Need Red Dot sight advice.

Message

Jan · #1 Post by **Jan** » Sat Oct 22, 2005 3:28 pm

I've never had a red dot sight and I want to get one for my brand new HW 45 pistol.

Which of these models is most recommended?

From prices I've seen this one is the most expensive but it looks cool.

I don't know much about this one but I can get one for cheap from someone I know (about $15), minus the battery.

I can get a good price for one of these and I see nothing worng with it other than it doesn't look as cool as the more expensive Red Dot sight models.

What are your suggestions?

ETA · #2 Post by **ETA** » Sat Oct 22, 2005 3:45 pm

The first one, thou a bit heavy.
The other plastic ones probably won't hold up to the recoil of the HW45.

airsmith282 · #3 Post by **airsmith282** » Sat Oct 22, 2005 3:53 pm

the BSA RD30 is the best choice and it will handel up the recoil of a .44magnum no problem... if you for the the RD30 BSA Model and you want it factoyr fit for 3/8 dove tail you have to buy the BSA RD3O/22 for 3/8 dove tail or for weaver mount 11/16 you order only part number BSA RD30

and the RD30 is great i just got one and finelly got an adapter for it for 3/8
as mine was a weaver only model mount....

thanks again Metal Muncher your a genius.

I found out from BSA that there is an RD30/22 That has built in 3/8 mount for Airguns and all powder burnners with 3/8 dove tail ETC.

airgunfun · #4 Post by **airgunfun** » Sat Oct 22, 2005 5:07 pm

Buy the Tasco BKRD3022 Red Dot Scope...it's available at LeBaron for $37.94. It's the best value for sure. And, it fits perfectly on airgun & .22 scope rails..

http://www.lebaron.ca/pdf_fall_pgr/hunt ... scopes.pdf

#5 Post by **webstien** » Sat Oct 22, 2005 5:36 pm

I have a tasco reddot like that on my 2289 and its really a nice red dot! Much more fun then a scope for close range.

TCooper · #6 Post by **TCooper** » Sat Oct 22, 2005 6:01 pm

The Tasco red dot is a good deal at LeBaron for $38. The rimfire (.22) version will fit the 11mm rails on most airguns. Unfortunately the HW45 has an oddball 12mm rail. I have tried a few different 11mm mounts and none worked. The claws would not properly tighten. The HW45 has recoil and you need a mount that will hold. An 11mm mount on a 12mm rail will likely slide off, even if you manage to get it to clamp on. A side clamping 11mm mount would also be offset on the 12mm HW45 rail.

My web site has the stock numbers for the low priced Millet center split mounts that will work on the 12mm rail. I have these mounts but the name on the package was "Kwik-Site". Find yourself a 1" red dot to put in the mount. I like my Millet SP-1 but the price is around $170Cdn. The Tasco has an integrated mount so you can't switch it.

http://my.tbaytel.net/coopers

HTH,
Todd

#7 Post by **sniper** » Sat Oct 22, 2005 7:32 pm

The Tasco is the one I've been using on my HW45 .22/.177, works great. There is another one that I'm going to try the holo-reflex sight from marstar, I just got one for my friend, perhaps get to try it next week for $139, it's very small & light, also made out of metal or I might get the bushnell holo sight for the HW100.

TCooper · #8 Post by **TCooper** » Sat Oct 22, 2005 9:26 pm

Hi Sniper,

How did you get an 11mm mount to work on a 12mm rail? The Tasco has clamps on one side so things must be offset.

I tried Burris rimfire rings. No go.
I tried a Beeman 5040 mount. No go.
I tried the cheapo mounts that come with the Sportsman scope. No go.

To do my accuracy testing I shimmed the clamp on my 5040 mount using washers but the scope was definitely offset to one side. It looked terrible that way but I needed the 9X magnification for the accuracy testing.
Many P1/HW45 owners have had grief with various mounts because of the oddball rail size. The extra millimetre seems to make a difference with many mounts.

Todd

#9 Post by **sniper** » Sat Oct 22, 2005 11:13 pm

Hi Todd,
I never realised that because it fits and a bit off to one side which no big deal and I only shoot it between 15 yards and it always hit target.

