Red dot on a .308

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Hunter125

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I have a thread going in which rifle I should choose for a general purpose rifle that will likely not be used out to more than 200-300 yards. I have been leaning toward a .308 bolt gun, liking the Savage 11 Hog Hunter. It has iron sights, which is one reason I like it, but I was wondering if a red dot/reflex sight possibly with a magnifier would be feasible for a gun like this or not. I know the potential range of the gun is more than what I could do with that type of sight, but I don't anticipate taking any 1000 yard shots with it.
 
I think you would be better off with a low-power variable scope.

The red dot magnifiers go behind the sight.

As such, your dot gets magnified X whatever power the magnifier is.

So your 4 MOA dot X 3x becomes a 12 MOA dot at 100 yards, and a 36 MOA dot at 300 yards.
Thats big enough to hide a deer behind.

Maybe something like this:
http://www.leupold.com/hunting-shooting/scopes/hog-riflescopes/vx-r-1-4x20mm-hog/

rc
 
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Friend of my uncles uses an Aimpoint on a M1A for hog hunting and close range deer hunting. He is pretty successful with it and I've shot targets with it and its pretty easy to be hunting accurate out to 100 yards (longest range Ive shot it).
 
A 1-4X or 2-7X scope in QD mounts is what you want. They cost less than a quality red dot and perform better for close range fast shooting. No contest at ranges longer than 100 yards.
 
So your 4 MOA dot X 3x becomes a 12 MOA dot at 100 yards, and a 36 MOA dot at 300 yards.
Thats big enough to hide a deer behind.

RCmodel, I respect your knowledge on many things, but in this case, you've made a mistake, I believe. Yes, the dot itself will appear to be 3x as big, but that's not 12MOA, since the target itself (i.e. the deer) will ALSO appear 3x as large. The magnifier will not change the size of the target vs the size of the reticule/dot/crosshairs. What it does is magnify what's in the center of your sight at the expense of field of view.

The dot covering the deer just isn't possible unless it was possible without the magnifier.
 
There is no advantage to a red dot for your stated purpose. Get a 1-4x, 1.5-6x, or 2-7x scope with a heavy reticle like the German #4. If you get one with an illuminated reticle, get flip up lens caps. Closing the objective cap will make it run like a red dot at close range.
 
I think you would be better off with a low-power variable scope.

The red dot magnifiers go behind the sight.

As such, your dot gets magnified X whatever power the magnifier is.

So your 4 MOA dot X 3x becomes a 12 MOA dot at 100 yards, and a 36 MOA dot at 300 yards.
Thats big enough to hide a deer behind.

Maybe something like this:
http://www.leupold.com/hunting-shooting/scopes/hog-riflescopes/vx-r-1-4x20mm-hog/

rc


A 4 MOA dot with a 3x magnifier is still a 4 MOA dot.

The target, background, and dot are all magnified the same. A red dot sight that covers 4" at 100 yards unmagnified will cover 4" at 100 yards behind a 3x magnifier.
 
Go for it...I've seen guys using a T1 type RDS on their Ruger GSR. Seems like a neat light option if you want to keep weight down to a minimum. You should be fine to 200-300 yards depending on what you are shooting.
 
One can certainly make hits out to 300 with a RDS. I've seen good shooters do it at distances further than that. I personally would prefer a 1-4X or even a 1-6X optic.
 
One can certainly make hits out to 300 with a RDS. I've seen good shooters do it at distances further than that. I personally would prefer a 1-4X or even a 1-6X optic.

On a large enough target that you don't have to identify, yes.
 
Only hunters with some time learning the sport should reply. Target shooting ain't the same . Even killing another man in war time ain't the same as far as optic needs go when civilan red dots or reflex optics or used . Even with 1" circle dots like on a eotec serious limits are involved over 100 yards in good light , that would be a hert shot ot neck shot and if branchs and dark bottoms are involved the coating used on dots and reflex optic realy kill light transmition with low light.

