Any hunting experience with Leupold firedot reticle?

[wombat13]

Any hunters here have experience with the Leupold firedot? Does it really help target acquisition? Does it work like a red dot scope? I have a red dot on my .44 lever and turkey shotgun and love the fast target acquisition. I've read some comments that the crosshairs are a little too thick. Is this a real drawback?

Thanks in advance for your comments.

 

[Nuke8401]

I have a "3-9x Fire-dot TMR Mark AR" scope. In this scope the reticle is too small to use the TMR markings. Since the illumination is adjustable, it is an advantage as it gets dark and the reticle otherwise dissapears. This may extend your hunting time a little/in low light conditions. Concerning crosshairs, I have no problem hitting a 10" plate at 400 yds.

 

[redneck2]

I have a VX-R on my deer rifle. The dot is much finer than any red dot I have seen. It has ten power settings IIRC. I bought it for a bear hunt in Canada. Black bear on a dark day in very heavy timber and rain makes a black reticule disappear.

The dot is relatively small but you can make it as low or bright as you want. If the rifle is't moved for five minutes it turns off, then turns on automatically when the rifle is moved again. Saves the battery. You have to remember to turn it off when you have the gun in the car or movement will keep it glowing and use battery power. Put your hand across the front lens and look thru the scope to make sure it is off

I've had mine for maybe three years and never replaced the battery yet, but I don't use it a lot. But when you do need it, it's there.

As for reticule being too thick, we got a white tail doe at 279 yards with mine

 

[matrem]

I've never hunted with one, but do have some experience with them.
If I were hunting with one, I'd definitely start in the pre dawn with it on low, and increase as needed.
Starting in broad daylight on settings bright enough for it to stand out well, you'll find you need to turn it down as light fades.

On the higher settings, that dot will even show up great in direct sunlight.
And far more precise than a red dot.

 

[gunner69]

I have one mounted on my CZ550FS in 9.3x62. Two years I took a nice eight point at dusk with it. Too dark to see the crosshairs but the dot was there and I got my shot.