Need help deciding on a dot

[Senior Citizen]

..........

[arizona98tj]

Try the third one.

[Senior Citizen]

Originally Posted by arizona98tj

Try the third one.

can't find it when the sun is really bright.

Thanks though.

Actually, my son is thinking about putting a dot on his BM. It has a removable handle. What to do? Mount the dot on the handle or take the handle off and put a tall mount on the rail?

I saw some cheap mounts that would let you see through them well enough that you could still use your iron sights. I guess I'm just asking for opinions on what you've used or are using now and how each worked. He (I) has a $300 budget for dot and base.

Help a new owner out, please.

thanks in advance,
SC

[BillyJack2012]

Originally Posted by Senior Citizen

can't find it when the sun is really bright.

Thanks though.

Actually, my son is thinking about putting a dot on his BM. It has a removable handle. What to do? Mount the dot on the handle or take the handle off and put a tall mount on the rail?

I saw some cheap mounts that would let you see through them well enough that you could still use your iron sights. I guess I'm just asking for opinions on what you've used or are using now and how each worked. He (I) has a $300 budget for dot and base.

Help a new owner out, please.

thanks in advance,
SC

Mounting a dot on top of a handle in my opinion sets it too high. That's going to impact your point of aim and impact at varying distances.

I would go with a standard red dot (Primary Arms 30MM or Micro Dot) and get a set of folding iron sights. That will allow you to use the sights through the red dot's glass if you just want to use irons and not have to remove the red dot sight. Here's one of my set ups to give you an idea.

[Senior Citizen]

Originally Posted by BillyJack2012

Mounting a dot on top of a handle in my opinion sets it too high. That's going to impact your point of aim and impact at varying distances.

I would go with a standard red dot (Primary Arms 30MM or Micro Dot) and get a set of folding iron sights. That will allow you to use the sights through the red dot's glass if you just want to use irons and not have to remove the red dot sight. Here's one of my set ups to give you an idea.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

You've got more money tied up in that rear sight than his whole budget. I think he is pretty much wanting an open dot instead of a tube dot.

I agree with you about mounting on the handle. I tried to tell him he would have to hold his head up and that POA and POI would occur quicker with a high mounted dot.

Thanks,
SC

[Stebo]

How about this

Cabela's: Vortex® StrikeFire Red/Green-Dot Scope

Plus this

Cabela's: Magpul MBUS Sights

$230 or so.

[ChattanoogaPhil]

If you are in the $300 range, that's well above the dime store stuff and just a bit under where the quality optics begin. You might take a look at the Aimpoint Pro. A buddy just got one from Midway for his AR a month or so ago and with a discount coupon it was around $370 delivered. Quality optic at a reasonable price.

Aimpoint PRO Red Dot Sight 30mm Tube 1x 2 MOA Dot Picatinny-Style

[BillyJack2012]

Originally Posted by Senior Citizen

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

You've got more money tied up in that rear sight than his whole budget. I think he is pretty much wanting an open dot instead of a tube dot.

I agree with you about mounting on the handle. I tried to tell him he would have to hold his head up and that POA and POI would occur quicker with a high mounted dot.

Thanks,
SC

Nah, it's not that bad. Trust me, I don't spend a lot if I don't have to. You can get the rear sight for $40 all day long on a couple of forum exchanges. Many of them new for that price. Maytech Rear Folding sight. The red dot is a Primary Arms but out of stock. $69 new and it's SOLID!!! They have their multi rectal version for $99. So, all in, $140!

[Gunhacker]

A co-worker bought one of those Vortex StrikeFire Red/Green-Dot Scopes from Cabela's (on sale now for $149.95), UPS dropped it off today... he's sending it back. Told me the comments in the reviews on Cabela's about the dot being more like a starburst and harder to aim with than a real dot, are pretty much spot on. after hearing that, I'm no longer ordering one and saving up for something better.

[Foxtrot]

For critical use and all aspects of use, application, technology, construction, design, engineering, dependability/reliability then EoTech, Aimpoint, Trijicon, or Elcan law enforcement and military lines of sights. For general hunting and shooting (e.g. range) then either the Eotech, Aimpoint, or a mid-price-range sight of decent quality like the Lucid HD7 or one of the sights from Bushnel or Burris - the Eotech, Aimpoint, Trijicon, or Elcan and Lucid can also be used for this but they are generally more expensive than something like the Bushnell or Burris for this use but if you already have one then why not use it. For all critical use, for example self/family/home defense, only the EoTech, Aimpoint, Trijicon, or Elcan law enforcement and military lines of sights, if you get anything else for this critical use you you have really fooled yourself.

