Which Red dot scope is best for turkey shotgun ?

ArkansasHunter · 06-23-2007, 10:20 PM

Hey members of Gun and Game I need your help !
In a couple of weeks I will be buying a Mossberg 930 turkey shotgun.

I sure would be gratful for any information in regards to red dot sights.
I don't know jack about them.
I looked at Walmarts web site and they have alot of them in different configurations priced from 43 dollars to 600 dollars.

The price range I can afford is 50 to 100 bucks. Theres one thats a Bushnell Trophy 1 X 28 mm matte finish Red-Dot for $ 83.12 that looks nice.
But I don't know really what I need...Please advise...A.H

bigandrich44 · 06-23-2007, 10:21 PM

ACOG if you can find one cheap, or the one you suggested.

billy · 06-23-2007, 11:17 PM

i have the one you mentioned on my ak. i like it! it works great on that weapon

its small and sturdy you can adjust the brightness of the dot .11 different powers

killer · 06-24-2007, 12:23 AM

I believe its the one I temporarily put on a single shot 30-06 NEF I have.
It was around that price with a life time warranty. I did take a bear with it last fall and a head shot at that, but it was mighty close to me. Certainly it helps with an animal like black bear when they come in at sundown.

I did notice a big shift in the point of impact with it when I switched to the other sight options which wasn't a big deal since I planned on using the small crosshair all the time with it.

I took the Bushnell off this spring though and put the more expensive aimpoint red dot scope on. Don't really know why...the aimpoint is a little smaller with a 1 inch tube and the Bushnell is 30mm.

I'm going to use the Bushnell on my Rem 870. I wish I had it this spring when I went spring turkey hunting because I had switched to #6 shot and man the pattern was tight...just a hair off with the sights made a big diff.

Anyway it was too late to put the scope on the hunt was here, I was out of time. Didn't matter though I didn't take the shot but I darn sure will have it on next year or if I plan on shooting slugs for deer or bear with the 870 I'm using it.

I'd say in many circumstances a red dot scope on a shotgun can help give you better accuracy.

What's the deal with my pic's...sometimes they post and other times they give the link to my photobucket account. NO GOOD.

ArkansasHunter · 06-24-2007, 01:32 AM

You guys don't know how much I apreciate your replys. Thank yall !

killer you said yours was a 30mm are you sure it's not 28mm ?
I went the easy route to find some to look at, and that was at WalMarts web site, I had seen them there before. They've got several.
They also had another Bushnell that was 26 mm, I would think bigger is better I'll recheck and see if they have 30mm.
billy I trust you, thanks to you too and b&r44 thank you...A.H

dave375hh · 06-24-2007, 06:52 AM

AH,
I've had good success with Millet 30MM red dots from Midsouth Shooters at $78.00 last price I saw. I have 4 of them, 2 that I've had for 10 years now. I got them on a 12ga, .44 Mag. .357 Mag, and a .22 target pistol. Once they were sighted in they never had to be re-adjusted. I've shot a lot of rounds under these red dots with no problems of any kind.

billy · 06-24-2007, 07:37 AM

yep around $80 will get you a red dot that will last for a long long time.
that trophy has had the snot kicked out of it by many thousands of rapid fire AK rounds. if it was going to die i think it would've happened by now

blaylock220 · 06-24-2007, 08:40 AM

One thing I would keep in mind is how big the dot is. I would stick with a 3 MOA. Alot of manu. have a 5 MOA thats pretty standard and some are adjustable. If you ever want to take the scope off and use it for a longer distance gun or even a pistol you will definetly appreciate the smaller dot. The Moa on a red dot means it covers that much at a 100yds. Example, the 5 MOA takes up 5 inches at a 100 yds. You can see why getting the smallest one you can might be something your concerned about.

Let me just add this to, when I bought my first one I was surprised how dark they were. For hunting I would stick with the 30mm. Also your adjustable brightness levels is important. You adjust it to the light condition outside. When you look through your scope start low and work up. When you start getting to bright the dot will start getting distorted.

I have an Ultr Dot I think I payed just over $100 for. I love it on my 44 and the battery life is awesome.

killer · 06-24-2007, 09:26 AM

bigandrich44 mentioned an ACOG which are real spendy for sure but when I was researching out red dot scopes I was looking and reading alot about the ACOG's. Apparently some of the military versions have the dot against a black background (you cannot look thru them like a scope!).

