Ultra Dot for Hunting Pistols

[Huntolive]

Hello again,

I am very pleased with the 627 PC 8 shot I picked up and do not plan to put a scope on that; that will be my iron sites only gun for now.

However, on my SRH 454 casul I have a standard Ultradot sight which works great.

For my 386XL hunter 357 7 shot w/ 6" barrel I now plan to use some type of Ultradot. I am considering the Matchdot 2.

These are well-reviewed, but what are your experiences w/ them?
Also, can I use the Matchdot 2 on the SRH? I read somwhere that they might not fit a SRH, that seems hard to believe they would make a high caliber pistol sight that won't fit a SRH, is that true?

Might I be better off w/ the basic Ultradot?

Also, what kind of BASE do I need to get for either the 386 XL Hunter or the 627 PC? How do I mount it/remove the standard sights? Would the base for the 386 be the same as for the 627?

One reason I want to get a red dot on the 386 is that it shoots about 6-8" high consistantly with multiple experienced shooters with 158 grain 38 special. Meanwhile, the 627 PC shoot perfectly. With full house 357 hunting loads (158 grn XTP, or 200 grn hard cast Double tap) would the bullets likely to higher or lower?
What can I do as a Shooter to improve the up/down accuracy of the gun?

 

[CraigC]

The MatchDot's turret is too long to fit between the Ruger rings. If you want to use it, you must use either extension rings (these are Leupold) or an add-on picatinny rail. IMHO, the rings are more robust and allow you to keep your irons.

 

[Huntolive]

Nice SRH set up: what about the 357's?

Thanks, I like the grips on your SRH Craig, what r those? Do you think the Matchdot 2 is worth the trouble to mount on my SRH? Or should i just leave the good-working Ultradot on it, and consider mounting the Matchdot 2 on my 386 XL Hunter? I can shoot a soda can at 25 yards consistantly with the SRH and mounted ultradot, so I am leaning towards leaving it as is unless there is a very good reason to upgrade.

I still need help getting my 386 XL Hunter and/or 627 PC hooked up with a red dot. I have a new Matchdot 2, that I will either use or send back. What BASE do I need for the 357 S&Wessons to mount the Matchdot 2, and how much better (if at all) is the matchdot over the ultradot?

 

[CraigC]

The grips are a Hogue monogrip without fingergrooves, in rosewood. They are terrible. They're too thin and with that God-awful ambidextrous palm swell. I got them last year and the practice I did before a hog hunt in March made my thumb joint hurt for three months afterward. A friend remarked that it made the .480 significantly more unpleasant to shoot than his custom .500Linebaugh SRH. I went back with the factory rubber with the laminated inserts. They're not perfect but much better than the Hogue. I might send it to Jack Huntington, who is presently building me a custom Bisley .500JRH, to have him lop the barrel off at 6" and build a set of Roper stocks out of micarta.

I like the MatchDot and it was worth it to me. I like the option of changing the reticle and adjusting the dot size down to 2MOA. The UltraDot would've been fine for the .480 but I knew I'd want the smaller dot if I decided to move it to another gun and go back to a scope for the SRH.

I haven't shopped for S&W bases in a while. I would just mount a Weaver style base and have always been fond of Warne rings.

 

[Huntolive]

Grips and base and shooting advice

Thanks CC, appreciate your honesty!
My SRH has the original grips (older grey model), but i'm thinkin of gettin the hogue Tammer grips like the ones that come on the new ones. Would you/anyone else recommend them?

I have never removed the sights/top screws on any S&Wesson: what is involved in adding a weaver base, and what type should i get/where? I plan to mount either a Matchdot 2 or an ultradot using the rings provided by Ultradot that come w/ the red dot kit.

Also, advice on bringing down the verticle axis with my 357 S&W 386 XL hunter? Why would the 627 PC 5" shoot straight, and the 386 shoot so high?
The weight difference? Other than resorting to a reddot or scope, how do i get the down 6-8inches? I plan to deer hunt this fall. Right to left is good, grouping pretty good, but always high including when my experienced Marine pistol shooting friend shoots it.

 

[JohnBT]

Have you looked at Jack Weigand's bases? These are for the K, L & N frames.

www.jackweigand.com/swhpmnt.html

There's nothing to mounting one of them - I did it. This is a S&W 647 .17 HMR I mounted a MatchDot on for my father when he was in his 80s and wanted something lighter to shoot with sights he could see.

 

[CraigC]

My SRH has the original grips (older grey model), but i'm thinkin of gettin the hogue Tammer grips like the ones that come on the new ones. Would you/anyone else recommend them?

I've never tried one but the Tamer grip is recommended by people I trust. People that shoot these guns, A LOT. I think he told me he shot 700rds of .454 in the span of a month.

 

[Huntolive]

Thanks guys!

Craig and all I appreciate your advice and experience!