what do you think about red dot scopes for hunting??

S

skeetlee

New member
I am having a rifle build with a 16" bull barrel(k16). This is going to be a fun gun for me. I entend to dress it out with all the neat little things a person doesnt really need, but look cool anyway. These Oly k-16 are supose to be pretty darn accurat, so I may what to try and hunt just a bit with it to. I want a red dot scope of some sort. I have never hunted with a 1 power red dot scope. What kind of range limits will i have with a scope like this? Any of you fellas hunt with red dot scopes? I did buy a bushnell 1.25x4x26 illuminated dot, but I havent used it on the 1.25 power setting yet. Just looking for some advise, and plus I am really bored so i thought i would ask this question. thanks lee
 
I just put a Bushnell Trophy MP red dot on my Ar and i love it! I have no problem shooting targets the size of a woodchuck at 150 yds with it. Obviously it will not be as good as a scope for long range shooting but i don`t plan to shoot much over 150 yds at coyotes anyways.
 
Quote:
Check out the Millet http://www.millettsights.com/controller.php/catalog/tactical_dms

I have read alot of good things about them.



To Skeet

I just received a Millet DMS the other day from the little Brown Santa.

I'm Impressed. Clear as a bell. I could see the wrinkles in birds feet half a block down the street.

You can use it illuminated or not. I purchased it mainly for my 458 Win Mag and 7mm Mauser for close in shooting.

I bought an AR-15 the other day and I put the scope on it instead. I love this set up. I only shot to 400 meters but it worked perfectly. It has a great field of vue so it should be fantastic as a calling scope when they start to run. Also it has a German Post style sight.

Best wishes, Bill
 
I've been using an Aimpoint 5000 now for a bunch of years, both on a Ruger target MKII and now on my Mossy 835 Turkey gun. Great piece of optics.
 
Bill
I've been looking at the Millett DMS but after alot of discussion, including Millett there was a clarity issue. I'm glad yours turned out that clear. How do you like the "Dot in a Donnut" recticle? Does it hide alot of the target at longer distances?

I ended up orderring a Bushnell 4200 1.25x4x24mm but would really like to get a look through the DMS. I bought the rig mainly for calling out along the coast, dark forest, heavy over story, overcast and drizzly most of the time.

Skeetlee

As far as range limits of that scope, as far as you can see the coyote in it. I use alot of 1x4 scopes and can shoot small groups at 300 yrds with them.

scopes001.jpg


T to B

1.25x4.5
1x4
1x4
1.5x6
4x
1x3

AWS
AWS
 
I have two red dot systems on my rifles. One is for my 45-70 Guide Gun and is just a red dot...for quick shots..it's awesome /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

The other is a red dot/crosshair reticle system that I use for low-light conditions. Otherwise, it's a black dot and is unobtrusive for just about any shooting situation. I took a buck at 400yds with it. This is a mueller eradicator in 8.5-25x...lots of fun.
 
OK, I'll state a contrary view. On a short range pistol used for deer, they're fine. On a short range shotgun used for deer, they're fine. However, unless you are doing dynamic entries, searching for jihadists or drug dealers, they're pretty much a waste of money on a rifle, in the no magnification format. If the game animals are close enough you need a zero magnification red dot "scope", they're (predators) probably close enough to be shot with a shotgun.

For big game and not so big game, get a variable scope with coarser cross hairs, turn it down to 2 power in those situations where a low power scope is actually useful, and you still have the ability to turn it up when the shots are likely to be longer ranged.

I had a TC illuminated reticule scope, tapered cross hairs on right, left and bottom, not meeting in the middle and a 3MOA? dot in the center, 4X magnification. Turn the switch on and it's red, off and it's black.

I bought it for use at night in hunting fox. Around here, red fox are notorious for hanging up at 100 to 150 yards. So, I put it on a Hornet, to get ready to put the smack down on them if they pulled that maneuver.

But, I decided to try it out first. I put a fox head size target at 100 yards, with two pieces of reflective tape to simulate the eyes. I found I could see the eyes well enough, but the dot covered up what I was aiming at. So, I changed the zero to be at the top of the dot, rather than in the middle. It still turned out to be a miserable idea. It was one of those things which sound great in theory, but fall flat on it's face in actual practice.

Tried the scope on my deer rifle, which worked, but still preferred the cross hairs. Ended up selling red dot scope to someone who didn't know any better. LOL

You may fire back when ready, Gridley. LOL
 
+1 CDR, I concur.

A 3 moa center is is too obstructive for hitting a fox sized target at 100yds+. I had the same problem with my 4moa Aimpoint at night.
There is a niche that the red dot optics fill, and very well at that, but hitting a hung up fox after hours is not one of them. Haven't tried any of the flip away magnifiers yet...

I believe that the Millet DMS has a 1 moa center dot. Good thinking on their part...
 
I think it all depends on the situation and what you are wanting to do with it. I put a red dot on my inline muzzle loader and took it elk hunting. I knew my shots would be under 150 yards so I thought it would be the perfect set up. On the second day I got into a herd of about 40 elk in the timber. I had a cow tag and had to be careful not to shoot a bull. I had to use my binoculars to look at heads to make sure I didn't shoot a spike...then put the rifle up and make the shot...but the elk didn't cooperate and were moving slowly...this made it difficult. I did pick out a cow and made the shot but that was the last year for my red dot. Shooting between trees and branches and looking at heads is much easier with a variable power scope. Just my experience in a specific situation.
 
I use the red dots on alot of my rifles. Up here where we hunt there are not many trees, so hunting larger game such as deer is pretty much is walking and jump shooting them.
In this case its very nice to have the red dot as I can keep both my eyes open and still see the target and those around me, and It makes running shots easier for me.

Most use scopes, I do on a some of my rifles, but find that the red dot works for the ranges I care to shoot at 200yd max.

For a fun gun, and not a dedicated calling setup I think it would work really well.

I use the bushnell trophys on most of my hanguns, shotguns and a few rifles, for the money they are pretty tough IMO.

If you dont like it on your rifle they are great for hanguns and a heck of alot of fun to put on a .22 for pickin off rabbits and squirrels. And for a "truck" gun not much can get muffed up unless you forget to turn it off, so keep a few extra batteries handy /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Good luck

Dave
 
What about the Eotech with 1 moa dots, possibly with a 4 times magnifier? 1 moa is not that big, seems like it could work on a calling rifle. I am seriously considering this setup for my AR.
 
I have an EOTech for my AR for areas where I know I'm not going to get 200 yard+ shots. It's perfect for that type of terrain and very quick. ever tried the magnifier. I went with EOTech because it's a 1MOA dot.
 
Id get a low power bushnell elite with the firefly reticle, really nice scopes, and the firefly reticle is way better than any red dot Ive used. It does not wash out the target at all, just kinda glows enough to know the cross hairs are there, but they do not detract from the sight picture.

Not sure why others arent doin this as well.
 
Back
Top