How to choose a "red dot" scope

I personally don't recommend anything but for quite some time I have used about 20 $30 BSA Red Dot sights on everything from my Mark II, to rifles, to 12 ga shotguns.

Considering that I use so many, if one goes bad it's not a big deal, I just throw it away.
The thing is I can't remember throwing one away.

I use the 30mm size and I especially like the PD 30 Model, but it's been discontinued (although I've got 8 or 9 of them).

It sounds like there's some good inexpensive Red Dot sights available.

A BSA on my 22/45.
(I made the see thru mount years ago)

I just pick-up the Burris Fastfire, it's a very small red-dot. I like it because it looks like it belongs on a pistol.


Bri

If you wan't a DOT for bullseye/Indoor gallery league, one of the most popular and respected is " Ultra-Dot ". $200-250 range.

30mm vs. 1" is a personal preference issue.

Myself I use 1" tube DOT's, easier for me to focus and concentrait on the dot and not be distracted by stuff in the field of view .

If you wan't a DOT for bullseye/Indoor gallery league, one of the most popular and respected is " Ultra-Dot ". $200-250 range.

30mm vs. 1" is a personal preference issue.

Myself I use 1" tube DOT's, easier for me to focus and concentrait on the dot and not be distracted by stuff in the field of view .

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Just about EVERYBODY in the pistol league in which I shoot uses either UltraDots or Tasco ProPoints, with a lesser number of AimPoints. Larry's Guns sells them and also does service. In fact, they fixed the scope on my .38 Special M1911 while I waited at Camp Perry one year.

I stick with the 1", since as you say, a wide field of view is just distracting for bullseye.

For bullseye shooting, get a closed-tube scope like the one above.

For rapid-fire, get an open-tube scope like a C-more, Burris Fastfire, or a cheaper substitute. They are markedly quicker for picking up the dot on recoil.

I've got the 42mm Tasco for about $42. I love it for shooting trash out at the gravel pit, but a tube that large would be unwieldly for any formal shooting. Also the cheap ones tend to have issues. My dot blurs at certain distances and angles, also it looks like a blob if you turn it up too bright. The quality optics the guys listed above won't have those issues.

I've been using a Bushnell Trophy (on a Ruger Mk III), generally with just the small dot. I put Warne QD rings on it, and the thing comes off and goes back on with (usually) no zero change. But --- it is heavy.

I've used ATN (threw it out); BSA (in the closet); Haako (pretty good, but it's on a Mini-14 now).

I'm currently considering the Nikon Monarch VSD, and wondering if there are any suggestions on that one?

I have a Ruger MKII, 5.5" bull barrel that I want to fit with a red dot type scope for gallery shooting

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I went with a $25 (on sale) BSA 30 mm, 5 minute dot, and a Weigand mount.



Makes for a very fun pinking combination.

Good Luck...

Joe

An older configuration:



This is the Haako Panorama, which I found pretty good, BUT --- i had difficulty in getting a zero repeat, and had some shift between reticles. If left on the dot, it was superb. Once removed, it had to be re-zeroed slightly, even after putting iindex marks on the mounting screws.

The compensator was (IMHO) a waste of time and money. Adds weight, provides negligible benefit, makes the muzzle a howler to clean. Looks cool, though.

The BSA is virtually identical to this red dot, but the internals didn't seem to be as nicely made.

Also, I've grown to dislike red dots that require tools (other than a thumbnail or a dime) to adjust. The Bushnell has standard slotted turrets.

For handguns I like a small 1" tube style sight. This is my favorite of the inexpensive ones:

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=459296&t=11082005

But I'm a bulleseye shooter, not a speed shooter.

Nice reviews on that Millett!

After reading more reviews on the Nikon VSD, I think I'm going to plunge in with my wallet, though. I like a bigger field, and the Nikon's smaller, reportedly with no zero shift between dot sizes (1, 4, 6, 10).

Price/value, sure looks like the Millett wins.

Nice reviews on that Millett!

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It's also on sale now at Midway.