Got a Benelli SBE3 for Christmas. I want to know common it is to bird hunt with red dots? I know, do what you want, but just curious. I like the idea of shooting both eyes open and not having to worry as much about lining up. I’m assuming the parallax free dot placement should allow for quick shots?
To red dot or not?
- Thread starter kokoji04
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Axlrod
WKR
I shoot both eyes open. No red dot, dont know anyone that shoots one on a shotgun.
Irish Miner
Lil-Rokslider
I have a couple red dots on my turkey rigs. One being a Benelli Super Vinci. I shot a swan with it and it worked fine. Had plenty of time to aim leading up to the shot.
For upland or waterfowl (ducks) in general, I prefer no red dot. Easier without one and both eyes open for follow up/multiple shots in my opinion.
For upland or waterfowl (ducks) in general, I prefer no red dot. Easier without one and both eyes open for follow up/multiple shots in my opinion.
RockAndSage
WKR
Dots are fine for things like turkey or even deer, especially where you want a tighter pattern over longer distances. But with wing shooting, or even shooting fast-moving targets like a sprinting rabbit, they're a crutch at best, and an hinderance at worst. Perhaps in some situations they can help if a shotgun is particularly bad-fitting for your body. But a well-fitted shotgun should have your eye centered along the rib, left-right and up-down - so that when you're looking at your target, and staying focused on your target, the bore is lined up with your target.
Steve300xcw
WKR
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No dots for me.
Still shoot with both eyes open though
Still shoot with both eyes open though
I’ve got a dot on an 18” beretta 1301.
I’ve been making a point to take it out clay shooting for practice the last 6 months.
It’s doable, but certainly a learning curve. I shoot both eyes open, and hard target focus on both red dots and bead sights.
My father actually prefers it. He always asks if I’ve brought the beretta whenever we shoot together. But his near sight accommodation is long gone. So he prefers having the dot on the same focal plane as the target.
While my hit rates on fast crossing shots has stayed the same after my learning curve. My dad is much much more consistent with the red dot shotgun.
I’ve been making a point to take it out clay shooting for practice the last 6 months.
It’s doable, but certainly a learning curve. I shoot both eyes open, and hard target focus on both red dots and bead sights.
My father actually prefers it. He always asks if I’ve brought the beretta whenever we shoot together. But his near sight accommodation is long gone. So he prefers having the dot on the same focal plane as the target.
While my hit rates on fast crossing shots has stayed the same after my learning curve. My dad is much much more consistent with the red dot shotgun.
For funzees I’ve shot clay with a red dot and it’s quite fun. In a way cheating because for my experience, as long as the dots on it hits. When leading it provides me with more consistency. Call it a reference point to lead/distance the clay. It’s pretty fun for me.
Its actually a handicap. The dot leads to aiming, which prevents your natural eye-hand coordination from working properly. “Measuring” is a form of aiming. Its the reason competitive shotgun shooters dont use a dot in any wingshooting format. It can be done, especially in a repetitive format like Skeet where you know exactly where each bird will go, but it is a liability for any novel target presentation.
If upland game birds were predictable you might be onto something.
Half the challenge of shotgunning/wingshooting is learning to lead/swing/etc on various birds and shot angles/distances on demand.
Steve300xcw
WKR
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Wouldn't surprise me.
It amazes me that people close an eye when using rifles as well.
Steve300xcw
WKR
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Competitive shotgun guys are amusing sometimes. Expecially the mechanical shooter type. Amusing when the skeet throwers are off just a bit
I think for some of us, it just seems like the right thing to do. It’s not until some explains why it’s dumb or not as advantageous that you try something different. I had to fight closing one eye for a while to really get used to it. It’s definitely one of those things that doesn’t make any sense if you’ve always started out shooting with both eyes open.
That’s awesome. I think for some of us guys who are just doing it for fun, this is pretty cool. I’m not trying to win an award, I’m just trying to enjoy the my time out. Beautiful gun.
I tagged a turkey last season with my M4 with a Acro P2.
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That's a nice pic.
No, shotgunning is undeniably more effective when you are actually using your mind's full ability of depth perception, tracking, etc. Closing one eye makes zero sense
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