Last month I bought a Beretta Neos 22LR and found it such a blast to shoot, I decided to try my hand at handgun hunting... Next week, my Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter in .45 Colt will be here!!!
I am starting to research optics for this revolver... I would like suggestions on red dots vs. scopes and fixed vs. variable. I would also love to hear your experiences with various brands other than Leupold and Burris. Nothing wrong obviously with those two, but everyone and their brother has one so I already have heard a ton about them.

Thanks,

Jim

Welcome to the forum Jim!
These guys have a ton of knowledge & will get you started on the right track.
I'm sure the first question they are going to have is what will you be hunting(primarily), at what ranges, & in what terrain.
That said, my primary hunting gun is a S&W mod 29 .44 mag., & I have a red dot sight on it. I wasn't particularly looking for magnification, just a simplified aiming system that worked good with 44 yr old eyes, & I haven't been dissapointed in the red dot.
Mine is an "Ultra-Dot Four", in a 30 mm tube that I got from "Weigand Combat" for about $150.00. It's been thru just about everything I & mother nature could throw at it in the first year, & performed quite well.
With 10 different brightness levels & 4 different dot sizes at the turn of a switch it's great for any light conditions, & has held up to several hundred rounds of 320 cast @ 1300 fps plus with no problems. Battery life is unbelievable. For anything out to 100 ish yds I think it's the way to go. For my moose & black bear hunting in Alaska it would still be my first choice if I was to start all over again.

I like the Bushnell 2x6 Elite 3200 on that gun. I prefer a variable because there are times I need the extra magnification beyond 2x. Can't help much on the red dots, because I'm not a big fan of them for hunting but they do work well enough in certain circumstances.

Hey,
I hunt whitetail in Pa and for woods hunting where shots are 100 yds and under ,there is no better set up than my ss Redhawk 41 mag 5.5" barrel with a Pro Point red dot sight.
I shot at least 30 deer with it out to 250 yds. I tryed pistol scopes but 2x makes the image look further away and hard to get on game. With the red dot keep both eyes open , put the dot on and squeeze. I also set up a Super Redhawk in 480 and a BFR 500 S&W the same way . If I hunt where long shots are a possibility I take my Encore with a high power scope.
Tony V

I have that same handgun with Badger grips and a 2X Simmons Pro Hunter. I feel like the 2X is all that I need to shoot the size game I hunt with the SBH and it's affordable as well as simple. I have had Simmons scopes exclusively for the last ten years with no problems.I am shooting 300 gr XTP Mags with 25 grs of WW 296 with great results. I also added a Belt Mountain base pin and a Power Custom free spin pawl. This makes for one great package. I hope to take my bear,deer,and elk this year with this pistol. I posted pics a while back if you are intrested. Good luck and good shooting. - Gary (fanner50)








x simmons

a 2x burris or 2x leupold will give the most field of view as far as scopes go. about 21' wide at 100 yards and the most out there. this does help if shots are at moving game in close quarters.

i think gary has a good suggestion in variables. i even like my 2x6 bushnell trophy model scope on the 300 win mag encore handgun. i'd think it'd be ok on a revolver too maybe

my redhawk 44mag wears the 2x burris, and it satisfies me as far as hunting goes. although more x's for targets or certain field conditions would surely be handy.

Wow...thanks for the recommendations. Do you think my Neos would be a good enough platform to test which I will like better; red dot vs. scope? I haven't tried it yet, but I just got a Bushnell Trophy red dot with 4 reticles for it. I can then get a POS NcStar or BSA pistol scope for a few bucks and test it out on my Neos... Whichever feels best, I then can go out and buy something that would hold up to the .45Colt. See any flaws in this plan?

Thanks,

Jim

Almost forgot... If you guys have them, could you post a pic of your setup and tell me what it is?

Thanks,

Jim

Dakota,
I just bought a 2 X 6 Simmons scope, on sale at the local Cabela's for $109.00. Mounted it on my .44 mag Anaconda, and just finished up my first 100 rounds of 240 grain XTP bullets over 24.0 grains of H110. So far the scope has help up well. I have read a fair number of positive reviews on the Simmons scopes and wanted to try one for myself. I personally am a big fan of magnification. Bought the Simmons to replace a 2.5 X 4 Nikon for the extra magnification. I have a Burris 3 X 12 on my Contender just in case I need extra magnification while hunting, plus the 12 power is great for shooting off the bench and load development. I would like to try out the new smaller Bushnell Holo sight as well as the Ultra-Dot 4, for general shooting at the range (100 yards or less) but just can't give up the scope for hunting.

colt your nikon wouldent happen to be silver with about a 28 mm front lens an if so are you thinking of selling it?

