OK...here's the deal. Went to the range with a friend and got to look through his new Bushnell scope. Don't know the model, but it had a center dot along with some other reticle features. He said MSRP was close to $700 if that helps pinpoint it. Anyway, I found that I would really like to try a scope with a target dot reticle. I have lots of scopes have owned maybe 25-30 different ones...Leupold, Burris, Bushnell, etc; most with duplex reticle. I am a hunter primarily and occasionally shoot at the range to zero rifles and test reloads. So, my question.....With this info could you guys help me narrow my search for a good scope to experiment with? Would like to keep the cost below $500, but will spend what I have to for a good one. I'll appreciate any help you can provide. Also if you could describe the pros and cons of dot scopes. Oh another thing.....the scope will go on either a squirrel rifle or a varmint .223 or .204. Feel free to make recommendations or both and I appreciate any help you can provide.
Dot scopes?
- Thread starter Sniper66
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The Leupold Firedot reticles have a nice small bright dot at the center that turns on/off when you pick up or put down the rifle.
https://smile.amazon.com/Leupold-11...words=firedot&qid=1563575296&s=gateway&sr=8-2
https://smile.amazon.com/Leupold-11...words=firedot&qid=1563575296&s=gateway&sr=8-2
BigBL87
Member
Mueller has a several with similar reticles to what you describe. I've had 2 of their scopes and have been quite happy with them, especially for the price. Might be a good way to try it out and decide if you like them as much as you're thinking without investing a bunch.
Mueller 8.5-25×50 AO Eraticator (Black)
http://muelleroptics.com/products/mueller-8-5-25x50-eraticator-black/
Mueller 4-16×50 AO Sport Dot
http://muelleroptics.com/products/mueller-4-16x50ao-sport-dot/
Mueller 3-10X44 Sport Dot
http://muelleroptics.com/products/mueller-3-10x44-sport-dot/
Mueller 3-9×40 Sport Dot
http://muelleroptics.com/products/mueller-3-9x40-sport-dot/
Mueller 8.5-25×50 AO Eraticator (Black)
http://muelleroptics.com/products/mueller-8-5-25x50-eraticator-black/
Mueller 4-16×50 AO Sport Dot
http://muelleroptics.com/products/mueller-4-16x50ao-sport-dot/
Mueller 3-10X44 Sport Dot
http://muelleroptics.com/products/mueller-3-10x44-sport-dot/
Mueller 3-9×40 Sport Dot
http://muelleroptics.com/products/mueller-3-9x40-sport-dot/
jmorris
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Do you want magnification or not?
Aimpoint makes my favorite non magnification reddots but even my cheapest BSA works.
For scopes there are a number of good illuminated ones that are good. The nightforce 1-4 is one I use a lot but recently got a vortex strike eagle 1-8 that looks very good for the money but I haven’t had a chance to test it throughly.
Aimpoint makes my favorite non magnification reddots but even my cheapest BSA works.
For scopes there are a number of good illuminated ones that are good. The nightforce 1-4 is one I use a lot but recently got a vortex strike eagle 1-8 that looks very good for the money but I haven’t had a chance to test it throughly.
Gander Mountain used to sell for $200 a 3 X 9 American Marksman with this reticle
This is the first scope I owned with dots on the cross bars and I liked using it at CMP Talladega. One issue with the target bulls at CMP Talladega is that they are round, black, featureless.
There are no rings inside the black bull to hold off to compensate for being a little off. You more or less quarter the target with your crosshairs, because these bulls are meant to be used with irons sights, and if you need to adjust for windage, you have to crank on the scope knobs. I don't fully trust scope adjustments, they are not perfect nor 100% reliable. I have been shooting Midrange and Smallbore Prone long enough to know, it is better to hold off if you can, as the scope cross hairs may not move with the windage knob. And that is with expensive target scopes. I have clearly seen this with cheaper hunting scopes, sometimes a number of rounds have to be fired before the reticule jumps to the new position. My Warner match iron sights are 100% repeatable, you put on a click the group moves a click, be it a 1/4 MOA or 1/8 MOA click, but scope reticles stick, jump, or have irregular movements. Anyway I like the stadia lines allowing me to hold off on the bull edges.
With a scope I can see the mirage pick up and compensate by moving the reticle left or right. What I preferred with the Luepold was that the graduations were the same up and down. I do not like the Vortex reticule where the horizontal is marked off in 200, 300, 400, etc elevation graduations. My rifles never shoot to their 2MOA, 5 MOA, etc markings for those distances, I just prefer MOA graduations where I know my elevation. Perhaps lucky for me, I can get 200,, 300, 600 zero's at CMP Talladega and write them down in my data book. Not everyone can do that with their rifle and their load.
This is the first scope I owned with dots on the cross bars and I liked using it at CMP Talladega. One issue with the target bulls at CMP Talladega is that they are round, black, featureless.
