Red Dots on Hunting Rifles

RangerPark

RangerPark

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
160   0   0
Location
Near Edmonton, AB
I have to say I've been bitten by the red dot bug. I love everything about them. But are they worth anything on hunting rifles? Let's find out!

I mounted an Aimpoint H-2, 2 MOA dot, on a Remington 700 in .308. This is a rifle capable of .5 MOA with hand loads as seen here:
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1426794-Remington-700-Mountain-SS/page2

I fired the groups from sand bags at 100 and 200 yards. I used 8" targets to simulate vitals on most game. This is what the setup looked like:

IMG_20170403_140101381_zps6d11epmc.jpg


IMG_20170403_140112620_zpsvqkpbgpf.jpg



Here are the targets:

First group at 100 yards, .86 MOA. Still needs some sighting in. Quite nice but is it typical of the system's capabilities?

1_zpsjx4hjxwe.jpg



Second group at 100 yards, 1.46 MOA. High at 100 as I'm looking for a 200 yards zero. Not as nice as before but still quite acceptable.

2_zpsskbo8ug6.jpg



Last group is at 200 yards, 0.88 MOA. Perfect, just a bit to the right. It was really windy so I'll keep it like that. Still sub MOA at 200 yards with a 2 MOA red dot, it doesn't get any better than that!

3_zpszhgka9wo.jpg


Those of you still on the fence about giving this a try, go for it! Next trip to the range I'll try it on a deer sized target at 300 yards. I should be able to hit the vitals no problem.

Cheers!
 
Last edited:
I tested a T1 with 2MOA dot with 1/2 MOA hunting rig ... 5 shot groups ... one @ 100M and one at 300M ... 15 different days so total of fifteen groups at each distance. Agg was 1.25" @100M and 6" @ 300M.
 
JEC said:
I tested a T1 with 2MOA dot with 1/2 MOA hunting rig ... 5 shot groups ... one @ 100M and one at 300M ... 15 different days so total of fifteen groups at each distance. Agg was 1.25" @100M and 6" @ 300M.
Click to expand...

That's some serious testing! Glad to see you got very accurate and consistent results. I won't be taking my testing to your level but I'm confident the combo will perform very well.
 
That`s great shooting with a red dot! If I can get anything half ways close to your results I will be very happy.
I picked a Primary Arms RD with a 2moa dot at Christmas that I want to trying hunting with in the fall.
Not sure which rifle I will put it on yet......
 
That's a nice setup & ye sure can't behotch about the performance. Good shoosting.

I use a Bushnell Holo Sight (1 MOA dot) on my 870 trap/combat shotgun combo and love it. I've also used Simmons & Leapers dot sights with great results as well on shotguns & .22's. Will have to give one a go on my .45 ACP Lee Enfield for pest busting missions. Dot sights are great for fast acquisition and for older eyes.. like mine.
 
Last edited:
This is the best 100M I did...can't lay my hands on the 300M best, but if my recall is correct it was 4". Only optics were my glasses:) The rifle has a Stiller action / Kreiger barrel and is chambered to 30BR. I used a variety of bullets for the the testing and settled on on 110gr Barnes TTSX for deer. And sure enough, it was a good choice.
 
Last edited:
No doubt it will perform for you ...especially if your eyes are good. I think I used a 16" diameter target at 300M. The toughest thing with the red dot is to figure holdover at distance which means a flat shooting caliber is your friend if you plan on taking an animal at more than 200M. Personally, I would not even try a 300M deer shot with mine.
 
RangerPark said:
Apparently this is what Aimpoint fixed with the H-2 / T-2 series. The glass is supposed to be better for low light. Haven't tested that out yet.
Click to expand...
Whatever improvement was made must have been expensive. When I was prepping for hunting last Nov, one of the LE noticed my T1 and asked what I paid (which was about $650 in 2014)...said he was responsible for ordering for his group and his most recent bulk buy for the new T2 came in about $900 each. Yikes!
 
I had a Vortex SPARC II mounted on my Gunsite scout this hunting season and I had very good accuracy results with it and super fast target acquisition, the one spot where I did have some trouble is that when it got good and cold my dot would flicker and even went right out, even with a new battery, maybe the higher end models wouldn't have the same trouble?
 
JEC said:
No doubt it will perform for you ...especially if your eyes are good. I think I used a 16" diameter target at 300M. The toughest thing with the red dot is to figure holdover at distance which means a flat shooting caliber is your friend if you plan on taking an animal at more than 200M. Personally, I would not even try a 300M deer shot with mine.
Click to expand...

That's what I was thinking as well. Pushing the zero to 230 yards gives me a MPBR of 270 yards, at +/- 3 inches trajectory. This means I should be 1.5" high at 200 yards, which is pretty much the way I'm set up now. For a red dot that's more than enough. Even with a scope, I would hesitate at taking longer shots. At 270 yards a 10 mph wind will cause a 4.5" drift, so on a windy day I would keep it at around 200 for sure.

JEC said:
Whatever improvement was made must have been expensive. When I was prepping for hunting last Nov, one of the LE noticed my T1 and asked what I paid (which was about $650 in 2014)...said he was responsible for ordering for his group and his most recent bulk buy for the new T2 came in about $900 each. Yikes!
Click to expand...

The H-2 is about $150 less than the T-2, still a good chunk of change. I just don't see a need for the NVG functions. I have to admit though, power settings 1-4 on the H-2 are pretty much useless for outdoors hunting conditions. The Aimpoints are still competitively priced compared to most low powered scopes though.
 
The only reason I chose the T1 over the H1 was that I got the T1 on sale for the same price. The dot can not be seen on low settings with the T1 either. I think the Aimpoints are a great hunting dot because they work in extreme cold.
 
Good thread that got me thunkin'.

I recently bought a cheapo Bushnell red dot for my SKS and was surprised at the quality and thought I might try another on my 760 carbine. Would make a very handy little rifle. Also can see where a red dot would be good on a military surplus rifle with one weaver base on the front rec ring. A SMLE comes to mind also M98. Many of those rifles werent made for scopes and need sp mounts and or changes to the bolt handle and safety.
 
SuperCub said:
Good thread that got me thunkin'.

I recently bought a cheapo Bushnell red dot for my SKS and was surprised at the quality and thought I might try another on my 760 carbine. Would make a very handy little rifle. Also can see where a red dot would be good on a military surplus rifle with one weaver base on the front rec ring. A SMLE comes to mind also M98. Many of those rifles werent made for scopes and need sp mounts and or changes to the bolt handle and safety.
Click to expand...

The way I see it, if you're shooting a rifle that works well with iron sights, it should work even better with a red dot. Of course, you'll need to find a way to mount it properly. A 760 seems like a good candidate.
 
The biggest problem that I can see from personal experience using a RD in the bush is the amount of reticle wash out in bright sun light. Buying a high end optic will reduce or even eliminate the problem I suspect.
 
SuperCub said:
Good thread that got me thunkin'.

I recently bought a cheapo Bushnell red dot for my SKS and was surprised at the quality and thought I might try another on my 760 carbine. Would make a very handy little rifle. Also can see where a red dot would be good on a military surplus rifle with one weaver base on the front rec ring. A SMLE comes to mind also M98. Many of those rifles werent made for scopes and need sp mounts and or changes to the bolt handle and safety.
Click to expand...

bushnell cheapo one worked well in our hunting association in France ... few had pump actions, other BAr and at the end those not expensive worked so well whatever the climatic conditions ... still wondering why i never used one.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom