I'm looking into to putting a scope or a red dot on my turkey gun. I have a Remington SPS and just can't decide what I want to do. Any input or advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
Scope vs Red dot
- Thread starter gobblegrunt
- Start date
Rakkin6
Well-Known Member
I have a Burris FF3 on my 835 and a Vortex venom on my 535. Love them both, they are low profile, lightweight and they both have long battery life. Never had any issues with either of them. They both have stood up to shooting 12 gauge 3" Winchester Longbeards XR shells without losing zero.
I love the ability to have both eyes open with a Reddot and an increased field of view and not the tunnel vision a scope sometimes brings.
Southern Sportsman
Well-Known Member
Burris FFIII. Vortex Venom is also excellent, but a little pricier and the differences are basically negligible.
There may be a legitimate argument for a scope over a reflex sight (Burris/Vortex). But I don't know what it would be.
There may be a legitimate argument for a scope over a reflex sight (Burris/Vortex). But I don't know what it would be.
I have and like both. I have ff3 and a couple of simmons pro diamonds. Only thing I can tell you is go as light as possible. This is not just for carry weight. The heavier the optic the more rings and bases loosen and break under heavy recoil. This is from personal experience. I had a single shot 12 break the base screws completely off after putting a scope on it. Had been shooting trs 25 on it for a couple of years with no problems. Sorry about the bold type in beginning. Wasnt intended to yell.
MY OPINION i dont like actual scopes at all on shotguns. Just dont like the weight and dealing with them getting bumped or off. I also dont like lack to quickly getting on target or the inability to shoot from odd positions. Im sure there are some pros to using them but personally the cons outweigh the pros for how I like to hunt.
I also DO NOT like tube style red dots for a lot of the same reasons. Mainly on them I hate the sight picture of them .
I run a FF3 on both my guns and have for a few years and really like them. Have had no issues with them getting off target and Im tough on guns. I personally like the burris but now there are a lot of options that copied them that im sure are just as good like the leupold, vortex and sig.
I also DO NOT like tube style red dots for a lot of the same reasons. Mainly on them I hate the sight picture of them .
I run a FF3 on both my guns and have for a few years and really like them. Have had no issues with them getting off target and Im tough on guns. I personally like the burris but now there are a lot of options that copied them that im sure are just as good like the leupold, vortex and sig.
Rakkin6
Well-Known Member
Academy Sports has the FF3 on sale right now. The FF4 os getting ready to come out.
I have red dot and the reflex type. I have used a cheap 30 dollar Tasco that has worked well for me It's not failed me yet. My favorite is the reflex type , I have a Two swamp fox kingslayers in the green circle dot they are small and easy to deal with and I like the green better than red . I absolutely love them but obviously they are more money. I have no experience with a normal scope for turkey hunting but do not think I would switch after using the others. I have had 0 issues.
Chief44
Well-Known Member
Another vote for the Burris fast fire 3. I've got em on a few guns and love them. Put the dot on his head and pull the trigger. I've ran them on turkey guns, magnum handguns and 45/70 rifles. Never had a problem. I would suggest the 3 MOA version.
I'm in the minority. I have a Leupold turkey scope on my 870 and love it.
I prefer a scope as well.
PDenn381
Member
Given a choice. I'd use the red dot. You get a better FOV
I've had both. I like the red dot better. I have an eotech just for the durability. Love it.
TnTurk
Well-Known Member
I'm scoped as well and had zero problems since I mounted it almost 10 years ago but if I had to replace it for some reason, I would put a FF3 on it and call it good.
This would my recommendation also.
Simple but very, very effective.
It's a scattergun, not a rifle.
Don't over think it.
Just my $0.02.
Granddaddy
Well-Known Member
Have never seen the need for a scope or red dot on a shotgun. I've come to appreciate a red dot/green dot on my ARs & pistols. But turkey hunting, too much chance of knocking the sight off line, battery dying or some other malfunction, etc IMO. A good fiber optics front sight more reliable & just as effective in all lighting conditions.
Southern Sportsman
Well-Known Member
Anybody that prefers a tube scope - why do you prefer it over a reflex-style dot? Or is just the aint-broke-dont-fix-it approach? (Which I absolutely respect).
I haven't used a regular scope for turkeys. Maybe I would like it if I tried. But I can't think of anything that would make it preferable over a reflex dot. Maybe some like the slight magnification some scopes offer? But it seems to me that magnification would be unhelpful or even counterproductive shooting a shotgun pattern at 40 yards.
My thoughts (and again, I've never used a scope)
pros:
-reflex is lighter
-reflex is smaller
-reflex offers better field of vision
-reflex is better in low light
-reflex is better for target acquisition and shooting at a moving target
cons:
-I think those with astigmatism may have trouble with the reflex dot, seeing a "starburst" or blur around the dot.
-reflex requires a battery.
However- with the FFIII, one battery lasts five THOUSAND hours. And it automatically turns off if you leave it on more than 12 hours. I've never tested the 5,000 claim. I just pop in a new battery each March and never think about it again.
I haven't used a regular scope for turkeys. Maybe I would like it if I tried. But I can't think of anything that would make it preferable over a reflex dot. Maybe some like the slight magnification some scopes offer? But it seems to me that magnification would be unhelpful or even counterproductive shooting a shotgun pattern at 40 yards.
