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Ruger 9mm Carbine - sight options

Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 10:06 pm
by senorgrand
LOVE my 9mm Ruger pistol chamber carbine. I have a stack of Freedom Week Happy Sticks for it that are all loaded-up and ready for the range.

Image


Just wondering if I want to put an optic on it. The sights are great and dead-on (it has a fiber-optic front). It's just that my eyesight sucks and I'm wondering if I want either a red dot or an x1-6 illuminated scope.

I'll be mostly shooting pie-sized plates at no more than 50 yards. Although if I scope it, I'll try to ring some steel out to 100 yards. If a red dot, I'm leaning Vortex Venom at the 6 MOA size, because I could move to a handgun if I want.

If a scope, I'm leaning Vortex Strike Eagle because the reticle looks like it's could be used as a 1.5 MOA or 8 MOA, depending on how you use it. Here's a picture:

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Whatchya think?

Re: Ruger 9mm Carbine - sight options

Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 10:28 pm
by kronkmusic

senorgrand wrote:LOVE my 9mm Ruger pistol chamber carbine. I have a stack of Freedom Week Happy Sticks for it that are all loaded-up and ready for the range.

Image


Just wondering if I want to put an optic on it. The sights are great and dead-on (it has a fiber-optic front). It's just that my eyesight sucks and I'm wondering if I want either a red dot or an x1-6 illuminated scope.

I'll be mostly shooting pie-sized plates at no more than 50 yards. Although if I scope it, I'll try to ring some steel out to 100 yards. If a red dot, I'm leaning Vortex Venom at the 6 MOA size, because I could move to a handgun if I want.

If a scope, I'm leaning Vortex Strike Eagle because the reticle looks like it's could be used as a 1.5 MOA or 8 MOA, depending on how you use it. Here's a picture:

Image


Whatchya think?
I slapped a Burris AR-332 3x illuminated prism on mine and I've been very happy with it, the reticle is fairly similar to the picture you shared. My only real issues with it is the limited eye relief, and it's not the lightest optic ever built, but neither is really a problem for what is primarily a fun range toy. It allows me to hit ridiculously small groups at 50yds fairly easily, and ringing steel at 100yds is cake. I personally feel like 6 MOA is too big a dot for a rifle that you wanna stretch out into the lower end of mid-range shooting.

Re: Ruger 9mm Carbine - sight options

Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 10:37 pm
by senorgrand
What's the eye relief?

Re: Ruger 9mm Carbine - sight options

Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 10:49 pm
by kronkmusic
senorgrand wrote:What's the eye relief?
2.5in and that's really 2.5in, there's no significant range to that. The good news is the glass is clear and the thing is cheap, you can pick one up with either the CQ or 3X reticle and with a free 3 MOA Fastfire 3 for under $300 shipped, and they have one of those truly no-questions-asked lifetime waranties.

Re: Ruger 9mm Carbine - sight options

Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 10:55 pm
by Bullitt68
It's not made for long range. Reminds me of a hi point. I'd do a red dot on it.

Re: Ruger 9mm Carbine - sight options

Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 11:04 pm
by senorgrand
kronkmusic wrote: Tue Jun 11, 2019 10:49 pm
senorgrand wrote:What's the eye relief?
2.5in and that's really 2.5in, there's no significant range to that. The good news is the glass is clear and the thing is cheap, you can pick one up with either the CQ or 3X reticle and with a free 3 MOA Fastfire 3 for under $300 shipped, and they have one of those truly no-questions-asked lifetime waranties.
Hmmm....

Re: Ruger 9mm Carbine - sight options

Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 1:13 am
by kronkmusic
Bullitt68 wrote:It's not made for long range. Reminds me of a hi point. I'd do a red dot on it.
Oh I definitely wouldn't go above 3x magnification on it. This gun is truly awesome inside 100yds. Much more than that... well it's still 9mm, even if fired out of a really good barrel.

Re: Ruger 9mm Carbine - sight options

Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 8:08 am
by shinzen
If you're going to spend $300, I'd jump to $400 and grab the Burris MTAC combo instead. Gives you the Fastfire plus the MTAC- the MTAC has 4" of eye relief, so if you decide to start moving and shooting at any point, you have an optic that won't frustrate you for that endeavor.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/15485 ... ount-matte

And it comes with the PEPR mount, which is a really great mounting solution.

Re: Ruger 9mm Carbine - sight options

Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 11:15 am
by kronkmusic
shinzen wrote:If you're going to spend $300, I'd jump to $400 and grab the Burris MTAC combo instead. Gives you the Fastfire plus the MTAC- the MTAC has 4" of eye relief, so if you decide to start moving and shooting at any point, you have an optic that won't frustrate you for that endeavor.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/15485 ... ount-matte

And it comes with the PEPR mount, which is a really great mounting solution.
Damn, that's actually a really good deal

Re: Ruger 9mm Carbine - sight options

Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 12:02 pm
by featureless
I have two Leopold scopes with the fire dot. They are very nice with a simple crosshair. One is a 1.5x4 and under a pound. The other is a 2x7 and just over a pound. The weight and simplicity sold me on them.

