Red dot question

[armoredman]

I have a Ruger Mini-14 Ranch, with 1 inch Ruger rings. Is there an inexpensive red dot/scope that would mount to this setup, one that's worth a hoot? I actually am getting fonder of this carbine, and although it's long range capabilities are less than other, more expensive rifles, it works quite well for me.
Thanks for any replies.

 

[chestnut ridge]

I bought several of the cheap red dot sights. These proved to be
a waste of money. The reflex type is ok until you get out in bright sunlight.
Then the aming dot or pattern seem to fade out.
The tube type with built in weaver mount seems to suffer from the same
wash out of the reticle in bright light.
My advise is bite the bullet and get an EOTech.

 

[Shawnee]

I have a Tasco (cost about $45) on a .22 rifle that is perfectly fine and surprisingly accurate. Also know two local people who have Tasco ProPoints (about $80-$100) on larger caliber guns and love 'em. Also have read several people on assorted gun forums claim they are very happy with their Tasco ProPoints on handguns (incl. .357 Mag.) and on muzzleloaders up to .50 caliber.

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

I put a BSA on my Ruger 40 S&W Carbine. Works well for me. You can spend as much money as you can afford for bragging rights, or you can get one that works and save a bunch of money. Your call!

 

[elmerfudd]

I haven't liked the two cheap red dots I have owned, (BSA & Leapers). The dots just don't look round and are too big. It's like putting some weird red ink blot on the target and trying to figure out what part of it to aim with. Now I understand that your eyesight can affect the shape of the red dot when you look through one of these sights, but when I looked through an EOTech the reticle was perfect.

 

[Deer Hunter]

I've got a Millet red-dot on my S&W 625 and have been thoroughly impressed by it. I suggest checking them out.

 

[Shawnee]

Hey Deer Hunter...

What MOA size dot are you using ?

 

[Legionnaire]

Ditto on the Millett. They make good red dots for the money. I like the 1" 3 MOA dot scope; think it's the SP-1.

 

[Deer Hunter]

Mine is the SP2, which has a 5 MOA dot. I got it from CTD.

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/45161-10591-1455.html

 

[cheaptrick]

Another option is the Bushnell Holosight.


http://www.swfa.com/pc-1436-196-bushnell-holosight.aspx

 

[Sgt.Dusk]

I got many red dots....mostly cheap ones (tasco etc...)
All of them are good.....cant imagine a lowsy red dot....
Of course bright sunlight makes the dot less visible but thats what red dots do.

 

[jrfoxx]

I have a Bushnell Trophy Red dot, and couldnt be happier. 4 reticles, including 1 moa dot, 4 moa dot, crosshairs, and 1 moa dot in a large circle. 5 brightness settings too.Has held up well, with no damage or changes in zero/poa/poi even after droping the gun a couple times (I have since broken the bad habit of leaning guns against the side of a car to cool/ free up hands :banghead:).I have the red/green dot, wich is all I mention above, but selectable in red or green (which is actually a pretty nice feature if you shoot in lots of different weather/lighting conditions), which gos for about $90 online at the cheapest.The ones that are red dot only, but otherwise the same, go for about $65.Har to beat IMHO.

 

[wayne in boca]

+1 for the Bushnell Trophy,I have a couple of them,and I like them real well.A great deal for the money,as I recall around $100.00.I also have two Eotechs,a 512 and a 552.They are top of the line combat sights,and you pay dearly for that.

 

[Walkalong]

With this mount you can use most any Red Dot you want. Other places sell it as well.

 

[armoredman]

I found the mount on CTD, thanks, but was looking at using what I have. The Millet SP1 comes in a 1" flavor as well, and looks like it would mount up right away. Expensive for what I want, but worth looking at, after the horrordays are over.

 

[bullockcm]

Another happy user of a Millet SP1, I have mine mounted on a Marlin 1894SS .44mag and have been pleased with it. I have also used a Tasco Propoint on a .22 pistol without a problem.

 

[jwxspoon]

All hail Coyotebane!

Seriously, it's a cheap BSA scope but does great for me out to 150 meters or so, 1 MOC (minute of coyote) accuracy. That's all I ask of my mini-14.

jw

 

[armoredman]

Nice. Who made the mag?

 

[Andrewsky]

I own a Bushnell Red dot and an Aimpoint. I don't like the Bushnell (for several reasons). I would rather use irons than a cheap electronic sight. The following 1x BAC are acceptable, in my opinion:

Bushnell Holo Sight
EOtech Holo Sight
Aimpoint Red Dot
Doctor Red Dot

Trijicon also makes a decent reflex sight.

You really do get what you pay for. I wouldn't balk at the price of an EOtech or Aimpoint as long as you have a decent gun and mounting system.

 

[Pecos21]

Ive shot a mini 14 with a bushnell trophy multi-recticle mounted on a scout rail. It was a very nice set up and was plenty accurate (for hunting) out to 100 yards.

The red dot on that rifle had seen some serious shooting and abuse and had held up well.

 

[jwxspoon]

armoredman -

It's an Eagle, actually works great (the other 3 didn't, but that's another story. Normally I stick with one of my Ruger factory 20 rounders.

jw

 

[Robo_Railer]

Thread resuscitation

Hey, Armoredman, what didja put on your Mini-14?
I've got a 1985 Ranch Rifle that I bought used. I've been thinking of adding an Accu-strut™, maybe getting a trigger job and some other stuff done to it by "Gun Doc," and eventually adding a red dot or holographic sight to it.
Optics Planet seems to carry everything from Aimpoint to Zeiss, with reviews. Midway starts at ADCO and ends at Zeiss, too, with a bunch of stuff in between.

So far, I've seen everything from a <$30 Tasco to a $1000+ EOTech 557 holograph. I've learned about one term I hadn't seen before (cowitnessing), and seen mention of another term from years ago: parallax error. (First saw that in regard to the analog meters on old speed RADAR units.)

I think I'm going to try and keep that purchase to not much more than $200. I'll be happy to pay less if there's something rugged and reliable for the price.