Which red dot to purchase and where to put it?

soldat251 · 03-06-2010, 06:56 AM

I am the new proud owner of the Mini 14 with tactical stock by ATI. She's a real beauty and shoots well. Now I want to add a red dot scope but I'm not sure what to purchase. I swapped out the original top rail for an aluminium one from Midway to make it more sturdy but I am not sure of where to place the scope or which ones would do best. I guess my choices are either at the end of the top rail, or use the Ruger scope rings and place it there. I could use some advise on some scopes to look for and where to place the scope on my rifle. I am hoping to find something for under $100 if that is possible.
Thank you guys for any input you can give me.

Nam62 · 03-06-2010, 07:48 AM

The best thing to do (if you can) is to check out the red dot in BROAD DAYLIGHT and see if can see the dot. A lot of cheap red dots wash out and you can not see them.

I have a Eotech that works great in any lighting condition, there are several other ones that also work great.

5 Boyz · 03-06-2010, 09:12 AM

you need save and get a eotech if you want a red dot. they do make a flat top rail to put in place of your sope rings ,but they will not line up to the one on the stock look at mine.http://rugerforum.net/attachment.php...1&d=1267898902

soldat251 · 03-06-2010, 10:23 AM

If that be the case, maybe I would be better off looking at a 4x32 or 5x42 scope with a lighted reticle instead.

78CJ5 · 03-06-2010, 11:05 AM

You can shoot with both eye's open with the Eotech, works much better for me than a scope. just my 2 cents.

1984 · 03-06-2010, 02:00 PM

SWFA Riflescopes Trijicon Rifle Scopes Trijicon Reflex Dual Illuminated Sights

5 Boyz · 03-06-2010, 09:00 PM

It will all depend on what you want your mini for. A percisiion rifel, plinker or home defense. Mine is a 197 ser# wich considers it late old school mini {not to accurate}. My scope is just a Tasco 3-9x30. and I started woring about tight groups and that is not what I bought it for. If you really have the change get the Trijicon I would love to put one on my new SR556. If anyone is willing to buy one I also would be willing to install it and try it for them.

soldat251 · 03-07-2010, 05:21 AM

I understand what you are saying 5 Boys. I am more interested in using it for self defense (urban v. suburban) and short distance (50-100 yds) plinking. I have other rifles that can reach out and touch something at greater distances. That's why I am considering a red dot or 4 x 32. The 581 series with the ATI folding stock gives you many options in an urban environment.
Whether it is better to place the scope on the Ruger rings or at the end of the top rail is another question I am trying to figure out. I guess logic would say place the scope on the rings and a red dot at the end of the top rail, or am I wrong? I'm also grappling with the price. It seems that there is no middle ground between the cheap under $100 and the $400 and up scopes out there. I still can't grasp the concept of paying almost as much for the scope as I did the rifle. I know you get what you pay for (usually). Tough decisions ahead.

5 Boyz · 03-07-2010, 06:15 AM

I agree with you fully. I just bought my sr556 and was faced with that delima again. I was very fortunate to find a like new used eotech for 180$ regulary 400$ ouch. If you scope it for home defence I would consider a 4x40 {wider feild of veiw} instead of the 4x32. Do not go cheap such as a tasco propoint they will not hold up to the extreme abuse and batteries will be a huge issue. One thing I reallylike about the eotech if my batteries go down it does not block my iron sites I can see right threw it.

1984 · 03-07-2010, 06:41 AM

Soldat251,The trijacon link for my above response is to a company called SWFA. Go to their sight and look for what they call their samples list. ( This is super secret so lets keep this between our Ruger brothers and sisters.)
Onthe list are hundreds of scopes,,binocs,range finders,spotting scopes,eotechs,holosights,alot of high end stuff that is being sold for big discounts.Most were samples ,demos,or trade ins.I got a super sniper scope that was a trade in and they said it was in new condition with( light ring marks),well I got the scope and I could not see any ring marks ,it was better than advertised. some of it is new in box and was only used to get a picture for the catalouge. And if we dont tell a thousand people,that leaves more for us!

terry_p · 03-07-2010, 06:43 AM

I bought a Bushnell Red Dot and installed on my SBH. The Bushnell has bot red and green settings. Red for day and green for low light. It also has intensity settings so you can adjust the brightness and finally you can choose different reticles you can choose from different sized dots to cross hairs, etc. Check them out as they are reasonably priced as well.

