I have a Tasco Red Dot mounted on my 1894C .357. It is the one designed for shotguns or high caliber pistol, so it will handle the recoil. Do not pick up the one for .22 cal by mistake!

Works fine for me and is accurate to about 75 yds. At a hundred it seems to drop off in accuracy, or my eyesight isn't good enough. :-\ But you can get on target very quick with a red dot sight. It is super for plinking out to 50-60 yards. If I wanted the capability to hunt deer out to 100- 125 yds, I think I would mount a small 1-5 x scope on the 1894 or use a XS type peep if I had the good vision for it.

Cascade Jinx

 

I tried several red dots on a couple rifles. The performance was lacking in my opinion. Sure it was fast, but I would loose the dot in brush.


My new preferred optic for all short and mid range rifles is the Leupold VX-II 1-4 power. Its tough and small, both are great qualities for a lever gun. I put a VX-I 2-7 power on my new 1894c. Its a little bigger, but it fits well.

Here is a pic of my new 1894c with the said leupold

 

I bought a Millet Multi-Dot for my .45 '94CB mounted it and really liked it but found that the "Multi" really isn't needed on a rifle. A rifle is a (to me anyway) more precision instrument than a handgun. So I've ended up only using the smallest setting for the dot, 3MOA. They also make a fixed 3moa that is about $40 cheaper thatn the Multi-dot. Go to MidawayUSA and checkout the reviews.

I accquired this 1898 Krag .30-40 with a 6" split in the barrel. The split went right through a d&t'ed hole. So I was hesitant about redrilling or dovetailing it for a new front sight. I had it cut to 18" and installed the Millet on it where the rear sight was. Sighting it in took about 12 rounds. Once I got it where I wanted it I fired 2 rounds from 25 yards and the holes were touching and just right of the bullseye. I moved back to 100 yards and fired 2 more rounds and the holes were within 1.25 inches of each other and 1" high. Not too bad for a 110 year old rifle that has just been cut down, not recrowned and me behind it. The Millet does not magnify so it is alot like shooting with irons but easier and quicker to pick-up especially in low light.

This is my first RedDot but probably not my last.


C.S.

 

the only way yo go with a redot scope is something like the burris fast fire. It looks a lot like a reciever mounted pee when on the gun and it allows you to use the iron sights if the battery goes dead without taking it off. I put one on my 45-70 and I bought a marlin 357 over a w92 copy so that I coud use on on it too. But I really like the tang mounted sight and burris doesn't make a specific mounting plate for the fastfire on an 1894. I would buy the 1895 adapter from burris and have my reciever drilled and tapped to allow it to sit at teh back of teh reciever. I understand it will go on the front or the back two holes on teh 94 but it hangs off the back on the rear and just doesn't look as lick on the front.

This is by far the fastest sight I have ever used. If you see the redot you are on target. It is great for close quarters and even relatively long ranges. The only real problem is that teh red dot is like 4 MOA which means it covers a lot of the target at 200 yrds with no target magnification.

 

I tried several red dots on a couple rifles. The performance was lacking in my opinion. Sure it was fast, but I would loose the dot in brush.


My new preferred optic for all short and mid range rifles is the Leupold VX-II 1-4 power. Its tough and small, both are great qualities for a lever gun. I put a VX-I 2-7 power on my new 1894c. Its a little bigger, but it fits well.

Here is a pic of my new 1894c with the said leupold

I'm kind of that way myself. I like the stock on that rifle.

 

The Millet SP1 is the way to go. Three (3) minute of angle dot is perfect for shots out to 100 yards. Cost is only $79. Small turret head allows scope to fit between receiver monting holes. I've had one of these on my Ruger Super Redhawk in 44 mag and it holds zero just fine. Here's a pic of the one I just set up on my 1894 in 44 mag.

 

First off red dot sights and low recoil, quick handling carbines are a great combo. Whether hunting or plinking a quality red dot can really be a fun advantage. Being in the Army, I lots of experience with this type of optic. If you are planning on hunting, the ballistics of .357 mag will limit your range more that a red dot sight will. That's for sure. For hogs, deer, and smaller .357 is fine out to about 100 or 125 yards. Even a 4 MOA dot will be small enough for that. Quality sights are more than just quicker than irons, they are also more precise. This is according to extensive studies by the US Army. The Army has determined that they are AT LEAST as precise as m16a2 iron sights out to 300 meters.

The problem is quality red dots are expensive! I have had many different brands at every price point. Ha Dingus suggests the Millet SP1, 3 MOA model. I can agree that its a fairly good option for your budget. But it is made in China and the glass does have a bit of a blue tint to it, some more than others. But mine has been reliable so far, and it takes regular 1" rings. Battery life will be short with sights in this price range so keep spares. You won't have to re-zero after a battery change with most sights. The Burris Fast Fire II is about $200 plus the mount, and it gets mixed reviews. Also there isn't a mount available for the 1894. Aimpoints are at the top of the game. Most Aimpoints can be left on for well over 5 YEARS with out the battery dieing. I bought an Aimpoint 9000L when they were on sale at Midway for $250! It will be going on my Marlin 94 in .357, on a XS scout rail.

 

The burris fast fire 1895 mount will mount on the 1894 in the front set of screws or if you don't maind it hanging off the rear a little in the rear. You can always go the route of teh other det dots and just put a weaver or pitcanny rail on the reciever and use that base with teh burris or if you want it to be very low profile and not hang off the back use the front screw at the rear of the reciever and drill and tap one new hole.

My burris has been on the 45-70, the 6.8 SPC, and one of my 45 ACP 1911s. It has performred perfectly. I have never had any of teh less the $200 red dots last even when mounted on a low recoil 22 lr pistol. All the cheap ones seem to go bad very quickly.

