Red-dotting a GP100

[Jtarm]

I’d like to red-dot my GP100 10mm, however, the reviews I’ve read of the various no-drill mounts indicates they can’t handle much above .38 special recoil.

The Weig-A-Tinny is not an option as this will remain a holster gun (and not a big custom holster.)

How difficult is it to drill & tap? Someone on another forum referred me to a shop, but they wanted $300 with customer-provided base. That seemed ridiculous for a drill & tap job.

Isn’t this something any competent smith should be able to do?

[megasupermagnum]

The short mount that mounts in place of the rear sight handles recoil fine depending on optic weight.

[fecmech]

If you have a drill press and drill vice and are reasonably handy the Weigand mount is an easy instal, I've done 3 with no problems. The mount attaches with the sight screw so you can mark the next hole easily. After drilling do not move the vise. Remove the drill and insert the tap in the drill press. DO NOT TURN IT ON! Lower the tap into the hole and turn the drill press by hand while lowering the tap. Carefully back it out and instal that screw also before moving to the second hole. Repeat. I am not a machinist nor do I play one on TV but doing it this way has worked for me.

[Tatume]

If you have a drill press and drill vice and are reasonably handy the Weigand mount is an easy instal, I've done 3 with no problems. The mount attaches with the sight screw so you can mark the next hole easily. After drilling do not move the vise. Remove the drill and insert the tap in the drill press. DO NOT TURN IT ON! Lower the tap into the hole and turn the drill press by hand while lowering the tap. Carefully back it out and instal that screw also before moving to the second hole. Repeat. I am not a machinist nor do I play one on TV but doing it this way has worked for me.

This is correct, but I will add to it. Use a high quality tap, not the cheapest one you can find. Use plenty of tapping oil. Reverse the tap frequently to clear chips. If this is your first attempt at drilling and tapping a revolver, get a piece of scrap steel and practice first.

[Jtarm]

The short mount that mounts in place of the rear sight handles recoil fine depending on optic weight.

Which one?

[Jtarm]

If you have a drill press and drill vice and are reasonably handy the Weigand mount is an easy instal, I've done 3 with no problems. The mount attaches with the sight screw so you can mark the next hole easily. After drilling do not move the vise. Remove the drill and insert the tap in the drill press. DO NOT TURN IT ON! Lower the tap into the hole and turn the drill press by hand while lowering the tap. Carefully back it out and instal that screw also before moving to the second hole. Repeat. I am not a machinist nor do I play one on TV but doing it this way has worked for me.

I could do that.

Which Weigand mount are you referring to?

[fecmech]

Which Weigand mount are you referring to?

This one: https://www.jackweigand.com/raswms.htm
Tatume's post is correct. If it's a stainless gun use a new 6-48 tap. In fact I'd recommend a new tap for either blue or stainless, that way you can't go wrong. The Ruger stainless is not that tough (I did one), just be careful.

[Chad5005]

ive got a no drill on a ruger super blackhawk 44 mag with heavier red dot on it and its fine

[megasupermagnum]

Which one?

I know you said no weig-a-tinny, but I assumed you were referring to the full length one that goes in the front and rear sight spots. They also make a short one that mounts in only the rear sight. Google shows up as sometimes calling it the "combat" model. I'll link a video below of one. I've used one on a GP100, and they seem nice and solid, recoil of 357 magnum/10mm auto is no problem for them with reflex and small red dot sights. I just found it on the Weigand website, they are calling it the Ruger mini, fits most Ruger models. I'll link that below as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRUbQ7fwjRc

https://www.jackweigand.com/Ruger-Revolver-Mini-Mount.html

[Jtarm]

I know you said no weig-a-tinny, but I assumed you were referring to the full length one that goes in the front and rear sight spots. They also make a short one that mounts in only the rear sight. Google shows up as sometimes calling it the "combat" model. I'll link a video below of one. I've used one on a GP100, and they seem nice and solid, recoil of 357 magnum/10mm auto is no problem for them with reflex and small red dot sights. I just found it on the Weigand website, they are calling it the Ruger mini, fits most Ruger models. I'll link that below as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRUbQ7fwjRc

https://www.jackweigand.com/Ruger-Revolver-Mini-Mount.html

I dunno, that still looks awfully high.

[dimaprok]

I got one of those "mini" ones on my GP100 .357 and it works and withstand .357 (5-10% of my shooting). What makes me scratch my head is why make the channel under mount wider than necessary? There is space on both sides that has potential for mount to shift left or right, it hasn't happened to me because I lock tight but makes me wonder.

Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk

[megasupermagnum]

I don't think it is any higher than the drill and tap models. There are some integral low-profile mounts for reflex sights if you are willing to go that route. The following link is about as low profile as they come.

https://allchingunparts.com/products/ruger-gp-100-micro-mount.html

[megasupermagnum]

I got one of those "mini" ones on my GP100 .357 and it works and withstand .357 (5-10% of my shooting). What makes me scratch my head is why make the channel under mount wider than necessary? There is space on both sides that has potential for mount to shift left or right, it hasn't happened to me because I lock tight but makes me wonder.

Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk

It is so that it fits just about any model. It should fit fairly tight on the inside of the slot where the sight used to be. If you look at the bottom, there is a block that fits inside that space. I've heard of people using shims to tighten them, but generally they fit well. The gap in front is inconsequential.

[reddog81]

I dunno, that still looks awfully high.

The red dot is what adds most of the height. Any holster covering the rear sight is probably not going to work even if you could mount the sight directly to the gun.

[Led]

I've been wanting to add a red dot to my 3 inch GP100 for awhile. I decided to order this mount: https://allchingunparts.com/products/ruger-gp-100-micro-mount.html

I will report back once it's installed.

Later,
Stephen

[fastdadio]

I know you said no weig-a-tinny, but I assumed you were referring to the full length one that goes in the front and rear sight spots. They also make a short one that mounts in only the rear sight. Google shows up as sometimes calling it the "combat" model. I'll link a video below of one. I've used one on a GP100, and they seem nice and solid, recoil of 357 magnum/10mm auto is no problem for them with reflex and small red dot sights. I just found it on the Weigand website, they are calling it the Ruger mini, fits most Ruger models. I'll link that below as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRUbQ7fwjRc

https://www.jackweigand.com/Ruger-Revolver-Mini-Mount.html

I just read the blurb on the Jack Weigand mount. I want one but, Says it won't fit the flat top models. I'm not exactly sure what that means. Do you folks know if my Bisley 44 is a flat top?

[megasupermagnum]

I just read the blurb on the Jack Weigand mount. I want one but, Says it won't fit the flat top models. I'm not exactly sure what that means. Do you folks know if my Bisley 44 is a flat top?

It is easy enough to tell the difference. A standard Ruger has a hump that the rear sight fits in. A flat top has perfectly flat top across the backstrap of the frame. The below link has pictures on the right side of a flat top.

https://gunblast.com/Hamm_357-Flattop.htm

[fastdadio]

It is easy enough to tell the difference. A standard Ruger has a hump that the rear sight fits in. A flat top has perfectly flat top across the backstrap of the frame. The below link has pictures on the right side of a flat top.

https://gunblast.com/Hamm_357-Flattop.htm

OK, I'll dig it out of the safe and take a lookie-loo tomorrow. Thanks for looking that up for me.

[fastdadio]

Nope, The Bisley is not a flat top. Not wanting to hijack this thread, but I feel it's related as my eye sight is going south and I'm not alone on this one. I recently purchased a similar design, no drill scope mount, that replaces the sight assy. on the Garand/M1a. platform.
https://www.badacetactical.com/collections/feature-products/products/m1-garand-m1a-scope-mount-all-steel.

I'm excited to get it, and it's going to help bring my neglected Garand back to the front of the safe. I'll post a review in the military rifle thread once I get it up and running.
Thanks folks.

[Jtarm]

I've been wanting to add a red dot to my 3 inch GP100 for awhile. I decided to order this mount: https://allchingunparts.com/products/ruger-gp-100-micro-mount.html

I will report back once it's installed.

Later,
Stephen

Yeah I ordered the EGW and a Swampfox Justice, so I guess we can compare notes.

[Led]

I ordered and received one of the EGW mounts for GP100. It's decent in my opinion. It's tight to the gun and seems strong, of course time will tell just how stong. I'm not impressed with the fit of the mount. There are several areas where the tolerances could be tighter. I think it's more an issue of looks over function but I'll take some good close up photos and post them. Now I have to decide on a sight.

Later,
Stephen

[Led]

I finally got to test fire my GP100 with a EGW mount and Vortex Venom red dot. I'm impressed with both the mount and optic. There were no issues on the initial sight in and testing. Fit and finish is good. The mount stayed solidly attached to the gun and the red dot stayed solidly attached to the mount. Ammo used was 100 rounds of full power hand loads. So far I'd recommend both products.

Later,
Stephen

[Cosmic_Charlie]

You will probably enjoy your red dotted revolvers. A friend had a 629 with one and it was really fun to shoot. I may have to try one on my Super Blackhawk.

[Jtarm]

Well so far, so good I guess.

200 rounds of full-power loads and it hasn’t shifted zero.

I’m finding it a little difficult to get a crisp dot.

I wear progressive bifocals. Initially it looked like they were distorting the dot, so I tried my shooting glasses, which focus around arms length. Nope. No corrective glass. Nope. Back to the bifos and I finally found a sweet spot.