1984 · 03-07-2010, 07:27 AM

samples list appers to be down right at the moment,try again later this afternoon!

soldat251 · 03-07-2010, 07:52 AM

1984,
I checked out the SWFA site, and it looks like everything in a reasonable price range (at least to me) has been cherry picked. But I will check back again. Your suggestion of a 4x40 scope sounds like a posibility. Only problem is that from the front edge of the top rail to the rear sight is just 14" on my mini 14. The 581 series has a 16" barrel. Most of the 4x40 sights I have found so far are in the 13 - 14" range. A rather long scope for a rather short carbine. What I need is to find a more compact 8 - 9" scope if that is possible in those dimensions. Or a red dot that will fill the bill. Always something.....

Thanks for the help.

5 Boyz · 03-07-2010, 07:57 AM

I can not remember the name of the top picitany mount i put on my mini ,but I know they are out there. If you like that mount I will tell you I had to trim my stock just in front of the action so the mount would set down flat. But it works great a looks good.

03-06-2010, 06:56 AM	#1
soldat251 Joined: Feb 2010 From: Northeast, Pa. Posts: 11	Which red dot to purchase and where to put it? I am the new proud owner of the Mini 14 with tactical stock by ATI. She's a real beauty and shoots well. Now I want to add a red dot scope but I'm not sure what to purchase. I swapped out the original top rail for an aluminium one from Midway to make it more sturdy but I am not sure of where to place the scope or which ones would do best. I guess my choices are either at the end of the top rail, or use the Ruger scope rings and place it there. I could use some advise on some scopes to look for and where to place the scope on my rifle. I am hoping to find something for under $100 if that is possible. Thank you guys for any input you can give me.

03-06-2010, 09:12 AM	#3
5 Boyz Joined: Jan 2010 From: Southern IL Posts: 289	you need save and get a eotech if you want a red dot. they do make a flat top rail to put in place of your sope rings ,but they will not line up to the one on the stock look at mine.http://rugerforum.net/attachment.php...1&d=1267898902 Last edited by 5 Boyz; 03-07-2010 at 10:20 AM.

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03-06-2010, 07:48 AM	#2
Nam62 Joined: Feb 2009 From: Twin Falls, Idaho Posts: 49	The best thing to do (if you can) is to check out the red dot in BROAD DAYLIGHT and see if can see the dot. A lot of cheap red dots wash out and you can not see them. I have a Eotech that works great in any lighting condition, there are several other ones that also work great.

03-06-2010, 10:23 AM	#4
soldat251 Joined: Feb 2010 From: Northeast, Pa. Posts: 11	If that be the case, maybe I would be better off looking at a 4x32 or 5x42 scope with a lighted reticle instead.

03-06-2010, 11:05 AM	#5
78CJ5 Joined: Jan 2009 From: Atlanta, GA Posts: 377	You can shoot with both eye's open with the Eotech, works much better for me than a scope. just my 2 cents.

03-06-2010, 02:00 PM	#6
1984 Joined: Jan 2010 From: w.v Posts: 25	SWFA Riflescopes Trijicon Rifle Scopes Trijicon Reflex Dual Illuminated Sights

03-06-2010, 09:00 PM	#7
5 Boyz Joined: Jan 2010 From: Southern IL Posts: 289	It will all depend on what you want your mini for. A percisiion rifel, plinker or home defense. Mine is a 197 ser# wich considers it late old school mini {not to accurate}. My scope is just a Tasco 3-9x30. and I started woring about tight groups and that is not what I bought it for. If you really have the change get the Trijicon I would love to put one on my new SR556. If anyone is willing to buy one I also would be willing to install it and try it for them.

