Hunting with a Red Dot Sight

[embry112]

I have been debating on whether i should purchase a Red Dot Sight for my Savage Axis/Edge. My intentions are to hunt with it but i am not sure if it would be worth the money. Long story short, I want to know if I'm wasting my time.

 

[Bobson]

I've seen videos of people hunting with red dots, but I would think the application is limited to somewhat close ranges. Probably depends on the terrain too. EG, it may work well in the woods, but not so great in large, open spaces. I'm sure others will chime in too.

Welcome to The High Road.

 

[stillkickin]

I use a red dot for ranges less than 150 yds in fairly thick cover. at longer ranges the MOA of the dot becomes too inacurate.

 

[Sky]

My eyes are not what they used to be and I use red dots for hunting all the time "IF" the expected range of my intended targets fall within 100 yards or less depending on weapon, size of dot and critter..I use a scope if I anticipate longer shots...Please look at the cheap read dot thread here at THR. I have Aimpoint, eotech, and many others that cost less than $200 some less than $100. All of mine are mounted and working....Dot size is important and they are great for some things IMO and not so good for other things...Better if you know someone who has one and you can look through and shoot their weapon. Not all red dots are created equally but promise you do not have to spend $389 to get a good red dot that works.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=608749

 

[embry112]

What about personal preference? I am adicted to the fast action hunting with Red Dots ever since I watched driven boar hunts with Aimpoint sights on youtube. I am not saying I will hunt every game with it but i am trying to see if it's practical.

 

[303tom]

They do make for quicker on target shots, especially when using a bolt action rifle where you have to move to insert your next round & your targets are around 75 or a 100 yards. I like this one...........

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/browning-buckmark-reflex-sight.aspx?a=691313

 

[wombat13]

I keep thinking about putting a RDS on my muzzleloader. I don't like to take shots much beyond 100 yards with it anyway. I am just worried about the sight handling the recoil.

 

[der Teufel]

I use a red dot for ranges less than 150 yds in fairly thick cover. at longer ranges the MOA of the dot becomes too inacurate.

^^ What he said.

My eyes are not what I claim they used to be, but about all I do it hog hunting and 75 yards or less is a pretty typical shot. Maximum range for me is maybe 125 yards. Even at that I use a 3X magnifier that I can flip out of the way for closer shooting. I like it, but I agree with the folks who don't recommend it for longer range shooting.

 

[embry112]

Yote hunting

Any Coyote hunting tips for wide open land or coyote hunting in general? I would be pleased with any tips that will help me bag my first yote with my new .270

 

[jhnrckr]

I have a vortex crossfire 3-9 with an illuminated red dot reticle the dot is .7 moa but I can get 1 inch groups easy at 100 yards. Best of both worlds.

 

[mbopp]

I use a Bushnell Holosight on my Contender deer gun. It's quicker than a scope.

 

[Loosedhorse]

Aimpoint used to make their 9000L sight in a 2x mag, 1 MOA dot configuration. It has a bit of tunnel-vision effect (from the long tube and mag), and has the same reduction of ambient light that all red dots do.

Other than that, it is an awsome sight, and I keep trading it between rifles and shotguns. Of course, they no longer make it. But you can buy the 1x, and a 3x magnifier! ($$$).

:banghead:

 

[Geno]

embry112:

First, welcome to The High Road! Second, great thread you started here.

I had exact this concern back in 1998 when I purchased my first AimPoint red dot sight. Man were they expensive given my medical leave from work at that time in life. Well, I spoke at length with several experts. A universal position was that the red dot's benefit, assuming one has a like-type-mounting system across all firearms, is that I could use the red dot on ANYTHING!!! Anything from my "lowly" .22LRs, to my shotguns, carbines, long guns and even my pistols and revolvers. Benefit number two is that the red dot has zero parallax error, assuming one selects a red dot that has a true 1X magnification. Wanting to make as precise of a shot as possible, I sought the smallest MOA dot available in the AimPoint, which at the time was (I believe) 1 MOA.

