Ruger P97DC and red dots?

[bczrx]

Hello,

I see that Evolution Gun Works makes red dot adapter plates for Ruger P-series pistols rear sight cuts.

Does anyone have any experience with a red dot on the P97?

I am just wondering if the 'odd recoil impulse' of the cam'ed recoil rod makes it any more destructive of red dot optics than the average recoiling slide mount for a .45?

I am considering doing this to breathe new life into my p97 as my eyes now need help seeing the front sight. Red Dots work better for me, as long as the dot isn't 6moa or larger.

However I don't have experience with red dots on centerfire pistols- only rimfire. So I thought I'd ask to see if anyone had enough experience to give me advice on this mount for the Ruger P97DC.

Any thoughts are welcome!

 

[roylt]

No firsthand experience but the mount shouldn't matter. The quality of the red dot would be what makes it work or not.

 

[Decibles2]

Get the EGW plate. Buy a used Trijicon RMR (Type 2, adjustable LED) off GAFS for around $350. Install it with blue Loctite on the plate screws and medium threadlocker on the optic screws. Shoot the hell out of it. The P97 is a tank, it deserves a dot that’s also a tank. Don’t cheap out.

And no, the recoil won’t kill an RMR. But it will absolutely kill a 407C.

 

[bczrx]

Hi All,

Well, I kind of listed to the advice here.

I got the EGW plate and am very thankful that I thought to get a new firing pin block plunger/pin, as it sheared off when removing the rear sight. I am glad I remembered this happening when I put night sights on around 2002.

I got the EGW base on but it was tricky to do with that FPB plunger/pin.
First because it was hard to get the plunger and spring compressed enough for the rear plate to slide over it [when I didn't have a sight pusher but a hammer/punches].
Second because the EGW mounting screw [locks plate to slide] was perfectly aligned over the plunger so that I accidentally overtightened that single screw and the FPBlock wouldn't move. I had to back it out enough to clean the hole, put locktite on it, and tighten it to the same depth as the other locking screw.

It is a good thing that the EGW plate is a VERY tight fit in the dovetail.

So far, so good.

But, I went the cheap route with the red dot [for now]. I bought an ADE RD3-012-Pro red dot. Time will tell how durable it is, but I doubt I'll fire more than 200 rounds a year through it until I retire. Why do I say that? Simple- I have had the pistol since 2001-2 and haven't shot it more than 3 times since 2012. Mainly because I get to the range 2-3 times a year, spend most of my time on .22lr firearms, and break in any new acquisitions in those visits.

If the current [inexpensive] red dot breaks down I'll look into something more durable.

Thanks again for the advice!

 

[Mobuck]

The rear sight dovetail plate works well enough for most uses. My 'inside the house' carry P95 has a 'no name' dovetail plate with a small dot optic on it. I've not had any issues once the plate was installed. The interface is certainly not as strong as a cutout but I haven't noticed any wandering of zero. As for the recoil impulse, I'd go with one of the better dot sights if you feel the 40 cycles 'harder' than a 9mm.