I agree with Dan on the gun but favor red dot sights myself. I have an "Ultra-Dot 4" on my Mod. 29 S&W & through 4 yrs of Alaskan weather & bumps & scrapes & never missed a beat. At the distances I shoot I don't really need magnification, but I do like (need) quick sight aqusition. Last year a 10'ish brownie & I came together (season closed) for a minute (lifetime?) at ranges that varied from approx 10-30yds until I could make a graceful exit, & I really liked the red dot at that point. Since I was checking a black bear bait and new any encounter would be close I had the dot set at the 12moa size, which gave me a very quick easy to find & definite sight picture at all times.
Where in Montana are you? I lived in Hamilton for 5 yrs & then came back to Alaska almost 5 yrs ago.