red dot question

[sswv]

Hello Everyone. I have a red dot question. I used the Bushnell TRS-25's last year on my 20ga's but thought I'd go with the open emitter type this year. I've read about the Burris Fastfire 3, the Vortex Venom (but can't find one with the 3 MOA) and the Bushnell RXS-250. All pretty close in price and features. I really like the auto shut-off and no shake-awake. Anyway, anyone on here have real world experience with any of the ones mentioned?

thanks in advance

 

[megalomaniac]

Been using the vortex venom on my 20g for the past 7 or 8 years.

It has been bulletproof, I think im on my 3rd battery in all that time.

Pros- brightness very adjustable
Cons- no auto shutoff

I put a Burris FF3 on my new 12g.

Pros- you can usually get them cheap if you are patient... pretty sure it has auto shut off.

Cons- few brightness settings, battery cover is poorly designed and very difficult to replace.

If they were the same price, id go with the vortex venom all day long. But since you can usually get the Burris for half the cost of the venom, id give it the nod.

 

[sswv]

thanks for the reply. The Burris can readily be found but the Venom with 3 MOA not so much. I will keep checking out online sites for a Venom but if nothing shows I may just go with the Burris.

 

[REN]

all the burris have an auto off feature (I believe its 8 hours on the FF3 and it may be less on the 4)

 

[TRHC]

I wouldn't be afraid of a Venom with the 6 MOA reticle. I have one that's 3 MOA and a FF3 that's 8 MOA, and I don't mind the difference at all. In fact, I hunt more with the FF3 because I like that particular gun better.

 

[david k.]

I have 3 MOA Burris FF3's on mine and my sons 870 youth 20 gauges....love them. I like the auto brightness mode.

 

[sswv]

thanks for the replies gang. funny how the Bushnell hasn't been mentioned so far?

 

[THE DUKE]

I got the Bushnell rxs-100 last and like it. It does all I need, mounted it on a rib mount pretty simple to do.

 

[sswv]

thanks Duke. I've always been a fan of Bushnell optics and the 2 TRS-25's I used last year were flawless. However, I like the auto brightness mode on the Burris FF 3. I'll look around some more to see which one has the better deal.

 

[paboom]

thanks for the replies gang. funny how the Bushnell hasn't been mentioned so far?

I have several of the rsx 100s. Used them on 12g, 410, 9mm and 22LR. They all work just fine and a lot cheaper than my Fastfires.

 

[sswv]

thanks paboom. I read a little about that one and the rxs 250 as well. Like I said before...I'll shop around for a few more days and grab the better deal. after the replies I don't think I can go wrong with any of them.

 

[deerfever]

I have the Bushnell RXS 250on a Retay 20 gauge. It's a good sight! My others have the swamp fox king slayer on them. You can't go wrong with any of the ones that you mentioned all are popular.

 

[Rakkin6]

Hello Everyone. I have a red dot question. I used the Bushnell TRS-25's last year on my 20ga's but thought I'd go with the open emitter type this year. I've read about the Burris Fastfire 3, the Vortex Venom (but can't find one with the 3 MOA) and the Bushnell RXS-250. All pretty close in price and features. I really like the auto shut-off and no shake-awake. Anyway, anyone on here have real world experience with any of the ones mentioned?

thanks in advance

Not sure if your heart is set on those two brands. I have both and love them but check out Swampfox also. I put one on my Stoeger 3020 and it's a quality red dot

 

[FLTENNHUNTER1]

I have a Burris on my turkey gun and love it. No auto shutoff so I went with this for defense shotgun. Has shake awake feature that dramatically increases battery life. Sig has been flawless so far.

 

[Gravey]

I have a Burris FF3 on my 20ga and like everything about it except the battery cover. It sucks trying to get it back on. Bought a Bushnell RXS-250 and never mounted it on anything. Took it out of the box to look at it and been in the box since. It's a 4 MOA. If interested let me know.

 

[DaveTN]

I have both the Burris FastFire 3 and the Vortex Venom Red Dot, both 3 MOA. I don't know that I would pick one over the other, except for price. I don't carry them, they are on range toys.

 

[sswv]

I have a Burris FF3 on my 20ga and like everything about it except the battery cover. It sucks trying to get it back on. Bought a Bushnell RXS-250 and never mounted it on anything. Took it out of the box to look at it and been in the box since. It's a 4 MOA. If interested let me know.
View attachment 316073View attachment 316074

yes Gravey I am interested. shoot me a message please

 

[marty d]

Not what you've mentioned above, but I bought the vortex enclosed defender CCW off of GovX the other day for $200. It has 3 MOA dot, 30 MOA ring, and you can decide between just the dot just the ring or both ring and dot. It has a solar panel on top and it's pretty small. I put a rail on my 45+ year-old H&R 20 gauge. Had Jared Trulock thread the barrel for aftermarket chokes and I figured for about $350. It was a good way to turn a retired single shot shotgun into a very lightweight turkey killer for the spring.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

Burris ff3 on my 20. Love it. Also have one on my dad's crossbow. They're the only ones I have experience with. No hesitation buying another one

 

[sswv]

that's very nice marty d. I cut down an old H&R 12ga some years back. took it to 24"s and threaded it for Rem chokes. with the LBXR choke and #6's it was a VERY devastating gun but kicked like a pissed off mule.

