Docter style or tube style red dot for model 41

[BadaBing11]

I am looking for a red dot sight for my model 41. What are pros & cons of Docter style sight vs. tube sight ?

Am looking at UltraDot L/T and Matchdot.

For those using adjustable size dots, do you use them all, or pretty much leave on one size? Is it worth going to the tube for adjustable dot size?

Also, my gun has been pre drilled for a scope mount. What type is suggested?

Thanks,

JR

 

[another41]

I find the UltraDot L/T to have a slight haze on the red dot edge when used indoors. Crystal clear in bright light(outdoors)
I'm using a Weigand mount.

 

[Sgt Preston]

Sgt Preston here. JR, I have both types of red dots. I have an UltraDot 30mm "tube", a Millet 30mm "tube" & 2 UltraDot LT's. The UltraDot tube sight is mounted on a Ruger GP100 .357 x 6" revolver, The Millet tube sight is mounted on my Ruger 2245 .22 x 5.5" auto, The UltraDot LT's are mounted on a S&W 539 & a S&W PC945. the LT's are good for fast recognition & tennis ball sized groups at 10 yards. They are fun to shoot. The Millet tube sight on my 22 is a very durable sight - BUT the "dot" itself is not totally "round" & that can be a little distracting. The UltraDot 30MM tube sight was previously bridge mounted on a Springfield 1911 & it provided the best "bullseye" type sight picture & groups. So the questions for you is "how will it be mounted" & what type of accuracy are you looking for. Slide mounted tube sights add a lot of weight & "may" interfere with "cycling" the gun using standard 22 ammo. At the moment the most accurate (smallest groups) combination of sight & gun (in my hands) is my 357 with the UltraDot tube sight. Hope this helps. Sgt Preston USMC LLA

 

[keppelj]

I also have both sights, the Match on a Buckmark and the LTs on a Clark barreled 41 and a 686. The Match dot is very precise and variable as advertised, I would say preferable as a shooting tool. However it weighs 5 ounces or so with brackets. The Lt weighs grams only and so does not contribute noticeably to the gun weight. The dot may be a bit imprecise, but you can learn to use it with great accuracy. I can keep 5 shots within an inch or so at 50 ft. I can also do that with iron sights. It's really a matter of learning to see with each of these. So the trade off is precision of the Match vs lightness of the LT. I didn't want to add unnecessary weight to either the 41 or 686, both of which are fairly heavy for me.

 

[socal s&w]

I too have both sights. The tube sight as stated is much heavier and a little harder to find the dot than the LT.
The LT however, really fits the 41 well and does not 'overpower' the look, nor the feel of the gun itself.
Even though I had the chance to get the tube for the 41, I opted for the LT and glad that I did.
They are of good quality and have an outstanding warranty.

 

[BadaBing11]

All, thanks for your feedback. My biggest issue right now is that I am at that point in my life where I can't see close up and I can't see far away. That wouldn't be so bad except I can't seem to get a sight picture (with iron sights) that is repeatable. My best bet would be whatever would allow easiest sight acquisition with both eyes open. That's easier for some than for others. I'm left eye dominant and right handed so getting lined up with the iron sights is very tough without closing the left eye. My groups have gotten pretty ugly since I started wearing bifocals. I've read where red dots can help this situation some. Any point of view on which would be easiest to see with?

Again, thanks for your feedback. I am new to this forum and have a lot to learn.

JR

 

[Sgt Preston]

JR, at 64+ I have some of the same vision limitations. I tend to see slighty "doubles of everything" with open sights. I changed 2 things to make it better. First I switched from bi-focals to "progressive" lens. They also work a lot better with the computers & menus. Second I switched form open sights to red dots. My groups closed up pretty quickly. My experience has been this. If you want to shoot "bullseye" at 25 & 50 yards, get a tube sight. If you a happy shooting tennis ball sized grups 10-20 yards get the LT. Both will take a little time to get "dialed in". Preston

 

[TSQUARED]

I found that adding +0.5 diopter to the prescription for my right (shooting eye) lens allowed me to clearly see the open sights with the right eye and the target with the left eye - somehow the brain puts the images together and they appear as one.

 

[mstuhr]

Hi All,
I use a tube sight for bullseye and LT for pins. I find I can see more and shoot faster with with a non tube red dot.
It might be in my head but my bullseye scores go up with a tube style red dot. Go figure?
Good luck
Mike

 

[BadaBing11]

Ok, All of you have helped me decide. I'm going with a Matchdot. I'll eventually get the L/T, probably for my next gun, which I'll be asking for advice on in a different thread.

I am grateful for all your advice. Sgt Preston, I got a kick out of the seeing double remark. Happens to me too. Also great advice from T2 on the script. Thanks to everyone else for pointing out pluses and minuses of each.

It looks like the Weigand mount is pre drilled for the model 41. It says you need to remove the rear sight to attach the mount. I have never done this. How does the rear sight come off?

Thanks

JR

 

[Monster Man]

Badabing11, I'm at the point you were when you started this thread. I am curious how the Matchdot worked out for you? Is it too heavy for bullseye match use? How do you like the several dots, and which dot do you use the most? I just ordered a Bully Barrel, and I want to put some form of a "dot" on it, and am leaning toward the Matchdot.

 

[TSQUARED]

I have used the Docter on some guns such as the S&W 945 but for 22 LR semi-autos I prefer a tube style red dot with a large dot. The old Tasco Big Dot was excellent as well as the current Ultra Dot with the varying size dots (I use the next to the largest dot size). These have served me well for indoor bulseye pistol shooting. You can purchase a Wesver style base for the Model 41 from several manufacturers - I doubt that there is a significant difference between them.

Originally posted by BadaBing11:
I am looking for a red dot sight for my model 41. What are pros & cons of Docter style sight vs. tube sight ?

Am looking at UltraDot L/T and Matchdot.

For those using adjustable size dots, do you use them all, or pretty much leave on one size? Is it worth going to the tube for adjustable dot size?

Also, my gun has been pre drilled for a scope mount. What type is suggested?

Thanks,

JR

 

[RedCardinal]

Originally posted by TSQUARED:
I have used the Docter on some guns such as the S&W 945... ]

I have been thinking about putting a Doctor style red dot on my 945 but was concerned that the powder blow back on the lens would be a problem. Did you have a powder blow back problem or did you mount the Doctor forward of the ejection port?

 

[Sgt Preston]

Sgt Preston here. I have an UltraDot LT (Doctor Sight sized) mounted on my 945. It is mounted at the rear of the ejection port. Once or twice a year I clean a little soot from the front of the lens. I wet a Q tip with water then dip it in liquid dish soap. I wet the other end of the Q tip with water to "thin" the soap. I blot up the excess fluid with fascial quality Kleenex & then wipe the lens lightly with a clean spot on the kleenex. The whole process take 5 minutes. Even when dirty, the soot has never interfered with my field of view. The lens comes clean & there have been scratches from the cleaning process. Hope this helps. Sgt Preston USMC LLA