Author Topic: red dot on a handi (Read 1075 times)

zoner · « **on:** August 01, 2009, 04:11:36 AM »

gonna try a red dot sight on my 357 handi and i've read here that pete(hi pete) was gonna try one on his 44 mag....do any of you guys shoot red dots on your pistol cartridge handis?

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 01, 2009, 04:26:59 AM »

I have not, but I am thinking about it. I asked a question in the optics section about a Holographic sight that Mueller just came out with, but I did not get any responses at all. I even asked if a red dot or a low powered illuminated scope would be best, but no responses.

I am thinking that if you keep your shots under 100 yards and the targets are not too small, it would work out great. I thought of the holographic sight for a combination sight for night/low light shooting where you need to get on quick target; but still use it for less than 100 yard shots during the daylight hours. I would think a red dot would do almost the same, with a bit smaller field of view.

newdad · « **Reply #2 on:** August 01, 2009, 04:41:21 AM »

both my 44 mag and 45-70 handis have worn the cheap bsa red dots since new ( over 5 years now) they arent tack drivers by no means. the reason i set them up this way was for hunting with deer dogs on a lease i used to belong to. id say the 44 mag has shot 300+ rounds and the 45-70 probably around 200 rounds and havent had any problems with either.

kynardsj · « **Reply #3 on:** August 01, 2009, 05:04:46 AM »

The red dot scopes are great if your shots are 100 yds or below. I would not get a dot bigger than a 5 moa as it would cover a 5 inch circle at 100 yds. All of mine have a 2 moa. The ones with the cross hairs are really nice.

petemi · « **Reply #4 on:** August 01, 2009, 05:11:01 AM »

Mine is a Truglo. It is on the .44 mag, and it is not a tack driver. The dot is too large for that. You don't have to worry about field of view, because you keep both eyes open, never loosing sight of your target. The dot doesn't have to be centered, the bullet goes where the light is. It should be fine for deer inside 100 yards. They work excellently in full or low light; the adjustable dot is bright, and you see your target clearly. I wouldn't put one on a longer range rifle.....even the Maxi 'cause the dot covers too much of the target.

I really like mine for what I use it for. I'm going to try it for fox and coyotes in low light, at close range, and later for deer.

Pete

zoner · « **Reply #5 on:** August 01, 2009, 06:19:38 AM »

that's kind of what i'm thinking...given the range a 357 is used for it should mean a 5 moa dot is a 5 inch circle at 100 yds,2 1/2 at 50 yds etc....not precise enough to shoot groups well but precise enough to hit what your shootin at from 0-125 yds and do it pretty durn fast

wayne24 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 01, 2009, 06:51:16 AM »

I have a tasco pro point on one of my 44 mag handis .I have put at least 200 full power loads thru it in the last 4 months with no problems.Right now I have it sighted in at 50 yards and I can shoot 1 to 2 inch groups if I do my part.This gun is going to be my go to gun in 2 weeks when I go to Canada on a bear hunt.
Hope this helps,
Wayne

MSP Ret · « **Reply #7 on:** August 01, 2009, 07:29:37 AM »

I originally had a Simmons Red Dot on my .22 Mag Sportster for coyotes and then replaced it with a Millet Red Dot. With each sight I was (am) able to shoot true MOA groups at 100 yards, just under 1" groups, and could do it with regularity from a good rest (bench). The dots were 4" and then 2" (I think) and with a 4" bullseye at 100 yards just put the red dot perfectly over the same sized bulls eye and the groups are tiny. The same with hunting. if you realize the bullet is going to impact at the center of the dot you are GTG. I think a good Red Dot would be just perfect for a pistol caliber Handi. I have both .357 (max) and a .44 Mag that would have them on now if I had the extra cash. I also have a .500 that is now in use by a friend in Maine and he and I have discussed putting either a low power scope or a Red Dot on it. The .500 gets used quite regularly while on duty by my friend (a Game Warden) and may even be used this Fall for Moose, although his daughter is a sub-permitee and she is going to be the primary shooter. I have been invited to go along to help with the heavy work and it should be fun. I would like to have a Red Dot on the .500 for him by then but have some fears about the robust recoil of the .500. Now that this has come up I may mount my older Simmons Red Dot for him to try....<><....

kynardsj · « **Reply #8 on:** August 01, 2009, 07:36:51 AM »

Which ever red dot you end up with, always take along an extra battery or two with you in the field. Bad feeling when you see that trophy and realize that your scope was left on or the battery just ran out of juice.

petemi · « **Reply #9 on:** August 01, 2009, 08:01:45 AM »

I just bought a 20 pack of batteries on flea-bay for 5.49 including shipping. If do anything serious, I'll take the old one out and put in a new one; then use the old one up plinking or punching paper.

Pete

MSP Ret · « **Reply #10 on:** August 01, 2009, 08:27:32 AM »

Pete, do you have a link to that site or seller? Do you know if there are any more available? I would like to buy a pack also...Thanks....<><....

Pete, I went to e-bay and found and bought some, they should be here within a week...Thanks, I never thought about e-bay for those batteries....<><....

Default · « **Reply #11 on:** August 01, 2009, 08:55:13 AM »

I have ran the king of red dots on a couple of my handis at different times to good effect , AimPoint Comp M2 ( same red dot our boys in the sand box are using) Now this of course wasnt bought for the handis but it was on leave from my AR and figured I would try it out since I had hard learned the lesson that my nephew might be better served by a non-magnified sight then the nikon i put on his little 243 super lite youth handi..

