Red Dot or Holographic Sights On Contenders

[Huntyeraws]

Anyone use one?  Which brand?  Pros? Cons? Any to avoid?  Will they handle the recoil?  I plan on putting one on a 30/30 14 hunter.  Most shots on deer will be in the 125yd or less range. The 2.5x7 T/C will go onto my 222 Super 14.

BTW - I have stumbled onto this site last week and have been lurking for the past few days and have really enjoyed this forum!  :grin:  

Thanks!

[Redhawk1]

I have used and use Millet, Ultra-dot, Bushnells Holo sight, Aim point and tasco PDP3. All the above listed will do fine. I use them on my 45-70 12 inch barrel and have had them on my 444 Marlin and 44 MAG barrels. I have had the Ultra-dot on my BFR in 500MAG with over 1000 rounds fired and it is still holding up good.  

[EdK]

I have used and use Millet, Ultra-dot, Bushnells Holo sight, Aim point and tasco PDP3. All the above listed will do fine.

Wow Redhawk that's quite an assortment. As you mentioned they are all fine so I'll assume you rotated through all of those optics for reasons other than dissatisfaction. I have never used a red dot type scope myself but have been considering getting one for quite a while and don't have the means to try before buying. I'm most curious about the Holosight as it seems as if it would be really superior to anything with a tube as far as field of view. I once looked though one mounted on a gun at my local dealer and I was quite impressed. I can't say I really hear all that much about it though as compared to the regular red dots. I wouldn't think price would be why as the better red dots do seem just about as expensive.

It would seem a great solution for 0-100 yard hunting shots - much better than a scope.

[7bru]

hunt, the biggest problems i had with a shot over a 100 yards was no magnification and the sight being set as dim or bright as you could set it and being able to see the target or the dot. the holosight reticle with the circle and the dot works great for quick target acquisition.  it is a really easy sight to shoot and sight in.  battery life was about what you would expect if you remember to cut it off. holosight has a 8 hour cutoff feature.

tasco red dot (wal mart) is to much like having a scope and not having any magnification. the box said .357 magnum and smaller. well its 38 special and smaller i guess because my gp-100 .357 with moderate 158 gr loads ripped the guts out of it after about 15 roounds.

Hakko makes a sight similiar to a holo that is a lot lighter and you can change reticles with a dial and i think it runs off of a watch (lithium) battery. ncstar makes one off of the same design. i haven't shot one but it looked pretty good.

you can make longer shots than your 125 yards, just the dot covers the target up more. BRU

[Redhawk1]

I have used and use Millet, Ultra-dot, Bushnells Holo sight, Aim point and tasco PDP3. All the above listed will do fine.

Wow Redhawk that's quite an assortment. As you mentioned they are all fine so I'll assume you rotated through all of those optics for reasons other than dissatisfaction. I have never used a red dot type scope myself but have been considering getting one for quite a while and don't have the means to try before buying. I'm most curious about the Holosight as it seems as if it would be really superior to anything with a tube as far as field of view. I once looked though one mounted on a gun at my local dealer and I was quite impressed. I can't say I really hear all that much about it though as compared to the regular red dots. I wouldn't think price would be why as the better red dots do seem just about as expensive.

It would seem a great solution for 0-100 yard hunting shots - much better than a scope.

I still have an Ultra dot, I took it off the BFR 500MAG and put the Millet red-dot on the BFR 500MAG. I have several Tasco PDP3 Red-dots I got in trades. I have one on my Ruger MarkII 22 pistol and one on my Ruger Redhawk 44 MAG. I have over 2000 rounds through my Redhawk 44 MAG with the tasco red-dot on it and it is still going strong.  The Aim point I had I sold it due to the gun it was on was sold. The Bushnell Holo was on several different T/C contender barrels. One of my Tasco PDP3 red-dot goes on and off of my 45-70 contender

[rocky_taco]

I use an Eotech on my shotgun and love it.  I switched from a red dot.  I like the Eotech better.

[Dave1]

Nick

I put a 30mm UltraDot red dot scope on my 7x30 Contender a couple years ago and have been hunting with it ever since.  The scope performs well and has never given me any problems.  I haven't even had to change the batteries yet.

At the range using a target with 6" black center the gun shoots good groups at 150 yards with factory loads and has taken deer out to 110 yards with no problem.

The tiny red dot is easy to find in the typical low light early/late deer hunting situation and is very effective out to medium ranges.  Because there is no magnification and dot does cover up some of the target, it is not a precision long range shooting scope.

Dave1

[Huntyeraws]

Thanks for the opinions guys.  

While I finish up deer hunting here in NY, I will continue to hunt with my T/C scope on my contender.  I ordered a red holographic sight ("electro dot") from eBay similar to the NcStar 4 Reticle/Hakko Bed 35 Modelsl, it looks like it was manufactured by the same identical companies and well made, but for a lot less and without the logo.  It looks like a decent piece for about $60 with shipping.   I will try it after deer season as I am sighted in already.