I purchased a pair of S&W revolvers (a 617 and a 686) to get back to shooting handguns but find that the 70 year old eyes won't allow me to use the open sights. I installed a Tasco TRS-25 red dot sight on the 617 but have a lot of difficulty finding the dot when bring the gun up to shoot. Is there a trick to bring the gun up in a set position each time so the dot is visible (meaning my lack of experience) or is this just a trait of this type of red dot? Would an open frame type like the Fast Fire III be easier to use?

Tube type are easier to acquire the dot, but both take lots of practice.

Actually you would likely find it more difficult. The tube of a red dot sight usually helps to align the eye. The TRS has a very short tube so not as advantageous as a sight like the UltraDot. When you bring the gun up to shoot, start with the muzzle tilted downward and once the gun is at eye level begin to tilt the muzzle upward until you see the dot. Start slow and deliberate, the process will quicken as you become more familiar with it.

I have tried that particular dot, but have done other MRDS sights on revolvers. I actually have better luck training my sight picture by placing the front sight in the dot window, and rolling the muzzle down, to find the dot. This is assuming you have only the front sight, and not the rear irons.

Whether this works, or Rod's method, it will take a fair amount of practice. The nice thing is that it does not cost ammunition to practice this. And once you have it down, you are probably really going to like the red dot.

Craig

Thanks for the help. I also talked to a friend that shoots competitively and although he does not use a red dot he said that he sees the "red dot wiggle" from his shooting buddies all the time. Looks like I just need to practice and then try and get my hands on some other styles of red dot sights.

I have a FFIII and really like it. The weather-hood helps acquire the dot better but tends to bump off easily. The thing I found was there is no better way than practice to get used to it.