Cheap Micro Dot for Turkey Shotgun

[Olympus]

Hey guys, I'm looking for a decent inexpensive micro red dot for use with my turkey shotgun. I've got a Mossberg 500 and I will be adding a pic rail to it, so the red dot would mount to the rail. I'm not looking for anything too expensive, prefer to stay under $175. Anyone have any recommendations? I don't want to go with the tube-style red dots.

 

[Skylerbone]

If you’re meaning the below type rather than an Ultradot, there’s (in order of price): Bushnell, Primary Arms, Sig Romeo 5, Vortex SPARC AR, SPARC II, and a few Holosun models I am unfamiliar with.

The Bushnell sells for ~ $50 when on sale- get the low mount version for a shotgun, the PAs run about $100-$150 but I’ve yet to try one, Sig is $110 on sale, SPARC AR $120 on sale, S II is $125 on sale. Best of my recollection prices I saw this weekend when contemplating an Eotech.

I think if the choices, my experience is Vortex works fine, if a bit pricey and Sig is the hot ticket at present. Some of the above are motion activated with a sleep timer to protect against dead batteries and might be just what you’re looking for rather than a rotary knob and extra movement when being eyed by a bird. In your case I think that feature ought to bump something to the head of the pack.

Had this one for awhile on a 10/22 TD and currently my U22 Neos.



Second from left SPARC, far right StrikeFire, front row SPARC AR.

 

[LoonWulf]

Burris ffs are sometimes available under 200, tho usually for stuff cheaper than that I use trs25s

 

[MistWolf]

Sig Romeo 5 or Primary Arms Advanced Micro. I have both. Both have good battery life. I think the glass of the Romeo is a little clearer. Both optics have stood up to regular use (range, plinking, interstate travel by automobile).

(Olympus, I missed that you don't want to go with a "tube" style RDS. If you're talking about an RDS with just a single pane, I don't think there's anything worth considering in your price range.)

 

[troy fairweather]

I'd go for the Bushnell trs-25. Tho be aware there are fake ones on Amazon. The last one I got was fake. It was returned back to Amazon. So beware the good deal unless it's from a good retailer.

 

[cdb1]

If you can increase your budget by $50.00, a Burris FastFire III or Vortex Venom are good choices.

 

[DocRock]

Guns America recently torture tested a really cheap Amazon Chinese red dot and concluded that while they are not of the quality of those listed above, that for $25 or so, they really are value for money.

Also worth considering are Simmons 4x32 shotgun scopes. For under $50, they too are real value for money and hold up very well.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Another vote for Burris Fastfire iii. They are durable and reliable.

 

[Duster340]

The TRS-25 is hard to beat for an high value low cost red dot. I put one on my 20" Mossy 500 a few year ago and could not be happier. Holds zero after many 3" Mag Turkey loads. I liked it so much I put them on 3 of my deer rifles. It's proven to be rugged and reliable in all weather conditions and on heavy recoiling weapons.

 

[BigBL87]

I know you said you don't want tube style, but in your budget range the best options will be tube style. In general, they are easier to make for a lower price and still keep them durable. The ones mentioned above are all good options. I'd personal lean Bushnell, Primary Arms, or Sig with a preference towards PA and Sig if you are willing to foot for them.

As far as the more "reflex" style, in your price range I'd try the Mueller Quick Shot, Bushnell Advance Micro, or Burris Fastfire. No personal experience with any of them just going off reputation of the companies/products, but again I'd lean towards a tube style.

 

[eastbank]

my friend bought a 39.00 reflex for his Mossberg 835 at wall mart dispite my warning, it lasted for seven shots at sight in. he took it back to wally world for a refund. he found a burris speed dot tubed red dot used for 50.00 and couldn,t be happier. any one who has shot a Mossberg 835 3.5 magnum knows what recoil is.

 

[Olympus]

Thanks guys, but I’d like to see if I can find one that is single pane like you see on a lot of pistols now.

