Best red dot scope for a pistol?

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Mr. Monday

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What is your preferred mini RDS for use on revolvers and handguns? I would like to keep my budget at under $350.

The units I am currently comparing are the Burris Fastfire III, Vortex Venom, Vortex Razor, Vortex Viper, C-more STS, and C-more railway.

If there are other optics I should be looking at please comment.
I am shopping the used market
Edit: I am also open to tube RDS suggestions as long as they don't make my 6" wheel gun look like a sawed off LDR
 
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Doctor USA, Trijicon, and Leupold also make high quality reflex sights. You might find them used in your price range. Not for nothing, of the sights you mentioned the Burris FastFire has likely sold more units than all the others combined.
 
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The Burris Fastfire III I have been using on my bullseye .22 for about a year now and like just fine. The capability to use one of several "intensities" of the dot make it very suitable for a multitude of lighting conditions. Still on the same original battery so I'm guessing battery life is pretty good.
 
My experience with several Fastfire 3's has been every good. Can't say the same about the Fastfire 2's, I had several that had to be returned for replacement. The auto brightness feature did not seem to work as well on them as the Fastfire 3's.
 
I have had 3 Burris FastFire 3s. One has worked well for almost 2 years. 2 were faulty and were returned. I am now using a Trijicon which I really like. Like all else, you get what you pay for.
 
I have a Doctor 3, a Leupold Deltapoint and. fast fire 3 on pistols.

They all work well.

The Fastfire is probably the best value
 
To the OP:
Knowing the mission you have in mind would help with optic selection.
Is this to be used for:
Plinking?
Concealed carry?
Speed games?
Indoor 50 foot?
Outdoor, different ranges?
Dot size is very important, too.
I have probably 10 red dot sights, of several types.
Ultradot is my favorite in several varieties.
HD-Micro is very compact, 2MOA dot. But not what you'd want for speed games.
Don't laugh, but I used a Truglo Tru-Brite to good effect in speed games on my TRR8 revolver. Has selectable dot sizes, too.
Many of the matches I shoot in have stages at 10 to 100 yards. For this, the Ultradot Matchdot II is the answer, with click elevation adjustments.
 
I've been into the speed steel and bowling pins for quite awhile now and just put on a Burris Fast Fire III on my 4" 617. This is my first dot sight and it works great but this "dot idea" has been a struggle so far. I can't shoot nearly as fast as I can with open sights. I think it's going to take a lot of practice and a lot of ammo to get dialed in. Either way, it's still fun!

 
TAROMAN said:
To the OP:
Knowing the mission you have in mind would help with optic selection.
Is this to be used for:
Plinking?
Concealed carry?
Speed games?
Indoor 50 foot?
Outdoor, different ranges?
Dot size is very important, too.
I have probably 10 red dot sights, of several types.
Ultradot is my favorite in several varieties.
HD-Micro is very compact, 2MOA dot. But not what you'd want for speed games.
Don't laugh, but I used a Truglo Tru-Brite to good effect in speed games on my TRR8 revolver. Has selectable dot sizes, too.
Many of the matches I shoot in have stages at 10 to 100 yards. For this, the Ultradot Matchdot II is the answer, with click elevation adjustments.
Click to expand...
I will be primarily using this sight on my Model 28 and M&P9 c.o.r.e. for indoor and outdoor range up to 100 yards with the M28. I am thinking I want <4 MOA. All the recommendations for the FF3 are encouraging. I am down to choosing between the FF3, the Venom, and the Viper. The FF3 and Venom seem to be equal but since more people have used the FF3 I would go for that. However, the FF3 vs the Vortex Viper is a more difficult choice since the Viper is a lower profile than the FF3 and thus would allow me to use both the iron sights and red dot when mounted on my M&P9. Unfortunately the Viper is not released yet and set for release in June. However, JM shoots the Viper so it can't be bad.
So the primary reason I would choose the viper is so that I can still use the M&Ps iron sights. If I decide that I don't care about using irons than an ultradot would be a great choice as well albeit slightly heavier.
 
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Bought a Weaver mount at my LGS for $10, which scares me a bit. Will get the mount and sight 3-15 and report back shortly thereafter if it all fits together.
 
I use a Burris III on my M&P 40 C.O.R.E. The iron sights can still be used. Barely, but enough to do the job.
 
Thanks for all the input, I am going to wait for the Viper to be released before I pull the trigger on a rds. Also, I wonder if Burris will release a Fastfire 4 in the near future since it has been almost 5 years since the FF3 came out.
 
Mr. Monday said:
Thanks for all the input, I am going to wait for the Viper to be released before I pull the trigger on a rds. Also, I wonder if Burris will release a Fastfire 4 in the near future since it has been almost 5 years since the FF3 came out.
Click to expand...

I am also looking for a red dot to put on my newly acquirred S&W TRR-8. I have been looking closely at the Razor as of late. What would be the advantage of the Viper over the Razor which is available now? The warranty of the Vortex line is very appealing to me.

Rick
 
rick1201 I recently borrowed a friends fastfire 3 and mounted it on my TRR8. It was amazingly accurate and withstood all the .38 and .357 I threw at it. I feel it would be best to note that I removed it for defense purposes due to my difficulty in acquiring the dot in any other position other than standing still. Others may find tactical use for it and I'm still hoping to take it out a few times more to see if I can get more acclimated. Great sight for the price, I would highly recommend it before you spend the 500.
 
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