Scope or red dot ???

[Billstick]

 This is my first post so I just want to say Hi. Just purchased a Taurus 608 ,.357 , 8 3/8" and I'm looking for a scope or red dot. I need opinons from more experienced shooters . This is my first handgun in about 15 yrs.  I would  like to occasionally hunt deer with it but at a limited range under 50 yrd. I  am a Traditional archer by heart , shoot a longbow and have been for 12yrs. , keep my hunting shots under 20 yrds. so I now my range limitations with the .357.
        I'm at a toss up between a scope ,Leupold 2X , a Ultradot, or Leupold - gilmore red dot .What do you guys recommend.

Thanks
Bill

[Hcliff]

Congrats on your purchase.  

There are advantages and disadvantages to both.  A red dot has speed to it advantage.  Put it up and the dot is there.  Both eyes open or one shut.  No problems with it "blacking out".  Red dots run on batteries.  You will need a spare with you while hunitng or a fresh one so you know it won't die while in the field.   The dots can be purchased in differnt size "dots"  The bigger MOA dot will allow faster shooting but will now allow as accure firs at more extended ranges as the dot covers more of the target.  My dad loves red dots because he can keep it in focus much easier than a scope.  The leupold dot you asked about is a very good one.  It has gold plated conductors in the inside for more reliability.  I like the 30mm one for the bigger field of view.  I believe it is water proof too.  Some brands are not.  The Ultra dot I am not familiar with to answer.

I love scopes.  2X leupold is my favorite. I like the prescion it give me.  Cross hairs cover less than some of the big dots do of the target.  The field of view can be more limiting.  A scope must have the eye relief set for the shooter.  If someone with long arms use it it will not work as well etc.  This is to adjust on most eye pieces.  Scope for most people are not as fast at aquiring the target as red dots with out practice.   My dad see the "shakeiness" of a scope.  Scope can magnify this to a degree.  There is a neat dot out there that you can change the reticle for size of the dot on.  I can't think of the brand but that seems like a neat idea too

Go to you local sporting goods or gun scope and look at them.  Pick them up with two hand just like you would the hand gun.  This will help you decide.  YOu will see if you move a scope out how it will black out.

When you decide then it it to practice with the handgun.  Just like a bow the more you shoot the better you get.  You should be able to hit a pie plate at the distance you want to shoot.

This souns like you are going to have fun
Keep us posted

Hcliff

[Bullseye]

I have always been partial to scopes with the Leupold 2x being my favorite.  But I have never tried the red dots even though I would really like to.  I always wonder about the time I would need to sight on a deer and the dot would not be there because of batteries or some other failure.  Maybe a silly worry, but I know the crosshairs in my scope will always be there.

[KING]

 Billstick.  I have both types of scopes on several of my handguns.  Both have there places in the hunting scene.  The red dot,for the caliber that you are shooting(.357) is probably going to be the best choice for you.  Your range is limited to a max of 75 yards with that caliber for deer,and actually that is plenty.  The red dots come in differant sizes,and are good for very rapid target acquisition.  In all the years that I and my hunting partner who uses an original tasco,neither of us has had the battery run out at the wrong time.  They will last almost forever depending on how long you leave them on,and the brightness settings.  I would go with the red dot,and keep your shots under 75 yards,and you will have a good combination.    King

[Gregory]

Bill
Welcome to the forum.  I prefer scopes on my Contender barrels.  While the 2X Leupold is an excellent choice, the Nikon 2X is even better,  the field of view is larger and it's a brighter scope.  I sold my Leupold and now own two Nikons. I tried red dots briefly, but never trusted the battery and had trouble seeing the dot on bright sunny days.
Greg

[Bob_K]

Like others have said, both have good points and bad.  Choice might be dictated by your hunting style.  If you are apt to require a quick shot within 50 yards or so, the infinite eye relief, no parallex Red Dot would seem to be a good choice.  If you expect to have some more time, finding the cross hairs in the scope eye relief is fairly easy.  Both get easier if you practice it.  I've got red rots on my bullseye competition pistols, but a 2X Leupold on my Ruger SBH.  (The comment about Nikon being brighter intrigues me.  I'll have to check it out!)  For hunting, I believe I would not turn the red dot on until some indication of game in the area, just to save the batteries.

