Curious about reflex/red dots for my 686 Competitor

[Kernel Crittenden]

I find that anything bigger than a 3 drowns out the targets. It just covers them up.

I like the smaller dots too. But, then again, I don't do snap shooting or quick draw. As I understand it, that's the reason for the big fat dots.

 

[silentflyer]

I agree with the input about the cheap sights, the recoil destroys them. Look around on ebay or at a gun show and find a used one of better quality if the cost of a new good one is an issue.

 

[chepburn]

I've used the cheap ones, just wastes money.

About the best cheap one I've found is the eXplore Optics min max but I've replaced it with a Burris Fast Fire II on my PX4 SD.

I liked the Fast Fire II so much I bought a new Fast Fire III for the TRR8. The Burris just gets on target faster for me than the eXplore does.

I understand saving a few bucks but if you replace the cheapos just a couple of times then you've paid for the good one, not to mention having to sight it in every time it breaks or resets.

Check your local craigslist or on facebook groups for used good quality versions. I promise you won't regret spending a few extra bucks up front. Been there, done that!

 

[Rick016]

I think I'm just going to end up passing on it or putting it off for quite a while.

 

[Bearbait in NM]

I don't agree at all. A relex sight on a Weaver base is about as low as any other optic. A tube style scope or sight, and many other types of red dots, are about as tall. Some would be taller.

Reflex sights are ideal for handguns. The fact that they've been adopted to AR type rifles does not diminish that. It just illustrates how practical they are.

Here's another members gun. I'd set mine up pretty much exactly like this.......

Kernel,

I know the OP has decided to move on, but for the sake of the information in the thread, I think you mis-read my post. I was referring to the optic he had linked. That would be a horrible fit for a weaver rail on top of his gun. In his original desire to mount a dot to his guns integral rail, there are, imho, lower adapter plate to sight combinations, to the one he posted.

I agree, the one you posted above has a mount that I do have, and have used. It is only when you attach a weaver type rail to the gun, then add a tall adapter plate, then the sight, that you get a very high sight arrangement, almost too high for may folks. The integral rails on the front of those PC guns most certainly allow for the lowest dot height. If you pick your adapter plate, wisely.

And I think you mis-read my post as against red dots for handguns. I currently have several, 1911's and my 625. I currently have half a dozen red dot sights in my parts bin, and on guns. I am big fan.

Craig

 

[jimbo-indy]

I have a couple of Millet SP1 red dots and have used them on 22 pistols up to 357mag, 44mag and even a 45-70 Guide Gun. No problems at all. The 44 and the 45-70 were both using max loads. Both sights still going strong. Would live a C-More or similar but the budget won't allow right now. Highly recommend the Millet at that price point.

 

[huntolive]

For what you want with only part time use of optic, for just about $150 get an Ultradot 1" or 30MM. These last great even with the abusive recoil of my 454 Casul, and get a set of quick release rings; I rec Leupold.

 

[Nightowl]

I bought a 1 inch tube red dot. I only had to mount it and look through it to realize that the tube was too small and I should have bought the 30mm for a wider field of view. I don't know how it will hold up to the .44 Mag I put it on, but when its gone, I will buy a much better quality 30mm sight.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

...I liked the Fast Fire II so much I bought a new Fast Fire III...

What do you think of the II vs. the III?

 

[chepburn]

What do you think of the II vs. the III?

Well they both have pros and cons I suppose.

II is a slide switch, on/off only, auto adjusts to brightness, have to unmount it to replace the battery (CR2032).

III is a button switch that cycles between 3 brightness levels (has auto adjust also), don't have to unmount to replace battery (CR1632).

I like II slide switch better but I like the III better for the battery placement, I'd rather have the 2032 battery though.

I had the III on my PX4 SD but I've swapped it out to the TRR8 and the II will go on my Mossberg 930. I went back to stock sights on the PX4 SD because of the lack of backup sights if the Fast Fire were ever to fail (it's the mount that's the issue, not the sight itself).

