I've been shooting handguns most of my 63yrs.,and considered myself adequate. Severely Handicapped,if compared to Jerry Miculek! Topic: I got away from handgun hunting about 25 yrs ago, and missed it badly. About 3 yrs ago I bought a S&W 460 XVR(8 3/8") and was terribly disappointed in my performance, through no fault of the gun. I'm not sure if it was vanity, low IQ, or (old school) revolvers don't carry optics,but I resisted change! After "much" soul searching I purchased a reflex sight, still resisting optics I guess. To wrap it up, if you're "shooting more and enjoying it less" because of "old,tired" eyes,consider some form of "optical assistance" on your handguns. I'll never be great,but I can see (no pun intended) myself hunting big game out to around 150yrds (off of sticks) again. memtb

I been considering them also

Let's see how your gun groups at 150 yards (off sticks). I have red dot sights and scopes on my hunting handguns and they do give extra confidence with the exact aiming point that a dot provides ( as long as it doesn't "flare" with any extra brightness that may be required). That is where a scope really shines.
Peter.

Peter, The "flare" is a concern, especially in fading light. At 150 yrds. off of sticks, I'm hoping that I can consistently get 3 shots inside of 10 inches. Probably not doable right now,but I've got about 8 months to improve. Right now it appears that I'm running inside 6" groups at 100 yrds. pretty regularly. I' m only now starting to get serious. Wish me luck! memtb

For the range of light conditions that hunters find themselves in, it is really hard to be an adjustable intensity model. After trying half a dozen or so other dots over the years, I have finally settle on an adjustable RMR. Yes, they are not cheap, but all things considered, a good value.

Along the same vein as the OP noted, the other thing the dot brings to the table is, for lack of better terms, they are fun and cool. By that I mean they can inject a little fun and excitement back into the shooting game. If your enthusiasm or age or other things have you in a bit of a stall, the dots can help you get jump started a bit,

Craig

The price of reflex sights is interesting. I have a couple of cheap reflex sights on a GSG 22lr and an Ar15. They were made in China and seem to work just fine. Meanwhile, others cost several hundred dollars! Now, I am not saying that I would put a cheap reflex sight on my 475 Linebaugh. Neither would I put them on my self defense gun, but, why the difference? Once my gun is sighted in, I don't touch the sights! I fully expect the price of the newer reflex sights to come down.
Peter

150 yds. is stretching for most red dots. The dot is just too big to be very accurate. I did a Cape buff off my Stoney Point sticks at 80 yds. this year with a .416 Taylor Encore with an UltraDot. The covered most of the buffs chest (facing me). Luckily I had practiced all spring on groundhogs and was comfortable and steady on the sticks. Dropped it on the spot. This was on #1 setting.

I'm running a 3 moa dot, haven't tried it over a hundred yrds. yet. But, I don't think that it will be a problem. However, I'll have to do some experimenting. Thanks. memtb

quote:

this year with a .416 Taylor Encore

What was your barrel length and bullet and vel.

Sounds like a interesting hand rifle.

memtb, 3moa should be good at the longer ranges you are talking about. What make and model is the reflex sight you have?
Peter.

Peter, I went with the Burris Fastfire 3. I wasn't sure if it would work for me(still not), it seemed to be a good compromise between cost and mil-spec quality. I guess time will tell!! memtb

Anyone having problems with astigmatism and Red Dots?

I have astigmatism, but it is corrected by glasses so that doesn't help you!
Peter.

I too have an astigmatism, corrected with my eye glass prescription. Early on in the red dot sight game, I attributed a lot of flared and fugly red dot images to my astigmatism. What I eventually found was that on models where I could adjust the dot intensity, I could get a perfectly round, crisp dot.

Not saying that a corrected astigmatism would not necessarily cause a problem, but do not rule out red dots entirely if you have one, and have only looked through one or two makes of dots.

Craig

Craig, for me, the issue is not getting a perfectly round crisp dot. The issue is getting a perfectly round crisp dot in bright sunlight! That is a problem we have in Florida!
Peter.

Peter,

I am high in the rockies, usually shooting above 8 or 9000 feet elevation. I too have bright sunlight. Historically, I had problems with dots going distorted more in lower light. Between the C-More STS and the newer Trij. RMR 06, I have eliminated all of my issues with dot crispness, in all light conditions.

The RMR is not the perfect sight, when compared to features with the others that I have, but with my corrected vision and extreme lighting conditions, it is working the best, for me.

Craig