Suggestions for red dot for S&W 41 - The Firearms Forum

leadbum · 07-01-2008, 09:13 PM

I just ordered a new S&W 41 today and I'm hoping some of you 41ers have some experience with red dot sights on your guns. I have a Beretta Neos with a Sightmark on it, but I've had problems with it and want a better one for the 41. The Sightmark dot sometimes disappears right in the middle of a match.

I'd like to keep the cost under $200, but I'm willing to consider more if that's what it takes to get a reliable sight.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

Swede · 07-05-2008, 11:16 AM

I don't have a S&W 41 but I do have a red dot on my charger. It's a Truglow. I bought it to see how I liked a red dot and only paid $50 for it. So far I haven't had a problem with it. Some time it is hard to see the dot on paper in bright sunlight.
I would rather have a holo sight but a guy at work is on his 4th one. So unless you want to pay $400 for one I think you are better off with a scope.

leadbum · 07-05-2008, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swede

I don't have a S&W 41 but I do have a red dot on my charger. It's a Truglow. I bought it to see how I liked a red dot and only paid $50 for it. So far I haven't had a problem with it. Some time it is hard to see the dot on paper in bright sunlight.
I would rather have a holo sight but a guy at work is on his 4th one. So unless you want to pay $400 for one I think you are better off with a scope.

Thanks, Swede. I've never seen a holo sight, so I don't know if would be worth the extra cash. I'd appreciate hearing from anyone whose had both.

golflender · 07-08-2008, 02:02 PM

just got a new 41,, a holo sight on it would be cool,,

LDBennett · 07-09-2008, 07:34 AM

Most of the red dots of the style of the Sightmark leave something to be desired for me. I like the small size but the adjustment of the windage is usally done on the mount and is less than perfect. Tube red dots do the adjustments internally rather than externally as do most Sightmark style red dots. I had a BSA version and it would turn off and on and the windage adjustment was not accurate at all and would not stay put.

Another disadvantage of the small red dot is their sighting accuracy is limited by their size. Just as in steel sights, the sight radius impacts sighting accuracy (longer is better and allows more accurate sighting). Red dots reflect the image of a LED off the glass lenses and the distance from the LED to the glass lens is a measure of the accuracy of sighting. Long tubed red dots are therefore more accurate in sighting than short little "Holo" Sightmark style red dots.

I think the best red dot for the least money is the one inch tubed UltraDot with the single reticule. It is priced close to $125 (street price) and is simple which can make it more reliable. I have several and they work great.

I hate that the small red dots are called "holographic" when they are not holographic at all. The Bushnell is holograhic (uses a laser and a hologram to form the recticule image, not a LED---Light Emitting Diode). Because of the added complexity of the true holograhic sights the costs are rather high, so I don't have one.

LDBennett

Erich · 07-09-2008, 09:59 PM

I just bought a Burris Fastfire for my AR, and I have to say that I'm very pleased with it. It is under $200 at Midway, including mount.

Tom · 07-10-2008, 03:00 PM

I use iron sights on my 41, but I have an Ultradot LT on a Ruger MK II 678GC. It works great.

300 H&H · 07-14-2008, 09:18 PM

I have two barrels for my 41. The 5 1/2" has the factory irons and the 7.5" has a discontinued Leupold/ Gillmore red dot for a rifle. It has a very small, but very intense dot that if you turn up the brightness on it, it appears to grow in size somewhat. They also made a handgun version with a larger tube and a bigger dot. Quality is very good as well, with the mechanicals working in a predictable manner. Personally I prefer the small dot version to get the most out of a 41. Best reguards Kirk

LDBennett · 07-15-2008, 06:41 AM

300 H&H:

Most red dots work the way you describe.... the higher the intensity the more the dot "blooms" and gets larger.

If I'm at an indoors range I adjust the size to exactly match the central part of the bullseye of the target. Outdoors I adjust the intensity to the point where the dot is just visible. Outdoors the intensity control must be much higher than indoors.

I too only have the smaller dot red dots. The big dot red dots are for tactical games and fast target acquisition in the sight. Target shooters need precision in sighting not speed in target acquisition.