The concept is you leave both eyes open and the brain will automatically merge the red dot over your target.

I thought, "Heck why can't I do that with my aimpoint?" and I did. I inserted a piece of black paper under the front lens cap and it did indeed work.

I would say it works best in really bright light, and you don't have to have the juice cranked up as high.

Just something you could try for giggles. And if you were using your weapon going from bright to dark areas wouldn't need to adjust the light as much.

Arkansas Hunter I believe the 30mm is the ring size they supply with the scope. All of my scopes are in a one inch tube except for the Bushnell. Here's a couple of pics showing 30mm mounted versus a one inch red dot.

30mm rings

one inch rings

I'd say both tubes are about as bulky, just depends on the batteries, dials, and stuff...where they place them.

billy · 06-24-2007, 10:22 AM

AH thanks for the vote of confidence dude!

what distance is turkey hunting done at anyway?
i havent the foggiest.
30 yds.
50?

ArkansasHunter · 06-24-2007, 01:05 PM

billy I've had turkeys come up to my feet a couple of times and I've had them hold up 50 yards and beyond.
I would say your best shot, you would like to have is 15 yards to 40 yards with 40 yards being max.
I'm eager to see how the New Mossberg 930 with 24" barrel w/there turkey choke does, the one I want is the model 85235 matte black
AND I thought a matte black red dot scope would compliment the gun though it's not needed in the ranges I mentioned.
Interesting that Mossberg omitted the fiber optic turkey sights on the model I want, and instead put a optic bead on it. So my intention were
to add the turkey sights until it occured to me "wouldn't a red dot scope look cool on this gun, alas I'm am here seeking yalls help.
And you know I am taken back by the great bit of info this thread is recieveing, which is wonderful ! Because Im not the only one that can use this excellent information.

Geeez after typeing all this I'm wondering now if I really need to put a red dot scope on a shotgun because of the short ranges turkey hunters have to shoot turkeys in...Mike

billy · 06-24-2007, 01:41 PM

ohhh go ahead! a boy needs his toys ya know!

ArkansasHunter · 06-24-2007, 01:47 PM

I agree !!! But which one ? what brand, what type would be best for the ranges spesified.

billy · 06-24-2007, 03:18 PM

he11 i dunno!

just throw a bushnell trophy on there. too bad you dont live around here.i'd let you try mine out

at 50 yds. the dot on the trophy covers a 2 1/2 in spot

lefty o · 06-24-2007, 07:04 PM

i'll side with, you dont really need one on a turkey gun. like you said 40yds is max. now if you just have to have 1, and are going to get a tube model , bigger is better. much easier to find the dot inside a 30mm tube than a 1". myself, i prefer the bushnell holosights.

ArkansasHunter · 06-24-2007, 09:00 PM

Thanks Lefty o...I'm haveing 2nd thoughts now...I need to physicaly go and check them out to see if it's something I don't need...A.H

A-10 · 06-26-2007, 09:14 PM

well, if you dicide to get one, it doesn't have to be anything really expensive. I'm perfectly satisfied with my $35 BSA laser dot on my 9 mil carbine. Also from your friendly neighborhood Wally world.

lefty o · 06-26-2007, 09:33 PM

definately go check them out and see what you think. some people do find them to be an asset. you may find you cant live without one.

billy · 06-26-2007, 09:45 PM

on the guns i have one on .they are just what the doc ordered.
for certain applications they are great.

A-10 · 06-28-2007, 11:07 AM

You're not going to find quicker target aquisition in any light condition as in a laser dot optic.

06-23-2007, 10:20 PM	#1
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 11,000	Which Red dot scope is best for turkey shotgun ? Hey members of Gun and Game I need your help ! In a couple of weeks I will be buying a Mossberg 930 turkey shotgun. I sure would be gratful for any information in regards to red dot sights. I don't know jack about them. I looked at Walmarts web site and they have alot of them in different configurations priced from 43 dollars to 600 dollars. The price range I can afford is 50 to 100 bucks. Theres one thats a Bushnell Trophy 1 X 28 mm matte finish Red-Dot for $ 83.12 that looks nice. But I don't know really what I need...Please advise...A.H

06-23-2007, 10:21 PM	#2
bigandrich44 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,013	ACOG if you can find one cheap, or the one you suggested. __________________ http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/1...eehobosig9.png