There are a few advantages to a non-magnified red dot over the traditional scopes , Example thick low light cover after big squirrely hogs .. While normally I would use iron in that situation, I have done enough tactical drills with the AR mated with the AimPoint that I could definately see it being a big advantage.

Now the price on the AimPoint products isnt for every one , and I have very limited experience with the budget ones on the market today and i have yet to find or hear about one that was worth a sh*t , Most anyone of them that is going to handle recoil cost a fair amount of scratch..

Default

lostchild · « **Reply #12 on:** August 01, 2009, 09:21:32 AM »

I've got a tasco red dot on my 45/410, works well , I have mine sighted so the poi is right under the dot @ 100yds. I use what I call the clock system ( the dot is like an analog clock, some of my loads shoot right or left ) this works for me but might not for others ( I'm strange that way ) hope this helps....lost

zoner · « **Reply #13 on:** August 01, 2009, 10:06:43 AM »

lots of replies and plenty of info from some good folks....thank you

wreckhog · « **Reply #14 on:** August 01, 2009, 11:09:24 AM »

I have Aimpoint T1 and ML3, as well as Cabelas red dots. Broke a Cabelas dropping on the garage floor while mounting it to the rail. They are short range optics for hunting and useless for the range. I see their value in throwing a lot of rounds downrange at man size targets. Not so much at deer vitals over 100 yards. The dot covers roughly a 5 inch circle at 100 yards, maybe more, you can dial it to less, but then you won't see it.

petemi · « **Reply #15 on:** August 01, 2009, 11:26:11 AM »

Andy, I'm glad you found the batteries. I didn't even have a chance to go to "My E-bay" and look it up. Around here they want that much for 2 or three. They're the same as the ones in my lighted reticle scopes. I think I'm going to be comfortable with the red dot on deer for head and neck shots of 50 - 60 yards and vitals to 100 or so. I like the low light advantage, but I don't think you'd call it a squirrel rifle. That's why we Handiholics have lots of Handis....one for each situation

Pete

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #16 on:** August 01, 2009, 03:37:40 PM »

I have a Tru-Glo 2 power with a 2.5 MOA dot on my 444Marlin Handi. Close to 300 rounds of full power loads in her and it still works fine. It's nice but a little bulky. Natchez has em for less than a C-note shipped to ya. DP

MSP Ret · « **Reply #17 on:** August 01, 2009, 04:02:52 PM »

most of this is good info...Thanks....<><....

myarmor · « **Reply #18 on:** August 01, 2009, 05:06:21 PM »

I have never used one on a Handi, but I have used them a few times and had one on an SKS before. It was fun, and I could hit a 12" rock at 130 yards off hand 8 out of 10. It has it's advantages being light weight, quick target acquisition, simplicity plus the nice low light factor, but the disadvantages might outweigh them depending on what you are using it for. Bright daytime is difficult, battery life while it may be very good....it's VERY easy to forget and leave one turned on, and mostly the lack of precision is the biggest flaw....You can't exactly shoot good groups to see how tight your barrel is shooting $:-\$ At least you can work with a 2x or 4x.
Still if you want a very light weight sight and aren't shooting very far they aren't half bad. I say pick up a low price one and give it a try...if you really like it then upgrade if you see the need

An excellent fit for a RedDot is on a shotgun or sluggun in my opinion, I would rather at least have a small 4x for any of my centerfire Handis.
To each his own.

-Aaron

zoner · « **Reply #19 on:** August 02, 2009, 01:58:54 AM »

my experience with red dots comes from putting one on a 10/22 a while back,a factory rifle cept for a trigger mod,about 3 lbs.I would put out steel swingers at various distances and could hit them at will,switching targets faster than irons and like these guys said keep both eyes open and the sight superimposes the dot on the world out there,just move it around and squeeze the trigger.If you put the 5 inch circle on a pig or deer the size of the dot and the size of the animals kill zone is about the same especially at the distance a 357 is effective for hunting.While multiple targets isn't the issue here,the speed at which you can mount the gun,acqiure a target and hit it could make a difference...i've got a cheap BSA coming,my loads are dialed in pretty good,i'm gonna try standing,mounting the gun and shooting offhand at targets 100 yds away....and see if i know what i'm talking about

wreckhog · « **Reply #20 on:** August 02, 2009, 04:47:26 AM »

A big advantage for guys that are pulling the trigger while they are running is that since it is a 1x sight, you shoot with BOTH eyes open. Helps with target acquisition.

Battery life is excellent in Aimpoints. Can leave them on for over 8 years. I did not even know a battery would last that long in the package. Good for when the closest Walmart is 8000 miles away.

jeepmann1948 · « **Reply #21 on:** August 02, 2009, 05:43:30 AM »

I have one on a 357 Handi works great on house cats running and the 125 gr hp ruins their day

petemi · « **Reply #22 on:** August 02, 2009, 07:20:27 AM »

Here kitty kitty

We have a house cat, and that's what it is. It doesn't go out, or want to go out.

Pete

zoner · « **Reply #23 on:** August 09, 2009, 01:23:57 PM »

picked up a BSA red dot from Tim,and got it mounted on the H+R scope base....and I've been "hunting" around my living room with it...game is scarce around here. Next weekend I'll go to the range and see how it works out....will report back...Mike

quickdtoo · « **Reply #24 on:** August 09, 2009, 01:26:20 PM »

I hope it's dry when ya use it so you can see thru it!!

Tim

zoner · « **Reply #25 on:** August 10, 2009, 02:06:23 AM »

well if there's one thing we don't have here in socal it's rain......