Shotgun red dot: RMR vs Aimpoint style?

Joel

Joel

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If you were going to put a red dot sight on your Mossberg pump gun, would you go with an RMR style (including Holosun etc etc) or Aimpoint Micro style?

Does one have any particular advantages or differences in this application compared to the other?

Not really too fussy as to mounting plates, if they have irons on them like the CROM etc but hey, always cool to have better. The sights themselves is more what interests me. Have had micros on rifles but this is new.
 
I added a pic rail to my 590, had a Holosun 510 designated for it but sat to high for me because of the angled stock tube.

Went with a Bushnell RXS-250 and has worked well.
 
GARY56 said:
I added a pic rail to my 590, had a Holosun 510 designated for it but sat to high for me because of the angled stock tube.

Went with a Bushnell RXS-250 and has worked well.
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Cool, glad you found a solution Gary. I know what you mean about height with w pic rail so I'll use a mounting plate.

Some of the mossbergs come cut directly for the optic now too but not any I want afaik
 
Joel said:
Cool, glad you found a solution Gary. I know what you mean about height with w pic rail so I'll use a mounting plate.

Some of the mossbergs come cut directly for the optic now too but not any I want afaik
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Really like my 590 - got my eye on the 14" version.
 
I find electro optics on a shotgun actually slow me down unless lighting condition are such that its difficult to use the irons.
 
The big difference to me between an RMR reflex sight and a typical red dot is the open nature of the single lens reflex vs the closed nature of a red dot with double lenses. There are now fully enclosed reflex type sights for pistols or long guns that are still fairly compact but protect the emitter from getting blocked by dirt or debris.

I kind of like flip up caps as well to protect the lenses during transport and during bad weather.
 
Can-down said:
I kind of like flip up caps as well to protect the lenses during transport and during bad weather.
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Definitely nice to have. Theres hood/cover for the RMR types too though right?

I know the difference between em, moreso just wondering why people go with one or the other on their shotgun
 
I put a Holosun HS510C on my open shotgun, and I couldn't be happier with it. I find the tube style red dots obscure too much of your field of view. If you're doing anything that requires fast target acquisition (3-Gun, Steel Challenge, etc), the bigger the window and the thinner the bezel the better. The open reflex type might be a little less durable, but you should be fine unless you're planning on throwing the thing out of a moving vehicle or something. They also tend to mount lower, which is a necessity for most shotguns, unless you like a chin weld lol.

Edit: I guess I should add that the 510C sat WAY too high on my Versa Max with the regular pic rail mount, so I took the pic rail adapter off and custom machined a mounting plate fore it. Got it down probably half an inch at least, which made all the difference.
 
Scotty's point on the lower mount height is pretty hard to ignore if that's what your after..... what are you after Joel?

If your considering a 14" 590A1 I'm guessing it's not for wingshooting..... :)

I have some reflex sights that came with plastic and rubber covers they work ok if they don't fall off or get lost.
 
Right on, Scotty! Thanks

Screw pic rails. Have zero interest in going that route whatsoever. Wasn't sure how high an Aimpoint style sight ends up being if you use a plate mount for it like the Aridus ones. Didn't look higher than an RMR but maybe it is!
 
What do you mean by "Aimpoint Style" I sort of read that as meaning a red dot that typically mounts on a rail but now I'm not so sure..... :)
 
Can-down said:
Scotty's point on the lower mount height is pretty hard to ignore if that's what your after..... what are you after Joel?

If your considering a 14" 590A1 I'm guessing it's not for wingshooting..... :)


I have some reflex sights that came with plastic and rubber covers they work ok if they don't fall off or get lost.
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See previous comments about plates and not using pic rails, addressing height issues before Scotty said anything about them. :)

"Aimpoint style" means Aimpoint micros and clones/similar with the same footprint. No need for rails at all.
 
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Scotty454 said:
. They also tend to mount lower, which is a necessity for most shotguns, unless you like a chin weld lol.
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Think this is that much higher than the open reflex type sight, Scotty? You have a better idea of it than I do. Maybe a bit eh, but dunno if its tooo much?

hq720.jpg
 
Joel said:
See previous comments about plates and not using pic rails, addressing height issues before Scotty said anything about them. :)

"Aimpoint style" means Aimpoint micros and clones/similar with the same footprint. No need for rails at all.
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I noticed that comment about not wanting a rail.... that's why I asked you about what an "aimpoint style" optic was.... common parlence makes for better science eh.... :)

I didn't even know Aimpoint made anything direct mount beyond the Acro.... sounds like you got it some what figured out though I will leave you too it.... (edit) ahh it looks like the key is the Crom ! How does the sight mount to the Crom mount? Looks like a pretty tight setup.

That Holosun set up above looks pretty darn low to me.... no need for a chin weld there!
 
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Can-down said:
I noticed that comment about not wanting a rail.... that's why I asked you about what an "aimpoint style" optic was.... common parlence makes for better science eh.... :)

I didn't even know Aimpoint made anything direct mount beyond the Acro.... sounds like you got it some what figured out though I will leave you too it.... (edit) ahh it looks like the key is the Crom ! How does the sight mount to the Crom mount? Looks like a pretty tight setup.

That Holosun set up above looks pretty darn low to me.... no need for a chin weld there!
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That it does hahaha

On the underside of an Aimpoint Micro (and clones with the same footprint) there are 4 screws, and a little square slot that interface with its mount, whether the Aimpoint factory one or any other.

Aimpoint-Micro-H-1-Footprint-2.jpg


If you want to cowitness irons, CROM smiles on us haha. Only game in town, but if you don't care about the irons as much there are options for half the price, like our own domestically made S&J Hardware versions. The two on the left are for Aimpoints, the two on the right for RMR style

qq7x6bkfkktilqeiknpz-600x451.jpg


Talley makes a very simple RMR mount as well, but I'd rather buy Canadian if possible.

RMR-mount-scaled.jpg
 
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Joel said:
Think this is that much higher than the open reflex type sight, Scotty? You have a better idea of it than I do. Maybe a bit eh, but dunno if its tooo much?

hq720.jpg
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Oh damn, that's like stealing from Santa's Salvation Army bucket at Christmas low. Didn't know tube red dots got that low, that's gotta be on par with the reflex type sights.

Still end up with a lot of obscured dead space around the outside though, which isn't ideal. But it depends what you want to do with it. Something like that would prooobably be more ideal for a home defense type scenario, whereas a RMR type would still be better for competition.
 
I have a 508T on my 1301 using a CROM and I like it much better than my shot guns set up with "Aimpoint" style optics. I have a Mossber930 and a VR66 both with Vortex Crossfire dots on the stock pic rails. I find the enclosed tube dots sit higher, feel bulkier and obscure more of the periphal view. The 508T sits nice and low, its light weight, and it just feels more sleek. Plus I really like the 508T circle dot reticle.
uCnipPS.jpg[img]
 
I think that more important than the type of sight is the reticle in the sight. A great big dot in a tube scope will beat a 1 minute dot in a reflex sight every time. A six minute dot seems silly, but with a shotgun, you're going to be shooting minute of 6 inch plate at 100 using slugs anyway. In closer, the big dot, or better, a circle dot will be many times quicker for most people.
 
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