Author Topic: holographic sights (Read 2841 times)

tommy killtrigger · « **on:** January 02, 2010, 04:51:59 PM »

What are the opinions on a Bushnell holographic sight on a 41 mag. revolver as opposed to a 2X scope Leupold. plus and minuses of each. Thanks.Tony!

mbopp · « **Reply #1 on:** January 02, 2010, 05:18:46 PM »

My opinion only, YMMV:

I have a 14" 357 Herrett Contender. I outfitted it with a Leupold 2X scope years ago but switched to a Bushnell Holosight this year. I had the Holosight on my slug shotgun last year but didn't like it.

But on the T/C it's another story. Compared to the Leupold I find it easier to get on target, you don't have to be as critical lining your eye and the scope up. I had a shot at a running deer this year and had no trouble lining the shot up. The Bushnell has a new home, the Leupold may get put on a .22 pistol.

Upsides - the 35 min circle draws your eyes to the target after which you can put the center dot on it. I find that getting on target is easier than with a scope. And so far it's held up to the recoil. I have a 25mm Red Dot but still find the Bushnell faster to line up.

Downsides - battery life, I carry spare "N" batteries with me. And I don't know how much of a physical beating it'll take like smashing it in the ground if you fall. I haven't found any rain cover for it. And I don't know how waterproof it is. The reason I took it off my shotgun was that it set too high above the bore but that's not an issue with a handgun.

But unless you want to drop the coin on an EOTech I think it's a good choice. I find it much handier than the conventional scope on the Contender.

shvlhead.45 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 02, 2010, 07:15:54 PM »

I like red dots and holographic sights, have both. Don't use them on a revolver though. Before dropping your $$$, check out the Burris Fastfire Holographic, there is special bases for mounting on Ruger Revolvers and others as well as Weaver or Picitinny bases. Someone else sells a holo sight that looks just like the Burris Fastfre but don't recall at this time the name.

v/r
Shvlhead.45

Bigeasy · « **Reply #3 on:** January 02, 2010, 10:14:03 PM »

Since your .41 is a close range weapon, compared to, say a contender chambered for a bottle neck cartridge, I would look at holo sight. I have several big bore revolvers with 2x scopes mounted, (and the Leupold is a good one) but sometimes it can be hard to find your target quickly, and accurately place your rectecle on target. A red dot or holo sight is a lot quicker, especially in poor light, and prescise enough at 100 yards or less for big game.

I have never used the Bushnell holo sight, but it seems a little larger then needed. I have several Burris Fast Fire holo sights, and really like them. I have one thats had about 500 rounds on it while mounted on a 45 auto, no problems, and really fast on target. another is on an assault rifle. I am planning on mounting one on a 44 mag in the near future, just not sure which gun I am going to use yet. I like their small size, and 4 inch dot, which is a good comprimise between speed and accuracy. Another consideration is you will need a special holster for a scope mounted gun. Most normal hip holsters will fit a gun with the small Fast Fire sight.

Larry

Larry Gibson · « **Reply #4 on:** January 02, 2010, 10:28:58 PM »

You might take a look at the Burris Fast Fire if you are interested in a Holo sight. Here is mine on my Ruger .41 Bisley.

Larry Gibson

Old English · « **Reply #5 on:** January 03, 2010, 01:17:19 AM »

Would it be possible to mount one of these on a Ruger Blackhawk? Sounds like a great sighting system.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #6 on:** January 03, 2010, 02:02:14 AM »

i havent owned a bushnell but did have a eotec which is made by the same company but made stronger and it didnt hold up. I also see mounts sold for the buris that about incase it in steel so i would have to think there not that strong either. if it were me and i wanted a dot type sight on a revolver id buck up the extra cost and buy an aim point micro. Ive got 3 aimpoints and have never had a lick of problem with them. The battery life on the new ones like the micro is amazing. you can leave them on and never shut them off and get 5 years of battery life. thats one thing i dont care for with a battery sight. It seems like your forever forgetting to turn them off and when you go to use them the batterys are dead or the fact that you have to remember to turn them on when hunting.