TCooper · #10 Post by **TCooper** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 9:38 am

Hi Sniper,

Yah, I can see the offset position on your red dot. This might not cause any problems at 10-15 yards but I wonder how it would work at 20-40 yards. With the barrel not directly under the optics you might have the same issue as with canting the pistol when shooting. It would be an interesting thing to test and see if POI goes sideways, as well as drops, at longer distances.

I sometimes shoot 20-40 yards during the summer months. My windage setting is never a problem with increased distances. The center split mounts put the red dot directly over the barrel. The Millet mounts with dual claws can also be adjusted for proper position.

If you look closely at the top of the claws, on your mount, you will notice that they do not fit into the base properly. With an 11mm rail, the top of the claws will fit into the mating recess. The 12mm rail on the HW45 causes the claws to not function as designed. As long as the mount doesn't slip, and you are happy with the set-up, that's all that really matters. It's all about fun.

BTW the that Tasco red dot is a great deal at $38. Crosman was selling it as their "Crosman 11ARD" a few years ago for $65 at LeBaron. BSA sells the same unit for at least $65. Hawke Optics has the same model too but it's $95. I'm pretty sure BSA makes them but re-labels as contracts happen.

Hawke model http://www.canada-shops.com/Stores/siar ... 999.2.html

Discontinued Crosman 11ARD pic http://www.pbreview.com/products/reviews/775/

BSA red dot http://www.bsaoptics.com/productlist.as ... _Type=RFAM

Todd

airgunfun · #11 Post by **airgunfun** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 10:11 am

In my humble opinion, Tasco makes them and they're rebadged...makes sense as Tasco is in the business of making optics. Anyhow, I agree, it's the same scope no matter how they're named.

#12 Post by **sniper** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 11:14 am

Hi Todd,

Perhaps if you must have 20 - 40 yards and if the red dot doesn't hit accurate anymore, it would be good to sight it at about 30 yards, I would guess.
Lately I haven't been using the HW45 at 20 yards with open sights since our little shooting group here think that not allowed help with red dot.

TCooper · #13 Post by **TCooper** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 3:07 pm

Hi Sniper,

I use the dot to help with holdover. It's much easier to place a dot a little bit over a tin can then to cover the can with the front sight and guess how much higher your POA really is. With the dot sight I can see above and below when shooting at 30-40 yards. For example, at 40 yards I might hold one can height above the top of the can. This seems to work for me.

I'm wondering is an offset red dot would cause the POI to drift laterally as well as drop vertically at the longer distances. I know a canted scope will cause grief with changing distances.

Back when I shot PPC the serious shooters would often click the rear sight up or down when changing distances 7-15-25-50 yards. The shooters just keeps track of the clicks so things can be reset when returning to 7 yards for the next match. The high tech PPC pistols had the ability to preset the 4 sight distances for ease of use.

Todd

TCooper · #14 Post by **TCooper** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 3:51 pm

Hi Airgunfun,

I thought Tasco went out of business a while ago and was then purchased by ... maybe Bushnell.

Click here and read the info. http://www.bushnellperformanceoptics.com/
Bushnell is the parent company of Tasco.

Bushnell web site, with Tasco information
http://www.bushnellperformanceoptics.co ... tasco2.htm

Many Bushnell scopes are made in Korea, as stated on the packages. The American & Canadian Bushnell outlets are not manufacturers. The same plant that makes Bushnell scopes may also make other scopes or optics.

It's difficult to figure out who makes what these days. Many optics companies, except Leupold, have contracts with Korean, Japanese, or Chinese companies. It is possible that many companies have their products made in the same plant. I no longer have any Tasco scopes but maybe someone with one can look on the tube to see where it is actually made.

Crosman is also contracting out many things these days. A while ago they were selling Mexican Mendoza rifles. Now it's Chinese Quest rifles. Maybe more Pacific rim manufacturing will happen in the future. In a recent press release Crosman said they will do whatever cuts costs. "We'll do absolutely anything that makes good financial sense. "

Beeman sells Spanish, German, British, etc. In 1999 Beeman had their catalogues printed in Canada and recently I think it was China. Beeman is owned by a company that sells the Chinese Marksman 2004 (SRI).

In some cases it's difficult to actually say who made what. Sometimes a company appears to be a manufacturer but is really an importer or middleman. I guess it doesn't matter, as long as we are happy with the products and service.

Todd

airgunfun · #15 Post by **airgunfun** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 4:12 pm

I was referring to:

I'm pretty sure BSA makes them but re-labels as contracts happen.