03-07-2010, 05:21 AM	#8
soldat251 Joined: Feb 2010 From: Northeast, Pa. Posts: 11	I understand what you are saying 5 Boys. I am more interested in using it for self defense (urban v. suburban) and short distance (50-100 yds) plinking. I have other rifles that can reach out and touch something at greater distances. That's why I am considering a red dot or 4 x 32. The 581 series with the ATI folding stock gives you many options in an urban environment. Whether it is better to place the scope on the Ruger rings or at the end of the top rail is another question I am trying to figure out. I guess logic would say place the scope on the rings and a red dot at the end of the top rail, or am I wrong? I'm also grappling with the price. It seems that there is no middle ground between the cheap under $100 and the $400 and up scopes out there. I still can't grasp the concept of paying almost as much for the scope as I did the rifle. I know you get what you pay for (usually). Tough decisions ahead.

03-07-2010, 06:15 AM	#9
5 Boyz Joined: Jan 2010 From: Southern IL Posts: 289	I agree with you fully. I just bought my sr556 and was faced with that delima again. I was very fortunate to find a like new used eotech for 180$ regulary 400$ ouch. If you scope it for home defence I would consider a 4x40 {wider feild of veiw} instead of the 4x32. Do not go cheap such as a tasco propoint they will not hold up to the extreme abuse and batteries will be a huge issue. One thing I reallylike about the eotech if my batteries go down it does not block my iron sites I can see right threw it.

03-07-2010, 06:41 AM	#10
1984 Joined: Jan 2010 From: w.v Posts: 25	Soldat251,The trijacon link for my above response is to a company called SWFA. Go to their sight and look for what they call their samples list. ( This is super secret so lets keep this between our Ruger brothers and sisters.) Onthe list are hundreds of scopes,,binocs,range finders,spotting scopes,eotechs,holosights,alot of high end stuff that is being sold for big discounts.Most were samples ,demos,or trade ins.I got a super sniper scope that was a trade in and they said it was in new condition with( light ring marks),well I got the scope and I could not see any ring marks ,it was better than advertised. some of it is new in box and was only used to get a picture for the catalouge. And if we dont tell a thousand people,that leaves more for us!

03-07-2010, 06:43 AM	#11
terry_p Moderator Joined: Nov 2007 From: NH, USA. Posts: 1,818	I bought a Bushnell Red Dot and installed on my SBH. The Bushnell has bot red and green settings. Red for day and green for low light. It also has intensity settings so you can adjust the brightness and finally you can choose different reticles you can choose from different sized dots to cross hairs, etc. Check them out as they are reasonably priced as well.

03-07-2010, 07:27 AM	#12
1984 Joined: Jan 2010 From: w.v Posts: 25	samples list appers to be down right at the moment,try again later this afternoon!

03-07-2010, 07:52 AM	#13
soldat251 Joined: Feb 2010 From: Northeast, Pa. Posts: 11	1984, I checked out the SWFA site, and it looks like everything in a reasonable price range (at least to me) has been cherry picked. But I will check back again. Your suggestion of a 4x40 scope sounds like a posibility. Only problem is that from the front edge of the top rail to the rear sight is just 14" on my mini 14. The 581 series has a 16" barrel. Most of the 4x40 sights I have found so far are in the 13 - 14" range. A rather long scope for a rather short carbine. What I need is to find a more compact 8 - 9" scope if that is possible in those dimensions. Or a red dot that will fill the bill. Always something..... Thanks for the help.

03-07-2010, 07:57 AM	#14
5 Boyz Joined: Jan 2010 From: Southern IL Posts: 289	I can not remember the name of the top picitany mount i put on my mini ,but I know they are out there. If you like that mount I will tell you I had to trim my stock just in front of the action so the mount would set down flat. But it works great a looks good.