Rifle scope with firedot or not.

[Stevesangwonshin]

Looking for a rifle scope. Is there any reason I should not get a scope with a firedot?

Looking into a

Leupold VX-5HD CDS-ZL2 3-15x 44mm Rifle Scope - FireDot Duplex​

Is this a good magnification for deer and elk in the mountains?

 

[North of 60]

Find and read the informative scope testing/eval thread for good scopes.

 

[rookieforever33]

There are many manufactures that make similar illumination. They are made with ballistic reticles, sfp, ffp, small crosses, small circles, single post with a illuminated top. Many configurations. I personally do not like illuminated reticles larger than the firedot or small something at the center. Dont get stuck on the Leupold just because of the dot.

 

[eric1115]

I'll second the above advice.

Rifle Scope Field Evaluations

rokslide.com

The VX5 (and 6 and Mk5 and Mk4 and all other current Leupolds) have shown themselves to have very unreliable zero retention. I would not use one on a rifle that is not strictly a range toy (and even then there are great options that cost same or less with similar specs and actually works as it should.

If you're dead set on SFP a Trijicon Credo 2.5-15 would be a solid choice.

If you're open to FFP I have been more and more impressed by my SWFA 3-9. I don't think I'm leaving anything on the table with that vs my old standard favorite LRHS on my main hunting rifle. I've been using the SWFA fixed 6x for years, happily, but the 3-9 is I think a true top tier all-reasonable-hunting-ranges (good to 800++) scope. The fixed 6 is a legitimately great all-around scope as well if you feel like getting out of your comfort zone and willing to answer some questions from your hunting buddies. Perfectly fine at 50 or less to 500 or more yards, you really need to shoot it to appreciate just how good it is and how much the simplicity just makes it a fantastic killing tool.

If you're set on illumination and higher magnification, the Maven RS1.2 2.5-15 is probably the pick (but FYI the move to lower magnification and reticles that work very well at all mag ranges without illumination has been a good one for me and lots of other guys I know).

My shooting life has gotten much better and less frustrating since moving away from Leupold, Vortex, Athlon and to SWFA, Bushnell LRHS etc. mechanical reliability and function beats "glass quality" every time for a hunting scope.

 

[Kurts86]

Illumination is almost a requirement on many first focal plane scopes just for reticle visibility, it’s less critical on second focal plane scopes but still nice to have. It is nice to have in the first and last 30 minutes of hunting light but it weighs more with added complexity.

VX5’s are second focal plane but are not particularly good aiming devices.

 

[LBEdgin]

I brought a Leupold Mark5 4-20x56 with firedot, and in early morning or late afternoon it really shines. I think it's weight is around 23oz which is nice, I put it on a lite weight build I did this fall and mounted it on a 284win for a carry gun for the Whitetail season in Western KY and it was a pleasure to wag around the woods with.

 

[General RE LEE]

I have two scopes with illuminated reticles. Thankfully, both can adjust down to dim. In low light, the brighter the red dot, the harder it is to see my aim point with my eyes.

 

[gun2siast]

Absolutely with. Leupold firedot IMO is the best execution of duplex firedot reticle, I like it on during the day and draws my eye to center naturally.

 

[wyosteve]

I use Firedot scopes on virtually all my rifles. I've never had a 'zero retention' problem like some allude to. However, I don't dial my scopes either. I can say I likely could not have taken an aoudad and 2 brown bears without the Firedot. A friend has a Hawke with illuminated reticle and I hated it when I looked through it compared to the Firedot.

 

[Mtncowboy]

I have one with the firedot, but I don't normally turn it on. Great scope, but I could take or leave the firedot.

 

[LBEdgin]

I have a VX5 4-20X52 WITH FIREDOT that I would sell if you are still looking for one.

 

[wyosteve]

To me the Firedot excels in low light conditions and on dark colored animals. If just using the scope on deer or elk or with plenty of light, then the regular crosshairs will show up. But in near dark on a dark colored animal, the Firedot really shines (pun intended!).

 

[Dualsight]

Astigmatism is something to consider. If you don't have it now, you will likely develop it sometime in the future. I had a nice glass etched red dot scope a decade or two ago. I hadn't been using it, so decided to put it up for sale. I didn't look through it until just before the buyer showed up. I didn't see a dot; I saw a comet. When I handed it to him to look at, I was going to tell him I didn't know what happened to the scope. He smiled and said, "nice sharp dot, looks great" and handed me the money. I didn't realize I acquired an astigmatism.

I cannot use any illuminated center dot without seeing a large bloom. For an illuminated reticle I only buy a scope with a crosshair. For me it can be a small "+" in the center or a larger crosshair, I can see either crosshair fairly well without a bloom. Incidentally, green illumination is sooo much better than red for almost anyone with astigmatism.

(Copied from Internet):

Astigmatism affects about 30% to 40% of the population, with its prevalence increasing with age; it can be present at birth or develop later in life. Changes in astigmatism often begin in the mid-40s and can worsen as individuals age, particularly after the mid-50s.

The rate of astigmatism increases significantly with age, from about 14.3% in those under 15 years to 67.2% in individuals over 65 years.

 

[STru300]

I have one with a firedot that I have hunted whitetails with for a couple years. I don't think I have used it in a hunting situation yet, but i guess it is there if i need it. Just watch the battery cap though. I lost one last year and had to call Leupold to send me new one. It likes to unscrew itself.