Squirrel hunting with a red dot

[Saddlebag Preacher]

I took my scope off my 10/22 last spring and then replaced it with a Bushnell TRS-25 red dot from my AR15. Been shooting and banging around all summer with it and have it sighted in with CCI minimags. Took it out today and was hitting bulls-eyes and a 3" steel disc out to 65 yards.

So now I'm thinking I'll leave it on and take it Squirrel hunting . Last season, they sometimes came in so close, the scope was more of a hindrance than a help. But my eyes are getting old enough that picking out the open sights are a hassle.

Anyone actually use a red dot nowadays, and if so, how do you like it?

 

[cpt-t]

PREACHER: I have three 22 automatic rifles that I have Red Dot Sights on. And one of them is a 10-22 also. I set the rifles up with the Red Dot Sights to use in my Gun Clubs 22 action shoots. Even set up two 22 pistols with Red Dot Sights on them to use at the same 22 shoots. But I took one of the rifles out hunting Jack Rabbits with me and it worked just great. The Red Dot Sights worked especially well if the Jack`s were running. And I am planning on using the same rifle Squirrel hunting in Missouri this fall. I really enjoy Small Game Hunting, or just out walking around plinking using a Red Dot Sight. The Red Dot Sight to me is just so much faster and easier to use, especially in a low light or a night time situation. I even have a Red Dot Sight on one of my AR-15`s in 223 cal now, to hunt Coyotes and varmints with, and it works great also.
ken

 

[jmr40]

If you found the scope to be more a hindrance than a help at close range you were doing something wrong.

I've tried dot sights and have gotten rid of them. A low powered variable set on 1X or 2X scope is just as fast to get on target up close if used right. A variable cranked up to 4X or more is much more precise for longer ranges.

In low light the illuminated dot is easier to see, but the light causes your pupils to constrict making it harder to see the target. Once again a conventional scope works better because of much better glass.

 

[jmorris]

I have a few red dot sights ranging from $25 BSA to a fairly expensive Aimpoint comp 3.

At 65 yds for a head shot I would much rather have a scope, at closer ranges they would be fine IMO.

If all you can do is hit a 3" plate, you need better precision or move closer.

This is the accuracy I would look for for head shots, video of one of my air rifles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1L4EJAcnhY

 

[Blue68f100]

A scope is better but the RD is faster but less accurate. The one I have on my pistol I can adj the brightness on so I keep it the smallest I can see for the lighting conditions. The problem with RD is the dot size can be larger than your target. Over driving that little led will make it twice what it should be. As with any optics you need to shoot close (and far) to know what your hold adj is for the distance your shooting. It's not uncommon to miss when shooting close using a scope, hitting low. It's all about the arc and line of sight.

I've used a RD on my MKIII pistol one year. It was a lot of fun and was able to hit those tree rats out to 40 yrds. But that year we had a bumper crop of tree rats. You did not have to move around, just sit and wait for them. You would limit out in a couple of hours.

It's a lot of fun calling them in. It looks like slim pickings around here. The acorn and pecans are MIA for the most part. Even the hickory nuts are thin this year.

Get out and have some fun....

 

[susieqz]

i have red dots on both rifles n pistols. the very first time i used one i swore i'd never hunt without one.
target acquisition is fast fast fast.

 

[basicblur]

I see no reason why you can't use a red dot for squirrel hunting?

I have a few red dots - bagged a swimming muskrat at 75 yards offhand (yeah, it was a lucky shot) but with nothing but his head showing, darn if I didn't hit him in the head.

I was using a Colt M4 22 Carbine (made by Walther) but had a Trijicon SRS on it. I do like the SRS's 1.75 MOA dot - most every other red dot out there has a bigger MOA dot, so I don't know how different dot sizes would work out for squirrel hunting.

I also have a Bushnell TRS-25 and a couple of Burris FastFire III - got one mounted on a SIG 1911 22 and the other on a 1 o'clock mount on another 22 AR (it's my poor man's 3-Gun practice rig).

My buddy (whose pond has the muskrats) has a 15-22 with a Bushnell TRS-25 which his wife regularly uses to thin the muskrat heard in his pond. She seems to have pretty good luck (and tones of fun) with it.

 

[leeroy71]

I would use a shotgun or .22lr. I can't hit anything with my red dot. But maybe I'm throwing it wrong.

 

[25cschaefer]

I had a red dot on a Henry 22 trapper model for years. It was extremely fast and accurate enough to hit squirrel heads at 25 yds. I used to embarrass my friends while hunting rabbits, I would hit them on the run faster than the other guys with shotguns, or hit them after they missed.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

I've got a Ruger 10/22 that I put recently put an inexpensive TruGlo Red Dot on. I like it but squirrel season has not come in here yet. It is 5-MOA so no a head shot machine.

 

[Snyper]

Most dots are too big to be practical for squirrels, and can be hard to use in low light compared to a normal scope

 

[PJSprog]

I've been thinking of doing the same with my Savage MkII, Preacher. Let us know how it works for you.

 

[JERRY]

I think the squirrels around here have been shot at before. they will not let you get an aim on them with a rifle; a shotgun is needed.