I really like the bottom of the line single dot UltraDot one inch tube type red dot. It is priced right and works great. It is several steps above the bargain cheapy ones that are not reliable enough for me.

LDBennett

Renee · 10-08-2008, 05:37 PM

I'm new to this and here goes, I have a S&W mod. 41, very nice. It shoots very tight groups out of the box and a scope may not be worth the $$$. It's only my thought.
A scope may make it weigh more and you may have more control.

Renee

LDBennett · 10-09-2008, 06:21 AM

Recently I did a lot of testing with and without red dots. Red dots make a significant difference in the scores on targets shot with them. When you can sight better, you can shoot better, even though the gun may be very accurate with open sights. But part of the limits on scores is YOU. The steadier you are and the better your technique, the better your score, regardless the sighting system or the gun's inherent accuracy. And practice makes perfect!

The bottom line is red dots make accurate sighting easier. Old eyes need all the help they can get since they have extreme difficulty rapidly shifting the focus back and forth between the front sight and the target and back again. I know, the front sight should be sharp and the rear sight and the target fuzzy. But accurate sighting is easier if your eyes are young and can shift focus rapidly back and forth or you use a red dot. Another feature of red dots is you can shoot with both eyes open. That's hard to do with open sights, at least for me.

There is a reason that today's Bullseye and other competition shooters use red dots. They help your scores significantly.

LDBennett

getgot · 10-14-2008, 09:44 PM

check out the Nikon Monarch red dot..it is sweet,,,about $239.00.........very nice red dot with Nikon quality and service

jacksonco · 10-14-2008, 10:54 PM

I put a Tasco Pro-Point on mine (around $70 delivered) from Midway. Mine projects red and green dots on the lense. Zero magnification and each color has 5 brightness settings. I have been very happy with mine. Be carefull of the short bodied red dots as the rail on top may not accept the mounting cross bolts.

07-01-2008, 09:13 PM	#1
leadbum Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: South Texas Posts: 4	Suggestions for red dot for S&W 41 I just ordered a new S&W 41 today and I'm hoping some of you 41ers have some experience with red dot sights on your guns. I have a Beretta Neos with a Sightmark on it, but I've had problems with it and want a better one for the 41. The Sightmark dot sometimes disappears right in the middle of a match. I'd like to keep the cost under $200, but I'm willing to consider more if that's what it takes to get a reliable sight. Thanks in advance for any help you can give. --> Last edited by leadbum; 07-01-2008 at 10:49 PM..

07-05-2008, 11:16 AM	#2
Swede Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 20	Re: Suggestions for red dot for S&W 41 I don't have a S&W 41 but I do have a red dot on my charger. It's a Truglow. I bought it to see how I liked a red dot and only paid $50 for it. So far I haven't had a problem with it. Some time it is hard to see the dot on paper in bright sunlight. I would rather have a holo sight but a guy at work is on his 4th one. So unless you want to pay $400 for one I think you are better off with a scope.

07-08-2008, 02:02 PM	#4
golflender Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 20	Re: Suggestions for red dot for S&W 41 just got a new 41,, a holo sight on it would be cool,,

07-09-2008, 07:34 AM	#5
LDBennett Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 5,719	Re: Suggestions for red dot for S&W 41 Most of the red dots of the style of the Sightmark leave something to be desired for me. I like the small size but the adjustment of the windage is usally done on the mount and is less than perfect. Tube red dots do the adjustments internally rather than externally as do most Sightmark style red dots. I had a BSA version and it would turn off and on and the windage adjustment was not accurate at all and would not stay put. Another disadvantage of the small red dot is their sighting accuracy is limited by their size. Just as in steel sights, the sight radius impacts sighting accuracy (longer is better and allows more accurate sighting). Red dots reflect the image of a LED off the glass lenses and the distance from the LED to the glass lens is a measure of the accuracy of sighting. Long tubed red dots are therefore more accurate in sighting than short little "Holo" Sightmark style red dots. I think the best red dot for the least money is the one inch tubed UltraDot with the single reticule. It is priced close to $125 (street price) and is simple which can make it more reliable. I have several and they work great. I hate that the small red dots are called "holographic" when they are not holographic at all. The Bushnell is holograhic (uses a laser and a hologram to form the recticule image, not a LED---Light Emitting Diode). Because of the added complexity of the true holograhic sights the costs are rather high, so I don't have one. LDBennett

07-09-2008, 09:59 PM	#6
Erich V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM USA - 6000' above sea level Posts: 59	Re: Suggestions for red dot for S&W 41 I just bought a Burris Fastfire for my AR, and I have to say that I'm very pleased with it. It is under $200 at Midway, including mount.