 

I am using a Nikon Monarch VSD red dot. On a .44 Mag and a .357 Mag and I like the sights. The Nikon has 3 sight MOAs and 11 dot intensities. I have not hunted with either guns using the Red Dot. I hunt using a Lyman Peep Sight.

I have mounted a Leopold 2 x 7 scope on the .357 Mag and took it to the range and it is great. 50 yds gets 5 holes with 4 touching and one nearly touching. Best group ever .

 

Another nice thing with red dot scopes is they are kind of hard to screw up. Even the cheap chinese ones. People keep telling me this is a cheap piece of chinese crap, especially crap since it only cost $30 or $40. Its really grown on me though My crappy 26 year old eyes pick up that T way better than a single little dot.

 

I have a FastFire II on my 1894c, mounted on an XS Lever Scout rail. I had to file down the cross-slot bolt on the Burris in order to fit the XS rail, but it was well worth the effort. Low weight, small size, and lightning fast acquisition.

Regards,
Jonathan

 

I've never physically held a FastFire but my understanding is the diode that puts the red dot on the lens is exposed to the elements. My understanding is that even though it is water proof if there is any kind of rain or mist the FastFire is more or less out of commission because of water droplets on the lens. Can any of you comment on this.

 

Sounds like the options are endless as well as the price range. I feel nervious about a couple hundred bucks.
I might try one of the budget sights to see if i like the concept, knowing if I upgrade I've wasted some money.
What power? 1x 2x etc.

 

Another nice thing with red dot scopes is they are kind of hard to screw up. Even the cheap chinese ones. People keep telling me this is a cheap piece of chinese crap, especially crap since it only cost $30 or $40. Its really grown on me though My crappy 26 year old eyes pick up that T way better than a single little dot.

Hey what kind is that?

 

BTT. What kind of scope is that?

 

Hey what kind is that?

The kind that makes orange rugs look blue.

To the OP: Stick to 1x, trust me. Look through some 2x models before you buy one.

 

Thanks, very helpful.

 

I've got a 1X32 NC star on my Smith 686, and it works pretty well. Have been thinking of putting it on my 1894 just to try it out.... Has an easy mount and just pops on and off of a rail.

 

Thanks, very helpful.

I apologize for the rude comment. I don't know what model or brand it is. I'm glad the owner is happy with it. Often times people use inexpensive red dots, scopes, etc and find that they work just fine for them. Other times they find them useful but they see reasons to upgrade.

To Bearverine: I suggest you give it a try, zero it with some handloads or cheap .38 spc and it makes plinking alot a lot of fun!

To BRI336: I think your idea of buying a cheap optic to see if you like the concept is a great idea. That's certainly the way most of us started.

 

I just put a tiny, mini Bushnell TCN (or something like that, I don't remember) on my M1 Carbine on an Ultimak scout mount. I get 1.5" groups at 100yds with its 3 minute dot and Corbon 100X Barnes factory loads out of a Fulton Armory model .30 carbine. I like it alot, bought it from Opticsplant for $165. Highly recommed it. I use this rifle as a home defense/urban rifle, but would hunt deer/hogs with it in a heartbeat. My last Aimpoint, with a detachable mount for a rifle a I used to have cost me around $650, 5 years ago!

 

I used a Simmons Red Dot Scope 30mm Multi Reticle Sight 851234C on my .357 magnum and .44 magnum 1894. It held up well. Now it resides soley on the .357 magnum 1894. As with anything there are pluses and minuses.

- The Simmons has 4 recticles ... a crosshair, a diamond, and two dots. The dots mask a lot of target out at 100 yards, or more, but the diamond opens up the center.

- The red dot image is good in dark, or dim light, but really sucks in bright daylight.

- The under $60 price makes for a cheap tool, cheaper than the millett.

 

At one time I had considered the multi reticle approach but read, here I think, that on a BSA the scope did not hold zero as you changed the reticles from dot to cross hair to circle dot. I don't know if it's true but it influenced my decision to stick with the fixed dot.

 

At one time I had considered the multi reticle approach but read, here I think, that on a BSA the scope did not hold zero as you changed the reticles from dot to cross hair to circle dot. I don't know if it's true but it influenced my decision to stick with the fixed dot.

I have had a couple multi reticle sights and found that one did and one did not maintain the same zero for each reticle. To me its kind of a cheesy feature, I only use single reticle sights now. If the sight I'm interested in doesn't have a reticle that I like, I won't buy it. I prefer single dots in 1,2, or 3 MOA sizes as long as they are bright enough during bright daylight. 4 MOA won't be to big for me out to 100 meters for hunting. I've never had a quality sight that wasn't plenty bright for any time of day. Even the Millet SP1 is bright.

If I remember correctly, the sight that I had that didn't maintain zero for the different reticles was a "Cabela's" marked sight. I don't recall who actually made it for them, it cost about $70. I would leave it one the small dot setting and it worked fine.

 

As I stated before " I have a Tasco Red Dot mounted on my 1894C .357. It is the one designed for shotguns or high caliber pistol, so it will handle the recoil." It has 10 or 11 levels of brightness and is a 1X and only cost me $32.00 at Walmart. It has a 3MOA dot and is a cheap way to go if you want to evalutate the redot application on your rifle. It allows me to use it for plinking (and hunting if I so desired), but can be swapped out for a small fixed 1-4X scope which I prefer for hunting.

CJ

 

I know this is an old thread, but looking to see if there are any new experiences going this route. I am considering one for my 1894 in .44mag. Right now there is a Leupold vx-r 1.25-4 on it but it really ruins the rifle's handling for me. Not to mention aesthetically with the 30mm tube it just looks too large. Thanks