Scope or Red Dot

[GTBOOSTED]

I am picking up my Buckmark Contour today and I am wondering if I should put a scope or red dot on it.

I have a spare 1-4 Vortex Crossfire II that I can put on it. I was also thinking of buying a TRS25 or Primary Arms micro red dot. Any suggestions? This is my first 22 pistol and it will be for plinking only.

[Squidward]

I'd guess that the Vortex weighs more than the Bushnell or PA red dots. I think lighter is the better way to go for a plinker.

[CSACANNONEER]

Irons all the way.

[jimmykan]

The Vortex Crossfire II only has about 4 inches of eye relief, I don't think it's suitable as a handgun scope.

Unless, you shoot it like this:

[champu]

I am picking up my Buckmark Contour today and I am wondering if I should put a scope or red dot on it.

I have a spare 1-4 Vortex Crossfire II that I can put on it. I was also thinking of buying a TRS25 or Primary Arms micro red dot. Any suggestions? This is my first 22 pistol and it will be for plinking only.

A variable power optic on a pistol seems like it would be more weight than you want to hold at arms length and, as another poster pointed out, I would expect eye-relief to be an issue.

My preference for pistols are iron sights or a reflex sight (I use a Vortex Venom on my 22 target pistol, and I like it, but there are a ton of choices.)

[Rosebud22]

I have a Primary Arms red dot on my buckmark and very happy with it. Can shoot from the bench or off hand without issue.

[Blade Gunner]

How's your vision. If you have an astigmatism, some times red dots look like red footballs.

[Horrendo Revolver]

A handgun definitely needs a handgun scope if one goes that route. On a Buck Mark I'd go red dot.

[357magnum]

I have the TRS-25 red dot on my Buckmark, it's a real tack driver.

[Mutant]

Yes.

[RawHP]

Unless you're dedicating the pistol for long range or hunting applications, a scope doesn't seem like a good primary choice. However, it's a fun option when you want to shoot supported. The red dot is a lot better for offhand plinking but I'd suggest going light if you like the current balance of your pistol.

I don't have to remove my fastfire to mount my scope, which makes is pretty convenient to put on a take off, plus with the see-through rings, the dot is still usable even when it's mounted.

[Kwikvette]

[newbie1234]

Why don't you just shoot it with iron sight for a while until you really need a scope or red dot.

I put in two difference kinds of red-dots on BM Contour and then I went back to iron sight. The reason is the red dot is 1X, the magnification is the same as iron sight, the red-dot is no help for "people with old eyes" liked me.

I already ordered a long eye relief 4X pistol scope, but it not coming yet , I think it will help. I can order the red-dot magnification, the one that I can flip to the side, and mount behind the red-dot to boost the magnification of the red dot, hmmm, it complicates so I just get the scope and get it over with.

[socal147]

Red dot
Fast acquisition

[RawHP]

The reason is the red dot is 1X, the magnification is the same as iron sight, the red-dot is no help for "people with old eyes" liked me.

Maybe not from a magnificatin standpoint, but I think there is some advantage to being able to shoot with both eyes open, especially with "old eyes" like mine.