07-10-2008, 03:00 PM	#7
Tom V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 197	Re: Suggestions for red dot for S&W 41 I use iron sights on my 41, but I have an Ultradot LT on a Ruger MK II 678GC. It works great.

07-14-2008, 09:18 PM	#8
300 H&H Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,796	Re: Suggestions for red dot for S&W 41 I have two barrels for my 41. The 5 1/2" has the factory irons and the 7.5" has a discontinued Leupold/ Gillmore red dot for a rifle. It has a very small, but very intense dot that if you turn up the brightness on it, it appears to grow in size somewhat. They also made a handgun version with a larger tube and a bigger dot. Quality is very good as well, with the mechanicals working in a predictable manner. Personally I prefer the small dot version to get the most out of a 41. Best reguards Kirk Last edited by 300 H&H; 07-15-2008 at 08:19 PM..

07-15-2008, 06:41 AM	#9
LDBennett Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 5,719	Re: Suggestions for red dot for S&W 41 300 H&H: Most red dots work the way you describe.... the higher the intensity the more the dot "blooms" and gets larger. If I'm at an indoors range I adjust the size to exactly match the central part of the bullseye of the target. Outdoors I adjust the intensity to the point where the dot is just visible. Outdoors the intensity control must be much higher than indoors. I too only have the smaller dot red dots. The big dot red dots are for tactical games and fast target acquisition in the sight. Target shooters need precision in sighting not speed in target acquisition. I really like the bottom of the line single dot UltraDot one inch tube type red dot. It is priced right and works great. It is several steps above the bargain cheapy ones that are not reliable enough for me. LDBennett

10-08-2008, 05:37 PM	#10
Renee Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 29	Re: Suggestions for red dot for S&W 41 I'm new to this and here goes, I have a S&W mod. 41, very nice. It shoots very tight groups out of the box and a scope may not be worth the $$$. It's only my thought. A scope may make it weigh more and you may have more control. Renee

10-09-2008, 06:21 AM	#11
LDBennett Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 5,719	Re: Suggestions for red dot for S&W 41 Recently I did a lot of testing with and without red dots. Red dots make a significant difference in the scores on targets shot with them. When you can sight better, you can shoot better, even though the gun may be very accurate with open sights. But part of the limits on scores is YOU. The steadier you are and the better your technique, the better your score, regardless the sighting system or the gun's inherent accuracy. And practice makes perfect! The bottom line is red dots make accurate sighting easier. Old eyes need all the help they can get since they have extreme difficulty rapidly shifting the focus back and forth between the front sight and the target and back again. I know, the front sight should be sharp and the rear sight and the target fuzzy. But accurate sighting is easier if your eyes are young and can shift focus rapidly back and forth or you use a red dot. Another feature of red dots is you can shoot with both eyes open. That's hard to do with open sights, at least for me. There is a reason that today's Bullseye and other competition shooters use red dots. They help your scores significantly. LDBennett

10-14-2008, 09:44 PM	#12
getgot Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: texas Posts: 26	Re: Suggestions for red dot for S&W 41 check out the Nikon Monarch red dot..it is sweet,,,about $239.00.........very nice red dot with Nikon quality and service

10-14-2008, 10:54 PM	#13
jacksonco Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Jackson County West Virginia Posts: 2,237	Re: Suggestions for red dot for S&W 41 I put a Tasco Pro-Point on mine (around $70 delivered) from Midway. Mine projects red and green dots on the lense. Zero magnification and each color has 5 brightness settings. I have been very happy with mine. Be carefull of the short bodied red dots as the rail on top may not accept the mounting cross bolts.