I've got a ruger mark 3 .22 target with 5.5 inch bull barrel. I'm looking to put on crimson trace laser grips. Does anyone know where the cheapest place is to get them? Also, what are your opinions on them? I will be using them for coon hunting so accuracy is a must for up to 30 yards. Do they stay accurate or does recoil throw them off?

Thanks

Get a red dot

To many things can obscure the laser (branches, brush etc... when hunting), they work great for up close and personal use, but for most hunting needs I agree with passport that you would be better served by a red dot or similar optic.

I don't want to put on a red dot due to the size of them and I prefer open sights for day time shooting.

How about a mini red dot? I borrowed this photo from another forum and will be fixing up my MKII like this. It is a Burris Fastfire with their mount specifically for Ruger MK I,II,III.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u59/bison7704/mk2withburris.jpg

That looks nice, but I want the open sights for shooting during the day.

I can see why you might want a laser for hunting coons at night. I disagree about things getting in the way of the laser. If that is happening, you probably don't have a shot anyway.

Laser Grips have been around for quite a while now, and I have yet to hear of any complaints about them. You see people using them on .45s and .357s all the time. I expect they would do what you want with no problems.

Don't write off the mini dot sight for daytime shooting, though. I recently added one similar to the Burris sight shown in that earlier post to my MKIII - and I'll never go back to open sights on that gun. (Unless it breaks )

Wow!! That's the first time I've ever seen one of those and that looks sharp! I'm sold on dots for my ARs so that might be just the ticket for one of my Mark IIs....

It would've perfect if it mounted on the front of the action and allowed the use of the irons as well but it definitely looks worth a try "as is".....

I have a MkII with the crimson grips and it is always with me when big game hunting for potting grouse and wabbits. It shines with those CT grips but there is one big disadvantage to them you should be aware of. Because of the placement off to the side and below the bore, there is only one range that it is spot on. I have mine set for 25 yards as that is the range that I get most shots at, + or - 5 yds is good to go. Any closer or farther and I use the irons. Besides that little issue, I would highly recommend them and I, too, prefer the easy carry and lines of the pistol w/o scope or red dot. For coons I think it would be great. Hope this helps.

I've been looking at the mini red-dots myself for the MKII. I'm in the process of accurizing the thing and a dot sight is what I'm lusting after next.
Are there any other opinions to what brands to go with out there? There's the Burris($200), Pentax(cheap $65), JPoint($265), Trijicon($300), Docter ($400+!). Amongst others I'm sure.
Sorry for the hijack.
Thanks for posting a picture of the mini dot. It solved my curiosity for the actual size mounted on the Ruger. Just what I've been looking for. Some of those red dot's out there are honkers!

walkerdog, just for a price reference I was at the local gun show this morning and saw your Crimson Trace for the Ruger...... $209. Puyallup, WA

Thank you for the info. I think I will be trying these out.

for $200 i put tritium sights on my 1911... if there is enough light to see the target, i can hit it.... john w

Get a red dot like a bushnell in QD rings, then you can remove to use your open sights.

I just put a Barska red dot on mine. It has four different reticules including a one mm dot and a 10. It's a heads up display,like a little TV screen. Sighted it in last night and was hitting a 4" swinger off hand in no time. And all for less than
$70.

Red dot

Just read a super article on Ultra Dot, used by lot of pistol pros.
Got really good reviews.

Been shooting mine with the crimson trace grips. THis thing is awesome for night shooting now! Haven't tried during the day other than to fine tune the sights.

Not sure where you're at, but in Kansas it is illegal to use any sight that projects a light onto the animal. If thats something that concerns you, you might check out your states laws to check the legality. Kansas is also a bit backwards on things though, no use of artifical light while hunting coyotes at night which I do know is legal elsewhere.

Can use for coon hunting in Iowa.

I put a little Ultradot LT on my MK II678GC. It greatly extends the distance and light conditions underwhich it can be shot accurately. It really makes it a short, easily carried rifle.