Red Dot vs Scope what use cases for each

[Dean McCollom]

I have been an Iron sight traditionalist. However age finally caught up to me and I bought a 3-9x50 vortex. I also picked up a vortex RDS. For the 50-100 yd off hand shooting at paper and gongs I have found that I really like the RDS. I only pull out the scope for load development. What use cases you use for RDS vs Scopes?

 

[CMcCormick1805]

I’ve only used a dot in a muzzleloader hunting scenario and love it for that. When regs limit magnified optics I think there’s no better option.

 

[Johnwell]

I use a red dot on a 357 mag carbine (it’s a holosun 509t, so technically an enclosed emitter reflex sight to slide mount on a pistol, but whatever).

Love the lightweight, low profile and fast target acquisition; accuracy is good enough for 150+ yards on a deer (I haven’t tried this with the 357 mag due to trajectory, but it’ll hold an honest 2-3” group no problem). Only negative is I don’t like how the red dot sights perform in low light.

Not really much of an issue as long as twilight/legal light shots are limited to 50 yards or so, but a traditional magnified optic does a much better job in low light.

 

[WoodlandCritter]

I have tried both and only use a red dot for passive aiming with night vision. With practice I don't think a scope that can come down to 3x or lower is appreciably slower than a red dot for close range shots.

 

[schmidty3]

I have been an Iron sight traditionalist. However age finally caught up to me and I bought a 3-9x50 vortex. I also picked up a vortex RDS. For the 50-100 yd off hand shooting at paper and gongs I have found that I really like the RDS. I only pull out the scope for load development. What use cases you use for RDS vs Scopes?

Scopes win for hunting.

Sometimes it's just hard to pick an animal out with your eyes, or parts or edges or one in cover. And most red dots have a tint to them that is unhelpful, especially towards low light.

Red dot wins for up close work. Like sub 20 yards. Adding a magnifier kinda helps, but the magnifiers seem to add a lot compromises (eye box for one). Might be a good choice if you are busting into big sounders of hogs. Thats about the only time id prefer a dot.

My closer range hunting optic of choice is a 2-12.

 

[schmidty3]

I have been an Iron sight traditionalist. However age finally caught up to me and I bought a 3-9x50 vortex. I also picked up a vortex RDS. For the 50-100 yd off hand shooting at paper and gongs I have found that I really like the RDS. I only pull out the scope for load development. What use cases you use for RDS vs Scopes?

Scopes win for hunting.

Sometimes it's just hard to pick an animal out with your eyes, or parts or edges or one in cover. And most red dots have a tint to them that is unhelpful, especially towards low light.

Red dot wins for up close work. Like sub 20 yards. Adding a magnifier kinda helps, but the magnifiers seem to add a lot compromises (eye box for one). Might be a good choice if you are busting into big sounders of hogs. Thats about the only time id prefer a dot.

My closer range hunting optic of choice is a 2-12.

 

[Stud Duck]

I prefer a red dot/reflex sight for turkey hunting.

 

[justinspicher]

I grew up using red dot for work and could shoot pretty effectively out to 300yds. Several years ago I no longer did the type of work that requires a red dot and switched to an LVPO. I’ll never go back to a red dot, it’s just not as versatile as the LVPO is for me at this point in my shooting style.

 

[Macintosh]

At very close range there is often a lot of brush and whips. I very much appreciate having no or very low magnification for the field of view and the big, bold aiming point for super close shots. BUT I find some magnification really helpful to pick a hole thru the hardwood whips. I cant say Ive spent a lot of time with a dot. But I can say as my eyes have aged I have more and more used and felt a bit more magnification was helpful at what most would consider very short range, for this reason alone. Talking 6-8x here, not “high” but certainly more x’s than are necessary just for a shot at 50 or 75 yards.