Mounting red-dot scope on 1911

[navdoc]

What different methods and\or companies (not too expensive) are available to mount a weaver style scope base on a 1911 stlye pistol in order to accomodate a red-dot aquisition scope? Is it even worth putting thsi type system on a 1911 considering that I am primarily a target range shooter and rifle guy?

 

[Mikey]

Try the Tasco Optima 2000. It has mounts that fit the rear sight dovetail. It's light and it works, plus your gun will still fit in all your holsters. If you decide you don't like it you haven't modified your gun so you can go back to normal sights with no ugly boo-boos on your gun.

Mikey

 

[Matt VDW]

Navdoc,

Red dot sights can work well on 1911-style pistols. In fact, in shooting competitions where 1911s predominate and red dot sights are allowed (IPSC and NRA Bullseye), the winners all use dots.

But there are some difficulties. Pistols that shoot full-power loads either have to use the new Tasco Optima 2000 sight that mounts to the slide or a frame mount that puts the sight on a "bridge" over the slide. Bullseye pistols loaded with 185-200 grain bullets at about 800 fps sometimes use a Weaver base mounted directly to the slide.

The main advantage to using a red dot sight is that acquiring proper sight picture (dot on center mass) becomes very quick and easy. There's no need to focus on a front sight; everything appears to be in one optical plane.

Disadvantages include expense (from $50 for a cheap model to over $300, not including the mount), weight, bulk (standard holsters don't work), rain/soot/dirt on the lenses, parts breakage, dead batteries, and the illusion of shakiness because muzzle movement is more apparent.