Autorim · « **Reply #7 on:** January 03, 2010, 03:32:56 AM »

Lloyd,

In your experience what is better about the Aimpoint micro compared to an UltraDot? Battery life would be and obvious plus. Both are red dot sights. Is target acquisition better due to the shorter length?

Ken

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #8 on:** January 04, 2010, 02:18:20 AM »

dont have any experience with an ultra dot so i wont bad mouth them. What convinced me to buy aimpoints was a show i saw on tv once on the outdoor channel. I was a shooting show that had a little thing on aimpoints. they had two guys from aimpoint on there shooting ars with them. One was a comp 3 and the other was a micro. the set up on a concreat parking lot with a target at 50 yards They would shoot the guns at a target take the scopes off (quick detatch mounts) and bounce them across the concrete to each other and back and mount them back on the gun and they worked fine and even held zero. they did this 3 times. Now im no optics expert but id about bet a dime to a dollar there isnt a red dot or even scope made other them maybe an acog that would take that abuse and keep working. Got to the ar15 forum and ask about optics and youll get many guys that used ars in combat and most to a man will say an eotec wouldnt hold up (and the bushnell isnt as stout as a eotec) they all prefered aimpoints and acogs and thats all the military will buy anymore. Like i said i had an eotec i forget the model but it was there top end unit that came with the lever mounts and first the mount broke and then it just quit one day. I sent it back and they repaired it for free but as soon as it came back i peddled it. Aimpoints may be expensive but the peace of mind of knowing that they will hold up to about anything and that when i pick it up to use it its allready on and the batterys arent dead is worth the cost of admittion to me.

Autorim · « **Reply #9 on:** January 04, 2010, 02:45:28 AM »

Sounds good to me. What about the brightness of the dot? Is it adjustable or automatically set?

tommy killtrigger · « **Reply #10 on:** January 04, 2010, 06:25:23 AM »

Larry, is the Burris Fastfire mounted on a Weaver base? Does it do well in low light conditions? I will be putting it on a S&W Model 57, so some moderate recoil will be there. It looks smaller than the Bushnell. How long have you shot it on yours? Thanks, Tony

Larry Gibson · « **Reply #11 on:** January 04, 2010, 08:23:50 AM »

Quote from: Old English on January 03, 2010, 01:17:19 AM

Would it be possible to mount one of these on a Ruger Blackhawk? Sounds like a great sighting system.

If you are asking me the Ruger Bisley pictured is a Ruger Blackhawk. The only thing different is the grip.

Larry Gibson

Larry Gibson · « **Reply #12 on:** January 04, 2010, 08:50:45 AM »

Quote from: tommy killtrigger on January 04, 2010, 06:25:23 AM

Larry, is the Burris Fastfire mounted on a Weaver base? Does it do well in low light conditions? I will be putting it on a S&W Model 57, so some moderate recoil will be there. It looks smaller than the Bushnell. How long have you shot it on yours? Thanks, Tony

Tommy

Yes it is mounted on a Weaver base. I got the model with the Picatinny/Weaver mount so it would fit on the Weaver base. I took the Ruger on a hunt to Texas in November intending on shooting a pig with it but they wouldn't cooperate. However at very first shooting light and last shooting light I had no problems seeing through it and aiming. I did manage several jack rabbits with it on the way through Nevada under very poor light conditions. The dot intensity is self adjusting per the light conditions. I am very pleased with it's performance.

The FastFire is very light weight (.9 oz) so it doesn't have a lot of inertial force during recoil and it is about half the size of the Bushnell. It is far smaller than the EOTech, Tasco and Bushnell standard size dot sights that I have. I have put a little over 500 of my practice/small game load (RCBS 41-210 at 1200 fps) through the revolver and over 200 of my jacketed big game hunting load (Remington 210 SP or Hornady 210 XTP at 1450 fps) through it. There was probably another 200 or so shots during load development and zeroing. Once zeroed there has been no change of zero.

