Pistol sights and optics

[farmerjoe99]

Ok so what type of sights do use on your pistol
and why?

I recently got a Mac1 LD and am looking at mounting an optic on it,
I did some research on pistol scopes to find out that a fair amount of people are mounting
rifles scopes on their pistols while others are use red dot and reflex sights.

My uses wood be a lot of target/plinking shooting, hunting with possible
friendly FT and competition shooting.
Open sights have worked great shooting 5-10yd targets but I would like to be able to shoot out
to 35yds so I'm thinking I'll want some magnification to help me see the target...
so what would you suggest?
Joseph

[sixshootertexan]

It won't let me vote for all 4 options. I have used all of them at one time or another.

[north country gal]

Me, too, I also use them all, depending on the type of shooting I am doing and the pistol. Pros and cons for every type of sight.

[condor22]

 Open sights, don't need a scope to see targets at pistol range. I became far sighted and could not see opens sights and didn't use 'em with rifles and quit pistol use all together.

  Eventually I discovered and bought a pair of progressive lens eyeglasses which allows clear sight from the tip of my nose to infinity. Wow, now I have discovered iron sight pistol shooting again, because I can clearly see the front and back sight as well the sight picture in normal focus. I don't use my eye glasses with my rifle scopes as it changes the reticle out of focus.

[farmerjoe99]

It won't let me vote for all 4 options. I have used all of them at one time or another.

Sorry doesn't look like I can edit that part of the poll...

Me, too, I also use them all, depending on the type of shooting I am doing and the pistol. Pros and cons for every type of sight.

I'd like to know what you best like each for?(range, uses etc.)
and also which you think my fit my uses best?

I might add I'm near sighted and shoot with glasses.
Joseph

[north country gal]

Hi Joseph

I'd spend time with iron sights if for no other reason than learning to shoot iron sights is so very basic to pistol shooting, in general. Doesn't mean that you have to restrict yourself to just using iron sights, but as long as your vision is good (eyes are young ), spend some time with irons. Still the bread and butter sights for pistol work. I do well with iron out to about 25 yards, but my vision needs a little help beyond that.

Most folks find red dots the easiest sight to use, especially if your eyes have trouble seeing open sights, clearly. No magnification with a red dot, so no steadiness issues as with a scope. Fast to get on target and so on. Lots of affordable choices for air pistols, too. With the right red dot, I can come very close to the same accuracy out to 50 yards as with a 2x pistol scope.

Scopes and magnification will squeeze the most potential accuracy out of your pistol, especially at ranges where target visibility starts to wane. Learning how to use pistol scopes, effectively and comfortably, takes time and practice, though. There is a rather steep leaning curve involved, all the more so if you plan to use your pistol without a rest. With a rest, though, not as bad and for 50 yard work, you'll be able to use more than 2x.

Riflescopes on a LR pistol like that are a definite option if you'll be shooting from a rest, though you'll reach a point where the scope is bigger than the gun and so on. With that gun, from a rest, at 50 yards and you want to print small groups? I'd be inclined to use a riflescope. Very much a personal call on this one, however.

[Motorhead]

As one who shoots a pistol in "Hunter Field Target" class off a bi-pod able to rest elbows on knees, the eye relief of a rifle scope is ideally suited.

[gillchaser]

Hi Joseph

I'd spend time with iron sights if for no other reason than learning to shoot iron sights is so very basic to pistol shooting, in general. Doesn't mean that you have to restrict yourself to just using iron sights, but as long as your vision is good (eyes are young ), spend some time with irons. Still the bread and butter sights for pistol work. I do well with iron out to about 25 yards, but my vision needs a little help beyond that.

Most folks find red dots the easiest sight to use, especially if your eyes have trouble seeing open sights, clearly. No magnification with a red dot, so no steadiness issues as with a scope. Fast to get on target and so on. Lots of affordable choices for air pistols, too. With the right red dot, I can come very close to the same accuracy out to 50 yards as with a 2x pistol scope.

Scopes and magnification will squeeze the most potential accuracy out of your pistol, especially at ranges where target visibility starts to wane. Learning how to use pistol scopes, effectively and comfortably, takes time and practice, though. There is a rather steep leaning curve involved, all the more so if you plan to use your pistol without a rest. With a rest, though, not as bad and for 50 yard work, you'll be able to use more than 2x.

Riflescopes on a LR pistol like that are a definite option if you'll be shooting from a rest, though you'll reach a point where the scope is bigger than the gun and so on. With that gun, from a rest, at 50 yards and you want to print small groups? I'd be inclined to use a riflescope. Very much a personal call on this one, however.

X2 ..... Very well put . I might add , it's difficult to make one pistol/setup do it all , just like with a rifle . Maybe even more so with a pistol .
If you're going to use it for field target at all , your question is an easy answer . Go with a rifle scope that's adjustable to 12X and has an adjustable objective , so you can use it to range estimate with . Kirby

BTW ...... This would be perfect in a Pistol Gate ..........

