My old eyes need help.

[Threemorewishes]

I am looking to the CGN collective to offer me some "from experience" information on optics for two different firearm setups.

The first is a semi-auto shotgun that will be used for slugs. I was thinking a red dot type sight or long eye relief low magnification scope. It will be used for deer in thick bush. Can anyone offer the benefits of one over the other?

The second is a scope for use on two milsurps. I have no-gunsmithing mounts for my Lee Enfiled and K31 and would swap this scope from one to the other. I intend to use them for deer in thick bush where the longest shot would be less than 100 yards. I was thinking low magnification but do not have much experience with optics so am asking those who know.

Thanks in advance for any input you may have.

Greg

 

[TheTooner]

Most red dot sights are 1x, i.e. no magnification. That's enough for most of us for shotgun-at-a-deer-in-thick-bush ranges, and it usually also means a wider field of view than typical scopes and easy to shoot with both eyes open, which is also good for that situation.

Swapping a scope between two rifles will mean re-zeroing each time. That will get tiresome quite quickly. Look for a used Weaver K2.5, K3, or K4 and try that on the Enfield and the K31. If you like it, look for another for the other rifle.

 

[BigUglyMan]

Sell the milsurps and buy a rifle that is more readily scoped. For low powered scopes you absolutely cannot beat the Leupold 1.5-5x or 1-4x. I am partial to the 1.5-5x and would use it on either setup, shotgun for slugs or woods rifle for deer. I shoot all my scopes (even those with more that 20x magnification) with both eyes open so don't buy the argument that only a 1x optic can acheive this.

If you think you need it you can also get the 1.5-5x Leupold in an illuminated version.

 

[TheTooner]

I also shoot with both eyes open. I don't have anything with 20x magnification, but I don't have a problem with the highest level I do have, which is 9x. Some people say they can't at all, some that they can only do it with lower magnification. So I think lower magnification makes it easier.