Giving optics a try - Ruger SBH 480 with RMR

[princeout]

A couple of months back I was trying to eliminate a pesky beaver who was destroying the trees around my pond.  I found I couldn't see a dark beaver against dark water with black sights on my SBH 480.  I've tried to get by without optics on handguns but decided it was time to give it a try.  

Forum member Wheelguns got me fixed up with a Weigand mount designed for the Ruger 6-1/2" barreled 454 and 480.  Thanks!

After some discussion with the Eskimo, I settled on a Trijicon RMR2 with a 3.25 MOA red dot.  Got it mounted up this morning and tried to see if I could get close to hitting a paper plate with it.  Only had a dozen rounds loaded so I didn't get too far.

I feel like I'm pointing the gun at the ground in front of the target, but I managed to get a few rounds on paper at 10 yards and 20 yards.  At 40 yards, I finally grazed the edge of the plate, but ran out of ammo before I could start to get my head wrapped around how this thing is supposed to work.  Seems like parallax would make a significant change in point of aim/point of impact with changing distance, but, like I said, I'm not an experienced optics user.  The only scope I've ever had is a low powered Leopold on a Marlin Guide Gun - which is what I ended up taking the beaver out with.  Funny story, but he was charging me at about 6 feet when he popped out of the water.  An 18-1/2" Guided Gun with a scope is kinda hard to properly engage an angry beaver at 6 feet, but point and shoot worked and I haven't lost any more trees. 

It sure is a homely looking handgun!  Guess that is the price of getting a bit older.  Still one of my favorite rounds to shoot with though.  I have a Rossi M92 companion levergun in 480 Ruger also.  Great pair.

Tim

[kings6]

I’m sure that will work but if nothing else, I bet that mount is OSHA approved as a piece if scaffolding plank if you ever need one!😄

[bushog]

Get 'em Killa!

[bigbrowndog]

Always helps to start off close, 25yards and sometimes 10 yards just to get a solid starting point. I can’t even tell how many rounds I’ve sent off without knowing where it landed and continue to guess until I smartin up and close the distance and discover it’s way off.

On the angry beavers, I’ve got a buddy in GA that spent over a year trying to eliminate one, even using IR and Thermal, it became a running joke and to this day is still funny hearing stories.  He even went so far as to name products from his company after the beaver.
Trapr

[potatojudge]

You're spot on about feeling like the gun is being pointed down when you are looking at the dot.

I put the muzzle in the RMR window and then lower barrel straight down until I see the dot. Helps me acquire the dot quickly and consistently.

That mount is at least overkill lol, but should work fine.

I've never had parallax issues out to 150 yards, but maybe I'm not a good enough shot to notice.

[reflex264]

Whatever it takes.

[bula]

Is that hardware steel ? 

[bula]

"Whatever it takes". A bigger holster ?

[tj3006]

I have an optic mounted on a 5.5 inch Bisley .41 mag.
It is mounted in a mount by Evolution Gun Works, I think EGW will help you find them on a computer. The mount has been fine so far. But a .41 is not a 480 recoil wise.
It was not to awfully expensive, I think 50.00. It uses the Elevation screw hole, and a block that fits tight against the frame where the rear sight blade was. I had hoped the base had a hole for the pivot pin, But it does not. I used blue lock tight on the screw , the mount has been trouble free for a few 100 rounds. And while not an visual improvement, it is not bad looking either I am tempted to try one on my Redhawk...tj

[princeout]

Jun 1, 2022 7:16:33 GMT -5 bula said:

Is that hardware steel ? 

It’s aluminum I believe.

Tim

[bula]

Thanks. 

[contender]

I've used red dots on handguns for a long time. They do take a bit of getting used to for sure.

Now,, about controlling beavers,, I can help with that if necessary. PM me.

[prisedefer]

Close range combat with beavers...who would have thought? Are these monsters one of the animals that cannot see a red light? If so, could a red LED headlamp be a poor man's thermal?