i just bought a 454 cassual barrel for my encore.I was thinking about a pro dot scope for it because it will most likely be used in brushy places.anybody have any experince with one.
I've tried them on several single shot handguns but switched back to low power scopes for my hunting handguns. Still use one (a 25mm Millet) on a target Ruger Mark II 22 pistol,largely used for targets closer than 35 yrds, and like it's performance and small size (about 4.5"). Gereally, there is no magnification, unless you decide to spend a bit more than the average red dot. Similarly, turning it on to shoot and battery draining gets to be an issue. They may have some advantage in really thick stuff, deep shadows and at very close range, however. The size of the dot is a very important issue. Anything over 5mm (I prefer 3mm) tends to cover to much of the target. And the size of the tube (some of them run pretty big,like 50mm)makes them unwieldy IMHO. But, and a real plus, you don't have to worry about scope/retical allignment. Just put the dot on the target and squeeze.You'll hit the target even if the eye isn't perfectly alligned with the optic, as long as you see the dot when you touch off.
I would be extremely surprised if an Electric Red Dot Optical Sight held up on a .454 Casull. In my 14 years as a Range Officer at a local Indoor Shooting Range I have seen many, many Red Dot Optical Sights fall apart on .22 LR Handguns.
While they are not legal for hunting Big Game in South Dakota I have one on a Ruger MKII that I carry with me while at work for dispatching unwanted pests. The problem I have seen is when you get to low light conditions (here in South Dakota we can hunt Big Game from one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset) the glare from the Red Dot (even at it's lowest setting) obliterates the target and all that can be seen in the field of view is the red glare. It is for this very reason I have removed the red dot optical sight from my Ruger MKII.
I also HAD one but went back to scopes or irons. Generally they cut down on light transmission due to the reflective coating on the lens used to reflect the dot, this makes them useless until full light. If you're a still hunter, switching the brightness up and down depending on your surroundings is a negative.
Posts: 12 | Location: Pennsyltucky | Registered: 21 June 2004
Quote: i just bought a 454 cassual barrel for my encore.I was thinking about a pro dot scope for it because it will most likely be used in brushy places.anybody have any experince with one.
I use an Ultra Dot on my BFR in 500MAG. I have well over 600 full load rounds and it works like a charm. I think if it can take the punishment of the 500MAG a .22 would not do any damage.
I have a contender in .22 LR and I have a Tasco PDP3 30mm Red Dot and have had no problems after thousands of rounds. I also have a Ruger Redhawk in 44Mag with a Tasco PDP3 30mm Red Dot and it has over 1000 rounds fired and no problem. I also have a Super Redhawk in 44Mag with a Millet Red Dot and it is holding up good. One more red dot on my sons 22/45 and no problems there. Man all those different red dots and not one problem. I am not a range official, but I think they work for me.
