nottelybill
Member
I have red dots on my 3 shotguns and they were bore sighted. What is the best way to verify if gun is on target center
red dot sighting in
- Thread starter nottelybill
- Start date
- Status
hub
Member
Bore sighting will only get you so close. I would say the only logical thing would be to shoot it. You never said what type of hunting or shooting you would be doing with them so I will just try to cover a little bit. I'm sorry if that sounds like a smart azz answer but we would need a little more info to give the best advice.
If your shooting slugs go buy a few different boxes of whatever kind you want to try and shoot them for groups on paper. For smooth bore using rifled slugs I zero around 50-60 yards and for a rifled barrel using sabots I sight in at 100 yards. This can get expensive pretty fast.
Which ever one your gun shoots the best groups with go buy a bunch of them because if you use a different brand, size, type, or velocity slug your point of impact will change also. Personally out of a smooth bore I always just shoot Winchester AA 2 3/4 rifled slugs that's four or five dollars a box and call it good.
If your using buck or bird shot the same concept should apply but you would try to dial in the patten to where you would like it to impact on paper at whatever distance you think you will be shooting. Don't forget when you change chokes or use different shells your impact zone will change also. You said you had three different shotguns with red dots so you could have them all dialed in for different purposes. I usually leave one shotgun set up scoped for deer hunting with a 24in rifled barrel and sabots, one 28in vent rib with different chokes for bird/rabbit/squirrel/turkey, and an 18.5 smooth bore for home defense. Hope that helps some.
If your shooting slugs go buy a few different boxes of whatever kind you want to try and shoot them for groups on paper. For smooth bore using rifled slugs I zero around 50-60 yards and for a rifled barrel using sabots I sight in at 100 yards. This can get expensive pretty fast.
Which ever one your gun shoots the best groups with go buy a bunch of them because if you use a different brand, size, type, or velocity slug your point of impact will change also. Personally out of a smooth bore I always just shoot Winchester AA 2 3/4 rifled slugs that's four or five dollars a box and call it good.
If your using buck or bird shot the same concept should apply but you would try to dial in the patten to where you would like it to impact on paper at whatever distance you think you will be shooting. Don't forget when you change chokes or use different shells your impact zone will change also. You said you had three different shotguns with red dots so you could have them all dialed in for different purposes. I usually leave one shotgun set up scoped for deer hunting with a 24in rifled barrel and sabots, one 28in vent rib with different chokes for bird/rabbit/squirrel/turkey, and an 18.5 smooth bore for home defense. Hope that helps some.
Yo Mama
Member
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2008
- Messages
- 3,230
You need distance as hub stated. Otherwise you miss the change in trajectory that happens in flight.
Not only would I advise you sight in at a comfortable distance, say 100 yards, but know how the dot affects placement at different intervals.
Yup, lots of money in your near future.
Not only would I advise you sight in at a comfortable distance, say 100 yards, but know how the dot affects placement at different intervals.
Yup, lots of money in your near future.
nottelybill
Member
more info
I guess I was a little short on info. I have one each- 1187-12ga, 870- 12ga., and 870- 20ga. I use them all for turkey hunting.
I guess I was a little short on info. I have one each- 1187-12ga, 870- 12ga., and 870- 20ga. I use them all for turkey hunting.
hub
Member
For turkey I would probably be using the 1187 to suck up some of the recoil of the heavy shells. Man buying those turkey shells are as bad as buying slugs price wise. Anyway I would either set up a bullseye or turkey target and zero your pattern on the longest practical shot you might take depending on your shotguns choke and shells you will be using. Probably around 40yds for regular shells, I'm not sure some of the better chokes and shells probably 60yrds. Might also want to test a few closer shots afterwards say at 20yrds or so to see how much higher they may be shooting.
Like these http://www.cabelas.com/link-12/product/0031695216553a.shtml
Like these http://www.cabelas.com/link-12/product/0031695216553a.shtml
- Status