Truglo has one called the TruTec for $140 that seems decent. I mean it’s for a shotgun, so I don’t need extreme precision. I’ve just found that my turkey gun shoots every load I try way high. I have to aim at the beard on the target to get my pattern in the neck and head area.

 

[cdb1]

I’ve got a Fastfire III on my turkey gun but I’m thinking about trying a scope.

 

[Eddie Booth]

I've got a Bushnell trs-25 and a Primary arms gen 2 micro. They cost about the same, but the Primary Arms blows the Bushnell away. It has a much cleaner dot and the ability to dim to the point it's actually useful in early morning and late evening light.

 

[Skylerbone]

I’ve watched my dad struggle with 3 TruGlow red dots on shotguns until each failed. His take, it was cheap. My take, a few boxes of turkey loads wasted for sight in only to wind up at square 1 equaled 20% more wasted money. His 835 killed one in 3 shots, the 870 3” took just over double that.

Fair warning: I wouldn’t suggest it due to quality control and the cover being the “ON/OFF” switch, and brightness being controlled by a photo sensor, but Classic Firearms has the Bushnell First Strike on sale for $50 (1/2 off). Again my take is I spend far too much hunting to risk a dead battery/loss of zero/couldn’t control brightness situation that ruins a hunt. I don’t need the harvest so much as I need time away from a hectic life. Some people say it works great and they probably don’t ask much from it. https://www.classicfirearms.com/bus...16HighQualityOpticDeals&utm_content=Secondary

 

[DocRock]

The Guns America review to which I referred:

https://www.gunsamerica.com/digest/we-got-one-of-those-cheap-amazon-red-dots/

 

[entropy]

I’ve watched my dad struggle with 3 TruGlow red dots on shotguns until each failed. His take, it was cheap. My take, a few boxes of turkey loads wasted for sight in only to wind up at square 1 equaled 20% more wasted money. His 835 killed one in 3 shots, the 870 3” took just over double that.

Fair warning: I wouldn’t suggest it due to quality control and the cover being the “ON/OFF” switch, and brightness being controlled by a photo sensor, but Classic Firearms has the Bushnell First Strike on sale for $50 (1/2 off). Again my take is I spend far too much hunting to risk a dead battery/loss of zero/couldn’t control brightness situation that ruins a hunt. I don’t need the harvest so much as I need time away from a hectic life. Some people say it works great and they probably don’t ask much from it. https://www.classicfirearms.com/bushnell-730005-trophy-1x-unlimited-eye-relief/?trk_msg=Q9TUMAVJKGV4LDUO7G3LS2BO8K&trk_contact=HJ0QTO5ROKHJ4BM01O1JH3PALS&trk_sid=4VT4ETB60MBBGKV26QGSQ6EF0S&utm_source=listrak&utm_medium=email&utm_term=https://www.classicfirearms.com/bushnell-730005-trophy-1x-unlimited-eye-relief/&utm_campaign=20190916HighQualityOpticDeals&utm_content=Secondary

I had a First Stike on my 7" AR until yesterday, when I tried to adjust the zero, and it wouldn't stay put. I am currently considering alternatives.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

I've been impressed with Holosun.

Primary arms and Holosun are the same... I think?

 

[Skylerbone]

Snapped a few photos of the sight picture from a small “micro” dot sight, the TRS-25 in this case. I cropped pics to focus on background and what is or is not obscured. Basement lighting so dot was adjusted to 7 of 11 on average. Realize other RDS with smaller controls may obscure less. Also note the width of my hand vs. the tube.

I actually started out with one of those open sight multi-reticle $30 wonders to see if I liked the concept over irons. I did, but preferred the tube style leading to a StrikeFire, then the SPARC for weight and size reduction. Gave the original to a buddy at work for his kid who lost interest.


At about 4 yards, arm’s length where a cantilever barrel mount would place it.



Near where a shotgun receiver mount would place it.



And again at arm’s length at about 8 yards. Prairie dog target is ~8” tall. Didn’t have my turkey decoys handy, sorry.

 

[hso]

Y'all tried.