Red Dot Scopes
I've been looking for a new red dot scope. I would prefer to buy an older model especially if it was made in Japan. I've personally used some older Tasco Propoints and have been pleased with them overall. The main thing I was wondering concerns the "Dot Size" itself. It seems what the manufacturer list as the correct dot size isn't always the same between different manufacturers. As an example a 4" dot from one company may be larger or smaller than that same size listing from another. It seems to me that the Tascos run smaller in their listed dot size than ones from other companys ,while a Redfield runs larger. Does anyone know how some of the other manufactures scopes compare as far as their dot size goes. It can be frustrating to have a certain dot size in mind for a certain application only to have it be either to small or to large. Does anyone know first hand how the now discontinued "Smith & Wesson" red dot scopes fair both in quality as well as dot size goes. [?]
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How long should a CR2032 battery last in a red dot scope last? 0 -
In my experience red dots are OK out to about 50 yards. Over that the dot gets so big it will cover up the object your aiming out. This specially will affect the cheap Chinese red dots. If you want to put out big bucks you might be able to buy a red dot with the smallest dot available, that would be effective at 100 yards?
IMHO you would be ahead of the game by getting a good quality scope, rather than a red dot. which are primarily meant for quick shots, at large up-close and personal targets.0 -
quote:Originally posted by msmalley1227
Could someone explain to me the difference between a 'Red Dot Scope' and a 'Regular Rifle Scope'.
A "red dot" scope is any scope or aiming device that uses a red dot for an aiming point instead of a conventional (eg crosshairs type) reticle.
quote: I have been told that a Red Dot does not magnify the way a regular scope does but is easier to use and sight with.
MOST red dot scopes have NO magnification, though its certainly possible to construct one that magnifies, and some do offer magnification.
At close range red dot scope are pretty fast. You put the red dot on the target where you want the bullet to go, and pull the trigger. You can use them with both eyes open, and they give the APPEARANCE of a laser sight (red dot at point of impact) without actually projecting a laser beam.
For this reason, lots of military/police like these, and these are more and more become the standard type of sight for fighting longarms.
quote:I recently bought a .22cal Mossberg 715T for me and the grandkids to plink around with or hunt small game. I am 70 and have trouble using the fixed sights. Figured I would put on a scope or a red dot but don't know which would work better. Will not be doing any long distance shooting. Most everything will be under 50 yards, certainly not over 100.
Well, a red dot certainly could work for you. I'd avoid the entry level Chinese junk (ie NCSTAR), but for $100 or so you should be able to get a pretty good one that holds a zero well and has an extended battery life (ie the battery will offer more than a month of continuous run time).
quote:Is a Red Dot sighted in the same as a regular scope?
Yes. They'll have separate knobs for windage and elevation the same as a conventional scope.
quote:I have seen some advertised that appear to be a combination of both. Looking for something inexpensive because I don't want to spend more on a scope than I did the gun, just to plink around with. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.
Good optics are expensive. That's the reality.
As a suggestion, a really good, yet inexpensive red dot is the Bushnell TRS-25. These run about $100.0 -
I'm going to take some heat for this comment, but so be it.
MS - you are looking for an "inexpensive" optic for .22 plinking of about 50 yds or less. You don't need expensive optics for this purpose.
Go to "scopes" on GB and put in "red dot". There are two inexpensive types, Reflex and Tube. Under $50 should be more then enough funds needed. I have used the Barska Tube on some .22 pinkers for years with no problem. Top of the line tube style is Ultra Dot at about $130.
Would I use these on my Match Handguns or Rifles, NO! I see quite a few Reflex types in .22 matches that are also inexpensive and seem to do quite well, but I have had only one high power experience with Reflex and it didn't go to well.
I know, your only as good as your optics, bla, bla, bla, and you would be right. But it's just not "reasonable" for this type gun and service.0 -
I think for a .22 "plinker" you probably can get away with a cheapo red dot, as long as your expectations are low.
They'll "work", but the problem is that the low end ones are just pretty bad.
