Handguns On Tareet
Handgun optics and sighting devices are not often high on a gun dealer’s “high-profit, must-stock” list. While these products may not command the attention given to long-gun scopes, they provide ongoing and, in some cases, vigorous profits.
“For handguns, we sell low-power optics in the 4.5x or less range and red dot sights. The BSA red dot is popular with our customers,” said Lou Baidridge of the El Cajon Gun Exchange in El Cajon, Calif.
As for rings and mounts, the top-selling brands at the Gun Exchange are Leopold, Redfield, Ruger, Simmons and Weaver.
Setting A Standard
Handgun scopes must meet certain requirements. Primarily, they must have a longer eye relief than those found on typical riflescopes. The distance from the eyepiece to the shooter’s eye on a rifle might be an inch or two. On a handgun, the distance might be 20 to 30 inches, depending on the scope mounting and the length of the shooter’s arms.
In addition, the handgun scope must repeatedly withstand powerful recoil, be lightweight, compact, and acquire the target quickly and easily. Leopold’s EER (Extended Eye Relief)
Handgun Scopes meet all of these requirements, with especially high marks for handling the brutal recoil of today’s large-caliber handguns. Magnum Research and Freedom Arms recommend the Leopold EER scopes for use on their powerful handguns.
The EER scopes come in three models. Fixed versions are the M8-2×20mm EER and the M8-4×28mm BER. Leopold’s variable handgun scope is the Vari-X 2.58×32mm EER with Multicoat 4.
Leopold also has two models of the Leupold/Gilmore red dot sight. The LG35 has a 4 MOA dot and is available in either an all-black matte or a two-tone silver/black finish. The LG-1 has up to a 45-foot field of view at 100 yards.
BSA offers one pistol scope, the PS 2×20. Its parallax is set for 50 yards and the click value is 1 MOA. BSA’s Red Dot sights are available in three tube diameters: 30mm, 42mm and 50mm. The dot has an adjustable brightness control for different light conditions. The sights are available in an anodized matte black finish, matte silver or BSA’s Shadow Black rubber coating.
ADCO offers 14 different red dot sights. They include the long-established Mirage line, the Square Shooter, Vision 2000, the E-dot and the new Vantage sight line. According to ADCO, the Vantage sights share most of the features of the ADGO Mirage Ranger and offer a lower price point without compromising quality.
The Vantage sights are available in two versions. The 1-inch model is 3.9 inches long, weighs 3.9 ounces and has a 3 MOA dot. The 30mm version is 4.25 inches long, weighs 4.9 ounces and also has a 3 MOA. Both are available in black or nickel finishes.
Millett’s newest red dot sight is the MultiDot SP. It features four dots: 3, 5, 8 and 10 MOA, on a 30mm tube. The Millett Redot SP1 has a 3 MOA dot, and the 5P2 has a 5 MOA. The SP1 and SP2 come with Weaver-style vertical split scope rings, scope covers, extension tubes and batteries. All of Millett’s red dot sights are available in black matte or silver finishes.
Millett also offers one of the most extensive lines of mounts for handguns. Mounts are available for handguns from Colt, Dan Wesson, Ruger, Smith & Wesson, Taurus, Thompson/Center and Remington.
Bushnell has two handgun scopes, a 2×32mm and a 2-6×32mm, and a red dot sight that features a 5 MOA dot and an 11-position brightness control. Bushnell’s HOLOsight “projects” the appearance of an illuminated crosshair 50 yards in front of the gun, yet no light is emitted. The holographic technology permits extremely rapid acquisition of the target. The HOLOsight has 20 brightness settings and is available with a standard reticle, or a new 1 MOA dot reticle.
Swift Instruments has three handgun scopes in 1.25-4×28mm variable and a 2×20mm and a 4×32mm. For 2001, Swift added another red dot sight to its line. Joining the Fire-fly lx30mm is the Aerolite Red Dot lx2lmm. It has a field of view of 39 feet at 100 yards.
Tasco’s two pistol scopes are the P2×20 and the P1.254×28. With a magnification of 1×25x-4x, the P1 scope is 8.6 inches long and weighs 8.3 ounces. Tasco’s Optima sighting device has proven popular with many customers. Its short length of 1.5 inches, and light weight of 1/2 ounce, make it the tiny champion of sighting devices.
The red dot lineup from Tasco continues to grow. Joining its already extensive offerings are the new Red Dot lx30mm and lx42mm. Both sights have 5 MOA dots and 11-position rheostats.
Burris scopes are regularly found on handguns, including the Taurus .454 Casull Raging Bull. There are 17 handgun scopes in the Burris line. The Model lx XER has 4 to 24 inches of eye relief, which is ideal for close-in shooting. The highest power of the Burris handgun scopes is the 3×12x. Burris also has an extensive line of steel rings and bases.