Battery life; mine still has the original battery (lithium CR 2032 available at drug stores, etc.) in it. The instruction booklet say you can expect battery life for up to 4 years. In darkness it "goes to sleep" and comes with a cover. Even if you forget to turn the on/off switch off putting the cover on will also put it to sleep. I suspect the holster I carry it in also puts it to sleep if I forget to turn it off. I'm also going to sew a small pouch on one of the holster straps to carry an extra battery in.

So far I've had nothing but good experiences with the sight on the Ruger. I will be heading south to Nevada/Arizona for a few weeks here shortly. I will take the Ruger and 700 rounds of ammo with me. I expect that to give a fair test of the sight system.

Larry Gibson

tommy killtrigger · « **Reply #13 on:** January 04, 2010, 10:00:12 AM »

Larry, I forgot to ask...can you see an illuminated glow from the front of the fastfire when it is on...does game pick you out from the shadows? Thanks, Tony!

coop2564 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 04, 2010, 11:59:25 AM »

I have the fastfirell on my raging bull .41mag an love it, much lighter and less bulk my 100yd group maybe an 1.5" bigger than when I had the 2x on it but I cant tell any real differents at 50yds.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #15 on:** January 04, 2010, 02:20:29 PM »

tom no unmagnified dot sight will draw in light like a scope. The trick to them is to find one that doesnt actually reflect the light thats there. Theres a world of differnce in one of my aimpoints and a trijicon acog or accupoint in low light. I guess one thing to look at is that pistol scopes suck in low light anyway so if thats what your comparing it to id say it would be eaiser to use a dot in low light then a pistol scope.

Quote from: tommy killtrigger on January 04, 2010, 06:25:23 AM

Larry, is the Burris Fastfire mounted on a Weaver base? Does it do well in low light conditions? I will be putting it on a S&W Model 57, so some moderate recoil will be there. It looks smaller than the Bushnell. How long have you shot it on yours? Thanks, Tony

Larry Gibson · « **Reply #16 on:** January 05, 2010, 05:57:45 AM »

Quote from: tommy killtrigger on January 04, 2010, 10:00:12 AM

Larry, I forgot to ask...can you see an illuminated glow from the front of the fastfire when it is on...does game pick you out from the shadows? Thanks, Tony!

No.

There is reflection from the lens, perhaps a little more than from a regular scope. Down in Texas I line up on several deer just to see how it looked. None of them picked it up.

coop2564

"Great minds think alike", eh?

Larry Gibson

tommy killtrigger · « **Reply #17 on:** January 05, 2010, 09:49:07 AM »

Thanks, Larry and each others comments, Tony!

odoh · « **Reply #18 on:** January 25, 2010, 05:41:39 AM »

Due to my aging vision, I too chkd out the various red dot's/holo's. Like yourself, chkd w/those that had experience and in the case of Ultra Dots, Larry of Larry's guns. Found that Larry's is the Ultra Dots warranty station for the US. Altho, the 'open' style (Ultradot L/T) has a lifetime warranty, he elected not to carry them. The open style, could be put out of commission by the elements or even beads of precipitation on the screen (lense) whereas the tube type is sealed and if a rain drop is on the exterior lense, just look thru the part that isn't obstructed and shoot.

I have the FastFire and more recently, the FastFire II (which is supposedly waterproof) not bad prices for something light wgt. I had both mounted on 1911s and haven't experienced any issues but then again, I've not really been rowdy w/them. Of the enclosed 'tube' types, I have 4 or 5 on my big bore revolvers again w/o issues. The big'uns are on the big revolver and soften the recoil somewhat. The largest of those I own is an Aimpoint 9000sc 2X2 that is h u g e. If its battery dies at a crucial point, all I'll need to do is quickly dismount it using its QD mount and club the game into submission

Note that this particular model was a limited run of 2X amplification. By being amplified, the ease of getting on target in the game field is hampered a bit as its better to close one eye whereas the unamplified is an intuitive both eyes open kind of thing. Me thinks unamplified red dots are better/preferred. I've since seen they have a Micro size unit but at this point I'm tapped out and trying to keep our 42yr marriage intact so big brown can never stop at our house anymore. . . . . .

