Holosights or reflex sights for hunting

[Grizzlypeg]

Anyone using a Bushnell Holosight or other reflex sight for hunting deer?

Wondering about:

1) Dot size / moa coverage by dot - how well work at beyond 100 yards?
2) battery life and operation at sub zero temperatures (AA or N battery?)
3) resistance of sight to snow, rain, bush / bark dust

Are these a practical alternative to a low power scope or is a variable with 2x or 3x low end still the best?

 

[JohnC]

1. I find 1 or 2 MOA works quite well at a 100 yds even 4 should be OK

2. I was told batteries last longer at colder temperatures (urban legend?) I've had no problems with AAs. I always carry spares -but usually needed because I forgeot to turn it off Start each season with a fresh, quality alkaline battery or even lithiums.

3. a quality unit should be OK. I;ve used eotech bushnell holosight and aimpoint.

For me anyway they seem to be twice as fast as a low powered scope, especially around dawn/dusk

 

[Grizzlypeg]

Regarding point no. 2, I know people put dry cell batteries into storage in the cold. They may last longer in the freezer. However, my experience is that cold batteries have weak output. My GPS for instance, the NIMH batteries didn't last 20 minutes in the freezing cold. Perhaps alkalines fair better, but generally, output voltage is diminished in the cold.

I'm thinking about a Bushnell Holosight, the version that takes AA's, as those batteries should be cheaper and last longer.

My fear is something else to go wrong when dealing with electronics.

 

[JohnC]

you're right the output is less .

I looked up the Eotech ( military version of the bushnell holosight) and came up with the following:

Temperature: -20 to 150F (operating); -40 to 160F (storage)

-20 doesn't sound very low, I
would call bushnell canada and ask about operating temperature range- (
I 800) 361-5702

I wonder if the lithium AA batteries might have a better cold weather life

 

[Grizzlypeg]

John, does yours use the N size batteries? If so, what do the batteries cost? the AA model is discontinued, but there might still be some around. I just don't want to out tech myself and have more problems in the field. I notice even the military model is battery powered. I guess tritium doens't provide enough intensity in daylight?

 

[JohnC]

no I have an older AA model

Alkaline N batteries at Radio Shack were around 2 for $5.00 last I looked - I used to have a set of ear protectors that used them

the Eotech doesn't use tritium - it has the identical screen to the holosight-
but a lot more bulletproofing - and also is available in AA battery mode .

Have a couple of tritium sighted shotguns but the are purely a night proposition