[sixshootertexan]

I use to shoot Hunter Pistol Silhouettes. I used both pistol and rifle scopes for the scoped matches and open sights for open sight matches. I currently have a pistol scope on that barrel (TC Contender). I have a Burris 3-7 on my XP-100 that I deer hunt with. My 2300KT's have CP red dots on them. They are ok for 25yds but start to get hard to see thru after that. They are not of the highest quality. My prod clone has a rifle scope on it, no other reason than because I had it and didn't want to go  buy a pistol scope.  Using rifle scopes on pistols takes some getting use to and if you don't have a forearm to hold onto it's even harder to master.

[D14Jeff]

i bounce back and forth using my 13xx as a pistol with a red/green laser and putting the carbine stock on and using it with a rifle scope , had a simmons pistol scope on it but the eye relief on it was so long it made the view through it small , even though it was still clear . i do wanna get a AIM LER scope to try on it in pistol for at some point though .... and a browning red dot lasers dont have the fine MOA adjustments of scopes so down range accuracy won't be as good as a scope and that difference will vary from shooter to shooter depending on their shooting skills , eyesight and particular shooting situations . i don't hunt so cant comment on hunting range . i'm not a great shot , but i can stay inside a inch or so at 18ish yards .

[north country gal]

X2 ..... Very well put . I might add , it's difficult to make one pistol/setup do it all , just like with a rifle . Maybe even more so with a pistol .
If you're going to use it for field target at all , your question is an easy answer . Go with a rifle scope that's adjustable to 12X and has an adjustable objective , so you can use it to range estimate with . Kirby

BTW ...... This would be perfect in a Pistol Gate ..........
[/quote]

I think so, too. Great basic question. Would make a good sticky.

[farmerjoe99]

Thanks everyone for the great info,
looks like I'll keep practicing with open sights and try
one of my rifle scopes when my rings get here,
and go from there.

BTW ...... This would be perfect in a Pistol Gate ..........

Yea, I think it would be a useful gate.

Joseph

[Can-o-cide]

Well, since the OP has an LD, it is likely to stay the way it is. If you want to shoot accurately at 35yd, but still be able to shoot the pistol in a normal way, I think you have to go with a 2-7x 20" eye relief scope. Use the 2x for unsupported shooting and 7x for supported shooting. I use a 2-7x scope on a .357 Blackhawk i own and am getting 1-2" groups at 50yd. Now that's a PB, but still, its a pistol with a 2-7x scope shooting fairly well at 50yd.

[anuthabubba]

Lately have been using a Williams dovetail mounted peep as a 'ghost ring' without the insert, on a 1701p and a 1720t. The ghost ring is painted a bright yellow/orange and the posts are neon 'safety yellow' and fiber optic red, for contrast and better visibility in various lighting situations. This setup is proving to be fast and accurate for the type of (outdoors plinking and pesting to 30+ yards) pistol shooting I do. 

 

   Trying it on a Dan with similar results.

[dWood]

My vote for "Other" should be counted as +1 each for open, pistol scope and rifle scope as I use them all almost every day.

I currently use open sights and pistol scope interchangeably on my 1701P and a rifle scope on my Prod. I have tried a red dot but didn't like it very much.

I like my open sights on the Silhouette (Williams notch on the back and front on the narrow setting). It is accurate from 7 to 25  yards as long as the background is bright or the lighting falls optimally. At 25 yards it is challenging to pick out complicated targets. The gun feels light and I can easily shoot one-handed.

I often switch to a 2-6x Simmons pistol scope. The rings are set to the same location on the breech and the aim is reproducible after removing and reattaching.
I have sighted in at 10 yards, and I find that holds at 25 yards. With closer targets at 6 yards the aim is one click lower.

I like the pistol scope when shooting outdoors. It's a natural pistol hold with the main arm extended and the secondary helping support the weight. I am getting a few one-handed shots every day as my arms get stronger. The crosshairs help define the target even when the contrast is bad or the background complex.

I tried to find rings (BSA high 1" rings) where I could use the open sights while the pistol scope is installed. I can see the front and rear sights through the scope, but for some reason I have a hard time bringing focus to the front sight and the target with the front of the scope grabbing my eye. I expect to try out lower rings sometime soon.

Finally, the Prod is wearing a 3-9x Bugbuster on medium BKL rings. I'm still learning how to shoot the beast. The height is good and I switch between the invisible carbine hold and the taco hold.

I'm still learning about magnification, but so far it seems to be best to use the lowest practical setting, even lower than is necesarry for a perfect view. I start wide open at 2 or 3x. However, at longer distances I prefer 4x to 5x, even handheld.

This is a great discussion ... it's very helpful to hear how each of you approach adjusting the aim of your pistol. I want to try many of your suggestions.