The calendar is working hard against me these days and the sights on all of my handguns are getting pretty fuzzy. I have a red dot sight on my AR and was thinking of putting one on my FA M83 44M. Don't want to go the whole scope route. My use will be the range and maybe a Texas pig from time to time.

Any suggestions? Maybe even a photo? I struggle with ugly!

Take a look at Greg Richter's review on the Leupold Delta point in the articles section. I think it's a nice looking sight..

If your problem is close vision, that is, you can see the target but the sights are blurred or and with reading glasses you can see the sights but the target is blurred, try using weaker reading glasses as a compromise. For instance I wear 2 diopter reading glasses but use 1 diopter for shooting.

Since you hold a handgun further away than a book you don't need as much correction it clear up the sights and the less correction will not as likely blur the target.

I had my optometrist make me a couple pair of bifocals for shooting that are 1 diopter on the top for shooting, but 2 diopter on the bottom encase I have to make an adjustment to my gun. He says I am his only patient that writes his own prescription.

You can get cheap readers at Wally World to try it out.

Burris fast fire is small and still easy to see!

Or Optima, JPoint, etc:

I hardly know its there until I need it.

Here is my article:

http://www.handgunhunt.com/promo/membership/features/readNewArticle.php?oid=67

My answer to the sight problem was surgery on both eyes.

s4s4u

A pretty clean set up, how about a picture of the gun out of the holster.

Thanks

No problem:

s4s4u

Thanks . That tells me a lot more about how the sight is mounted.

That looks pretty handy..

It is. In the x-draw it rides so nice that I forget it's there.

FA Modified Base

The link above (I hope it works) is to my first album attempt here. I modified a TSOB base for my FA 454 to work with a red dot, scope and it has a back up iron sight. I inset a S&W rear adjustable (for windage) sight for the large frame revolvers. I cut an additional cross slot for the forward scope ring. I can run a red dot, or scope and have my irons.

The FA JPoint mount is about the lowest install for a red dot. The TSOB has about the lowest rail height for a weaver/picattiny base for the red dot. The FA mount (I think Gregg's gun uses that and you can check out his stuff) actually has a notch in the rear that could be used as an iron back-up, but does require yoy remove the red dot. I have one of those, as well. The red dot in my gallery is a new one for me a C-More STS. I have many JPoints, one delta point and now the C-More. Each has its good and bad points.

I really love the red dots, but am still just young enough to not want to throw in the towel on irons sights ;^) There are quite a few ways to skin the red dot cat, perhaps you might find a solution that works for you.

Craig

Seen that photo a lot here. Just my opinion but if you chopped that looong base (as I have done many times) it would really make for a much cleaner look.

Unless maybe you think you might scope it some day...

MHO

I like the option of being able to adapt, I had a tube dot on it before the Optima.

The base really doesn't get in the way, and actually helps to tighten up the fit in the holster. I have a base for the Optima that attaches in place of the rear sight but it offers no real advantage so I've kept it as is.

I like the looks of that!

s4s4u

That base just the way you have it gives you a lot of options.. Good job.

Thanks Gregg, the article was very helpful.

Since my OP, I've looked at several small sights and at the mount made by FA. I think I'm getting closer.

You are welcome, sir! Glad it helped!

Since you mentioned the Freedom Arms mount, and they make a mount for this one: you might also look at the JP Enterprises "JPoint" red dot. Very similar to the Leupold Delta Point but even smaller and lighter. It is my favorite red dot sight.

http://www.jprifles.com/1.6.1.php

http://www.opticsplanet.com/jp-rifles-jpoint-4-moa-dot-sight.html

Gregg, if I may, I would like to pick your brain a little more. In addition to the JP, I've been looking at the Trijicon RM06. Being totally new to these small red dots, in your opinion is the Trijicon worth almost double the money of the JP? Thanks.

BTW, moved here to TX last spring after living in God's country for almost 30 years. Sure do miss it.