Thirteen years of long story made short, I have made literally ten-of-thousands of shots through a red dot sight, from anything from my T/C Arms' Contender pistol in .22LR Match to my Sig Sauer 202 Safari .375 H&H Mag. I easily have made consistent center-of-mass hits, to 200 yards...I do mean, zero problems. The trick for me, was to turn the illumination to the lowest power that I still could acquire the dot, and thus obstruct minimal sight picture of the target. Let's just say that a 4" steel swinging circle at 200 yards may be small, but by no means impossible.

The red dot sights are not for precision shooting. As I see them, they are intended for closer range, rapid acquisition shooting. I like boar hunting in the woods, using a T/C Arms Encore pistol. The AimPoint sure worked well there too. My suggestion, purchase the best you can afford. Don't break your bank. Make sure you have a universal mounting system. I have picatinny bases on all but 1 or 2 firearms. That makes for quick interchanges. If you still are uncertain, find someone who has one, and try it out before you make the purchase.

Don't overlook the AimPoint alternatives, such as Burris. There are many, many names on the market. Too, look at the "red/green" illuminated sights that have a traditional crosshair, but zero magnification.

Let us know what you decide, why you decided, and how it works out for you.

Geno

 

[snakeman]

a red dot with a magnifier would be an good way to go but a low powered variable scope will work for everything from 10-400 yards. like 2-7x32

 

[embry112]

Thanks for the help Geno. One of the reasons why i want a RDS is because it's a challenge to be accurate if your off hand shooting. Have you ever stood up and shot at an 8" target at 100 yds and hit where you want to? I would love to be able to do that with a RDS all day with my .270. My brother in law in texas has invited me to a boar hunt in march and i want to use a RDS. What do you think?

 

[Murphys Law]

I use a Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 on a Marlin 94, 44 magnum, mounted on a scout mount. It doesn't add to the weight or change the balance of the gun. I like it but Its mostly a brush gun. Longest shot I would need to take in the area where I would use it is about 75 yards.

 

[Geno]

embry112:

My own standing shots has been mostly firing an Encore or Contender pistol at close-in distances (less than 50 yards), and .22LR carbines while "hunting" sparrows.

It doesn't matter what platform firearm you use, or what optic you use, firing off-hand is a challenge for anyone. The benefit of the red dot optic is that where the dot lies, is where the projectile impacts. In other words, it is more forgiving for me in terms of eye to crosshair/dot alignment.

Geno

 

[AK_Maine_iac]

Wombat13
I keep thinking about putting a RDS on my muzzleloader. I don't like to take shots much beyond 100 yards with it anyway. I am just worried about the sight handling the recoil.

I have been using a $89.00 Bushnell Red Dot on my 50 caliber black powder for four years now. Not a single problem. I get about two seasons on each set of batteries. I think the cold temps kill them, not the amount of on time. Recoil no problem.

 

[Loosedhorse]

a low powered variable scope will work for everything from 10-400 yards. like 2-7x32

One of the reasons why i want a RDS is because it's a challenge to be accurate if your off hand shooting.

I like that 9000L, but when push came to shove, I opted for a 1-6x variable. Very fast acquisition.

Have you ever stood up and shot at an 8" target at 100 yds and hit where you want to?

Yes. If you'll excuse me: that's not an optics issue as much as a practice issue.

An RDS will work on a boar hunt. Boar hunts vary, but I'd value quick handling up close even more than quick accuracy at 100 yards. I can usually choose if and when to fire at 100 yards; at 10 yards, not so much.

 

[wombat13]

Wombat13
I keep thinking about putting a RDS on my muzzleloader. I don't like to take shots much beyond 100 yards with it anyway. I am just worried about the sight handling the recoil.

I have been using a $89.00 Bushnell Red Dot on my 50 caliber black powder for four years now. Not a single problem. I get about two seasons on each set of batteries. I think the cold temps kill them, not the amount of on time. Recoil no problem.

Thanks for the info on recoil. I'll try to get a RDS for my ml before next hunting season.