460XVR.

Below is my personal choice, the J Point Reflex on a J P Rifles mount. They work very well and it has been very easy to modify a standard leather holster to fit the sights.

One warning about any optical sight and aging eyes. That is you can become too dependent on them and lose your ability to shoot with iron sights. I strongly suggest limiting all practice with optical sights and making sure that you spend some time at every range session shooting with good old iron sights.



JP - JPoint® Micro-Electronic Reflex Sight

I use a Ultra Dot Match Dot on my 6" 586. Plan on putting on on my 6" 617.