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Westonhill · Member

I have seen some fast shooting pistol competitions on YouTube and it seems those competitors more likely to choose a red dot sight over a laser sight. I would instinctively think that a laser sight should be much easier to use, basically just point and shoot. I have both rifle scope and pistol scope, but I haven't had a chance to own a good laser sight or a red dot sight, can someone give me a quick rundown on these two?

Thanks in advance.

Alstone · Moderator & Site Supporter

Hi Westonhill
Welcome to the site, I've got both laser and red dots, I find that the laser is all right for close up shooting in dull lighting conditions but useless in sunlight.
As for a red dot I have a walther MRS sight and I find it is excellent out to about 20-25m, is quicker to use than a laser and the battery lasts for months, so if you do decided to buy either, buy a good one, cheap lasers tend to wonder off poi quite frequently and on cheap red dots the dot size is not adjustable and to big.

Al

PS: Sorry about the bit on the front but it comes with the gun. Smile

Westonhill · Member

AirGunEric · Site Admin

Man, ol' Al likes to rub it in for those of us in areas where silencers are dead illegal! Bastard!

And I would agree- stay away from the "cheap" red-dots- I have a $20 Crosman unit that worked OK before I could shoot the broad side of a barn- then when I got better and need to adjust it- it has two big plastic screws for elevation and windage changes- and they don't adjust with any sort of "precision" whatsoever. I would think the minimum price on a decent red-dot would have to be at least $75.

The outdoorsman · Veteran Member

so the red dot is the large blob and the laser sight is the small dot?

Alstone · Moderator & Site Supporter

AirGunEric · Site Admin

A "red dot" sight is one where a red dot is projected on a lense with crosshairs and no light emits past the lense. A "laser" sight is an actual light beam that projects outward to land on the target- i.e. the kind of thing you see in alot of Hollywood movies.

Even the military uses red dots- less chance of being spotted by the enemy and as Al pointed out- works better in daylight.

Here, for example is a red-dot used commonly in the US Military these days: http://www.bushnell.com/general/riflescopes_holosight.cfm?section=Hunting

the first one- #51-0021- retails for around $400 US Dollars. And no, I don't collect this sort of trivia- a Bushnell representative was telling me all about it earlier today so I thought I'd share. Wink

Mar · Veteran Member

$289.94 for that one at Le Baron, it's on special. Smile

Alstone · Moderator & Site Supporter

I'm seriously thinking of getting a Bushnell HOLOsight the short N series, the only problem is that over here the price is £291.00 ($582.00), so at the moment I'm looking at US sites who will ship to the UK.

I'll give Le Baron a look Mar and see what they say.

Al

Gunrunner · Member

Hi Al, what kind of pistol is that you got there ?.. sure looks sweet.

Gunrunner Cool

In my sights but out of range.

Mar · Veteran Member

Al let me know what you find out. I just bought a cheap pistol scope for now.

AirGunEric · Site Admin

Which one is the "N" unit? Are there more than three of these Holosights?

Alstone · Moderator & Site Supporter

Hi Gunrunner
The pistol started out as a Twinmaster Action, which is a very good target pistol, but it looked ugly, so I gave it a make over.
It's had a valve trigger and hammer tune, I put a shroud over the barrel to which is fitted a silencer so that the barrel is free floating, when I bought it, it shot at about 380fps it now does an average of 550fps.

I have removed the Laser and Sprayed the Co2 holder black. The muzzle brake is just for cosmetic looks and the silencer is one of the best I have made wisper quiet.

Mar
I have emailed Le Baron to get a final price on the Bushnell HOLOsight delivered to my door, I'll let you know how I get on.

Al

Alstone · Moderator & Site Supporter

Hi Eric
The N unit takes an N type battery which makes it shorter for a pistol.
I have priced this unit at quite a few places and Le Baron looks pretty good, I got a price from Midway USA of $259 but shipping was to much, intrestingly the same company Midway UK is selling the same sight for £266.00 which is $611.00 Canadian so who's getting ripped off again?

Al

AirGunEric · Site Admin

If you can hang on until Monday or Tuesday- I may be able to get you a "real" Canadian price on the #51-0021 which appears to be the only Holosight not using 'AAA' batteries. I was talking to a Bushnell rep. for a reason, after all. Wink