Qusestion for owners of "red dot type" sights , not lazers

spiderman

spiderman

New member
I'm looking for first hand hunting experienced information about your red dot sight. I have never used or shot a gun with one and would like first hand knowledge. I do daytime coon hunting and use a 1.5-6 power scope. This type of hunting is usually quite close 10-50 yards and the coons are up in trees the same color as they are moving fast sometimes . The scope is ok but sometimes it is hard to get on one fast before it goes into a hole or down the backside of the tree....dark coon , dark tree, dark cross hairs. I got to wondering if a red dot scope might be better for this kind of hunting. We rarely get shots at 70-80 + yards at one on the ground. Sometimes they can be at 10 feet or go past your feet. Just wanted to hear some hunting reports from owners that have used them in the field. Thanks for any responses in advance. Jim
 
My exp. goes back to the old Weaver "Quik-Point" from the 70's. Used it for about 5 years on a 12 ga.
Browning auto-five. It was fast, but at 60 + yards looked like a basket ball on a deer,covered too much. In the early 80"s Bushnell fit their Banner model with cross hairs and a red dot that worked off a switch on top with a small battery. Loved it on a rifle, when it failed after about 3 or 4 years they replaced it N/C. Then discontinued it. I was always meaning to get an Aimpoint, but never got one, then the Leupold "Gilmore" came out, and I put one on an 870 and a Marlin 375win. Liked it on the 870, loved it on the Marlin for bears. Like you said, black cross hairs on a black animal in the woods at dusk is tough shooting. Only drawback was no magnification. When Leupold came out with the VXR, I bought a low power variable and never looked back. I have a Gilmore on my Marlin 357 carbine, and have killed a few coyotes with it, its fast and seems a good match for that gun for coyotes. I think you would be pleased with a good red dot. I want to try daytime coon myself and my plan was to use the Marlin 357 with the Gilmore.
 
Red dots and the like sole reason to exist imo, is fast shots on target. I've done man sized targets at 100 yards on a 4(maybe it was 8) moa red dot. Grouping wasnt pretty, but i was pushing the site further than it was intended to be used.

Use at close range, 0 magnification, and keep both eyes open. it would work well.
 
I own several illuminated reticle with the red dot reticle. My favorite is the Leupold illuminated German #4 Dot. Which has been superseded now by what Leupold calls the VX-R Firedot. The German #4 is known for it's fast target acquisition. It automatically centers the target by guiding your eye via thicker reticle bars which stop before coming to the center where the dot is suspended. Thicker bars of the reticle are at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions, they do not extend all the way out to the red illuminated dot. This just simply centers things for you. Not a lot of clutter in the field of view. The newer Leupold models (Firedot) VX-R Scopes have illuminated duplex reticle, not quite the same but close. They have one model called the Firedot #4 which is the old German #4, the best. The illuminated Firedot reticles are designed for low light darker conditions, not necessarily total dark. The situations you described are their time to shine, peak performance. I have an older Leupold VX-III Dangerous Game Scope with the illuminated German #4 Dot in 1.5x5x20 fastest scope made in my opinion. Look, point, kill.

Those old 1970 Model Weaver R-1 and S-1 sights were the bomb back in the day. I still have a 30-06 Remington 742 with a R-1 Quick Point on it. Memories
 
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For small targets at close range they should work well if the dot size is taken into consideration. I have used Aimpoints, Holograms, etc as well as scopes with cross hairs and dots like Trijicon. Like scopes, you generally get what you pay for.

Good luck!
 
Two eyes open makes this type of optic fantastic for fast moving targets. No need to worry of having the perfect sight picture. Where ever that dot is in your sight picture YOUR GOOD, squeeze the trigger and smile. Highly recommended for exactly what your asking for.
 
I'm looking into getting a red dot for my Glock 40 mos. Narrowed it down to Burris fast fire 3 or vortex venom. Thinking venom due to warranty. Anyone run one on a hand cannon? if so, do you like it?
 
I love having a red dot on my AR and shotgun. Quick target acquisition and easy to use with both eyes open. A red dot on my handgun however was not for me. There is a learning curve when switching to them from a standard sight. I felt that any little movement with my hands made the red dot jump around. I especially noticed it at longer shots out to like 25 and beyond. When I compared my times shooting a red dot vs standard sights I wasn't any quicker with the red dot. I just couldn't get comfortable shooting it.

Erik
 
There are different types of red dots.I have a tube and reflex.My preference is the open reflex type.Very quick target aquisition and works well in low light on low brightness setting with smaller moa dots.
 