My thoughts (and again, I've never used a scope)
pros:
-reflex is lighter
-reflex is smaller
-reflex offers better field of vision
-reflex is better in low light
-reflex is better for target acquisition and shooting at a moving target
cons:
-I think those with astigmatism may have trouble with the reflex dot, seeing a "starburst" or blur around the dot.
-reflex requires a battery.
However- with the FFIII, one battery lasts five THOUSAND hours. And it automatically turns off if you leave it on more than 12 hours. I've never tested the 5,000 claim. I just pop in a new battery each March and never think about it again.
nthawoods246
Member
I vote red dot of some sort. Both eyes open and super fast acquisition.
For turkey get the red dot for sure, for all other big game i like cross hairs they are more accurate at longer distances
Southern Sportsman
Well-Known Member
Something to be said for this. I've shot plain bead, rifle sights, and fastfire. If for some reason I could not use the fastfire, I would go back to a plain bead.
But that said, I've patterned a lot of guns. When choked down enough to get a discernible pattern, on more than half the center of the pattern does not hit centered with the point of aim. Some part of the pattern almost always covers the point of aim, but it might be the left or right half of your pattern doing the killing every time. In practice, that's usually not a big deal. It's a shotgun. As long as some part of your pattern covers his head, he'll be just as dead. But I'm a little OCD. If I'm aiming at his neck, I want the center of my pattern to him him in the neck. That ensures a little wiggle room if he zigs or I zag when the shot is touched off. Often the only way to get that without specialized gunsmithing barrel work is to use some form of adjustable sight.
megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
Reflex red dot all the way for me. I prefer the vortex venom.
Millions of pros to it, one really, really annoying con... when it gets wet, the dot becomes a starburst and it is almost impossible to use. Have to remember to dry the glass off before the bird comes in. A tube scope is less affected by moisture. Bead sights are completely unaffected by moisture.
I use a saddle mount on one of my turkey guns when it is going to be pouring rain. If I cant use the red dot, I've got iron bead for backup.
My other turkey gun has been drilled and tapped for a picatinny rail for a reflex red dot. I much prefer it, as it sits lower on the barrel... but I have to keep the glass dry on the reflex sight.
Millions of pros to it, one really, really annoying con... when it gets wet, the dot becomes a starburst and it is almost impossible to use. Have to remember to dry the glass off before the bird comes in. A tube scope is less affected by moisture. Bead sights are completely unaffected by moisture.
I use a saddle mount on one of my turkey guns when it is going to be pouring rain. If I cant use the red dot, I've got iron bead for backup.
My other turkey gun has been drilled and tapped for a picatinny rail for a reflex red dot. I much prefer it, as it sits lower on the barrel... but I have to keep the glass dry on the reflex sight.
KPH
Well-Known Member
I have tried both and just as soon not use any
Maude
Well-Known Member
In my opinion, the tube type red-dots and scopes are mounted too high for a shotgun. I do have a FF3 on my 410 turkey gun and really like it. The only reason for the FF3 is the very tight pattern from the 410 leaves very little margin for error at close range. I will say that 2 years ago, I called in a nice Tom for a friend that had a scope on his Benelli. We were partially looking into the sun the way the bird came in and for whatever reason, just as the bird was approaching shooting distance, we got the "puck!" and he was gone. I know I hadn't moved and I don't think my buddy had and I have always suspected glare off the scope. IDK for sure because those things happen, but I've always been leery of a setup looking into the sun like that. I wear glasses and have known for years that I have to get anti-reflective coatings and keep my head down.
I've used a couple different tube style scopes over the years and the last was a Pentax Lightseeker SG with the turkey plex reticle. Had it on a Mossberg 835 and then a Remington 870 and really liked it. Bought a Winchester SX3 and only using fiber optics on it. If I went to something else it would be the Burris FF3 or similar but for now sticking with fiber optics.
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Joe2Kool
Well-Known Member
I killed lots of turkeys out to 40-50 yards with just the bead on my 870 Super Magnum. Then, I noticed the eyes weren't as good as they used to be, and getting the bead on a bird's head was more difficult. Around that same time, I friends had battery powered dots. And I watched them fail. Battery dead. Dot became unusable in the rain. Or some other technical glitch that caused them to miss.
Anyway, I settled on a Simmons fixed 4X shotgun scope, the same one I have on my MLs. It has enough eye relief that it doesn't slam my forehead with the 3-1/2" loads. I mounted it with the B-square mount and rings that raised it above the rib. I thought the 4X might be too much, but haven't had any issues with it. By mounting it off the rib, I can use the bead on a 20 yard shot.
No batteries to go dead. Nothing to blur in the rain. No switch to have to remember to turn on. And a backup bead if I need it.
Anyway, I settled on a Simmons fixed 4X shotgun scope, the same one I have on my MLs. It has enough eye relief that it doesn't slam my forehead with the 3-1/2" loads. I mounted it with the B-square mount and rings that raised it above the rib. I thought the 4X might be too much, but haven't had any issues with it. By mounting it off the rib, I can use the bead on a 20 yard shot.
No batteries to go dead. Nothing to blur in the rain. No switch to have to remember to turn on. And a backup bead if I need it.
I think its depends on the type of Shotgun you use. I have a Savage 220 and it mounts more like a rifle which works better for me because I'm not a shotgunner ,I have a regular scope on this set up and it works great. For a normal shotgun the low profile Reflex sight works best IMO.
stringtalker
Well-Known Member
Scope all the way, especially with a diamond reticle
