Optics on handguns

Joined
Dec 29, 2019
Messages
697
Location
Michigan
I really dislike the looks of optics on revolvers but there is no denying their effectiveness, especially with those of us with old eyes and bifocals. I posted these pictures on another thread but thought it might be interesting for those who have been wondering whether a red dot might be worth considering. A couple days ago I was shooting at our biweekly fun shoot at my club. We have an indoor 50’ range. Great fun and great folks. Anyway I decided to shoot my 8 3/8 barreled model 17 against my newer 617 4” with a Leupold Delta point. Both revolvers were shot with my hands on the bench. Pretty drastic results. I’m going to work harder with the iron sights on the 17😄 IMG_1613.jpeg IMG_1612.jpeg
 
I've been using optics on handguns since I was a kid, mostly for hunting. Got this Buckmark in 1989 and not very long after put a 2x scope on it. Took tons of rabbits, squirrels and other critters with it.

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Then came the big bore revolvers.

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Then the single shots.

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Lusted after the S&W 2206TGT for years before finally getting one. Wish I had it 30yrs ago.

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Red dot sights on handguns are great. I have four dot-equipped autos (3 Glocks and a Ruger Mk IV). They work really well for me.

I haven’t mounted a traditional scope on a handgun, even though I have several that are drilled & tapped and/or Ruger mounting cuts. Maybe someday…

Stay safe.
 
I can certainly see the appeal of a low powered scope or even dot sight on a dedicated hunting handgun. But hunting with a handgun just isn't my thing. If I need to carry a handgun that large, especially with optics on it I'd prefer to take a lightweight compact rifle. But that's just personal preference. When I'm carrying a handgun it's for personal defense. Even in the woods.

I am in the experimental stage with a compact dot sight on defensive handguns. With slow fire target type shooting I'm certainly more accurate, especially at ranges farther than about 10-15 yards. At ranges closer than 10 yards there isn't much difference. But I'm not as good at getting on target and getting shots off quickly. At least not yet. As I get in more trigger time and if I improve to the point where I'm comfortable using a pistol with an optic I may well go in that direction. I do think that is the future. I see optics on the majority of LE and military handguns in another decade if not sooner.
 
I can certainly see the appeal of a low powered scope or even dot sight on a dedicated hunting handgun. But hunting with a handgun just isn't my thing. If I need to carry a handgun that large, especially with optics on it I'd prefer to take a lightweight compact rifle. But that's just personal preference. When I'm carrying a handgun it's for personal defense. Even in the woods.

I am in the experimental stage with a compact dot sight on defensive handguns. With slow fire target type shooting I'm certainly more accurate, especially at ranges farther than about 10-15 yards. At ranges closer than 10 yards there isn't much difference. But I'm not as good at getting on target and getting shots off quickly. At least not yet. As I get in more trigger time and if I improve to the point where I'm comfortable using a pistol with an optic I may well go in that direction. I do think that is the future. I see optics on the majority of LE and military handguns in another decade if not sooner.
My SRH above is about 3.5lbs. No rifle is as light and compact as that. If it were, it would be too light to shoot worth a crap. Not the point anyway. The point is to hunt with a handgun.
 
I really dislike the looks of optics on revolvers but there is no denying their effectiveness, especially with those of us with old eyes and bifocals. I posted these pictures on another thread but thought it might be interesting for those who have been wondering whether a red dot might be worth considering. A couple days ago I was shooting at our biweekly fun shoot at my club. We have an indoor 50’ range. Great fun and great folks. Anyway I decided to shoot my 8 3/8 barreled model 17 against my newer 617 4” with a Leupold Delta point. Both revolvers were shot with my hands on the bench. Pretty drastic results. I’m going to work harder with the iron sights on the 17😄View attachment 1198813View attachment 1198814
I'm in the same boat as well. Can't really see the front sight anymore. I've got green dot sight on several autos now. Considering putting one on my 1980 vintage S&W model 18.
 
The only revolver with an optic is my Ruger SBH that has a 2X Weaver I use for hunting out to about 75yds. I have gone to dots on my semis and my edc Sig. People say what if the dot fails. No problem co witness works in an sd situation. Heck I even ventured down putting one a 1911. I wont cut a slide to do it but this Colt turned out well imo. EGW makes a mount that fits that Novak cut...
Colt Competitionwith dot.jpg
 
I'm in the same boat as well. Can't really see the front sight anymore. I've got green dot sight on several autos now. Considering putting one on my 1980 vintage S&W model 18.
Pistols have front sights?! Seriously, I can't make out front sights unless they are very bright. The joys of aging. I've got several green dots on pistols. And have a FNX at the shop now getting cut for a sight. After my last session with my S&W model 18 I to am looking at putting a green dot on it.
 
I can certainly see the appeal of a low powered scope or even dot sight on a dedicated hunting handgun. But hunting with a handgun just isn't my thing. If I need to carry a handgun that large, especially with optics on it I'd prefer to take a lightweight compact rifle.

No, not for me. Sticking with irons on the handguns.
JMR's comment regarding the weight and bulk added to a side-arm pretty much reflects my feelings as well. I carry, most of the time, while doing daily retirement chores here on the farm....and for that activity, the gun is a recreational add-on. It might be good for chucks invading the barn or a wayward skunk looking to offend my pointer's sensibilities, but usually it's used for plinking, no matter what caliber. And for those uses, and for CC defensive use, iron sights will do nicely.

A lightweight rifle suffices for light duty hunting and pest control....and offers infinitely more accuracy that any handgun I can field. But it's too much of a PITA to tote around doing daily chores...not so the handgun sans bulky scope or dot sights.

