Iron sights vs Red Dot

[Keith L]

I have a used .357 Mag barrel on the way and have been thinking of what sights to put on.  On one hand I have two sets of TC iron sights taken off barrels that got scopes.  On the other hand I have a red dot thingie that showed up here on another trade.  This barrel will be for short ranges (under 30 yards) on deer.

I don't have any trouble in daylight aquiring the target in the red dot device.  It is much harder at dawn and dusk.  Iron sights take a little longer to get the sight picture, but are much better in low light.  I don't think that battery life is an issue with the iron sights either.

Given this situation which way would you go and why?

Thanks for the input,

[flyfisher]

I like shooting red dots for close ranges over iron sights.  Only one little red dot to place on your target and WHAM!  I always find myself second guessing with iron sights (mostly elevation).  With the red dot, I feel more confident and hold tighter patterns.  I find them to be great in low light conditions.  I have a Tasco PDP3 with 11 different brightness settings...for low light conditions, just set at 1 or 2 and blast away!

[b square]

I'll ditto what's already been posted. I've used Tasco ProPoints of various models on Contenders ranging from 22lr to 30-30 for about the last 15 years for hunting everything from squirrels to whitetail to hogs. Never had any trouble out of the scopes, and the quick target acquisition makes for better shots. I do love being able to keep both eyes open! And for low light conditions the red dots are wonderful. I've never used a scope with a lighted reticle; so I don't know how they compare with the little red dots.

[Keith L]

With the recomendations of this group I just installed and boresighted the Red dot device.  When it gets a little warmer (-12 to -15 tonight) I get to shoot it and report back.  Thanks to all for your input!

[Ranger413]

I'm not a big open sight kinda guy.  I was weaned on them when I started out shooting, just to get the basics down.  Due to primative regulations I also used them on my flintlock muzzleloader, successfully I might add (X4).  

I like red dots better though.  Gives me the feeling of a more precise aiming point.  I have one mounted on my Ruger SRH .44 mag.  I can print 2" or better groups with it at 50 yards which is enough for the ranges I work at here.  Harvested a nice button buck this year at about 40 yards.  Bullet went right where the dot was.  It doesn't really enhance your vision in low light and can actually hurt it depending on how high a setting the dot is on.  I prefer the UltraDot.

All of my rifles wear scopes.  While I think I'd rather have a dot sight on a large bore handgun I went with a 2-6X scope on my 15" .308 barrel.  The reasoning here is that I feel that a scope will be able to obtain more accurate shooting, if I do my part, out of this set up.

Ranger413

[Sixgun]

A red dot on a 357 mag may be fired from a taco hold.  It is much easier to hit a target with a taco hold but a 357 mag is about the upper limit for this kind of hold.  Give it a try and see if you like it.

Sixgun

[VSSF]

I've got a leupold/gilmore on my 45-70,haven't shot anything with it yet but does pretty good at the range.

[Keith L]

I mounted the red dot last night and boresighted it.  I have to admit it is a nice appearing package with the 10" 357 mag barrel.  I played with it some in the early morning house to see how well I could see with it, and it seems to work as well as iron sights in the low light.  Now to take it to the range when it warms up a bit.  -15 this morning, and had to spend some of the day getting the home heat working right.  Ah, Wisconsin winter.

Thanks for all the advice guys.