Red Dot sight on FA 97

[makilly]

Seeking info from anyone that has mounted and used one of the red dot sights. Due to aging eyes I dont see the iron sights as well. Also which one of the sights works the best? This will be mounted on a 5.5 in. FA 97 .45 Cal. Thanks for your help. Makilly

[paul105]

Makilly,

Check this link -- should help answer some of your questions.

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,137837.0.html

I took the JPoint off of my .357.   It's going on the .454 tomorrow.

Paul

[MarkH]

Some ... they're interesting.  Call Freedom Arms and talk to them about the sights and their mounts - heck, they are even making belt holsters cut special for the holosights.

[Bob96]

    Old Eyes just don't work with handguns with open sights for fine target work. I just plain gave up and went with small Red Dots on 3 F.A. 97's and several S&W models. My groups decreased dramatically in every gun. I have tried the NecStar which is pretty cheap in price. It is ok but the dot does not adjust to light conditions. For me it is too bright which flairs the dot. Even though rated at 3MOA dot size with the flair it covers maybe twice that on the target. The Burris is fine and adjusts to light conditions. For me it is still a little too bright for indoor ranges so I covered the light sensor port with a small piece of black electrical tape. Now almost perfect. Both the NecStar & the Burris will fit the S&W but not the F.A. mount. On the F.A. I have used the Pride-Fowler & the J.P 4MOA model. The P.F. is more expensive but has some nice features = Battery can be replaced from the top w/o removing the sight - Has a switch with full bright on and auto adjust on - Has locking screws for the wind & evel. adjustments - Has a metal case & a glass lens. The P.F. sight is a little longer and expends 1/4" further to the front. The J.P is still a fine sight. The dot is not too bright - the battery life is very long - mine is still going strong after 3 yrs. - even w/o lock screws the adjustments stay in place - The plastic case & lens are fine and make the sight only weigh about 1/2 oz. - Either the JP or the P.F. are perfect on a F.A. They are far more accurate than any open sight combo for my eyes and they are so small they don;t change the overall look of the gun so dramatically like a full size scope-mount-rings. No one at the indoor range can now shoot smaller groups than me. Yes I tried all the color combos for open sights and they made the situation even worse. My last resort was to spray them each session with Casey's Sight Black. If you are over 50-60yrs. think about just giving up and goint to a small Red Dot!

[doghawg]

 I wish Leupold would make a compact red-dot. The thought of a scope on a compact Mod 97 leaves me cold and I don't find the two scope mounts available for the 97 to be very appealing either....so I'll be trying one of the JP's. At age 61 it's a shame to have revolvers this accurate and not be able to do them justice.....although....With one of Kens front sights and good light....

[makilly]

Thanks to all for your help. Has anyone used the Trijicon sight with the 4 moa dot? I saw a review on gunblast, but it was not current. Again Thanks makilly

[paul105]

Makilly,

Reference the link I posted above.  I posted my experience with the JP/Trijicon 4 MOA.  Also, TommyD in Reply #17 posted his experience with the Trijicon 4 MOA dot.

Paul

[makilly]

Thanks Paul. Makilly

[bobthenailer]

i have the pride fowler special ops sight on my  6 inch 83 with excellent results !  and another 83  with the aimpoint micro also excellent  !  i had a doctor sight and it was allways to bright i sent it back and they sent me a new one but it was the same ! for me it was unusable so i sold it
                   bob

[doghawg]

 bobthenailer

 What mounts are you using for the sights you mentioned? The TSOB weaver style?

[Bob96]

  The JP & the Fowler/Pride mount on the F.A. mount that they sell for about $48. Others require a Weaver type mount.  The Weaver mounts are generally much larger as they are for scopes and a little red dot might look out of place. The F.A. mount with small red dot is very compact and retains the general lines of the gun.

[bobthenailer]

on  the 6 inch i allready had a shortened ssk base so you could  still mount a 2 or 4 x leupold if needed.  so i just bought the weaver adapter for the PF sight . i really like this combo !   . on the 7 1/2 i  have a fulllength ssk base  with the aimpoint micro . i also like this combo its more compact than the aimpoint comp xd i was useing

[Sverre A.]

One of my friends bought a 97/45 LC, 5,5" last year, and made a base for it - and mounted a Docter sight.
His first hunt with it - resulted in 3 deers   

[makilly]

I decided to try a Trijicon 4 MOA red dot sight on my FA 97 and the results are excellent. I used the factory mount and it fit perfectly. For all the older shooters I say try it, and i think you will find your groups are half the size of the ones with iron sights. HAPPY holidays, MAKILLY