Tasco red dot sets off center

O

Osage

New member
Bought a tasco red dot for a S&W 22a semi auto pistol thats going in my sons stocking. I noticed that the scope sets off center of the barrel when mounted on the rail. This gun comes standard with a rail. Is that anything to be concerned about?
 
Osage said:
I noticed that the scope sets off center of the barrel when mounted on the rail. ... Is that anything to be concerned about?
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You mean other than the fact parallax will make it so the pistol can only be accurate at ONE distance, both vertically AND horizontally? Thus making it nearly impossible to hit anything?

Nope, other than that not a thing to be concerned about.

Is the rail a 3/8" rimfire rail or a standard Picatinny rail? If it's a 3/8" rail, is the scope set up for a 3/8" rail or is it a Weaver/Picatinny base that's cranked down to fit a narrower rail than it was designed for?
 
You're Okay

With the scope mounted properly and you are still able to superimpose the Dot" over the target, you are fine. RedDots are a simple learning curve and you just need to trust them. I have neen using them for a number of years and one of the first one on the market, was a Tasco. Since then, I have owned quite a few, in all price ranges and mounted on just about anything, including a bow but excluding traditional M/L's. Make sure to keep both eyes and mind, open. .... ;)


Be Safe !!!
 
The rail type will not cause the scope to be off center unless you are using the wrong type of rail as noted by Aguila Blanca.

You mean other than the fact parallax will make it so the pistol can only be accurate at ONE distance, both vertically AND horizontally? Thus making it nearly impossible to hit anything?
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Being slightly off center is going to be pretty much a non issue in regard to parallax and shooting at typical pistol distances. To minimize the issue, zero your windage at the greatest possible distance you can and this will align the dot on a more parallel trajectory with the barrel than would zeroing it up close. Then when you shoot at a closer distance, about all will happen is maybe that your bullet impacts slightly off center within the red dot.
 
Apparently it is a Weaver rail, not a 3/8" rimfire rail. So a "standard" red dot scope should go right on and center up. Check the mounting claws on the scope base and see if they're set properly.
 
Check the mounting claws on the scope base and see if they're set properly.
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This. The Tasco dot I had on my carbine wouldn't line up right unless the two knobs were tightened the same. It's a pretty crude mounting setup.
 
Finally got some pictures. Had to sneak it away before it went under the tree. Hopefully you can see what I'm talking about. The rail comes already mounted.
 

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I can't tell from the photos you provided, but it looks like what you have is a rimfire scope with a 3/8" base, opened out to squeeze onto a 3/4" Weaver rail. More than likely whoever sold you the scope heard ".22" and assumed (as I did initially) that the gun had a "rimfire" rail -- which is 3/8" wide, not 3/4.
 
I can't tell from the photos you provided, but it looks like what you have is a rimfire scope with a 3/8" base, opened out to squeeze onto a 3/4" Weaver rail.
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Granted, it doesn't look right, but it isn't because he has a 3/8" base squeezed onto a 3/4" weaver rail.

From ... http://www.opticsale.com/tasco-red-dot-1x30-matte-5-moa-dot-820-prd1.html ... note that for the Tasco red dot site model number BKRD30

Additional Features: Built-on dovetail rail to fit standard centerfire weaver-style bases
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They don't have a 3/8" rail version. Even if they did, I would not imagine that it could be made to fit a weaver. Typically, 3/8" mounts don't have enough runout on the screws to allow the mount to fit to much larger Weaver or Picatinny rails.
 
Looking again at the photos. The second photo especially looks like the right side of the scope claw is not clamped onto the rail. There's a lateral gap, and the clamp also seems to be setting too high.

With that scope, the screws have to be located in the slots of the rail. Is it possible that one or both screws aren't in the slots?
 
Pretty sure the bolts are in the slots. The clamp won't catch on the rail otherwise. I've looked it over petty thoroughly and can't see any gaps or wiggle room. We'll give it a go and see how it works. May just need to swap out sights eventually if this doesn't work. My guess is it may be good enough.
 
Osage -

I don't think it's off enough to make a difference. By the way, if your son is a young shooter and this is his first pistol, why don't you let him learn with iron sights? Being dependent on a battery-operated red dot might not be the right way to get him started, and his eyes are likely more than good enough to deal with the iron sight picture, which admittedly may be a little more difficult to master but could make him a better shooter. The red dot also adds unnecessary weight to the gun.

The need for the red dot doesn't kick in until you reach 60 or so... ;)
 
He's pretty good with iron sights. We shoot milsurp rifles quite a bit at 200 - 300 yards. Thought we might get more precision from dot sight. My eyes are the ones that need it...
 
He might not NEED the red dot until 60...but it sure is fun at a lesser age.:D

Good job to you for already teaching him to use iron sights.
 
Osage said:
Pretty sure the bolts are in the slots. The clamp won't catch on the rail otherwise.
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I don't think it is caught on the rail. Look at your fourth photo -- the single one in the second photo post. The rear of the mount is higher than the front and the mount isn't parallel (horizontally) to the rail. It's sloping down toward the front.
 
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