The postman dropped off another Ultra Dot 30mm just last week ~ ~ They are what I believe to be the best value on the market YMMV

roger460xvr · « **Reply #19 on:** January 25, 2010, 03:06:58 PM »

hey larry.
i have a ruger 41mag blackhawk where can i find the mount like you have ? i have a burris fast fire on my ar-15 i can take off it has the weaver-pic mount mounted on it......

roger460xvr · « **Reply #20 on:** January 26, 2010, 02:07:01 PM »

Anyone know what kind of mount that larry is using on his 41mag?

myronman3 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 26, 2010, 02:17:10 PM »

i am willing to bet it is the mount sold by the same company that makes the sight.

S.B. · « **Reply #22 on:** January 27, 2010, 01:23:49 AM »

I'm keeping my eyes open for a holosight with a green dot(or maybe both green and red) in it. Would like to try one like this maybe get away from the halo around the dot?
Steve

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #23 on:** January 27, 2010, 01:26:44 AM »

Quote

In darkness it "goes to sleep" and comes with a cover.

Does being in a ground blind in the legal shooting light of dawn\dusk count as darkness?

Quote from: roger460xvr on January 26, 2010, 02:07:01 PM

Anyone know what kind of mount that larry is using on his 41mag?

I believe it was a Weaver base as said in reply #12

Old English · « **Reply #24 on:** January 31, 2010, 01:21:42 AM »

Please could somebody tell us, what mount fits the Blackhawk? I would really like a scope mount that does not require drilling my revolver. Does this animal exist? Thanks

shvlhead.45 · « **Reply #25 on:** January 31, 2010, 06:54:50 AM »

Unless I'm just totally lost (won't be the first time) the Ruger Redhawk and Blackhawk use the same adjustable sight. If I'm wrong I know I'll be corrected post haste. Anyway, assuming I'm correct this link ought to get you started: http://www.opticsplanet.net/burris-mount-fastfire.html

Here is the link for the for th JPoint mounts which look identical to the Burris: http://www.jprifles.com/1.6.1a.php

Link to Burris' site for the fastfireII mounts: http://www.burrisoptics.com/fastfire.html

odoh · « **Reply #26 on:** January 31, 2010, 05:49:32 PM »

Quote from: roger460xvr on January 26, 2010, 02:07:01 PM

Anyone know what kind of mount that larry is using on his 41mag?

Looks to be a FastFire using a weaver/picatinny adapter ~ and my guess is that the base required drill and tapping.

IIRC my JP4 had a adapter for all ruger revolvers that replaced the OEM rear sight assy. I mounted it up but didn't quite look right ~ if the instructions were a tad better . . . . . there was a member here that used this adapter on his ruger and had some pix's. perhaps a search?

demented · « **Reply #27 on:** February 01, 2010, 12:51:31 AM »

Perhaps I've been lucky to the extreme but my Eotech has held up mounted on my 6" S&W 629 for three years with my home brewed "Bear Stompers" My main issue with it is finding a carry method, the EOT is rather bulky. As for water, it is sealed internally but like every scope I've used, water on the lens does create vision problems. Are the Burris dot sights made in the US? I've heard some Burris products were now from China. If so, I'll pass.

odoh · « **Reply #28 on:** February 01, 2010, 04:50:52 PM »

Quote from: S.B. on January 27, 2010, 01:23:49 AM

I'm keeping my eyes open for a holosight with a green dot(or maybe both green and red) in it. Would like to try one like this maybe get away from the halo around the dot?
Steve

. . . . . the halo around the dot? Do you mean a circular reticle or flare extending/radiating out from the dot? Depending on ones age, isn't such halo's an early indicator of cataracts? Thats what the VA optometrist told me. He even suggested that I make friends w/the floaters in my field of vision as they'll be hanging around the rest of my life.

S.B. · « **Reply #29 on:** February 01, 2010, 10:43:58 PM »

Rumor has it that changing to a green dot eliminate this fuze as you call it?
Steve