Do I really "need" a red dot?

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4b1t

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Became more interested in black shotguns lately.

I realize that "need" is based on intended use. So looking at 15 to 25 metres with buckshot, 50 to 75 metres with slug. Possibly some low light conditions just for fun and of course a round or two of skeet to practice with moving/crossing targets.

My eyes are "OK" but I must admit that as I get older that front bead is harder to focus.

I have lots of trigger time with irons, more lately with glass, very little to none with red dot.

Given those parameters and close in ranges, do I really need a red dot (Aimpoint, EOTech, Vortex etc) or will good irons suffice? Seems like a lot of money and complexity in order to throw a handful of lead balls 25 metres. Am I just wasting my money on something that is in vogue, or is there a real benefit?
 
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Dont need but they are cool a xs big dot would be my other choice

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Answer: "No, you don't really need a red dot."

If you want one, that's fine, get one. There is a real benefit (for particular shooting styles), and there are also serious drawbacks to a red dot. But you won't notice the specifics unless you run a shotgun for a while with iron sights.

If I understand your experience correctly, I think someone in your position would benefit most from getting a standard bead sight shotgun and shooting at least a few hundred rounds through it before trying anything else (preferably a thousand or more). Even then, borrow someone else's shotgun with a red dot so you can see what you gain and what you lose. For my needs, I'll never have a red dot on my primary shotgun.

For your first black shotgun, run it stock with a standard bead sight for a while (paint or polish the bead if you like). Don't go for rifle sights or ghost ring. The shotgun is not a rifle (Gabe Saurez, and many others have said this).
 
alpining said:
Answer: "No, you don't really need a red dot."

If you want one, that's fine, get one. There is a real benefit (for particular shooting styles), and there are also serious drawbacks to a red dot. But you won't notice the specifics unless you run a shotgun for a while with iron sights.

If I understand your experience correctly, I think someone in your position would benefit most from getting a standard bead sight shotgun and shooting at least a few hundred rounds through it before trying anything else (preferably a thousand or more). Even then, borrow someone else's shotgun with a red dot so you can see what you gain and what you lose. For my needs, I'll never have a red dot on my primary shotgun.

For your first black shotgun, run it stock with a standard bead sight for a while (paint or polish the bead if you like). Don't go for rifle sights or ghost ring. The shotgun is not a rifle (Gabe Saurez, and many others have said this).
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Sound advice. I've always shot with a bead on shotguns and very comfortable with aperture sights on rifles. Since I have started to use more optics with rifles, was curious about the equivalent need on black shotguns.

FWIW I bought a Benelli M4, so will stick to the existing sights on it, since it has a rail I could always borrow a red dot to try out at a later date.
 
All right, seen a few views, might as well add my own. 1300 rifled barreled

stock iron sights good for up to two hundred yards if you have practiced.
Bushnell dot sight, good for up to 75 yards, fast acquisition on target
Bushnell Scope Chief 1.75 x 20 , 50-200 yards. Easy and fast acquisition at longer ranges.

Personally went back to iron sights, as I was hunting in the swamps and the fields the same day.
 
Dots require practice/training no different than irons. Yes at 50 yds. you can acquire and fire fast. With familiarity you will decipher contrast and hold patterns out much farther.
 
Threemorewishes said:
My 18.5 inch barreled, Benelli M4 with the Burris FastFire II gave me better results than the factory ghost ring sights. This is shooting Winchester 1700fps hollow point, rifled slugs from 100 yards.
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The Burris looks nice and small. Can you still see the iron sights through it on the benelli, or does it block them ?
 
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