Red Dot Sight for Ruger PC 9mm Carbine

[BTFlyer]

I'm relatively new to firearms and have zero experience with scopes but my eyesight is not great with iron sights over 50 to 75 yards

What is the difference/pros/cons of using a red dot over a scope for 50-75 yard indoor shooting?

The prices I've been seeing on Midway.com range from $1K to $85 so I'm a bit confused as to which sort of differences there are between different red dot sights?

Any help greatly appreciated

[Paseclipse]

Starting off with a red dot try something cheap and reliable. The Bushnell TRS-25's are on sale right on Amazon- https://www.amazon.com/Bushnell-Trop...70_&dpSrc=srch

I've had one on my 9mm AR for a couple years and have been happy with it.

[BTFlyer]

Starting off with a red dot try something cheap and reliable. The Bushnell TRS-25's are on sale right on Amazon- https://www.amazon.com/Bushnell-Trop...70_&dpSrc=srch

I've had one on my 9mm AR for a couple years and have been happy with it.

Thanks man..looks like a good price...I bought one on amazon...not sure if i'll need a riser on my PC

[TS77]

In far from an expert on this stuff but red dots have virtually no parallax, can shoot with both eyes open with no issues. In conjunction with the glowing dot you should be able to get faster hits than with a scope. Also red dots tend to be more robust than scopes in similar price range, and current offerings are substantially lighter and smaller as well. Strong cases of astigmatism may make the dot look more like a comet with a tail or like a star burst.

Scopes, even low-power ones will have an eye-box, ie at some angle, and/or distance you won't be able to see the reticle at. For plinking at the range, not a big deal, but if youre doing any shooting from angles where youre not perfectly lined up, ie run and gun, hunting, etc, you may get partial or completely blacked out view. Scope benefits are of course magnification, though you can get a red dot magnifier.

For an 9mm pcc, I'd def recommend a red dot, unless you're shooting for groups or something...your rounds arent won't really have the power for shots where you'll need magnification, though it depends on what youre gonna do with it.

Huge variation on red dot prices nowadays, quality and cost basically go hand in hand. Aimpoint is probably still the top if the heap, with their micro red dots going for $600-$800 i think. Trijicon and eotech are also in this military/police issue quality

Then there's the multitude of bargain red dots, your best bet is just Google the ones that aren't junk, lot of positive history for products from primary arms, vortex, some flavors of bushnell, burris, more recently holosun, sig optics (I'm probably forgetting some popular brands here). Note that the quality and features of thsee lower end dots have significantly improved in the past couple years, it's common to find products that are night vision capable, have auto on-off, and have battery lives of 50,000 hours on the $100-$300 range, features at least comparable to $600? Aimpoint.

Happy hunting

[TS77]

Don't think you'll need a riser for that bushnell on a ruger 9mm ppc...also look up cowitnessing red dot sights with iRon sights, you MIGHT be able to with a ruger pcc and a low red dot if you so desire

[Chief-7700]

C More.

[Gryff]

The primary point of red dots is fast target acquisition. Non-magnified optics are usually intended for use within 100 yards. The issue is that the farther the target, the more of the target that is covered by the red dot (thereby reducing your ability to make precise shots).

If you think you are going to regularly shoot beyond 75 yards, consider one of the 1-4x or 1-6x scopes that 3-gun shooters have made so popular. They give you some ability to get quick target acquisition up close (although their field-of-view through the scope is smaller than your standard 1x red dot), but they allow you to dial up a small amount of magnification for distance shots.

Leupold just announced a new one in their bargain line that is selling for less than $200.

https://www.leupold.com/scopes/rifle-scopes/vx-freedom-1-5-4x20

Do keep in mind that you are shooting a 9mm rifle, so effectiveness out beyond 100 yards is going to be limited compared to something chambered in a rifle caliber.

[rumble phish]

I'm highly considering the Primary Arms 1-4x cqb scope for my PCC. I use the 1-6 and 1-8x versions and love them. True 1x that can be used like a red dot, 4x for getting closer to your target.

[Gauss]

I put a Trijicon MRO in their low mount on mine. Works like a charm, couldnt ask for anything more!

[Someday]

I have a TRS-25 for my AR - I like it for range work. I bought a Holosun HS403 for the PCC. While I've only used it once so far, I liked it. Neither would need a riser. the Holosun came with one, but I took it off.

[MarikinaMan]

I have a Pirmary Arms on my Marlin Camp 9. If I did it again, I’d get one of those 50,000 hour units like Holosun.