I'm thinking about trying out one of the various red dot sights such as Burris Fast Fire or Eotech,or C-more on my Lott. Any one have any experience with a red dot on their big bore?

Scott

They work quite reliably. Personally I'd use a higher quality sight like a aimpoint T1 micro with a 2moa dot. I've had eotechs hold up to Benneli M4s with slugs for thousands of rounds. I think they make great sense on any big bore. -Rob

Thanks Rob. I currently have a long eye relief 2x Leupold mounted scout scope style and I think the forward mount might work just fine for the red dot. I agree the Aimpoint or Eotech would be good choice.

Scott

I use an Aimpoint Micro on my 500 ... it works very very well...
So I can only second Rob...

One word of caution on the EoTech: if you've never looked through one before, might want to take a look before buying. I have heard of issues with people with astigmatism not seeing the holographic reticle clearly and it looking pixilated. Great sights though!

Regarding the Aimpoint T1, you could pound nails with that damn thing and it would hold up!!!

-John

All my double rifles wear the dokter optic red dot sights,I have them on my big bore lever actions as well,& yes one of the rifles is a 458 Lott O/U,I shoot a lot,have used these sights on hunts in Africa five times so far,no issues at all,no matter the light conditions,they are very quick to get on the target with,I have never had these sights malfunction on me,I would recommend them very highly.

Oh Yes, Forward mounted Red dots are very slick! They are extremely fast on target and easily let you shoot with both eyes open. The only issue is the batteries dying at the worst possible time. Trijicon has a RMR with a 4 MOA Dot that I've used also and its pricey but eliminates the battery failure concern. For close range stopping rifles, there is no reason not to use Red Dots anymore and they are a boon to all of us with aged eyes.

+1 on batteries dying... the millet that i have will last less than a day if i forget and don't turn it off... positives are good sight picture, its a 30mm... no magnifiaction...even in poor light situations.. fast. easy to use..ive had it on an AR in .458 socom, a ruger #1 in .458... currently on a ruger 10/22... negatives are the dot is an 8 minute dot.. too big on anything past 50 yds... it nearly covers a deer at 100 yds...( or so it seems)... i'd buy another in a minute, just a smaller dot...

I think they are the cats ass for inside fast work at 25 yds. I have some issues with my eyesight, brush in the field, and longer ranges--so ???????? But, that could very well be just me and my eyes. I think on a big bore for use inside 50 yards, good stuff.

I am setting up a rifle right now for a fellow that has 10 elephant to shoot in March--he requested a Trijicon RMR 3.25 MOA Dot. With the base its not cheap, $665 delivered to my door. But I have been shooting it now for two days, and it's pretty spiffy! Incredibly good at 25 yds, everything in a hole. This is on one of my 500 MDMs. Very fast to work with.

The battery life on this one is 17000 hours--About 2 yrs continuous. Uses common CR2032 battery. I would have a new battery at the start of Safari, turn it on, never turn it off for the duration. I of course would also carry a couple of spares--just in case. But I see no issues with batteries.

I had a Aimpoint Comp2 or 3 ????? some years ago in Tanzania. Turned it on at the beginning of Safari, and someone turned it off about a year later playing with the rifle, I have not had it on Safari again, but I have not changed batteries either!

Michael

I have a Burris Fast-fire on my 458 AccRel and love it. Next I will go with an Aimpoint.

Over the years I have used red-dots, Aimpoints, EOTechs and the Burris FastFire, on everything from 500S&W revolvers to AR-15s and .458Lott. I find them fast and accurate, and the older the eyes get, the better I like 'em.

I've just ordered a Bushnell TRS 1x 25mm after examining one on a B&M rifle in Michaels booth and listening to the very positive reports at DSC. This unit may still be available from Midway for $85.00! An incredible price for the quality.

quote:

Originally posted by HAY-MAN:
Thanks Rob. I currently have a long eye relief 2x Leupold mounted scout scope style and I think the forward mount might work just fine for the red dot. I agree the Aimpoint or Eotech would be good choice.

Scott

Interesting to see you going back to where I started with my Mauser 404. I had one of the early green dot Single Point sights on my 404 for a long time (same as in photo below) then changed it for a 2X Leupold EER as per the next photo. Single point good for hunting but not so for targets.

I've got one mounted on my .458 Lott but haven't had a chance to sight it in yet. I like the way it brings everything in line for me though. My old eyes don't pick up the rear and sometimes the front sight like they should and this is definitely a better option.

Lionhunter

Thanks for the reminder of that Bushnell. I used the circle dot on that 50 B&M Alaskan lever gun and was amazed at how good and easy it was to shoot at 50 yds--extremely good! This is the one that has two dots, cross hairs and the Circle with the dot in the center. I never used the others, and never switched them to check POI--but that Circle/dot was amazing.

Battery life with that same CR2032 went for 2 weeks straight continuous 24 hours on. Not bad. I fired 150 + rounds with it, zero issues. I bought two more from Midway in December on Sale, $75 or so each. Have not put those on anything yet.

Hard to go wrong at less than $100. If it breaks, oh well, but its going to take a beating it appears before it goes!

M

On a big bore as much as I hate anything that has glass and/or needs a battery to function.

I have to agree that a lack of light and older eyes don't mix very well.

I just wish that Trijicon made peep sights (if possible) where a battery won't be needed.

Pyzda

Thanks everyone for all the great tryed and true feedback. John is correct about the eotech and astigmatism. I have it and was shooting my buddies AR-15, close range no problem, but at longer ranges I started hitting noticably off point. Thats when he told me about the astigmatism can be a problem with the eotech. This kind of support and feedback is what makes Accurate Reloading such a great site.

Scott

Of all of them the aimpoint T1 micro with the 2 moA dot seems like the most rugged to me and the fastest to acquire. I like to practice fast shooting skills and this thing is at least twice as fast as open sights. They are not very esthetic looking on a nice Big Bore, but they sure do work. I even tried a special mount I made that puts a Burris fast fire on top of the forward ring of a 2.5X lepold compact for a best of both world approach. Worked pretty darn well too.

quote:

Originally posted by Pyzda:
On a big bore as much as I hate anything that has glass and/or needs a battery to function.

I have to agree that a lack of light and older eyes don't mix very well.

I just wish that Trijicon made peep sights (if possible) where a battery won't be needed.

Pyzda

They do

Quick-detach and goes right in your pocket. I like the Leupold Delta Point in 3 MOA alsoThis is on a 500 Jeffery

It's been a while back, but when age got to my eyesight...I wanted to try a red dot on my .458 Win mag. I already put a Leupold-Gilmore on a Contender bbl. and LOVED it.
I decided to try one of the less expensive models for my rifle, just to see how I'd like it. Talked to the folks at Millett about it, and they honestly didn't know at that time how theirs would hold up.
Put the 60.00 Millett SP-2 on the .458, and it's held up just fine with the variety of loads I've fired through the rifle, including all I could stand of my full-power Buff. loads. That was 10 yrs ago. Still have the original battery in it. I only turn it on when I'm going to shoot. That small inexpensive red dot gets me back to being able to reliably shoot one-ragged-hole groups with the .458 at 50 yds again....which is plenty good enough for me.

quote:

Bitterroot

What mount is that?

quote:

Originally posted by Slider:

What mount is that?

I believe that is his/AHR's QD red dot mount.

Does he make one for a Ruger#1?