Check out this closeout on a good quality sightron 250 dollar scope for 100 dollars.
http://swfa.com/Sightron-25-10x44-SI-Riflescope-P9197.aspx
 
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I agree with the above post. Being a huge fan of red-dots on my hunting handguns and shotguns, I would highly recommend a regular scope for your rifle. What you gain in quick target aquisition with the red-dot, you lose in low-light situations. That glowing red-dot, in low light, sucks away much of the detail.

Again, I love the red-dot and have killed many deer and other critters with it. On a 308, it would be a limitation under real world hunting conditions. If you were keeping your shots to 100 yards, I'd say go for it. 200-300? I think it would be a hinderance.
 
On a large enough target that you don't have to identify, yes.

I've seen it on varmints, which you do have to identify and are not that large (at least relative to say a deer or other large game). However, there is a difference in what good shooters can do and what everyone can do. I'd agree, and did, that magnification is preferable. As to IDing targets most hunters I know carry Binos.
 
I have the Savage 11 in .308, and mine came with a scope. Not the scope I would have bought on my own, but is's ok. 3 x 9 x 40. You'll find that it's very easy to end up with 120 to 180 yard shot at deer, and scope is just more accurate at that range (my 2 cents). I also have an AR10 with a Redfield and take shots at 150 to 300. I would not change this set up for anything. And everybody that's shot it, loves it.
 
Don't know if there is enough room on top of a bolt gun with a conventional length rail for a red dot and a magnifier, esp. a short action? I too would go with a low end variable with a top end of 4-8x. Check out the Savage scout, as in your other thread you were looking to use it as a defensive gun.
 
Go red dot! A 4ml dot should zero spot on at 100m with the 12 0'clock edge of the dot and spot at about 300 with that big red punkin sitting on top of the target with the 6 0'clock edge cutting the spot you want to hit. Mount the thing way out front, carry (in a pocket) a magnifier or better yet any conventional scpoe w/ QD mounts . you can use it dismounted as a spotting scope, or slap in on for magnification. Just ignore any redundant cross hairs.

I've done it and I like it better than a regular scope out past 200m . For a dedicated long range rifle a conventional scope may be better.
 
Red dots certainly have their place and for short range on hogs in the swamps and forests of the south, you could do no better. However, I agree with the above that banging away at steel at 300yds with a red dot and shooting deer at 300yds are two very different things. For your purposes, I think you are much better served with a low power variable. Red dots may be a bit faster for close shots but a 1-4x is certainly fast enough.
 
Red dots are very good for snap shooting.

If you look on the used market, Aimpoint once made a magnified red dot that fit 30mm rings.
 
RC, isn't a 12 MOA dot at 100 yards also a 12 MOA dot at 300 yards? The angle doesn't change.

Personally, especially on a bolt gun, I'd recommend a low-power scope over a red dot. Unless you need fast target aquisition (or you have bad eyes and can see the RDS easier), the scope will be cheaper and probably better suited to your purposes.
 
You can easily put a red dot on a Ruger scout. Depending on what your doing, it makes as much sense, if not more, than a scope in some situations

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My life right now is learning long range, precision rifle marksmanship. I'm training for army sniper school this march. With that in mind, I have difficulty wrapping my head around a red dot optic on a .308/7.62x51mm weapon system. With an understanding of how a mil dot or TMR equipped scope works and some time behind the trigger, you can engage targets at 1000 ms without too much difficulty…with a 10 power scope. I have DOPE for my personally owned LMT MWS308 out to 1200 ms, and do this with a Leupold LR/T 3.5-10 mark IV. It doesn't sound like you really need all this jazz for what you wish to do, but I'd take a look at the SWFA 3-9 SS scope line. For under $700 you'll be blown away by what you can accomplish over a variety of ranges, quickly and accurately.
 
I tried a red dot on my rem 870 slug gun one season and hated it.I would rather have fiber optic open sites for quick shots inside 80 yards.but on a 308 i would chose low powered scope like a 1.5-4 or 2-7 with a wide feild of view and heavy duplex reticle.that way you can turn it down to 1.5 or 2 power in tite quarters or low lite situations and still have a useful rifle at 300 yards when turn scope up to 7 power
 
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