[Kenstone]

Well so far, so good I guess.

200 rounds of full-power loads and it hasn’t shifted zero.

I’m finding it a little difficult to get a crisp dot.

I wear progressive bifocals. Initially it looked like they were distorting the dot, so I tried my shooting glasses, which focus around arms length. Nope. No corrective glass. Nope. Back to the bifos and I finally found a sweet spot.

A dot sight is designed to view at a distance and any corrective reading glasses will make the dot appear smudged/comet looking.
If you have glasses scripted for distance those are the glasses that will work for the dot.

Go try on readers that are 1 full diopter weaker than your reading/computer perscription and look off at a target distance at something small for the best clarity, test other powers until you get the clearest.
Buy those and use 'em for shooting with the dot.
It's what I do.
jmo,
Edit: and for handgun iron sights I use readers that are 0.5 diopter WEAKER than my reading rescription, more like computer screen correction power.
Know that the front sight will be clear, but the rear sight and target will remain fuzzy.
And your old eyes/lenses cannot bend enough anymore to let you focus on them.

[Jtarm]

A dot sight is designed to view at a distance and any corrective reading glasses will make the dot appear smudged/comet looking.
If you have glasses scripted for distance those are the glasses that will work for the dot.

Go try on readers that are 1 full diopter weaker than your reading/computer perscription and look off at a target distance at something small for the best clarity, test other powers until you get the clearest.
Buy those and use 'em for shooting with the dot.
It's what I do.
jmo,
Edit: and for handgun iron sights I use readers that are 0.5 diopter WEAKER than my reading rescription, more like computer screen correction power.
Know that the front sight will be clear, but the rear sight and target will remain fuzzy.
And your old eyes/lenses cannot bend enough anymore to let you focus on them.

I’ve since learned it’s due to the astigmatism in my right eye. It looks fine with my left.

Polarized lenses are supposed to fix or at least mitigate the problem, so I ordered a set of clip-ons from Amazon of different colors.

If that doesn’t work I may be in the market for a different sight. I might be anyway since I really don’t want to have to either put on special glasses to shoot or move my head around to find the sweet spot in my bifocals. That’s why I wanted a red dot to begin with.

BTW computer screen prescription is what I wear to shoot, also. Rear sight & target are always going to be blurry when you’re doing it right since our eyes can only focus at one distance.

I still shoot better with the dot.

[Kenstone]

I’ve since learned it’s due to the astigmatism in my right eye. It looks fine with my left.

Polarized lenses are supposed to fix or at least mitigate the problem, so I ordered a set of clip-ons from Amazon of different colors.

If that doesn’t work I may be in the market for a different sight. I might be anyway since I really don’t want to have to either put on special glasses to shoot or move my head around to find the sweet spot in my bifocals. That’s why I wanted a red dot to begin with.

BTW computer screen prescription is what I wear to shoot, also. Rear sight & target are always going to be blurry when you’re doing it right since our eyes can only focus at one distance.

I still shoot better with the dot.

Thanks for reading/responding to my post.
Yes computer script work for me for irons but I switch to planos for red dots
The problem with that is the planos do not work for the close-up stuff like loading or sight adj. and other bench work.
For bench work I have to put on my readers [smilie=f:
Sometimes I have more glasses than guns lined-up on my shooting bench [smilie=b:
.

[megasupermagnum]

Can you try other colors? I'm not color blind at all, and normally test perfect 20/20 vision, but I still find a green dot is nicer than a red dot.

[Jtarm]

Can you try other colors? I'm not color blind at all, and normally test perfect 20/20 vision, but I still find a green dot is nicer than a red dot.

It’s not a color issue, but a problem with how an eye with an astigmatism perceives the light emitted by the dot.

It’s not always a problem. For instance my AR with a Sig Romeo 5 is just fine. Also using the lowest brightness setting helps.

I’ll do more homework before purchasing another red dot to find one that works for people with an astigmatism.

[Kenstone]

It’s not a color issue, but a problem with how an eye with an astigmatism perceives the light emitted by the dot.

It’s not always a problem. For instance my AR with a Sig Romeo 5 is just fine. Also using the lowest brightness setting helps.

I’ll do more homework before purchasing another red dot to find one that works for people with an astigmatism.

Yes
Astig is your eye lens(es) has 2 radii like the side of a football and the those radii are not necessarily north/south east/west.
In pictures of people with astig, without wearing corrective lenses/contacts, you will notice their heads tilted so their astig is on axis east/west.
just some more worthless info,
[smilie=1:
.

[megasupermagnum]

I just googled astigmatism, and a ton of pictures of comparisons of stop lights show up. I'm no help, I can definitely understand why trying to shoot a "dot" that looks like a supernova star would be problematic.