 

[marty d]

that's very nice marty d. I cut down an old H&R 12ga some years back. took it to 24"s and threaded it for Rem chokes. with the LBXR choke and #6's it was a VERY devastating gun but kicked like a pissed off mule.

I bet it did lol. I put a different pad on the stock to ease the kick a little and it is just a 20ga but it weighs nothing. Gonna pattern it this week so fingers crossed. It is Trulock's LB XR choke because I just wasn't paying $70 a box for TSS this year.

 

[sswv]

marty d, one of my turkey guns is a 301 20ga compact. I had it drilled and tapped for an optic. Just for kicks I have bought a box of every lead 20ga 3" load I can find and will be shooting in a week or so. I "was" a diehard LongBeard fan until they let me down on 3 different occasions. Just can't bring myself to trust them anymore. After I get some results on the 20ga 3" lead loads I'll let you know which ones done the best.

 

[marty d]

marty d, one of my turkey guns is a 301 20ga compact. I had it drilled and tapped for an optic. Just for kicks I have bought a box of every lead 20ga 3" load I can find and will be shooting in a week or so. I "was" a diehard LongBeard fan until they let me down on 3 different occasions. Just can't bring myself to trust them anymore. After I get some results on the 20ga 3" lead loads I'll let you know which ones done the best.

Thank you. I have a box of xr#5's but have no issue changing to a better shot shell. I will let you know how they do with this set up. One question…. I have read a lot of negatives when it comes to XR but the one thing that every complaint so far had in common was they were shooting last years ammo or even older. Apparently those rounds have some kind of gel in them to assist in holding the shot together and after a year or so or if left on the dash of your truck like I would have done as a kid it sets up and will not group. Not sure if that is legit but something I have heard from multiple different people.

 

[sswv]

marty d, when I had the issue I contacted Winchester and they ask for the lot number. when I read it off they sent a shipping label and there was a FedEx truck at my house within hours. they sent me several boxes of new ammo and a small check for my trouble. a friend of mine tried the new arrivals in a brand new Remington Fieldmaster and we had to take the gun apart to get the spent round out, not once but 3 times. he took the gun back to the LGS and they shot everything they had thru it without a hitch. maybe I got a few boxes from a really bad batch? I'll never know or take a chance with them again.

 

[marty d]

marty d, when I had the issue I contacted Winchester and they ask for the lot number. when I read it off they sent a shipping label and there was a FedEx truck at my house within hours. they sent me several boxes of new ammo and a small check for my trouble. a friend of mine tried the new arrivals in a brand new Remington Fieldmaster and we had to take the gun apart to get the spent round out, not once but 3 times. he took the gun back to the LGS and they shot everything they had thru it without a hitch. maybe I got a few boxes from a really bad batch? I'll never know or take a chance with them again.

Good to know. Keep me posted on what you shoot and how it does.

 

[tntrkkllr]

I have Burris FF3 on both my turkey guns and highly recommend them. Check optics planet they normally always have em available. Worst part about them is the battery cover but with patience they can be installed with out messing them up. If they do get messed up Burris will replace for free

 

[Gravey]

yes Gravey I am interested. shoot me a message please

Sent

 

[megalomaniac]

Out here working national forest this morn in the light rain...

I am not used to my reflex sight starbursting with just a minuscule amount of moisture. I had to wipe the burris 10x before I could remotely regain my dot. The venom is not nearly as sensitive to moisture.

I can see why the burris comes with a snap on cover. Ill HAVE to use that in the future, otherwise I'll have to shoot the see thru bead during even a light rain.

Def a nod to the venom in this departmemt!

 

[sswv]

Thank you for the real time assessment of the red dot. Very helpful

 

[REN]

Out here woring national forest this morn in the light rain...

I am not used to my reflex sight starbursting with just a minuscule amount of moisture. I jad to wipe the burris 10x before I could remotely regain my dot. The venom is not nearly as sensitive to moisture.

I can see why the burris comes with a snap on cover. Ill HAVE to use that in the future, otherwise I'll have to shoot the see thru bead during even a light rain.

Def a nod to the venom in this departmemt!

yup thats the huge benefit to the enclosed options. getting moisture on the inside of the lens on most all open face sights can be a big issue. If it even looks like it may rain etc I put the rain cover on my burris options! I also carry a lens cloth in a small ziplock bag inside my bino harness or vest JUST IN CASE, that way I have a dry material to wipe it with if it does get wet. Usually if it gets wet that means my hands/glove/shirt are also wet so you cant really wipe it off easily.

If I was buying a new or first sight for a shotgun today I would lean to enclosed options if you hunt in rain/fog/wet fields etc. Just eliminates some of the risks with open face sights, but it does come at a trade off to FOV which for some can be not worth it.