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.