[Stebo]

Originally Posted by Gunhacker

A co-worker bought one of those Vortex StrikeFire Red/Green-Dot Scopes from Cabela's (on sale now for $149.95), UPS dropped it off today... he's sending it back. Told me the comments in the reviews on Cabela's about the dot being more like a starburst and harder to aim with than a real dot, are pretty much spot on.

Your buddy should've done his homework. He's got astigmatism, and every red dot will look like that to him. Have him go to a local store and try out another before buying again.

[oneyeopn]

My astigmatism makes the red dots look like double dots most of the time, the only time they dont is when I use them cowitnessed. Other than that it is pick a dot and hope it is the right one LOL

[Stebo]

Red dots are for close quarter, quick target acquisition, and for that purpose still work for me, astigmatism and all (not that I've ever been in that real world situation). At the range I can still hit where I'm aiming with my Vortex, close enough that I know if it were that real world situation, the target is in deep trouble.

[oneyeopn]

For close quarter target acquisition I have a lever action 45 long colt with some really good handloads, 250gr at 1725fps will do way more than slow them down. LOL

[Foxtrot]

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-w...#post136829695

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Even dime store optics like my Primary Arms MicroDot have a sharp round dot.

This pic was taken with the front dust cap on and the camera pushed up against the scope to keep out light. This nice sharp round 3MOA dot looks like an elongated cluster of grapes if I'm shooting without my long distance glasses on.

[Foxtrot]

Yep, RDS sights are made for people with perfect 20/20 vision in mind, corrective lenses as you mentioned above help make the dot appear to vision as normal for people without perfect 20/20 vision.

[fltbed]

Originally Posted by Senior Citizen

I think he is pretty much wanting an open dot instead of a tube dot.

From my experiences in USPSA, the biggest problem with the open style dot’s (C-more Jpoint, etc.) is rain. One drop of rain on the lens and it washes out the dot.

Another option, (and in your son’s price range) is the Burris MTAC 30 1-4X.
Scopes - rifle scopes, handgun scopes, hunting scopes by Burris Optics
This scope is a popular, value priced, three gun scope because it’s a true 1X and can be used just like a dot scope for close range targets or cranked up to 4X and used like a conventional scope with a BDC reticle. The only drawbacks are, (besides the fact that it has eye relief requirements and parallax just like any conventional scope) at 17 oz. it’s a bit heavy and because the reticle is in the first focal plane, the hold over dots only work at 4X.

Hope this helps.

Jeff

[Senior Citizen]

Thanks to all who have given opinions or advice. All were appreciated. I found and old BSA RD30 1MOA I think) dot last night in my extras box. It has weaver style mounts, but will fit my rail. I just don't like the slopiness of the weaver on a picatinny. Left and right is fine, it's the front and rear bumps that I'm worried about.

15 minutes later..........

Jist took my 6X24 SF Mil Dot of my M&P and mounted the Dot on it. It's tight (for now) but sure had a lot of front to rear slop before I tightened it up good. Are these things (weaver style mounts) prone to moving around a little? That way I can use it as an excuse for my 12MOA groups.


tks,
SC

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Originally Posted by Senior Citizen

Thanks to all who have given opinions or advice. All were appreciated. I found and old BSA RD30 1MOA I think) dot last night in my extras box. It has weaver style mounts, but will fit my rail. I just don't like the slopiness of the weaver on a picatinny. Left and right is fine, it's the front and rear bumps that I'm worried about.

Older BSA RD30 that I've had are advertised at 5MOA.

The mount should have two screws, one low and one high. Make sure the low screw is in a rail slot, push forward and tighten. A 3/4'' riser will lift it to about the correct height.

[Senior Citizen]

Originally Posted by ChattanoogaPhil

Older BSA RD30 that I've had are advertised at 5MOA.

The mount should have two screws, one low and one high. Make sure the low screw is in a rail slot, push forward and tighten. A 3/4'' riser will lift it to about the correct height.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

cover up the X on an official NRA bulls eye target at 25 yards. It is a lot smaller than the dot show above. I'll have to do some research now

It is sitting flat down on the rail and is pretty tight. Maybe it will stay pyt lng enough to sight in and let him shoot enough to decide whether he likes it or not.

thanks to all,
SC