[M&PVolk]

I have a Redhawk .44 that was originally wearing a scope when I purchased it some years ago. At the time, I saw no need for the scope, and purchased the gun without it. I have recently become interested in expanding my range with the gun out to about 75-100 yards. I can hit a big enough target at 100 with the irons, but I am far from accurate. I would like to add some kind of enhanced optic to it now.

I am thinking something like a tube enclosed red dot might work, but don't have any experience with them for accuracy. It probably doesn't need to be magnified for this cartridge. I don't want to spend a lot of money on it, as it isn't something I use all that frequently, it is just something I think would be fun for target shooting at further distances.

Any suggestions?

[Action_Can_Do]

Money is a subjective thing. Can you give a more precise number?

[ArmedBear]

IMO red dots offer quicker target acquisition for rapid fire, not significantly-improved accuracy on small targets at 100 yards.

Damn near everything looks small at 100 yards when you aim a handgun at it.

Cheap red dots are annoying, and might not hold up under .44 recoil.

Have you ever shot a scoped (2X or 3X) handgun?

[s4s4u]

I have red dots, both tube and holographic, and scopes on various handguns and all have their time and place. Accuracy wise a dot will do as well as a scope if you do your part. Even a 2x scope on a handgun can give the impression of little or no magnification, although there is. I like a 4x fixed when scoping a revolver.
Like said, all have their place and work well.

[ArmedBear]

True.

At 100 yards, though, 2X with a crosshair really helps me see the target precisely. A big red glowing thing doesn't do it for me.

[rklessdriver]

I had a BSA red dot on my Super Blackhawk just to try out. Really fast target aquisition and I had no problems hitting paper plates at 50yrds (and sometimes further) with it on there which is as good as I can do with the iron sights, so no degration of accuracy IMO.

Only problem I had, was after about 75rounds the .44 Mags recoil killed it.

Some other red dot a little higher quality would be a good bet.
Will

[Chuck Dye]

I have a Leupold 2x on my 7½" Redhawk Hunter and like it. The beast is quite muzzle heavy, though.

BTW, when I hunt with mine it rides in an Uncle Mike's shoulder rig, which works well. (Every time I see my reflection while wearing it, I am reminded of a little kid trying on Dad's gear... and I am 5'11" and 350 lbs.!) I suspect I might be happier with their bandoleer rig.

[Ky Larry]

I have a Leopold Gilmore red dot on my Model 29. It hits where the dot is every time if I do my part.

[gbran]

I have several scoped handguns. When using red dots, consider dot size. Most are 4 moa or above. The dots are not perfect little circles either. 4moa will cover 4 inches at 100 yds, 6moa will cover 6 inches. I have a couple 3moa dots that are pretty accurate.

For magnification I like a 2x. My 4x is pretty shaky and hard to find the target. My favorite is an Aimpoint 2x red dot.

[Stainz]

I scoped my first DA revolver - a 7.5" .454 SRH. I put a similar Weaver 2x28 H2 handgun scope on my MKII, where it worked loose more often. I sold the MKII last fall - and had the scope left over... yearning to be 'used' again. I got a Weigand rail for my 6" 629 and tried the combo... big yawn, once the scope was zero-ed. Here is the combo - with the Hogue made-for-S&W .500 Magnum grips installed:

http://s171.photobucket.com/albums/u307/Stainz_2007/IMG_3335.jpg

The scope & rail are off again - iron sights are back, as are my Ahrends grips. The 6" 629 fits a rug again - and is a great grab for up to 100yd - with mild .44 Magnums to wimpy .44 Russians. Hot Magnums require that .500 grip!

The scope helps aiming - especially with prebsbyopic eyes - that eyepiece adjustment helps. I use +1.00 Diopter full-lens magnifying safety glasses now - I can once again use regular iron sights. I know there are larger holsters, but I never found one suitable for that SRH scoped. Even just range use, my normal use, it needed it's own fitted box, as does the 6" 629 scoped. Too much aggravation. Then there is the 'Oops... I forgot to wait overnited for the Blue Loctite to poperly set!' - the rail is loose - again. Then there are the scope rings... the scope had moved back before the picture. A dab of rubber cement helps there... if your spouse, etc, haven't hid the bottle! Then, once zero-ed, try some different ammo... gotta add/subtract elevation. Yeah, a lot of aggravation.

Stainz

[ArmedBear]

Only problem I had, was after about 75rounds the .44 Mags recoil killed it.


A BSA? That's got to be a record. I would have put my chips on less than a box.:D

[hardluk1]

I shot a dan wesson 357 for 20 years with a reddot. That gun could shoot 3" groups all day with a 4"dot. That dot scope had thousands of heavy,for a 357 rounds run through it with no changes of zero.I have just changed that redot to a 22 for my wife and put a 4" barrel on the DW and took the 8" off. I have newer better redots on several other guns and do like them better for 150yards or less for hunting. Easier on target and the dot just needs to be on target and doesn't need to be well centerd like a scope when shooting. You don't need to spend alot on a redot but you do want it clear enough to see through inlow light and have a dot size of 4" or less. Lots of new halo designs can do this well and do seem to be quicker to put on target.

[Random Discharge]

+1 on a 2x scope for 44 magnum. This is enough to place your shot fine up to 100 yards. And low enough magnification to give you the field of view to find your target fast up close. Your not going to be taking many shots, if any, past 100 yds with a 44 magnum - it drops too fast. Save the 4x and higher handgun scopes for bottleneck single shots with longer point blank ranges.