So I'm now the proud owner of a Smith 629 PC Light Hunter. I intend to use this as my first "hunting handgun" and figure to put some kind of a scope on it.

Let's set the parameters: 125 yards or less. 310gr. bullet at likely 1100-1200fps.

Primary target: deer, hogs.

I'm torn between a red dot and a scope. In my perfect world I think a 2x red dot with a 1moa dot would be perfect. But I haven't found that yet...Ultradot seems to be a 2moa dot...which, in all honesty, might be just fine.

Or, should I go with a 2x or 4x scope? Deer at 100 yards - not really sure if a scope makes any real difference under hunting conditions...certainly a dot would be better for late night hogs...

Anyone care to run down the list of pro's and con's with me?

No pros or cons here, but when I had my Model 29 scoped; I had a 2X Leupold on it. Worked just fine for deer at the ranges you are talking about.

I would say either a Leupold 2 x or and Ultra-dot match dot. In my opinion the Ultra-dot is easier to use, and you can get on target a lot faster. I have switched most of my handguns to the Ultra-dot's, I find them better in low light conditions.

quote:

Originally posted by Redhawk1:
I would say either a Leupold 2 x or and Ultra-dot match dot. In my opinion the Ultra-dot is easier to use, and you can get on target a lot faster. I have switched most of my handguns to the Ultra-dot's, I find them better in low light conditions.

Ditto. The Ultradot will extend your hunting time past that of a scope and they are way easier to acquire than a scope. They also seem less prone to breakage -- mine took a recent 12-foot tumble and emerged no worse for the wear.

"mine took a recent 12-foot tumble"
Hey, tell us about that Tarzan!!!!! Some folks on this forum haven't heard.
Peter.

quote:

Originally posted by Peter:
"mine took a recent 12-foot tumble"
Hey, tell us about that Tarzan!!!!! Some folks on this forum haven't heard.
Peter.

Two separate incidences.....

PM coming your way, Peter......

I have a Aimpoint on that same Revolver.Aimpoint or Ultradot are both good stuff.Whats really nice is that you dont have to worry about eye relief ,or parralex with these Dot scopes.Just put the dot on what you want to hit and even if its not centered ,you are good to go.

Since Burris dropped their fabulous 1-4 , guess Id go with a redot type or a new Burris 1.5 - 4 .

Lately have been using a green laser along with my old 1 - 4, simply amazing on running hogs.

I have a Leupold 2X on my Super Redhawk. It works fine. Haven't tried a red dot but the comments above have me thinking about it.

I haven't tried a red dot, but have a couple of Burris and Leupolds on some heavy kickers and both brands are holding up fine.

quote:

Lately have been using a green laser along with my old 1 - 4, simply amazing on running hogs.

What caliber, gun and laser? I ate a laser to smithereens once. Recoil drove the battery clear through the circuit board.
Plus those green things cost an arm and a leg, hate to break one!

Fellas, it depends on the light when you get a shot. Scopes are great but our deer do not move a lot in full daylight. Early and late is the norm. If I have to wait until the sun is full up to see through my scope, I would get very few deer.
The maximum exit pupil you can use from a scope will be 5mm but when you extend the scope to arms length, that light scatters long before it reaches your eye. It is not in a tube connected to your eye! Plus many pistol scopes do not even start with 5mm.

quote:

Originally posted by bfrshooter:

quote:

Lately have been using a green laser along with my old 1 - 4, simply amazing on running hogs.

What caliber, gun and laser? I ate a laser to smithereens once. Recoil drove the battery clear through the circuit board.
Plus those green things cost an arm and a leg, hate to break one!

Not @ the hacienda tonight.
Laser was about 45 bucks shipped from Hong Cong or Tiwan,when I get back I'll send you the name.
The "pistol" is a .308 G-3 shorty.(Vektor, no stock, 15" tube)
So far so good,
The "pistol" did already eat a more expensive laser.

2x Leupy = Bulletproof

Ok, I've boiled this down pretty much to a red dot of some kind. While I love the idea of scoping the revolver with a Leupold 4x, the issue of shooting in low light conditions is very real. Further, I really think that a 100 yard shot is going to be the realistic maximum.

Based on that, I think that a red dot is going to be a more versatile tool than a pure scope will be. That, and I've had fantastic luck using reddots in the past.

I've boiled it down to three:

UltraDot Matchdot (2 MOA dot): $200
Aimpoint comp C3: (2 MOA dot): $400
Bushnell TRS 25: (3 MOA dot): $140

For now, I think I'm going to give the Bushnell TRS 25 a shot. I really like the small size and weight. I have a Holosight in the safe on an AR that I could pull off for testing purposes. I've abused the Holosight on many guns and it performs great, so I suspect the TRS may have similar reliability (it's reportedly been tested on a .375 H&H so should be ok).

I'll report back on it. If it fails, oh well. I'll exchange it for something else!

I have been down that road a long time ago, I have tried every red-dot sight made. Ultra-dot is my choice and always will be.

Hard to beat a red-dot that has stood up to over 5000 rounds of heavy, hot loaded 500 mag blasts.

I have a Bushnell 2 x 6 on my 629DX and like it fine. I had a 4x Leupold on my SRH, but did not like it as much as a straight 2x because of the more narrow FOV.

quote:

Originally posted by Redhawk1:
I have been down that road a long time ago, I have tried every red-dot sight made. Ultra-dot is my choice and always will be.

Hard to beat a red-dot that has stood up to over 5000 rounds of heavy, hot loaded 500 mag blasts.

I'm more than man enough to say "You're Right"! But I still gotta find out for myself the hard way...

(My Wife laughs each time I stick my finger in the light socket...)

My Ultradot has survived thousands of full-tilt .475 rounds and a 12-foot drop out of a tree stand. Still functioning perfectly.......

I know you've made up your mind but....

Scope is a Simmons 4x pistol scope.
Peter.

quote:

Originally posted by Whitworth:
My Ultradot has survived thousands of full-tilt .475 rounds and a 12-foot drop out of a tree stand. Still functioning perfectly.

One hopes you weren't wearing it at the time!

Say, those of you swearing by Ultradots, are you talking about the sort with a tube?

http://www.ultradotusa.com/ultradot_dist_2008_003.htm

Or the smaller one?

http://www.ultradotusa.com/ultradot_dist_2008_003.htm

I have several UltraDots, all are the older tube type models. Having said that, FA does make a mount for JP Enterprises and Trijicon reflex red dot sights.
Peter.

quote:

Originally posted by nordrseta:

quote:

Originally posted by Whitworth:
My Ultradot has survived thousands of full-tilt .475 rounds and a 12-foot drop out of a tree stand. Still functioning perfectly.

One hopes you weren't wearing it at the time!

Say, those of you swearing by Ultradots, are you talking about the sort with a tube?

http://www.ultradotusa.com/ultradot_dist_2008_003.htm

Or the smaller one?

http://www.ultradotusa.com/ultradot_dist_2008_003.htm

Wasn't wearing it!

Tube type -- Ultradot 30 in my case.

Tube type, I have several 1 inch and 2 of the Match-dots. Just can't get use to the look of the Holo type sights.

quote:

Originally posted by MS Hitman:
No pros or cons here, but when I had my Model 29 scoped; I had a 2X Leupold on it. Worked just fine for deer at the ranges you are talking about.

I use the exact same setup and agree. I had tried the 4X Leupold, but the field of view was too narrow. Dots are nice and fast, but no more than a 2 MOA or you will find the dot too big. MHO