Help - Need Advice on Optics for 357

F

Farmhand

New member
Well, my wife bought me a nice surprise gift for x-mas. A set of laser grips for my N Frame S&W 627 Performance Center with a 5' barrel. I am very lucky to have a wife that tries to support my hobby; unfortunately, I was really thinking about putting a scope on this revolver. But she did not know that. The N Frame is pretty darn big and with that 8 round cylinder and don't think this will every be a concealed carry gun or a gun for home defense. I was thinking about using it for target shooting/plinking and thought a 2x Burris or Leupold would be good.

I had also thought about a red dot - like a Burris Red Dot, Gilmore, or an Ultra Dot. But as I said I was leaning toward the scope. I had never though about the crimson trace laser grips. They just don't see to be right for that big gun for my uses. Maybe on a J frame with a shorter barrel.

I would appreciate your thoughts on this situation. Should I return the laser grips for the N frame? If so what do you thing about the 2x scope vs. a red dot? I think a scope will fit on a 5" N frame.

Any recommendations/cautions on what brand of scope - I was thinking Burris or Leupold but I am not super knowledgable about scopes so I am open to other brands. I know that the 357 is kind of hard on scopes so I need to get well built one - I think both Burris and Leupold are good. I believe the Burris scopes are still made in the USA I am not sure about the Leupold handgun scopes.

If I would go with the red dot what would be your recommendations?

Of course I could keep the crimson trace grips. I'm so confused! ;)
 
Depends on intended use and range.
Anything under 100 FEET, iron sights will do. Most versatile.
Over 100 feet up to 75 YARDS, I'd get a red dot.
Anything where your intended target will give you a shot that you can get in position for, it's just over 100 yards, and will stand still for you, a nice 2x or 4x scope is what you're looking for.
Too much over 4x and 100 yards, and you'll need a rest/bench.
I personally can't hold a 2x scope equipped pistol offhand and get any better results than iron. Too shaky. But with a rest......
If you're in it for the tightest groups on paper and got a bench and sandbags, a higher powered scope may be in order.
Crimson trace grips are for (In my mind.) guns primarily used for carry, they tend to be lightweight, as simple as possible, and most come equipped with poor sights, (Poor sight picture, not regulated well, snag free, etc.) but you don't really look at the sights at 7 yards.
It's 25 yard shots with those concealment guns, while shooting without looking at the sights, that makes the CT grips worthwile, I'm not going to get into the intimidation factor.
There's also the docter sight, the j-point, etc. usually used for run-n-gun. Light weight, won't throw off your balance.
 
Red dots built like traditional scopes are kinda limiting in some ways.
Like holstering, human error (Leaving the blasted thing on all night before a hunting trip, making your gun unuseable, loose mounts, etc.)
As far as shooting paper, they make you a better shooter at ranges from 25-75 yards on stationary targets, and are great to practice with to watch and see if you can make the dot not move while dry firing.
They're not easy to hit moving targets with at close range.
They slow down your draw to first shot times.
They recover slower than iron at short ranges (25-40 yards).
At 40-70 yards shooting stationary or slow moving targets, traditional red dots are the way to go. Nothing else comes close.
Closer, and iron sights (Combined with projected red dots, if you got the $$$), (zero your red dot at 10-15 yards, and your iron at 25+.) are the king, esp. on moving targets.
100 yards and you're back to peep sights or a scope.
Over 100 to 125 yards, and you're out of your effective range.
I spend big $$$$ trying to get any kind of edge over iron at 15 yards, and short of a projected red dot, nothing helps. I tried the optima2000/firepoint/jpoint/docter. It's slower than iron, unless you're VERY talented. They tighten your groups at 25 yards, but slow down your shots ever so slightly.
 
Interesting

So it sounds like there is some agreement that the Crimson Trace grips are not appropriate for my uses on this big N Frame. I also looks like maybe keeping the iron sights maybe the way to go. I really appreciate the input about this issue since I am not that knowledgeable about the red dots and scopes. I did consider the battery issue with red dots - which is one reason I was leaning toward a traditional scope but maybe I should just save my $. I do appreciate everyones thoughts.
 
Pros and cons

I went through an assortment of opitcs on a contender and ened up liking a Lepold 1 1/2X It was large and had very good light gathering ability.
But the contender was a very big long gun. And back then the red dots werent that well made or popular=HIGH price.
Lately I have built up a Beretta Storm carbine with a red dot reflector sight.
(Actualy you can choose from 4 different patterns)
And I would say that is the way to go. It make's it very easy to keep both eyes open and focused. The problem is that you need to buy a very good brand=lots of mula. I first purchased a cheep chines copy so that I diddnt have to spend a lot to find out I diddnt like them. And it was a piece of crap.
Several box's of 9mm would knock the thing off by several inches.
Since then I have replace it with a very good unit that cost over 200$ and for a short range wepon I will never place a scope on one again.
Off hand with the carbine I can hold 3inch groups at 100 yards, for me thats very impressive (I am old and semi blind)
Just keep several batteries handy, I too forget to turn them off. (memory goes with age)
 
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