What's a decent rim fire reflex optic? SECOND UPDATE, FF3 is mounted!

[mrboma]

Where to park it...

I picked up a FF3, Burris, and am picking it up tonight.
I know my options are the factory rail or the rear sight dovetail.
Anyone use both, or have a strong preference or dislike on either?
Thanks.

CG,

I saw the FF3 you grabbed from the marketplace, nice find indeed.
What's the dot MOA? (the ad didn't mention it)

In another similar thread I posted this picture of my wife's new pistol...



As you can see we had the RD (TRS-25) as far back as possible. After a few range sessions she felt the rear sight was hindering her from getting a decent grip on the slide (to her credit it's not an easy pull).

I went ahead and pulled the rear sight off the pistol completely. Another range session and she complained the TRS-25 was now hindering the grip on the slide. Off came the sight and we moved it forward to the first "mid-rail" slot.

Another range session and she says it's perfect! Super fast follow-up shots and she never "lost-the-dot". Steel Challenge, here she comes! I took it for a spin on Sunday (empty range ) and found the balance perfect and the RD position really fast to pickup.

I would start forward of the action on the factory rail and see how you like it. See if you can keep the dot in your sight picture during rapid fire. The sight itself in theory moves less in the forward position during recoil. Also, this way if the battery dies you can take the RD off and continue shooting with irons.

Most rimfire competitions start form the "low ready" position and do not require a holster. However if you were looking to hunt/pack the pistol around the rear dovetail mount would probably open up your holster choices a bit.

Hope this helps and good luck.
Regards,
Mike

[Citadelgrad87]

It does help, Mike, I was hoping the rail is decent.

It's a 3 moa version. Should be ok, right?

[mrboma]

Dot size & Applications

It does help, Mike, I was hoping the rail is decent.
It's a 3 moa version. Should be ok, right?

CG,

Ruger stock rails are good quality, you should have no issues holding zero. Be sure to loctite the rail to the barrel.

The 3 MOA version will be perfectly fine for your intended uses. I shot the TRS-25 (3.5 MOA) on my Steel Challenge pistol and loved it for many matches. I think it's a great size to start with and you got a heck of a deal on it.

The nice thing about 3 MOA is you can transition that optic to any rifle or shotgun and be GTG for most applications. Loooong range, not so much, but that's what magnified optics are for.

The only reason I now shoot an 8 MOA FF3 is I am looking for more speed at Steel Challenge. After shooting a ton of other competitors pistols, most with the 6.5 MOA C-more's, I found I was faster with the larger dot.

You really should look into Steel Challenge - your pistol is a favorite among competitors to be sure. Heads up, you'll need 5 mags & ammo, but nothing else to compete. You will start from the "low-ready" so no holsters needed.

Here is a guy (YT search, I don't know him) running your pistol with a C-more.
Just a teaser for you CG if you have an itch to compete.


His scope rail poops the bed at the :30 sec mark and he has to borrow a pistol to continue. Remember the loctite!

Looking forward to the range report.
Regards,
Mike

[TAS]

I picked up a FF3, Burris, and am picking it up tonight.

I know my options are the factory rail or the rear sight dovetail.

Anyone use both, or have a strong preference or dislike on either?

Thanks.

I started out with the factory rail and though it worked well, I moved to the dovetail mount. I prefer the lower profile the dovetail offers and for me, I can pick up the red dot much easier.

The dovetail mount also has a much cleaner look and is aesthetically pleasing compared to the rail mount.

[Citadelgrad87]

CG,

Ruger stock rails are good quality, you should have no issues holding zero. Be sure to loctite the rail to the barrel.

The 3 MOA version will be perfectly fine for your intended uses. I shot the TRS-25 (3.5 MOA) on my Steel Challenge pistol and loved it for many matches. I think it's a great size to start with and you got a heck of a deal on it.

The nice thing about 3 MOA is you can transition that optic to any rifle or shotgun and be GTG for most applications. Loooong range, not so much, but that's what magnified optics are for.

The only reason I now shoot an 8 MOA FF3 is I am looking for more speed at Steel Challenge. After shooting a ton of other competitors pistols, most with the 6.5 MOA C-more's, I found I was faster with the larger dot.

You really should look into Steel Challenge - your pistol is a favorite among competitors to be sure. Heads up, you'll need 5 mags & ammo, but nothing else to compete. You will start from the "low-ready" so no holsters needed.

Here is a guy (YT search, I don't know him) running your pistol with a C-more.
Just a teaser for you CG if you have an itch to compete.


His scope rail poops the bed at the :30 sec mark and he has to borrow a pistol to continue. Remember the loctite!

Looking forward to the range report.
Regards,
Mike

Thanks! I got the rail,this week, and here's what it looks like:







I had the power cranked so I could capture the dot on my cell camera, but if I turn it down, it covers about 1/16 inch at ten yards or so. A little harder to see, but a very fine dot for precision work.

I can't wait to sight it in and try it out.

Steel challenge looks really fun, I'll look into it.

[44fred]

OP
Which Nelson did you get? If you didn't get a rail, you can always send it back and have it added. I really like my Nelson though I've only been able to have a couple sessions with it.

[Citadelgrad87]

OP
Which Nelson did you get? If you didn't get a rail, you can always send it back and have it added. I really like my Nelson though I've only been able to have a couple sessions with it.

I got the iron sight version. I wasnt really thinking optic when I got it. Im thinking about the rail, but I want to keep it like my carry 1911

[Citadelgrad87]

Very intersting post. I don't wish to hi-jack the post, but I'm sure the OP is just as intersted in the topic. I'm running a Ruger MKii with a factory rail & FF3. I've also run the gun with a TRS-25. I seem to shoot about the same with both optics, but I've never been timed, etc. On really bright days, the TRS-25 seems to provid a better dot (for me).

I like the FF3, but now I'm left without a holster. I've looked the C.O.W.S. leather, open front holster, and the Tactical Solutions Plastic thingy. The COWS looks like it cants the gun forward too much, and will fall out if the strap accidently unsnaps. The Tactical solutions looks like it will destroy the blue finish on my old gun. I also hear that they rattle. What do most people use? Will the Burris Dove-tail mount allow use in most "standard" holsters? Again, if I've jacked your post, just send me a PM, and I'll delete it. Thanks in advance.

No worries.

Someone told me the Burris mounted in the dedicated rear sight position, so there would be no rail, will fit most holsters because it sits do far back.

[GimpsUnlimited]

I had a Bushnell RDS on my 22/45 before. Shot it a few times, nothing wrong with it. But I find that it took me a long time to acquire the dot from the tube RDS. So I switched to Burris FFIII on a Burris FF mount. Very happy so far. Sits lower, less weight, fits most holsters, and most importantly: MUCH easier to acquire the dot.

[Citadelgrad87]

Nice.

Here's what mine looks like on my YouTube channel.

http://youtu.be/iN-7L0B5Oh4

[xXRifleManXx]

Looks good. Let us know how it works for you. Since your going to zeroing it in anyway are you going to be trying more then one position on the rail for the red dot?

[Citadelgrad87]

Looks good. Let us know how it works for you. Since your going to zeroing it in anyway are you going to be trying more then one position on the rail for the red dot?

I might. I figured it might point better all the way to the front. The window is tiny, and playing around its sometimes difficult to find the dot.

[mrboma]

The window is tiny, and playing around its sometimes difficult to find the dot.

The general rule when "you loose the dot" is that your holding too high. Slowly bring the muzzle down until the dot comes into view from the top of the window. I lost the dot Sunday at Steel Challenge once and had to remind myself how to get back on target quickly. Damn that fricken clock!

Regards,
Mike