If I were buying another, I'd probably opt for the II and save a couple of bucks. Battery life seems to be long enough that unmounting isn't that big of a deal (you do need the torx wrench to unmount though - III you can take the battery cap off with a coin) and the 3 levels of brightness while nice, aren't really needed. I do like the hood that the III came with though... maybe I would get another III it's a tough choice lol.

 

[Oddman]

This is how I mounted my reflex sight

 

[series guy]

The adjustments are way nicer in the FF III compared to the II. Also it's much nicer not to have to remove the sight to change the battery. The automatic brightness setting on the III has been absolutely perfect for all lighting conditions indoors and out. I'll be installing one on my 25-7 later today. This will be the third of my guns to use this sight. Obviously I'm a fan.

 

[Rick016]

This is how I mounted my reflex sight

See, now this is a little more in the price range I was hoping to find, $75-$100 is more of a range I can accept as long as it holds up. Found several on eBay some even with a quick release. How much have you used yours? Holding up well?

It would actually mount a little further up on my Competitor because the rail is integrated into the barrel design, but its close.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

This is how I mounted my reflex sight

What brand of rear base did you use?

 

[qballwill]

I know the OP has put this idea on the back burner and his budget is small, but here is a pic on my 686 with removable base and Vortex SPARC II. Both the red dot and iron sights are killer for steel plates at 50yds.

 

[Oddman]

I fabricated it from the mount that came with the sight ... I machined the bottom off and added a keyway.. It mounts using the rear sight mounting holes.

 

[F224]

The one red dot sight that you see working year after year is the Ultra Dot brand. Hundreds of them mounted to the slides of 1911's and 22rf pistols at Camp Perry every year. They are light weight, only a few ounces, and I have one that's still working after over 15 years of use.

Current production versions are about $225-250 for a street price.

 

[jstanfield103]

Rick016,
I know you said you were going to wait on the red dot but I wanted to show you mine. I got this Millet off of ebay for $40, it is a SP1 model. I have had this model a couple of times in the past and it always worked well for me. I mounted it on my Competitor, it will be easily removed and put back on so I can still shoot it with Irons or Red Dot. Anyway here it is. There have been a couple sell on ebay for $40 this last week, may be up you're ally.

 

[Rick016]

Rick016,
I know you said you were going to wait on the red dot but I wanted to show you mine. I got this Millet off of ebay for $40, it is a SP1 model. I have had this model a couple of times in the past and it always worked well for me. I mounted it on my Competitor, it will be easily removed and put back on so I can still shoot it with Irons or Red Dot. Anyway here it is. There have been a couple sell on ebay for $40 this last week, may be up you're ally.

Not bad. I'll have to keep an eye out. Were the mounting rings separate?
All the ones I saw didn't seem to include mounting. I saw several on eBay,
not quite as cheap as you got yours. I will have to make it a point to watch
for a price flux, catch one on the low end if I can. How's the field of view?
I was kinda leaning towards tubeless to avoid the tunnel vision effect.

And for reference, I haven't completely ruled this out, I was just saying if
$200+ was my only viable option than I'd have to think on it. I have the
money, I could buy one immediately but I just can't rationalize paying
another couple hundred bucks on a "part time/just for fun" accessory for
a gun i had just dropped over $1100 on that I hadn't even received yet
when I originally posted. I now have the gun and am dying to go out and
shoot it but haven't had the opportunity yet. The iron sights will probably
work fine for me, my eyes are good. It would just be fun to have, much like
the speed loaders I bought for it, absolutely no need for me to have them,
I'm not a competitive shooter, never intend to be. Its just fun to have
various gadgets to go with it.

 

[jstanfield103]

Rick the Millet SP1 come with the scope rings. This one was a customer return, there is nothing wrong with it. I saw one more used one go for $40 also last week. The sight picture is pretty good but not quite as good as the 30mm would be. The 30mm is an SP2 and or SP3 I believe. I like the smaller tubes my self. This is just another way to shoot it and I probably will very seldom use it, but with the rail on the revolver I figured might as well.
I like the regular sights also, but I did have to do a little work on them, my eye's pick up brighter colors better than the pure black sights.