Hunting moose with a red dot

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S1nnerman

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Hi guys,

going for moose hunt ever in early September and I was wondering if it would be a good idea to use a red dot instead of a scope.

rifle : savage 116 in .338 wm
optic : Aimpoint CompC3 (2 moa dot)
hunting range : from 0 to 200 yards

I'd like to get some feedback from hunters who actually used a red dot at least once in a hunting situation. And no worries for the battery, it is brand new and it will last 5 years if left turned on at level 7 so no worries here. I will also have my iron sights ready in case of malfunction.

thanks guys, your feedback is always appreciated

Mario
 
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2 moa at 200 is about 4 inches, I think..

your moose will be quite large, especially in the flesh, if you get yourself a set of sticks for the longer shots then I don't see it being a problem, although if in semi tall bush, reasonably thick, maybe the moose will be in there an your shot window is only 2 ft from 180m, maybe the 4x scope might be bit more handy..
if I shot moose all the time an could pass up shots, or come back tomorrow, sure id use a red dot.

upclose on the pigs and deer with hounds, sure they are no problem
WL
 
I've used a reddot for deer a few times. I have to say it seems to my like you're on the right track. I set mine up so I was zeroed with a 6 o'clock hold just under my target at 100 yards, it was fast and my only complaints were I had an older model with a very large dot (5MOA) also I never saw a single legal deer while carrying that gun, it did shoot a few grouse though. I like the idea of a 2moa dot and think as long is the optic allows you to see in the first and last minutes of legal when game always seems to be most active I wouldn't hesitate to use it.
If the rifle currently sports conventional optics and you're comfortable with it I would not go changing it this close before season.
I've played a bit with I believe the same optic on a friends Norinco M305 short barrel and an Ar variant of some sort and from field positions like prone, kneeling, seated, and improvised rests breaking sporting clays at 200 yards was possible with practice, I'd hunt a moose with that kind of accuracy, if shots would be close.
 
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I hate relying on electronics when hunting big game... I would recommend a low power variable scope... like a 1-4X20mm or 1.5-5X20mm or 1.75-6X32mm or 2-7X33mm or 2.5-8X36mm ... can't go wrong with Leupold.
 
I love the red dot for hunting and had great luck using them for turkeys and deer ,but I had some worry about batteries and field of view at last light with the big red dot ,so I went looking for the best of both worlds and found the leupold vxr line of scopes .thy come in a 2to7 and 3to9 ,with a red dot in the center of the cross hair ,best of both worlds very fine dot with 5 settings and a cross hair that can be used with out the red dot or batteries ,,,the red dot is very fast to get on target even on moving game ..I found there are a few other brands of scope that have this option ,best look around and check out a few brands ,,,Dutch
 
A 2-7 scope will pick up any junk/branches between you & moose. On 2 you are still good to go very close. Red dot is good for speed but not detail. I would not risk my hunt on a red dot. JM2C
 
Everyone has a favourite and an opinion.

I hunt deer with a red dot both on my crossbow and my 243.

Most Deer and Moose, at least in eastern Canada are shot at distances far less than 100 yards.

At that range a red dot is more than you "really need".

A moose provides a huge target, so 2 moa is more than twice as accurate as you need as well.

And I do prefer a red dot as well hunting close in hardwoods. The benefit of being able to shoot with both eyes open, far outweighs (my opinion) any magnification you would get with typical optics - you can see "everything"...
 
A fella at our camp has used a red dot for many years, and he gets more than his share of deer & moose. I prefer crosshairs myself, but its whatever your comfortable & confident with using.
 
I have killed alot of deer with a red dot on my rifle,....like galamb said,.."The benefit of being able to shoot with both eyes open, far outweighs (my opinion) any magnification you would get with typical optics - you can see "everything"..."
The only time I like a scope is when sitting on stand in the low light dawn and dusk,...but for walking along hunting,..the red dot is by far the best set up.
 
I took a whitetail last season with an Aimpoint Micro(2 MOA dot) on my hunting rifle at about 30 meters in heavy brush.

I like the fast target acquisition with with both eyes open that a red dot provides and I can make decent shots out to 100.
The red dot should serve you well but if you think you might need to shoot beyond 100,I recommend a variable power scope.
 
S1nnerman said:
Hi guys,

going for my first moose hunt ever in early September and I was wondering if it would be a good idea to use a red dot instead of a scope.

rifle : savage 116 in .338 wm
optic : Aimpoint CompC3 (2 moa dot)
hunting range : from 0 to 200 yards

I'd like to get some feedback from hunters who actually used a red dot at least once in a hunting situation. And no worries for the battery, it is brand new and it will last 5 years if left turned on at level 7 so no worries here. I will also have my iron sights ready in case of malfunction.

thanks guys, your feedback is always appreciated

Mario
Click to expand...
For one season I used the Bushnell quick/red dot in the early/mid 1980's. I did harvest game with it, however was limited to short range shooting.
 
track said:
For one season I used the Bushnell quick/red dot in the early/mid 1980's. I did harvest game with it, however was limited to short range shooting.
Click to expand...

Red dots have changed greatly over the years. I presently use the Bushnell Trs25 on my marlin guide gun and it wirks great for quick shots. I have shot deer on the run at 90 yards with this set up and would not hesitate to take a 200 yard shot on a moose. I think they are great but they are not for everyone, some like scopes and some like irons, its all personal preference.
 
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