Re: Ruger 9mm Carbine - sight options

Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 8:04 pm
by shinzen
kronkmusic wrote: Wed Jun 12, 2019 11:15 am
shinzen wrote:If you're going to spend $300, I'd jump to $400 and grab the Burris MTAC combo instead. Gives you the Fastfire plus the MTAC- the MTAC has 4" of eye relief, so if you decide to start moving and shooting at any point, you have an optic that won't frustrate you for that endeavor.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/15485 ... ount-matte

And it comes with the PEPR mount, which is a really great mounting solution.
Damn, that's actually a really good deal
Yeah, if I was in the market for any such thing, I'd jump on it. About $200 less than normal.

Re: Ruger 9mm Carbine - sight options

Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 8:15 pm
by Bisbee
Have you considered that a removable barrel may slightly change the point of aim slightly each time to take down the gun if using a receiver mounted optic? Part of the reason I don’t bother and keep the barrel mounted ghost ring. But maybe not as big a big deal for under 100 yard plinking as I imagine.

Re: Ruger 9mm Carbine - sight options

Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 8:32 pm
by senorgrand
Yeah...a barrel mounted optic would be better in theory.

Hey...can I just make a 3 MOA dot a bigger dot by upping brightness? Won't the "flare" make for a bigger dot?

Re: Ruger 9mm Carbine - sight options

Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 8:44 pm
by atxgunguy
I’ve got a Vortex Sparc II on mine. Absolute tack driver at 50 yards.

Re: Ruger 9mm Carbine - sight options

Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2019 12:36 am
by senorgrand
how about the Holosun HS507C?

It fits an RMR mount, which means I could put it on my Glock.

It also has a 2 MOA dot with a 65 MOA circle

Re: Ruger 9mm Carbine - sight options

Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2019 8:15 am
by atxgunguy
Holosun makes good products. I'd probably recommend a riser for the pic rail mount as to get a better cheek weld.

Re: Ruger 9mm Carbine - sight options

Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2019 12:07 pm
by senorgrand
I can already use the iron sights pretty well...do I really need a riser?

Re: Ruger 9mm Carbine - sight options

Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2019 3:26 pm
by atxgunguy
senorgrand wrote:I can already use the iron sights pretty well...do I really need a riser?
Maybe not. I would think the RMR might sit too low as is. I could be wrong. I'm sure someone's done the homework on what works best.

Re: Ruger 9mm Carbine - sight options

Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2019 3:38 pm
by kronkmusic
One pretty cool option if you end up going with an Aimpoint T-1 style red dot (Romeo5, etc.) Midwest Industries makes a mount that actually mounts it sideways so it sits lower to co-witness with the iron sights. It only works with their M-LOK rail, but lucky for you they just released their rail in OD green.

Re: Ruger 9mm Carbine - sight options

Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2019 4:20 pm
by featureless
senorgrand wrote: Wed Jun 12, 2019 8:32 pm Hey...can I just make a 3 MOA dot a bigger dot by upping brightness? Won't the "flare" make for a bigger dot?
Somewhat. I've found the aimpoint t-1 dot to be just right for a rifle but it doesn't get a lot bigger with brightness increases. It's easy to pick up even at its small size. I once had a Eotech and it is the best circle/dot thingy of them all but battery life sucks and you have to manually turn it on, something unacceptable for a zombie apocalypse rifle, so it went on its way to another home. I have had a Delta Point Pro 12 MOA triangle on a rifle and found it to be way too big plus most mounts put it too high for my tastes. It may be on it's way out the door as well. The RMR I recently picked up does look bigger the brighter it is set--I really like it. However, reader beware--I have astigmatism so your results may vary. Amazingly, they all look better without my glasses on. :ugeek:

edited to add: I don't think the RMR would be acceptable on a rifle as a primary--the field of view is pretty small. The new RSO might fair better.

Re: Ruger 9mm Carbine - sight options

Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2019 6:55 pm
by atxgunguy
PS. The Aimpoint T-1 costs more than what I paid for the entire Ruger Carbine. Not a commentary on quality or choice, just perspective on price for a fine gun that isn't that great past 50 yards.

Re: Ruger 9mm Carbine - sight options

Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2019 8:37 pm
by senorgrand
yeah...trying to keep to the 1/2 price of the gun rule

Re: Ruger 9mm Carbine - sight options

Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2019 8:40 pm
by Bisbee
:laugh:

Re: Ruger 9mm Carbine - sight options

Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2019 9:35 pm
by shinzen
It's double the price of the gun man.

Re: Ruger 9mm Carbine - sight options

Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2019 9:44 pm
by senorgrand
Holosun is $300. Carbine was $500 and change I think.