ColtFan,
So the Simmons is holding up well? Overall, do you feel you got a good value for your money when compared to your higher end scopes?

Thanks,

Jim

i have a simmons 2x6 prohunter also. it's on my 14" 44mag and has endured about 100 max loaded rounds so far.
i think i prefer the bushnell trophy 2x6 over it though. they go for about $150 and it is a very good value for the money.

if extra $ is available and you are willing to spend it, i love the burris 2x7 and 3x12. imo, they are worth it if ya wanna spend it.

The Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter does come with a set of rings but if you opt for certain red dot sites you cannot use the rings. I purchased a rock solid site rail from Jack Weigand.com and mounted it on my SBHH in 44mag. I then mounted a BSA Red Dot site on top...300 rounds later and not a problem.

Thanks for posting the pic...great lookin' rig! Any problems reaching out and touching something at 70yds?

Jim

This is my set-up a .44Mag Bisley Super BlackHawk Hunter topped off with a 2.5x8 Weaver.

See if I can get this picture thing to work.
This is my 8&3/8 S&W mod 29 .44 mag., with the Ultra-Dot Four. [/url][/image]

XP... Great lookin' rig...and OUTSTANDING shooting! Is it pretty easy to bring up that pistol and get a good sight picture? How long did it take for you to be quick acquiring the target through the scope?

Jim

Vance...she looks like a killing machine! My experience thus far with red dots are with my bow...and I love it. Are you comfortable taking a shot at deer sized animals at 70yds. with it?

Thanks,

Jim

Here is my 480 Ruger with a 4X Leupold scope. It took a little practice to get use to, but now it's like second nature to draw and find the target. I guess the best advise with what ever scope or red dot you choose is that you practice, practice, practice............... well you get the idea.

I use a Bushnell Holosight on my 8" 500 S&W. It is my primary hunting handgun; so far the combo has accounted for four hogs and 1 deer in two years. The ranges were from 30 yards-106 yards. I use a moderate load (350 gr XTP at 1696 fps averaged over ten shots). I liked the setup so much I put a Holosight on my new S&W 647 in 17 HMR. Going to use it for small game hunting, plinking, and general practice to keep me tuned up for using its big brother.

Jim, I'd feel very comfortable with deer sized critters @ 75 yds with it. 100 yds with a rest. I have a 10" or so square plate that I hang up & shoot with it, & with a rest, 100 yds is not a problem. It's a bit iffy with out the rest(probably hit 4 out of 6 shots), but that's my ability(or I should say the lack there of), not the guns. Off hand I can pretty reliably hit a 20# propane bottle laying on end @ 100 yds.
I know some of the guys here don't favor the red dots, but for me personally, they are what suit me best at revolver ranges(100 yds).
My Contender in .444 Marlin has a 2x scope, & my .22 Hornet barrel has a 2x7 NC Star scope.

Dakota...I haven't shot that gun at 70 yards...That isn't the range that I planned on using it for anyway. I consider this gun a 50 yard and under gun...Some people shoot it further but I feel that my skills limit me to 50 yards. That being said, I am still working on tight groups at 25 yards first then I will move back to 50. That is my goal for this summer...

It get's on target fast but, I shoot it four times a week. So it's becoming easier every time. I shot that six shot group at 50 yards from a rested field position.

Thanks XP...and NICE shooting!!!

Jim

i dont see swift mentioned here,they make excellent optics that have a decent price.eabco.com carrys them.i have a swift 4x32 on my 10" 7mm-08 and it is a good scope,swift also has a variable(either a 2x6 or 2x7,cant remember)i also have a simmons 2x6x32 on my 15"30-06(it started on my 257 roberts two years ago)i like the simmons alot!my sbh 44 magnum has a tasco pro point red dot on it and i love that thing...i guess you should consider your hunting area,do you feel comforatable with no magnification (red dot)or do you wanna stretch your shots where you need to see a little better.hope this helps but eitherway you are on the adventure of a life time,handgun hunting ROCKS!!! good luck...jim257