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Optics Opinions Needed


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I just went to my LGS [Lake County Arms] and purchased the following firearm (they did not have this model; however, had it ordered).

I had been interested in this firearm for some time now, and Ann urged me :wub: to get it as soon as possible.

 

         Mark IV™ 22/45™ Lite

image.png.b1ca62b3c4b569a3f5e3601964fa5110.png

 

Looking to add optics; however, this is my first foray into such an accessory.

Not wanting to spend a huge amount of money, maybe under $100.

Any opinions, or what I should be looking for will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Edited by Father Kit Cool Gun Garth
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"The reasons red dots are becoming more commonplace on handguns (and we feel this trend will continue until it’s “the norm”) are largely the same as the reasons red dots have become ubiquitous on combat and practical competition rifles: firearms mounted with red dots are easier to use, simpler to learn, and faster to shoot."

 

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Edited by Father Kit Cool Gun Garth
add additional text & pic
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I have 4 red dot optics, 1 Sig Romeo1Pro, 1 Sig RomeoXPro, 1 Holosun SCS and 1 Holosun 407K. They are all nice but none are under $100. So not sure where to point you to get under your price point. I have both the red and the green dots and really don't have any preference for one being  better than the other. Also, mine all attach to the slide and not a rail like you have on your gun.

My Sig P320

 

P320LeftSide.thumb.jpg.ec1bceda6713c87679d00345eac5b838.jpg

Good luck on your decision.

 

TM

Edited by Texas Maverick
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Bushnell and TruGlow both make red dots under $100 that are pretty OK.  I would spend a little more and get a Burris Fast Fire, Vortex Venom, or Holosun 407K though.  They're a good starting point for red dots and can be found on sale for under $200.  I wouldn't worry too much about going too cheap, I'm pretty sure you're going to like them.  That pistol with a red dot is verry common at the 22 rimfire steel challenge matches. 

 

I was going to buy that same pistol, but a Black Mamba followed me home instead.  Hurt the pocket a little, but otherwise, no regrets.  I have a Burris Fast Fire mounted on it and haven't seen any reason to change it.

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15 minutes ago, Wild Eagle said:

Bushnell and TruGlow both make red dots under $100 that are pretty OK.  I would spend a little more and get a Burris Fast Fire, Vortex Venom, or Holosun 407K though.  They're a good starting point for red dots and can be found on sale for under $200.  I wouldn't worry too much about going too cheap, I'm pretty sure you're going to like them.  That pistol with a red dot is verry common at the 22 rimfire steel challenge matches. 

 

I was going to buy that same pistol, but a Black Mamba followed me home instead.  Hurt the pocket a little, but otherwise, no regrets.  I have a Burris Fast Fire mounted on it and haven't seen any reason to change it.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. ;)

 

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1 minute ago, Father Kit Cool Gun Garth said:

 

Thanks for the suggestions. ;)

 

image.thumb.png.87ac9a3648921f0d41bc30bd4e4d69b6.png

 

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I was able to get my Holosun 407K for $174. Just have to keep looking and waiting on a sale. Not sure how you would mount it on your rail though unless there is a special attachment.

 

TM

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If you don’t mind a taller red dot and because you have a rail you might consider an Sig Sauer “Romeo 5” red dot sight mounted on a QD mount (QD = quick detach).

This Romeo 5 comes from the manufacturer with a low and a high mount. The low mount is NOT quick detaching. 
https://a.co/d/1226r0r

 

Here is that sight on a high (AR Co-witness) mount on my KelTec CP33.

image.thumb.jpeg.12778d8e8626a1e4dbcb9561bc81d94d.jpeg
 

Here is my Ruger PC Carbine with the Romeo 5 on an American Defense low QD mount.

image.thumb.jpeg.0424b670d8eb55a59230a10d2ca79037.jpeg

 

Here’s a shot of the mount

image.thumb.jpeg.53c45bc44ea634ec8917c972ea160601.jpeg

 

This would put the focal point at about 3/4” above the rail. 

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To complicate things, should I be looking at a GREEN DOT instead of a RED DOT? :unsure:

 

image.thumb.png.50eb824bd887f5d6083929284bc92b2b.png

 

https://viridianweapontech.com/mediacenteritem/10-reasons-green-dot-vs-red-dot-article-601.html

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I put a rehead bass pro brand holo sight on a savage .22 rifle I think its a 4 mil red dot. Bout 39 bucks red/green dot. It's nowhere near weatherproof.

 

I used firefield or sightmark holo sights when I was playing at 3 gun.

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9 minutes ago, Father Kit Cool Gun Garth said:

@Pat Riot,

     Now we're talking.

image.thumb.png.d100af58e572296b75ca1bfc09d67d3e.png

I have owned a few of these and they are very reliable and will take some abuse without losing zero. 
 

The American Defense QD mount that I mentioned is $110 from Amazon. The reason I bought that one is they have a guaranteed return to zero if you remove it to use iron sights then put it back on the gun. 
The Romeo 5 uses an Aimpoint footprint. As does the American Defense mount. 
Personally, I would just use the mount that comes with the RDS (red dot sight)

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Following @Pat Riot's lead - Green Dot...Picatinny mount?