There are no rings inside the black bull to hold off to compensate for being a little off. You more or less quarter the target with your crosshairs, because these bulls are meant to be used with irons sights, and if you need to adjust for windage, you have to crank on the scope knobs. I don't fully trust scope adjustments, they are not perfect nor 100% reliable. I have been shooting Midrange and Smallbore Prone long enough to know, it is better to hold off if you can, as the scope cross hairs may not move with the windage knob. And that is with expensive target scopes. I have clearly seen this with cheaper hunting scopes, sometimes a number of rounds have to be fired before the reticule jumps to the new position. My Warner match iron sights are 100% repeatable, you put on a click the group moves a click, be it a 1/4 MOA or 1/8 MOA click, but scope reticles stick, jump, or have irregular movements. Anyway I like the stadia lines allowing me to hold off on the bull edges.
With a scope I can see the mirage pick up and compensate by moving the reticle left or right. What I preferred with the Luepold was that the graduations were the same up and down. I do not like the Vortex reticule where the horizontal is marked off in 200, 300, 400, etc elevation graduations. My rifles never shoot to their 2MOA, 5 MOA, etc markings for those distances, I just prefer MOA graduations where I know my elevation. Perhaps lucky for me, I can get 200,, 300, 600 zero's at CMP Talladega and write them down in my data book. Not everyone can do that with their rifle and their load.
Good question....yes I need magnification. My squirrel rifles have 2-7X, 3.5-8X, 4-16X, and 3.5-10X. Varmint rifles have 4-16X, 4-12X, and 6-24X. I plan to buy a 1-6X for a new AR style rifle later this year. This should give you guys an idea what I shoot. Might try a non-magnifying red dot at some point.
30mm illum dot, 1.5-6X and on sale
https://cameralandny.com/shop/burri...e-00163ecd2826?variation=1946159&query=200427
https://cameralandny.com/shop/burri...e-00163ecd2826?variation=1946159&query=200427
Depending on range... Most dots, even the aimpoints, take up about 2MOA and so will obscure small targets at long ranges.
I am personally not a fan of the duplex.
Second vote for Leupold, I'd go their "half minute leupold dot" reticle. They probably do an illuminated version by now.
I am personally not a fan of the duplex.
Second vote for Leupold, I'd go their "half minute leupold dot" reticle. They probably do an illuminated version by now.
jmorris
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I haven’t beat on it much yet but as I said earlier, this is one I have that fits in your budget, not really a “dot scope” rather an illuminated reticle and rather fantastic glass for the money.
https://palmettostatearmory.com/vor...-vortex-sport-cantilever-30mm-ring-mount.html
Ks5shooter
Contributing Member
https://www.interstateguns.com/optics/leupold-vxr-rifle-scopes-111238.aspx.html
Hereya go............
Hereya go............
I just went to Cabela's in KC and looked through some fire-dot scopes. I really did not like them. In addition to the illuminated dot in the center, there is a circle around the dot. The glaring of the dot combined with the circle produced significant impediment to seeing the target. It's probably helpful in low light conditions, but would be of no help to me....so the red dots are out for now. Then went to the Bushnell Outlet and found several viable options. As soon as I sell some guns I'll have the cash to go shopping. I'll let you know what I end up with. Thanks for your help. Tom
old heeler
Member
If you have leupold scope, they change and put target dot most scopes. You may pay little more base price but if you order scope 3x9 from them they charge extra but you can get it with target dot.
jmorris
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I am not familiar whit that one. The VX-3 1.5-5 is a good one. I didn’t like the Mark 4 CQ/T 1.3x14mm at all.
It’s this one.
https://www.eurooptic.com/leupold-vx-3-15-5x20mm-30mm-metric-matte-illuminated-circle-dot-67840.aspx
The reticle is very similar, the rest of the scope is different.
Mark 4 CQ/T
Typing mistake on my part that I didn’t catch when looking it over before hitting ‘post reply’.
‘C’ is right by ‘X’ on the keyboard.
Just following up with an FYI. I almost ordered this scope, but researched it further through the Burris folks. This scope is no longer sold in the USA because it sold poorly and now is only available in Europe, they said. Glad I didn''t order it and hope no one else did either.
Some of my favorite reticles of this type are the Weaver EBX and their Varmint EBX. The reticles appear to be coarse (large dots and lines) in photos on seller websites and on the Weaver website, but they are not coarse in person. The Varmint EBX dot is quite small. The regular EBX dot is larger, and a good all-around size IME. I have some Grand Slam 4-16x44s with these reticles and so long as 16x magnification is enough, they are my favorite scopes to use for a variety of shooting purposes, target, plinking, or hunting. A good quality scope for the money, IME, and I love the side focus. They also focus down to 25 yards.
These scopes have recently been discontinued and can be a bit hard to find at times. Natchez Shooting Supplies has been selling the EBX version at $389 lately, but at the moment it's back up to $564 or some such (if you keep an eye on Natchez, they'll probably drop back to $389 within a few days). Midway also has some on hand. https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1477113904 Amazon has some of the Varmint EBX, but not at a bargain price.
Here's a shot of the EBX model on a CZ 452 Scout (a small, youth-size rifle).
These scopes have recently been discontinued and can be a bit hard to find at times. Natchez Shooting Supplies has been selling the EBX version at $389 lately, but at the moment it's back up to $564 or some such (if you keep an eye on Natchez, they'll probably drop back to $389 within a few days). Midway also has some on hand. https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1477113904 Amazon has some of the Varmint EBX, but not at a bargain price.
Here's a shot of the EBX model on a CZ 452 Scout (a small, youth-size rifle).
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