[TopGun]

I highly concurr with Bob K. Anyone who is Double Distinguised knows shooting. I wish I could go Distinguished but I don't put the travel time in for the medals. Wow, Congratulations! Anyway, I do the same. Leupold/Gilmore on my .45 and .357 competition guns, various Burris, Redfield, Simmons, and Leupold 2x and 4x and variables among my hunting handguns. I like looking at cross-hairs on game and dots where extremely sight acquisition is necessary. My Gilmore has  been bullet-proof on my S&W HB .357. Over 4000rds and not a hint of failure. Battery life is extremely long when you take care of them.  If you can't decide on one concerning durability, I offer the opinion to call SSK and ask JD Jones for his scope update--they test all the time and he will recommend a scope brand for your type of shooting--one that probably will not fail.
Good luck on your decision.

[VA Jim]

I have been hunting with a red dot on my 357 max for the last 2 years and am very happy with it.  The area that I hunt is very thick and in the last 8 years I have never had a shot over 60 yards.  I also have a 2 power scope on a 7tcu, which I used some this year and did take a 9 point with it, but I still like the red dot better in the thick stuff.  I've taken 4 deer with the max and red dot combo in the last 2 years.  I turn the red dot on when I get on the stand and turn it off when I leave.  Still haven't had to replace the batteries.  Mine is a Tasco, but the Ultradot is one of the best.

Jim

[handgunhuntr]

Since there are pros and cons of each, and both have their value in the woods.  Why not get a standard pistol scope with a lighted reticle.  You will always have the crosshairs, and can make them glow red if you feel the need.  I have used them in the past and they work amazingly well for me.

[Mikey]

Billstick:  my brother used a red dot on his Contender in 308 and just loved it.  He took it off to install a scope so he could sight in new loads, but put the dot back on because he had trouble picking up the crosshairs at distances with the sun in his face.  The man does like his dots and has never had a problem with it.  Hope this helps.  Mikey.

[Krooz]

I have a Gilmore 1.5 MOA on my Taurus 44 RB. No problems with brightness settingd at full sun or dusk. The only draw back I noted pretty quick was the lack of light amplification near dark since it is a 1x scope (used to the 4.5-14X50 on my .308). Here in S.C. legal hours are to 1 hour after sunset so it's pretty dark by the time I pull out of the woods. Bottom line is I love the scope and small size of the dot - it just has some limitations.

Krooz

[Billstick]

Thanks for all the replies , went to another site and got only one. You guys are very helpfull . I'm just getting back into handguns after a 12yr. layoff . Still love my longbows but I can see me in the woods next year with the Taurus. I desided on the Lupould-Gilmore red dot and if I don't like it I'll try a scope , but  then I'll have a red dot with no home so I'll HAVE to buy another handgun to mount it on .  
   Just turned 55 so it's time for another hobby , Thanks Again

Bill

[KING]

   :shock: Billstick.  Not sure about helping ya a lot with our information,but a bucn of use ,like me,dont seem to have much to do in life but give other people advice and such.  It sure is fun to do so,and ya gotta have lotsa toys ya know.  I shoot longbow also,and I think at last count I had 14 of em or somethihng like that.  The more the merrier.  Glas we could help ya.  Most of the guys will work thier butt off to do so.  Good luck.....King

[Big]

Bill,
Sorry if this comes in after you've made your decision.  I put an Ultradot on my Super Redhawk .44 Magnum about 2 years ago, and I love it.  Have yet to hunt with it, but after 400-500 rounds, it's still zeroed at 50 yards. It's very accurate at that range, and seems to be so at 100 as well (with a steady rest!), although I don't shoot with it at 100 yards often.  I usually leave it switched on while at the range, and it has yet to even appear to be dimming on the original battery (I do carry a spare).  If you're worried about it, you could leave it turned off until you see game, because the rotary switch is noiseless (to my ear, anyway).

It took me a while to choose between the 1" and the 30mm tube, but I bought the 1" tube because it really doesn't matter: the dot is just "out there" with two eyes open.

Good luck.