Does anyone deer hunt with a 1x red dot ?

Don't most of the guys with those put them on their M4geries along with lasers, lights, 1 point slings and just leave them in the corner?

Well I have a simmons red dot I was planning on using for turkey, but never got around to using it. Although it was about $40, it works fine.

40mm btw.

Well I have a simmons red dot I was planning on using for turkey, but never got around to using it. Although it was about $40, it works fine.

Click to expand...

I am just about as bad as anyone, who wants to try the latest "gadget" for hunting, but I have stayed away from mounting a scope or red dot on any of my Turkey shotguns. I can say that I hear of more "misses" on turkeys from my friends with scoped shotguns (red dots included) than those who do not use them. I understand the theory behind mounting scopes on shotguns for turkeys, but in reality seem to hang people up. YES, they will work just fine in the perfect situations, but I seldom get the perfect situation while turkey hunting. I have hunted turkeys all of my life and not once can I say I was handicapped for not using a scope/red dot. Too many times a Tom has just "appeared" at very close ranges when calling. At the short distances, I know a scope can be a henderance and take the natural "pointing" of a shotgun out of the equation. I have shot tournament clays for numbers of years, so I feel the instinct to throw a shotgun up and point and shoot versus aiming. The red dots are fast, but I can not say they are faster than a natural reflex. I hate to admit it, but I have shot a few turkeys at longer than normal ranges becuase I misjudged the distance. Even at well over 50 yards, my guns have taken the turkeys very cleanly. Scopes tend to make people try longer shots, but in truth, the bead will work just fine. Especially if you pattern your gun at various distances and know your limitations. For me, the name of the game for turkey hunting is to see how close I can get them. At close range, I would take the bead over a scope/red dot any day of the week.

Does anyone deer hunt with a 1x red dot ?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Has anyone ever used a 1x red dot like an Eotech or Aimpoint for hunting? If so, what did you think of that set up for deer?

Click to expand...

Lonegunman: I did have a red dot mounted on a 44 mag that I used for deer and hogs and I did like it. For a rifle or handgun it worked great and you will do well, especially if you practice. For me, my max range was about 75-80 yards with the red dot.

My dad used to have an aimpoint on his .357 mag that he deer hunted with from time to time, and it worked well at close ranges. He has recently gone back to the iron sights and put the aimpoint on his shotgun for turkey hunting.

I've got one on an 870, 20 in barrel with a rifled choke tube dialed in at 100 yards with slugs, its never missed. Screw in a modified tube and its good to go with 00 buck at 50 yds but shoots a little to the left. Turkey loads with a full or extra full tube will make head shots out to 40 yards.

I had an Optima sight on my 870 and zeroed it for slugs. Worked well and got one nice buck with it with a neck shot at about 40 yards. I've currently got a DPMS LR308 AP4 with an EOTech on it that will be my hog gun this fall. Haven't blooded it yet, but should be able to let you know how it works come the middle of October.

LH3

I have a co-worker who deer hunts with one on a Win. 1300 12 ga.

I can't see why it wouldn't work at least as well as iron sights.

On the other hand, I can't see how it would work much better, either, unless it's getting really dark.

If I had a gun that already had irons, I wouldn't buy a red dot for it, but if I had a gun that had a red dot, I suppose I'd use it for deer hunting.

I can't see why it wouldn't be a good sight for a brush deer rifle, like a .30-30 or other carbine. The advantage I think, would be faster target acquisition especially in low light and dark woods. I haven't tried one and would like feedback from those who have. Seems to me you wouldn't want a dot more than 3MOA though. Isn't part of the idea with these sights that the eye naturally centers objects within circles? Wouldn't that make the red dot work much like ghost rings?

Seems to me I wouldn't want any additional doo-hickeys hanging from my .30-30 in the brush, though.

I've been pretty frustrated with my full-size scoped boltie here, in the thick chaparral. I've thought about getting a nice little lever gun, but only if I can keep it as clean and low-profile as possible.

Very popular in Scandinavia. Fitted to most types of rifles. Many drillings and combination weapons are fitted with them. They work well here because we shoot most of our game on the move and thats where they come into there own. Also fitted to semi auto shot guns to shoot a competition called Jaktstig.

I have a red dot mounted on my shotgun....change the barrel from rifled for deer to smoothbore for turkey....works great for both. just make sure the dot isn't too large.

We must use shotguns for deer, here, so I mounted a BSA red dot. Shots from my deer stand willl be less than 50 yards, and it works well for that. I wouldn;t try a longer shot though. Takes some getting used to , if you are used to a crosshair type scope, though. Good in low light.

here in nebraska you can only have a 1x scope attatched to your muzzleloader (during muzzle loading season, as any scope can be attatched if you use a muzzleloader during regular rifle season), so you see quite a bit of it here.

why not for under 100yd shots?

Check out the sight on this young man's rifle.





Typically much faster than iron sights. Essentially infinite eye relief. One focal plane. Works in any light. If you get one like the Eotech with zero parallax you don't have to worry about having a good cheek weld like you do with iron sights or a magnified scope. That can be important if you discover the trophy of a lifetime is behind you - the less you have to move the better.

Sure, a downpour with high winds can make it hard to use. Most game won't be out in that kind of weather. That's what BUIS are made for. If you look close you can see the backup irons on that rifle.

There is something fun about shooting and hunting with traditional guns with traditional sights but that doesn't mean they are better or more efficient or even as efficient as modern alternatives. The big disadvantage of a good red dot is the batteries. If you put in fresh ones when you start your hunt you should be fine and you can carry spares in any case in addition to the BUIS.

I mounted a Tasco Aimpoint on my Marlin 1894 .44 magnum two weeks ago. I went with the red dot due to my eyesight not being so good anymore but not wanting a scope either. I used a standard weaver mount so the scope is forward but would not have to remove the rear sight. If the battery were to go south for some reason I could remove it in the field and keep on hunting.

Bitmap There's something special about a boy and his Marlin 336W

I have a red-dot (Millett) on my Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 magnum. It worked well last year hunting deer.

I recently bought a WASR, and have a reflex-type red dot on it. I just bought a couple of 5-round magazines for it, and plan to try it out in the cedars for deer under 100 yards. I have really enjoyed these sights on short-range guns like the WASR and my Hi-Point carbine. Very fast and easy to hit with, even for first timers.

I have an M1A SOCOM with an ultimak rail (replaces top-front handguard).

I have an aimpoint compc3 1x 2moa dot.

I'm going to try it deer hunting this year for the first time. I'll only be using it at short ranges though. I have a bolt-action with a 3.5-10x for longer ranges.

I have an original aimpoint that I have used to hunt deer since 1985. I have taken deer at 300 yards using it. They excel at running game or low light situations.. dawn or dusk As my eyes have aged, I have purchased more red dots. None of the cheap red-dots compare to an aimpoint.

At one time or another my aimpoint has sat on everything from a 30-06 to a 12 gauge to a 10-22. When I went to the first Gulf war, My M16 had my aimpoint on it (years before they were issued). If you want magnification, there are adapters mine gives 3X but decreases the field of view enough that I do not use it to hunt.

I just bought a red dot and i mounted it on my mossberg 500

Will it affect the range of view that i would have if I didn't have the reddot

The Deer Hunter said:

Don't most of the guys with those put them on their M4geries along with lasers, lights, 1 point slings and just leave them in the corner?

Click to expand...

Hey! I resemble that, damn you.

I have Eotechs mounted on a P90 and an FS2000. One's next to the bed, the other in the corner of the living room.