I am not familiar at all with the Trijicon. But in comparison with the Deltapoint, which I am familiar with, if I had a choice between two JPoints or one DeltaPoint, I would take the JP's.

Gregg

I looked at the links you provided and they do not seem to have a mount adapter for Rugers, or did I just miss it..?

Claim,

If I can jump in again. I too really like the JP's, but the lenses are acrylic, and are a little fusser than the DP. The DP is also acrylic, but seems a little more resiliant to scratching with the coating they are using. I really like the C-More that I just got, as it has real glass. With any of the acrylic lenses, you really need to be "good" about cleaning. By this I mean wiping debris properly, and only using good clothes. I wear glasses, and am very anal about cleaning, and all of my JP's show more fine scratches than my DP.

I have no experience with the RM06, but the trend is to put these on Glocks and such for CCW guns. I bet they are pretty darn good sights.

What is going to drive you crazy is the mounts. The JP (originally the Tasco Optima) was the first of these, so the mount pattern has the broadest fitment between the sights. If you go with a pic/weaver rail mount, any sight will have a rail base. The differences in height between these is actually pretty broad. The DP has a pretty tall mount, compared to the JP rail mount. The lowest for a FA gun would be their JP mount, and it's hole pattern is the same as the DP pattern. I am pretty sure the Trij. is different, but you might be able to find a base plate adapter for the Trij. to JP pattern.

The other thing you are going to find as different between the brands is the dot size and apparent "flare". I used to think flaring was more my eyes, but after quite a few years and dots and using them in different light, the flaring seems to be more the brightness bias built into the sight. If you test the sight in a store, it's probably gonna flare some. If you go outside and aim the dot at the sky, it will probably tone down to a small dot. The makers of these sights seem to bias towards shooting in bright light, at lighter targets. probably a bias towards steel plate/competition type events where these sights are popular. If there is any way you can test a sight before buying, that is always good. If in a store, bring in a CR2032 battery as usually store models have dead batteries ;^)

My favorite red dot is an aimpoint, but it is not a micro. The dial brightness switch is great for dialing down the dot. I love the field of view on the DP, but for me the dot has the worst brightness settings for lower light. The JP is the best for my eyes and the dot bias in lower light, but the screen is much tougher than the DP. I detest the DP screw adjustment size and wrench fitment. Right now I am putting my new C-More ahead of both of these, but it is too early to know about recoil. While it's screen is glass, it is much smaller than the DP, and has a slight blue tint. So far I am OK with it.

I would absolutely consider the Trij., but would want to see it in action before spending that kind of money. If you order from a place with a decent return policy, you might be able to order and test without mounting to see how the dot fairs for you in variable light conditions. Also, when I spoke with JP a couple of months ago, I was told they have new version on the works which is supposed to address screen issues. Not sure where that is at, but you might want to conatct them to see.

Craig

You are correct sir...sort of.

JP Enterprises DID at one time manufacture and sell a mount adapter for the Ruger single action revolvers; BUT for some reason they discontinued it.

I am one of the lucky ones and own several of these "factory" bases for the JP's on Ruger's and they are all "in battery."

If you researched the archives here on this subject successfully, you would discover that this topic has been brought up several times; actually to the point where at one time I made this special offer to members here:

"If enough of you wanted one and (ie. sent the $money$) I had a machinist friend lined up who would copy one of my factory bases and custom machine them out of aircraft aluminum."

Well... the response was less than satisfactory.

Sooo...I proceeded to bite the bullet (figuratively)

and paid the premium price on my own and had a few made for me.

The copies turned out perfectly; and work just fine.

So, 358429, I believe if enough of us contacted JP Enterprises asking them to start producing the Ruger mount again, maybe they would.

As they always say: "MONEY TALKS."

Thanks everybody for the help. I am learning. My total exposure to red dots is an EOTech I have on an AR and my grandson uses it much more than I.

I typically get out to the range two afternoons a week. At the rate that hair grows on my front sights, I think I need to start taking an electric clippers along.