 

image.thumb.png.4162085924cef83f0837c239aa157ece.png

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11 minutes ago, Father Kit Cool Gun Garth said:

To complicate things, should I be looking at a GREEN DOT instead of a RED DOT? :unsure:

 

image.thumb.png.50eb824bd887f5d6083929284bc92b2b.png

 

https://viridianweapontech.com/mediacenteritem/10-reasons-green-dot-vs-red-dot-article-601.html

If you have uncorrected Astigmatism a green dot would be a better solution. Red dots will blob out on you if you have astigmatism that is not corrected by your eyeglasses. 

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1 minute ago, Father Kit Cool Gun Garth said:

Following @Pat Riot's lead - Green Dot...Picatinny mount?

 

image.thumb.png.4162085924cef83f0837c239aa157ece.png

Pretty sure that one is heavier than the Romeo 5. 
Weight is a definite factor in handguns and shooting. 
 

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Bless your beautiful bride, bring her flowers and chocolates!

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23 minutes ago, Pat Riot said:

Pretty sure that one is heavier than the Romeo 5. 
Weight is a definite factor in handguns and shooting. 
 

 

Actually, went online and found the Romeo 5 is 5.1 oz and the Romeo-MSR is 4.9 oz. :P

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23 minutes ago, Happy Jack, SASS #20451 said:

Be VERY careful when looking for a red dot to put on that pistol. Make sure it has a LOW picatinny mount. Many do not. They fit in a cut on the slide.

 

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1 hour ago, Linn Keller, SASS 27332, BOLD 103 said:

Bless your beautiful bride, bring her flowers and chocolates!

 

Linn,

      It wasn't part of any deal, but I volunteered to join her in a week of painting classes. :wub:

      I'll be sure to let you know how it goes. ;)

 

                  image.png.6a28e44ef796fd88a77644b1a6bdbcd9.png

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2 hours ago, Father Kit Cool Gun Garth said:

To complicate things, should I be looking at a GREEN DOT instead of a RED DOT? :unsure:

 

image.thumb.png.50eb824bd887f5d6083929284bc92b2b.png

 

https://viridianweapontech.com/mediacenteritem/10-reasons-green-dot-vs-red-dot-article-601.html

I find the green dot much easier to see in daylight. Red dots, especially cheap ones, tend to disappear in bright daylight.  I have both, will not buy another red dot unless it is a real good deal.

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Okay, since you are trying this idea out, here is a suggestion. Pick up a cheap reflex sight to try it out. Then if you do, invest in the better one for your gun. Put the cheap one on the beater 22 the kids use.

https://palmettostatearmory.com/firefield-multi-red-green-reflex-sight-ff13004.html

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3 hours ago, Father Kit Cool Gun Garth said:

To complicate things, should I be looking at a GREEN DOT instead of a RED DOT? :unsure:

 

image.thumb.png.50eb824bd887f5d6083929284bc92b2b.png

 

https://viridianweapontech.com/mediacenteritem/10-reasons-green-dot-vs-red-dot-article-601.html

Green uses more battery 

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I really like the Sig Romeo 5 and have them on three of my Armalite platform rifles.  However, I would not suggest one for a pistol.  They're too big and much too high above the bore.  But I do tend to shoot my pistols shorter distances, under 25 yards, and looking for speed.  If you want to try one, PSA runs them on sale pretty regularly at about $99 to $119. 

 

As Texas Maverick said, look for a sale on the Holosun 407K.  You can find them for a lot less than you posted.  Not sure why though as Holosun doesn't usually have many sales on their other red dots. 

 

I have a couple of red dot sights that I can switch between red and green.  I find that I usually default to red, so....  YMMV 

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Father Kit, after thinking about it and looking at mine I think @Wild Eagleis correct. A sight made for a pistol will put the red or green dot lower to the bore. 
That rail on the 22/45 is for a scope not necessarily for an RDS. 


Have you considered a standard 22/45?

It would save you a couple of hundred bucks and then you could get an RDS mount and the Holosun pistol optic…maybe. Or perhaps another mentioned in this thread. 
 

Here’s a mount for the standard 22/45.

https://lobos-industries.com/products/low-profile-red-dot-mount-ruger-mark-series-rmr-footprint
 

Here’s the standard 22/45

https://ruger.com/products/markIV2245/models.html
 

 

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20 hours ago, DeaconKC said:

Okay, since you are trying this idea out, here is a suggestion. Pick up a cheap reflex sight to try it out. Then if you do, invest in the better one for your gun. Put the cheap one on the beater 22 the kids use.

https://palmettostatearmory.com/firefield-multi-red-green-reflex-sight-ff13004.html

I have one of those on my MKIII, junk.

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I do a lot of steel challenge a 6moa dot and up if you have a stigmatism the bigger dot doesn't look like a star because you can turn the brightness down look at c-moro sights there 300 and up but a lot better in bright sunlight 

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8 hours ago, Texas Maverick said:

Check out DVOR.

 

https://www.dvor.com/red-dot-sight-secret-sale-49-2024-09-21.html

 

Probably have to create an account to get access to the special sale.

 

TM

Thank you for that site. They get pretty decent reviews. 
 

https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.dvor.com

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1 hour ago, Pat Riot said:

Thank you for that site. They get pretty decent reviews. 
 

https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.dvor.com

I have used them a number of times and they are legit.

 

TM

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