Each to his own....for me the RD or scope is a non-starter. YMMv & I understand that....Best Regards, Rod
 
This is something I'm looking into in combination with a handgun purchase. Are there much in the way of handguns that can't be equipped with optics? Or is it just a question of finding the right adapter/etc?
 
This is something I'm looking into in combination with a handgun purchase. Are there much in the way of handguns that can't be equipped with optics? Or is it just a question of finding the right adapter/etc?
It varies from gun to gun. More manufacturers are making handguns optic ready than ever before, but definitely not all. Research is a must if planning on going down this route. It's also becoming more common to sell with a optic already in place.
 
Really? Because I've been window shopping and see very little if any of that. I hope you're right though; it would be nice to buy it and have it all done vs having to do it myself, although it looks pretty easy on the surface (famous last words)......
 
Really? Because I've been window shopping and see very little if any of that. I hope you're right though; it would be nice to buy it and have it all done vs having to do it myself, although it looks pretty easy on the surface (famous last words)......

If we're talking small red dots, self defense semi-auto pistols with slide cuts are being offered in ever increasing quantities. Of course, what's for sale on a gun shop shelf might not be the same as what's for sale at an internet webstore that can ship to an FFL.
 
I can certainly see the appeal of a low powered scope or even dot sight on a dedicated hunting handgun. But hunting with a handgun just isn't my thing. If I need to carry a handgun that large, especially with optics on it I'd prefer to take a lightweight compact rifle. But that's just personal preference. When I'm carrying a handgun it's for personal defense. Even in the woods.

I am in the experimental stage with a compact dot sight on defensive handguns. With slow fire target type shooting I'm certainly more accurate, especially at ranges farther than about 10-15 yards. At ranges closer than 10 yards there isn't much difference. But I'm not as good at getting on target and getting shots off quickly. At least not yet. As I get in more trigger time and if I improve to the point where I'm comfortable using a pistol with an optic I may well go in that direction. I do think that is the future. I see optics on the majority of LE and military handguns in another decade if not sooner.
This has been exactly my experience with optics on defensive handguns. I wasn’t given the choice and following a two day training, got issued the RMR equipped Glock. It is a big improvement on distance accuracy, no question. Immediately 25 yard headshots became very doable and repeatable.

Quickly acquiring the dot on the draw took A LOT of practice on my own. After over a decade of carrying Glocks, I never realized they present muzzle pointed up for me on the draw (not a problem for point shooting up close but made finding the dot hard).

A few weeks ago we caught up with a homicide suspect. It was pretty nice to “paint” him with the dot knowing my shots would be true AND being able to remain target focused instead of looking at the front sight.

I don’t know. I’m a couple of years into this dot thing and see both sides. If I’d cut my teeth with one or had a pistol (like an Sig) with a different grip angle, I’d probably favor it. If I could be reissued the Glock .40 with good irons, I’d take it back.
 
Just curious here, but how many who arent fans, or say no, took the time to learn to shoot the dots, so you don't have to think about shooting with them, and then still decided against them?


Quickly acquiring the dot on the draw took A LOT of practice on my own. After over a decade of carrying Glocks, I never realized they present muzzle pointed up for me on the draw (not a problem for point shooting up close but made finding the dot hard).
For me, it wasn't just the Glocks that felt like they were presenting "muzzle up", its all of them, as that's how I always presented the guns, with the muzzle slightly up, and with front sight focus. Basically putting the front of the gun on the target as an index as it comes up, with my focus on the front sight, and the sights rock into "fine" alignment when the gun presents.

I shoot several guns with different grip angles and never had an issue going back and forth between them and having a problem shooting with them. Glocks, SIG's, Beretta's, S&W's, etc. The difference is usually very slight anyway and if you're accustomed to shooting them all, your brain already knows the guns, and makes the adjustments without you having to think about it. And that goes for aimed fire or point shooting.

Once I realized that shooting the dots is more of a "point shooting" presentation (which, if you think about it, is "target focus"), things went a lot easier, and I believe if you are a point shooter, its going to be a shorter transition for you, than someone who doesn't.

One thing Im seeing more and more shooting with the dots now too is, Im losing the "muzzle up" presentations, even with the irons, and my irons are pretty much lined up on presentation. You might say things are sorta starting to merge and "coming together".
 
I was, for a long time, resistant to the concept of a red dot on a handgun. I had the same attitude that many here have. I didn't care for them and told myself the lie that I was faster with irons.

For distances where I'm realistically just point shooting, I'm equally as fast with or without a red dot. Honestly, I don't think that having sights at all makes a difference at those distances. At distances where I actually use the sights, red dots are faster and more accurate and I believe that this would be true for the vast majority of shooters.

I think it's more a matter of an unwillingness to go through the growing pains of transitioning to a dot. I suspect that many who say that a dot is not for them would change their minds if they invested a tenth of the time they invested in learning to shoot irons into learning to shoot with a dot.

Red dots like the rmr/rmrc make the arguments regarding bulk and weight moot.
 
Optics on handguns............

Reflex, red dot or irons............fine w me.
Extended eye relief scopes.............can do but find em to be a hassle.

Note: I had good vision and strong eye dominance. Shot/shoot everything both eyes open, always have (didn't know different).

Occluded eye stuff (Armson OEG) doesn't work for me, never has.
So...........how some folks are able to use a RDS.............nope, aint gonna work w my eyes/brain.
Physical issue, not one of training.

Never against the idea of optics on handguns, even when I tried a Redfield pistol scope on a 10" Ruger .22 auto............decades ago.

Whatever works, run it.
 
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