06-23-2007, 11:17 PM	#3
billy spiritual counselor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 14,423 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 154	i have the one you mentioned on my ak. i like it! it works great on that weapon its small and sturdy you can adjust the brightness of the dot .11 different powers __________________ "I would never die for my beliefs because what if I'm wrong?"- Bertrand Russell Last edited by billy; 06-23-2007 at 11:18 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

06-24-2007, 12:23 AM	#4
killer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In the rat race Posts: 928 Images: 6	I believe its the one I temporarily put on a single shot 30-06 NEF I have. It was around that price with a life time warranty. I did take a bear with it last fall and a head shot at that, but it was mighty close to me. Certainly it helps with an animal like black bear when they come in at sundown. I did notice a big shift in the point of impact with it when I switched to the other sight options which wasn't a big deal since I planned on using the small crosshair all the time with it. I took the Bushnell off this spring though and put the more expensive aimpoint red dot scope on. Don't really know why...the aimpoint is a little smaller with a 1 inch tube and the Bushnell is 30mm. I'm going to use the Bushnell on my Rem 870. I wish I had it this spring when I went spring turkey hunting because I had switched to #6 shot and man the pattern was tight...just a hair off with the sights made a big diff. Anyway it was too late to put the scope on the hunt was here, I was out of time. Didn't matter though I didn't take the shot but I darn sure will have it on next year or if I plan on shooting slugs for deer or bear with the 870 I'm using it. I'd say in many circumstances a red dot scope on a shotgun can help give you better accuracy. What's the deal with my pic's...sometimes they post and other times they give the link to my photobucket account. NO GOOD. __________________ "Yeee Hawww...I'm a cowboy on an iron horse." Killer's cabin: http://buckmountainchateau.com/ Last edited by killer; 06-24-2007 at 12:29 AM.

06-24-2007, 07:37 AM	#7
billy spiritual counselor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 14,423 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 154	yep around $80 will get you a red dot that will last for a long long time. that trophy has had the snot kicked out of it by many thousands of rapid fire AK rounds. if it was going to die i think it would've happened by now __________________ "I would never die for my beliefs because what if I'm wrong?"- Bertrand Russell

06-24-2007, 01:32 AM	#5
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 11,000	You guys don't know how much I apreciate your replys. Thank yall ! killer you said yours was a 30mm are you sure it's not 28mm ? I went the easy route to find some to look at, and that was at WalMarts web site, I had seen them there before. They've got several. They also had another Bushnell that was 26 mm, I would think bigger is better I'll recheck and see if they have 30mm. billy I trust you, thanks to you too and b&r44 thank you...A.H

06-24-2007, 06:52 AM	#6
dave375hh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 587	AH, I've had good success with Millet 30MM red dots from Midsouth Shooters at $78.00 last price I saw. I have 4 of them, 2 that I've had for 10 years now. I got them on a 12ga, .44 Mag. .357 Mag, and a .22 target pistol. Once they were sighted in they never had to be re-adjusted. I've shot a lot of rounds under these red dots with no problems of any kind. __________________ Dave 375 H&H

06-24-2007, 08:40 AM	#8
blaylock220 Banned Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: WV Posts: 21	Red dot One thing I would keep in mind is how big the dot is. I would stick with a 3 MOA. Alot of manu. have a 5 MOA thats pretty standard and some are adjustable. If you ever want to take the scope off and use it for a longer distance gun or even a pistol you will definetly appreciate the smaller dot. The Moa on a red dot means it covers that much at a 100yds. Example, the 5 MOA takes up 5 inches at a 100 yds. You can see why getting the smallest one you can might be something your concerned about. Let me just add this to, when I bought my first one I was surprised how dark they were. For hunting I would stick with the 30mm. Also your adjustable brightness levels is important. You adjust it to the light condition outside. When you look through your scope start low and work up. When you start getting to bright the dot will start getting distorted. I have an Ultr Dot I think I payed just over $100 for. I love it on my 44 and the battery life is awesome. Last edited by blaylock220; 06-24-2007 at 08:55 AM.