The optics quality is poor, so the dot itself may appear indistinct/fuzzy, or in some cases, not even really round. The scope bodies may be made from plastic and won't be durable. Give the thing a good knock and it will go out of zero. Some of them just won't hold a zero, period.
One the cheapies, the scope adjustments just aren't particularly precise. You may have to remove the thing to change the battery, and then it won't repeat zero, so you'll have to rezero.
The worst thing is that the cheap ones use old-type circuitry that isn't friendly to batteries. If you accidentally leave the sight on during storage, or worse accidentally knock it on (which is possible, given the large/coarse on/off switches on these things), the next time you come back to your scope, the dot will be "dead".
With the really good scopes (eg Aimpoint), the battery will literally give a full YEAR run time. Many people just leave the battery on their gun AT ALL TIMES, and just swap it out once per year.
Anyway, I suggest the Bushnell, just because I have experience with it, and I know its tough, had a really long battery life, and works great. Apparently you can get these for as little as $75 if you look around, and in terms of bang/buck these are the best I know.
Factor in the value of your time (how much range time do you really get?) plus the current cost of ammo (how much do .22 rounds cost right now), and I think you're probably better off spending a **LITTLE** more for a quality optic up front. IMO it just doesn't "pay" to spend $50 on a cheap rimfire plinker, when for as little as $75 you can buy something with good circuitry and build quality that will handle centerfire type recoil.0 -
As was stated, the "red dot" projects an image of a "dot", or a crosshair-dot, or a circle/dot reticle on a pane of glass inside the sight. This dot, when centered and set for a range, will show the placement of the bullet strike on your target like a projected laser beam does, all on one plane so focus is very easy even with older eyes. There is usually no magnification, which makes target acquisition very easy and fast, and makes "both-eyes-open" shooting a snap. However, at longer ranges this dot will cover a lot of the target without the magnification. (The dots are usually called a "10-mil dot" or a 5-mil-dot"..that is roughly the size of the dot in inches covering the target at 100 meters. Smaller "mil", smaller dot covering your target at distance...larger "mil", easier to pick up at close range for close-range high-speed reaction, IPSC target shoots, etc.)
Bushnell makes a red dot called the Trophy that is compact and pretty good for about 100 bucks. For your purpose, that'll work just fine. I put one on a 5.56 piston upper with a 1" riser, and suprisingly it works very well.
The SigTac for 150 bucks also sees some good reviews.
The inexpensive Truglo 30mm red dot is so dim (even on 10) that I found it completely useless outdoors in sunshine. Stay away.
Many of the top-of-the-line sights such as the high-end Aimpoint, Acog, EOTECH, and their ilk will set you back 400-600 bucks. They are REALLY good sights, and I use the 553 A65 (A top-end EOTECH) on full-auto M-4's regularly. For what these guns are used for these sights are perfect. However, is the extra cost going to be a benefit for your desired use?
I usually tell folks to go out and buy the best they can afford, but in your case "top end" will be costing you almost half again what you paid for the rifle...and for a knock-around tactical style plinker like your Mossberg .22 IMHO it's just not necessary to sink a fortune into the sight.
Read the reviews on Amazon etc.. for these sights, they're usually pretty good indicators of the quality/function for sight you're looking at. [8D]0 -
Thanks a lot for all the replies. I appreciate the help. I don't mind spnding $100 or so but I only paid $250 for the gun so didn't want to put a $500 scope on it. Thirty years ago I didn't worry about scopes. Now my parents say I have to use one. Mother nature and Father time. Thanks again.
Mike S.0 -
Mike thanks for clearing that up ms)malley thru me off but then again that's not hard to do anymore at my age[:D][}:)] 0 -
If you have never used a rifle scope, a reddot might be easier for you to get used to. One of my DIL had never shot until she married my younger Son. She simply could not manage either open sights or a regular scope but got along well with a reddot on both a rifle and pistol. TruGlow is an economical brand dot sight that does OK from my experience with 2 of them. One has a 2 power magnification which makes it preferable in the 50-100 yard range w/o limiting field of view at close range. The AimPoint is in another league but as you said, costs more than the rifle so probably not acceptable at this point. 0
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