Red dot issues pls help

[nagol]

So I decided to try a red dot.
Picked up a vortex AR with the matching 3x multiplier.

Once mounted I did a rough bore sighting and then it was off to the range.
First trip, 5 rounds at 50 and I couldn't post on an 18"x18" target. Ok fine, it's a cheap bore sight...

Today I tried again at a range where I could start at 5 yards....
12" groups.
I hit everything but what I aimed at. I'm sure its me. The dot is only occasionally a dot for me. I see a ball of yarn, a smiley face, an arrow... it changes. Astigmatism?? But even if that was the case, at 5 yards I still never hit my point of aim, even if I kept my POA constant, my point of impact varried.

Hand the kit off to 2 other guys who had no issues posting ok groups. I picked up a 10/22 still oiled up from the box with a 30$ scope and hit 1/2" off hand at 25.....

Has anyone come across something like this? I tried a buddies tavor with the m21 X reticle and shot 1" at 50 yards so reflex is fine. This seems confined to me and red dots.

 

[GR0M]

The first thing is to not look at the dot. Look past the dot at your target. It's counter intuitive to training front sight front sight front sight with other types of sights as you likely have. Look down range at your target and pick up the dot that way. Yes if you look at the dot directly it will look like a shrimp, or smiley face etc

 

[xeelee]

If you have a rear BUIS try looking at the dot through the rear aperture, it should sharpen the dot up quite a bit. Also the smaller the aperture, the more it will sharpen up the dot for you.

 

[Kidd X]

Both eyes open..

 

[nagol]

The buis idea I have seen but even if that works, it's not a solution I am willing to use. The ability to have a wide range of eye relief is the primary advantage of the system.
I'll try shifting my focus point, can't say for sure what I was concentrating on while shooting today.
And I know I was being a bad boy and had one eye closed. Lol.

 

[mildot]

Try watching this? I know you don't have an Aimpoint, but I watched it, and it had some good pointers. I have an astigmatism, and the dot looks oblong to me, the rear BUIS does "clean it" up alot.
Good Luck