06-24-2007, 09:26 AM	#9
killer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In the rat race Posts: 928 Images: 6	bigandrich44 mentioned an ACOG which are real spendy for sure but when I was researching out red dot scopes I was looking and reading alot about the ACOG's. Apparently some of the military versions have the dot against a black background (you cannot look thru them like a scope!). The concept is you leave both eyes open and the brain will automatically merge the red dot over your target. I thought, "Heck why can't I do that with my aimpoint?" and I did. I inserted a piece of black paper under the front lens cap and it did indeed work. I would say it works best in really bright light, and you don't have to have the juice cranked up as high. Just something you could try for giggles. And if you were using your weapon going from bright to dark areas wouldn't need to adjust the light as much. Arkansas Hunter I believe the 30mm is the ring size they supply with the scope. All of my scopes are in a one inch tube except for the Bushnell. Here's a couple of pics showing 30mm mounted versus a one inch red dot. 30mm rings one inch rings I'd say both tubes are about as bulky, just depends on the batteries, dials, and stuff...where they place them. __________________ "Yeee Hawww...I'm a cowboy on an iron horse." Killer's cabin: http://buckmountainchateau.com/ Last edited by killer; 06-24-2007 at 09:41 AM. Reason: .

06-24-2007, 10:22 AM	#10
billy spiritual counselor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 14,423 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 154	AH thanks for the vote of confidence dude! what distance is turkey hunting done at anyway? i havent the foggiest. 30 yds. 50? __________________ "I would never die for my beliefs because what if I'm wrong?"- Bertrand Russell Last edited by billy; 06-24-2007 at 10:25 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

06-24-2007, 01:05 PM	#11
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 11,000	billy I've had turkeys come up to my feet a couple of times and I've had them hold up 50 yards and beyond. I would say your best shot, you would like to have is 15 yards to 40 yards with 40 yards being max. I'm eager to see how the New Mossberg 930 with 24" barrel w/there turkey choke does, the one I want is the model 85235 matte black AND I thought a matte black red dot scope would compliment the gun though it's not needed in the ranges I mentioned. Interesting that Mossberg omitted the fiber optic turkey sights on the model I want, and instead put a optic bead on it. So my intention were to add the turkey sights until it occured to me "wouldn't a red dot scope look cool on this gun, alas I'm am here seeking yalls help. And you know I am taken back by the great bit of info this thread is recieveing, which is wonderful ! Because Im not the only one that can use this excellent information. Geeez after typeing all this I'm wondering now if I really need to put a red dot scope on a shotgun because of the short ranges turkey hunters have to shoot turkeys in...Mike

06-24-2007, 01:41 PM	#12
billy spiritual counselor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 14,423 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 154	ohhh go ahead! a boy needs his toys ya know! __________________ "I would never die for my beliefs because what if I'm wrong?"- Bertrand Russell

06-24-2007, 01:47 PM	#13
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 11,000	I agree !!! But which one ? what brand, what type would be best for the ranges spesified.

06-24-2007, 03:18 PM	#14
billy spiritual counselor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 14,423 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 154	he11 i dunno! just throw a bushnell trophy on there. too bad you dont live around here.i'd let you try mine out at 50 yds. the dot on the trophy covers a 2 1/2 in spot __________________ "I would never die for my beliefs because what if I'm wrong?"- Bertrand Russell Last edited by billy; 06-24-2007 at 03:21 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

06-24-2007, 07:04 PM	#15
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 5,116	i'll side with, you dont really need one on a turkey gun. like you said 40yds is max. now if you just have to have 1, and are going to get a tube model , bigger is better. much easier to find the dot inside a 30mm tube than a 1". myself, i prefer the bushnell holosights.

06-24-2007, 09:00 PM	#16
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 11,000	Thanks Lefty o...I'm haveing 2nd thoughts now...I need to physicaly go and check them out to see if it's something I don't need...A.H

06-26-2007, 09:14 PM	#17
A-10 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 762	well, if you dicide to get one, it doesn't have to be anything really expensive. I'm perfectly satisfied with my $35 BSA laser dot on my 9 mil carbine. Also from your friendly neighborhood Wally world.

06-26-2007, 09:33 PM	#18
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 5,116	definately go check them out and see what you think. some people do find them to be an asset. you may find you cant live without one.

06-26-2007, 09:45 PM	#19
billy spiritual counselor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 14,423 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 154	on the guns i have one on .they are just what the doc ordered. for certain applications they are great. __________________ "I would never die for my beliefs because what if I'm wrong?"- Bertrand Russell

06-28-2007, 11:07 AM	#20
A-10 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 762	You're not going to find quicker target aquisition in any light condition as in a laser dot optic.