Thanks for all of the info.....I will be using it on my Bmag. Getting the barrel cut down 2 inches for my new , still waiting for the call in a month or so , suppressor. We do get into low light times at the end of the day and cloudy days so any improvement there would be great. The lighted cross hair scopes...any advantages there? Jim
 
We put them on our slug guns for deer hunting and they are perfect for that. They get you on target fast and the bullet guts where the dot is. We will probably use them for turkey as well and I am kicking around putting one on my 06.
 
I shot 3 deer this yr with a TC Contender 30-30 thats converted to a rifle w/an Eotech 552 holographic sight....THE COOL FACTOR is up there w/a vert grip on the forestock and handloaded 125gr nosler ballistic tips,all 3 were between 125-170 yds n all made snowangels.
From the bench its inside 2"@ 100 yds and I believe the max effective range to be around 250yds w/a bit of kentucky windage.As much chuck huntin as I do a deer at 150 look like a barn door and this little beauty has literally obsoleted my deer hunting rifles. I now use this one which is very light as in 4-4.5# w/a 16" bbl and a restocked Rem 721 300H&H mag.for open shooting here in Pa./NY.
 
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NDindy 100 yds isnt stretching a holosight,dont take this the wrong way but the usmc qualify at 300m with iron sights.
 
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Originally Posted By: liliysdad100yds is hardly "pushing the limits" of a red dot sight.

Depends on what you want to hit. A 2MOA dot trying to shoot 1/2" groups at 200yrds isn't very handy, since it covers up 4" of target - but that's about as small as reticle as you'll get in a red dot sight. I used to have an Ultradot Matchdot on a CZ 452 which was incredibly capable, done a bit of small game killing at 200yrds with it - but the dot was bigger than the bunny at 200, and estimating 30" of drop with a simple dot reticle was difficult.

I'm a big fan of red dots for close range handguns and rifles, 100yrds or less, and even on large steel targets to 300-400yrds, which is about the range where managing drop estimation beneath a singular dot hanging in space starts becoming difficult.
 
I tried hunting with a TRS 25 Bushnell on my Mini 14. I didn't like it. Might work better for someone with better eyesight than me. I'm switching back to my Weaver 2.5-7x32mm scope.

Robert
 
Originally Posted By: PrusonI own several illuminated reticle with the red dot reticle. My favorite is the Leupold illuminated German #4 Dot. Which has been superseded now by what Leupold calls the VX-R Firedot. The German #4 is known for it's fast target acquisition. It automatically centers the target by guiding your eye via thicker reticle bars which stop before coming to the center where the dot is suspended. Thicker bars of the reticle are at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions, they do not extend all the way out to the red illuminated dot. This just simply centers things for you. Not a lot of clutter in the field of view. The newer Leupold models (Firedot) VX-R Scopes have illuminated duplex reticle, not quite the same but close. They have one model called the Firedot #4 which is the old German #4, the best. The illuminated Firedot reticles are designed for low light darker conditions, not necessarily total dark. The situations you described are their time to shine, peak performance. I have an older Leupold VX-III Dangerous Game Scope with the illuminated German #4 Dot in 1.5x5x20 fastest scope made in my opinion. Look, point, kill.

Those old 1970 Model Weaver R-1 and S-1 sights were the bomb back in the day. I still have a 30-06 Remington 742 with a R-1 Quick Point on it. Memories I just got a new Leupold VX-R 30mm tube 3x9 with fire dot. On 3x it is very quick to get on and its clear enough to use in very low light.
 
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Originally Posted By: spiderman I'm looking for first hand hunting experienced information about your red dot sight. I have never used or shot a gun with one and would like first hand knowledge. I do daytime coon hunting and use a 1.5-6 power scope. This type of hunting is usually quite close 10-50 yards and the coons are up in trees the same color as they are moving fast sometimes . The scope is ok but sometimes it is hard to get on one fast before it goes into a hole or down the backside of the tree....dark coon , dark tree, dark cross hairs. I got to wondering if a red dot scope might be better for this kind of hunting. We rarely get shots at 70-80 + yards at one on the ground. Sometimes they can be at 10 feet or go past your feet. Just wanted to hear some hunting reports from owners that have used them in the field. Thanks for any responses in advance. Jim I have a Primary Arms Micro. Out to 150-200 yards its deadly.
 
Originally Posted By: rsbenden NDindy 100 yds isnt stretching a holosight,dont take this the wrong way but the usmc qualify at 300m with iron sights.

I didnt say it was stretching it for all holo etc sites. I said it was stretching for that one. Exact same rifle with irons, on target to 350. Possibly more but thats as far as i ever shot it. With the dot, 100 was as far as i could stay consistently on target.

Their niche is definitely speed and followups.

150mph isnt stretching all cars, but it sure is for a 79 Honda civic
smile.gif
 


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