I just put an RMR on my .500 double (blasphemy?) and had a delta point pro on my .505 bolt gun for a while (i think it’s on at 50) Both quick detach but i find red dots quite handy and quick to shoot and work great in competition shooting. Plus i'm getting old and they have obvious advantages. Both these guns are obviously elephant material and basically short range units and my other African calibers wear some sort of scope with magnification . And i’ll keep my old 470 double strictly an iron sighted operation.

My question is what range would you all sight in these guns optics for their respective calibers and usage? Short range stopping buffalo hippo elephant etc.? I’m thinking 100 with would make it pretty close on at 50. Don’t have the ballistics in front of me but both are similar trajectories for all practical purposes. Or on at 50 and close at 100? Or on at a closer at 25? Should be a fun affair sighting them in and get motivated to go use them

What are people sighting their elephant/stopping rifles at? Be interesting to hear some answers

I have my 500 zeroed at 50 yards using a red dot .

I went with a 50yd zero on a CZ 550 .458 Lott with a Kahles Helia RD in one of AHR's QD mounts. I was, I think, 1" low at 25yds?

I have a Delta Point Pro on my CZ .505 Gibbs and sighted it at 50 yards, works really well for me.

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I just put an RMR on my .500 double (blasphemy?)

I was probably the first PH in Tanzania to do the same about 25 years with a Panorama Red Dot and was soundly criticized by my seniors who in no uncertain terms told me that a double rifle was designed to be shot using the iron sights and fitting an electronic device was a sin.

My reply to that was red dot sights hadn't been thought of when they built double rifles and due to my difficulty in lining the bead, V and target in one go and intent on staying alive, the red dot was the answer and I never turned back.

Like Larry, mine too is set for 50 yards.

I was always a purest when it came to doubles and red dots. Just the lines and a form vs function debate raged in my head.

But I've since actually come to really like red dots on them. For whatever reason it gives me "working man" vibes.

Only negative thoughts are potential battery issues or even being knocked around and off zero. Whereas iron sights have neither of those issues. If a red dots provides you a better chance of a cleaner ethical shot. I'm all for it

I want my .500 NE double dead on center at 25 yds. Thus, that is where I start — 25 yd zero. I then shoot it at 100 and see what it is like and tweak if necessary to get windage correct for 100 and elevation acceptable. I then go back to 25 and make sure it is dead on at 25, shoot 50 to see what it is like there, and 100 once more. I note the hold for 50 and 100 to be prepared for them but I don’t want to think at 25. That said, my .500 dead on 25 is 1-2 high at 50 and 1-2 low at 100.

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Only negative thoughts are potential battery issues

That is one of the main issues: turn it on only when you intend using it and most of all to remember (the difficult part) to turn it off.

Also, the higher illumination intensity you apply to the dot/ring/cross the more juice it takes from the battery so having a few spare ones lying around is not a bad idea.

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Originally posted by Crazy_farmer:
I was always a purest when it came to doubles and red dots. Just the lines and a form vs function debate raged in my head.

But I've since actually come to really like red dots on them. For whatever reason it gives me "working man" vibes.

Only negative thoughts are potential battery issues or even being knocked around and off zero. Whereas iron sights have neither of those issues. If a red dots provides you a better chance of a cleaner ethical shot. I'm all for it

Check what the manufacturer says about battery life . I have a red dot on my turkey shotgun. The expected battery life is 50,000 hours. On those I have checked the expected life was long . Very long .

I suspect as we get older, they become necessary.

We spend so much on a hunt, replacing the battery before a safari is best thing to do.

I have Apple trackers in all my travel items.

I replace the batteries before my hunt.

Point of impact will be plenty close enough to point of aim at heavy rifle ranges no matter what you do.

I sighted the 1 MOA Trijicon RMR on my .470 for 50 yards.

As Larry says, the battery life for a quality CR 2032 battery in a Trijicon RMR is very long. As in years, even with regular use!

But as Saeed says, it's cheap insurance to change the battery when in doubt.

I have a doctor red dot on my 470 and taken many shots at close to and over 100. Longest was an Ostrich in Masailand 140 yards.

I have red dots on my 500/465 and 470 both zeroed at 50 yards.

I haven't put red dots on my doubles just yet, but my eyes are getting to the point that it makes sense. I agree with Lane, 25 yards, or less, is the tipping point on a double, at least on elephant. Buffalo, perhaps 50. Not sure it ultimately will make much difference.

50 yards seems to be a consensus and 25 and 100 are all within an inch or two. Sounds reasonable to me

RMR’s run 50,000 hours on a battery. But changing it a good idea but quick detach and go back to irons always an option if damaged or have another issue. I’ve run these for years on handguns in competition and they are very reliable especially the good ones.

50,000 hours is almost 6 years running non-stop.

I think it wound be stupid to not change the battery just before trip.

Yep 6 years. Except the original RMR you need to remove sight to change battery. kind of a flaw corrected on newer models. I took this one off a comp gun and finally mounted it. but if you were going on a hunt i’d replace it and rezero should not be off all that much and you are going to shoot it anyways. The low draw circuits these days are amazing. The original RmR has better aesthetics than the newer ones especially on a double so i’m sticking with it. Now need to head out in woods and use some of that stockpiled ammo to sight in been a while since i shot it. And take the 505

Then plan a hunt

it is a good idea to change the battery once a year even if it is 50000 hrs. im using a red dot after long discussion with the Don Heath that had one on his great 9.3x62 and he told me the number of critics he received because of the detachable magazine and the red dot but what worked for him is the most important.

If you sight the rifle in at 100 yards, is being 1/2" off at 25 yards a concern?

I usually don't shoot flies with my 458 Win Mag so anything within a inch is fine with me.

A fly at 100 yards with my 22.250 AI