Simmons Red Dot

[Kates]

I am considering a Red Dot for my Encore 15" .223.  I was looking at Simmons, and noticed they have a 42mm.  Do any of you have any experience with Simmons? What would be the advantages of the 42mm over the 30mm?

[Redhawk1]

I am considering a Red Dot for my Encore 15" .223.  I was looking at Simmons, and noticed they have a 42mm.  Do any of you have any experience with Simmons? What would be the advantages of the 42mm over the 30mm?

Consider a Ultra-dot before you buy a Simmons. But if you want the 42mm you will have to get the simmons. The difference is how big the sight is. The 42mm will give you a bigger field of view, not much since there is not magnification to a red-dot. But with a 223 your shooting distance will be more than the red-dot will be good for.  You may want to consider a nice scope. JMHO.  

[Kates]

I use the pistol for predator hunting.  My max shot will be around 100 yards.  Will a red dot be ok in that situation?  I have looked at some of the pistol scopes, and I have a little trouble finding the target. That was my only reason for considering a red dot.  Is there a good handgun scope that anyone could recommend for my situation.

[armory414]

The dot on the Simmons scope will cover about 3-4 inches of target at 100 yards, so that's one thing to keep in mind.  The other thing is that because of the way the red dot scope functions the lenses are tinted a little.  You can see the dot better, especially at low light, but it makes it hard to see the target.  I used one to take a deer last year, but it was harder to see the deer than it would have been with a 2x pistol scope.

[mikemayberry]

Something I have wondered about red dot scopes that might make an impact on all of our decisions.

Since you can see the red dot from many angles (high, low, left and right) while looking through the tube, does it cause problems with different alignment (held held high vs. low) or arm straight vs. bent)?

Does this then change the point of impact like when you weld your cheek to a different place on a rifle stock or does it always just center up and visually allow the bullet POI to be where the dot is showing?

I've been wondering about this and thought it might make a difference in selection of scopes.

Mike

[Redhawk1]

Something I have wondered about red dot scopes that might make an impact on all of our decisions.

Since you can see the red dot from many angles (high, low, left and right) while looking through the tube, does it cause problems with different alignment (held held high vs. low) or arm straight vs. bent)?

Does this then change the point of impact like when you weld your cheek to a different place on a rifle stock or does it always just center up and visually allow the bullet POI to be where the dot is showing?

I've been wondering about this and thought it might make a difference in selection of scopes.

Mike

The dot stays in one place and your eye is centered to the scope. Where the dot is, is where the bullet goes. I have shot it from different positions and it's point of impact did not change.

[Redhawk1]

I use the pistol for predator hunting.  My max shot will be around 100 yards.  Will a red dot be ok in that situation?  I have looked at some of the pistol scopes, and I have a little trouble finding the target. That was my only reason for considering a red dot.  Is there a good handgun scope that anyone could recommend for my situation.

I have stated in several area, I am a Leupold man but in postal scopes I use the Bushnell handgun scopes. I have one on my FA 454 Casull and one on my S&W460 MAG. Great scopes in my opinion. I like the 2X6X32mm.  

[armory414]

Redhawk1,

That may be the case in some of the high-end red dot scopes, but not for all.  In some of the Simmons and Tasco scopes I've used, you have to center the dot as if you're shooting an aperture sight.  The dot does not always match up with point of impact.

[Redhawk1]

Redhawk1,

That may be the case in some of the high-end red dot scopes, but not for all.  In some of the Simmons and Tasco scopes I've used, you have to center the dot as if you're shooting an aperture sight.  The dot does not always match up with point of impact.

You may very well be correct, I have no real experience with the lower end red-dots. I have shot a few guns with them on them, but never owned any.  

[myronman3]

for predator calling under a 100 yards, a red dot scope is perfect.  

i had a tasco red dot on my contender 223 and it was perfect.   predators dont sit still long, and the faster you can get a bead on them the better.  red dots became popular because they are faster aquiring the target.  

from someone who had a set up very similar to what you are talking about, and someone who has had scopes on the same gun in 30-30,  the red dot was the way to go.   i often found myself wishing i had a red dot on the 30-30 contender.

if i had to do it all over again,  i would set them up with red dots;  unless i was shooting off a bench at targets.

[Redhawk1]

for predator calling under a 100 yards, a red dot scope is perfect.  

i had a tasco red dot on my contender 223 and it was perfect.   predators dont sit still long, and the faster you can get a bead on them the better.  red dots became popular because they are faster aquiring the target.  

from someone who had a set up very similar to what you are talking about, and someone who has had scopes on the same gun in 30-30,  the red dot was the way to go.   i often found myself wishing i had a red dot on the 30-30 contender.

if i had to do it all over again,  i would set them up with red dots;  unless i was shooting off a bench at targets.

myronman3, the red-dot is not always the perfect fit.
I have red-dot's on a couple of my handguns. The disadvantage also is low light for the red-dot. Target is hard to make out in low light conditions. Also if you use a scope on a handgun you will be able to get target acquisition just as fast as the red-dot.

Kates, The best thing I could suggest is to find someone with both and try them out. I have both and use both, but I pick my application to fit the hunting situation. Short range shooting in good light I use a handgun with a red-dot. Low light situation or longer distance shooting I go with a gun with a scope on it.  

[Kates]

I appreciate all the input.  I have looked through a regular pistol scope on an encore and didnt like it.  I believe it was a tasco, some of the more expensive scopes might be better.  I have never looked through a red dot, I talked with a Ultra Dot dealer today and he has about convinced me to go with them.  Redhawk, when you say lowlight are you talking right at dawn and dusk, or are you referring to cloudy days also. Thanks guys

[Redhawk1]

I appreciate all the input.  I have looked through a regular pistol scope on an encore and didnt like it.  I believe it was a tasco, some of the more expensive scopes might be better.  I have never looked through a red dot, I talked with a Ultra Dot dealer today and he has about convinced me to go with them.  Redhawk, when you say lowlight are you talking right at dawn and dusk, or are you referring to cloudy days also. Thanks guys

I am refereing to Dusk and Dawn and in the woods. If you get the Ultra-dot you won't be disappointed. I have 2 handguns with the Ultra-dot. It is just sometimes a good scope is hard to beat.  

[armory414]

Kates,

Have you considered a holographic sight?  They are basically a "tubeless" red-dot scope.  They have a somewhat rectangular window on which is projected a holographic "crosshair."  They tend to be on the expensive side (above $200 for the Bushnells--look also at EOTech Holographic Weapons Sight for $300 and ATN Ultra Sight for $170) but NCStar has a version for about $80, which would be comparable in price to the Simmons.  I haven't used one in a hunting situation, but the one I looked through appeared to not be as tinted as some of the tube red-dot scopes.

Here are some from the Sportsman's Guide:

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/browse/browse.asp?c=73&s=169