Red Dot for Shotgun

[BigBL87]

I know it's not a typical use, but hear me out on this one. I don't shoot my shotgun often, in part because I am cross eye dominant and as a result have a hard time aiming (or pointing, as the nomenclature is) naturally. I can compensate for the cross dominance when shooting handguns but shotguns not so much. Currently I just close my left eye, obviously not an ideal solution. I don't shoot competitively or anything, but just for some casual clay shooting and to give a quicker point of reference in an HD situation I've wondered if it might help. I've been told to just learn to shoot lefty, but that's easier said than done.

Anyone have insightful experience with an RDS on a shotgun?

 

[George P]

No it won't help; yes it is better to shoot from your dominant eye; it isn't against "the law" to close one eye; and they make all sorts of occluders for folks with the same condition. A piece of fuzzy Scotch tape will work as will a light smear of Vaseline if you don't go the static-cling magic dots. I start out with both eyes open (I shoot from my dominant left side) but I always seem to close my off hand eye just as I pull the trigger - too many years of one-eyed scoped rifle shooting I guess - and I shoot registered, competitive sporting clays.

 

[LoonWulf]

It MAY help, but much like learning to shoot left handed (which is what im having a friend of mine do, but he just started shooting a year ago), a lot of practice will be needed.

Im right eye, right handed, but i played competitive paintball for a number of years. A lot of that time i played with a pump gun that wore a none see thru red dot. Part of being a decent paintballer is being able to shoot while exposing as little of your body/gear/head as possible, so i learned to shoot left handed, dot sight on either eye.
lots and lots of practice made me as comfortable from either side, i can still shoot from either side comfortably, but ive lost the cross training to use both eyes.
I found that i had less of an issue using a dot sight i couldnt see thru, than i did using one i could. It worked so the dot just blended in with which ever eye could see the target. POI wasnt the same for both (people say paintball guns arnt accurate, but they will usually hold 6" at 30yds+ pretty easily), but it was close enough.

Ive also used a red dot on a short barreled shotgun i built. Theres a learning curve there also (and you get heckled by your shooting buddies), but once you do determine your lead and poa, breaking clays, or even shooting birds isnt that difficult.
It helped me with coming too and going away shots also actually, Ive never been one for aiming a shotgun, and instinctively those types of shots are difficult it seems. I also found it much easier than trying to shoot my gun with its 18" rib less barrel.

 

[cdb1]

A piece of fuzzy Scotch tape will work.

That’s what I use. I still have peripheral vision, the only thing I can’t see is the barrel with my left eye.

I have a Burris Fastfire III on my turkey shotgun, it works very well. I only use the scotch tape trick on flying targets. Don’t need it when using the red dot.

 

[Varminterror]

Have been using red dots on scatterguns for a long time. The Burris FastFire III on a speadbead mount is very nice for a hunting shotgun. I'd like to have a Trijicon dual illumination RMR on a speadbead mount for my Benelli M4 so it would always be illuminated for my nightstand.



Will it help you with your cross dominance issues? Nope. Not at all.

Keep working on shooting lefty - it's really just a mental thing if you commit to developing trigger dexterity.

 

[Panzerschwein]

A bead is all you'd ever need. Shotguns are never to be aimed, but pointed in a defensive scenario.

Practice snap shooting with a bead and you'll be all there.

 

[Varminterror]

Red dots aren't meant to really be aimed either.

 

[BigBL87]

Red dots aren't meant to really be aimed either.

That was kind of what I thought, but I've only owned two red dots (Bushnell TRS25 and a cheap Hammers red dot) and they seemed to make snap shooting easier with the rifles they were in (AR-15 and Marlin 795) and they made shooting with both eyes open easy.

I'm definitely open to more input an appreciate the I put so far. I may end up buying one to try out eventually, but it's not a priority for me at the moment anyway.

 

[JO JO]

but just for some casual clay shooting and to give a quicker point of reference in an HD situation

I used to shoot a short barreled 870 shotgun it had a 14in barrel with an acog reflex red dot if did work well for its purpose of shooting slugs and buckshot ,
I don't know how it would apply to clay shooting , what shotgun are you shooting I have always considered a HD shotgun and a sporting/clays/trap guns as two different types
of shotguns one short barrel and one long barrel , one with a 28 in or longer barrel and the other with a 18 in barrel "civilian legal" so just curious on your shotgun type / length

 

[BigBL87]

I have a Mossberg 500. When it's in the safe it sports an 18.5" barrel, on the occasion I shoot clays I swap it out for a 28 inch vent ribbed barrel.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

Cross dominant dude, checking in.

Shoot shotguns and rifles left handed. It really isn't that bad. (onlydifferentinyourmindyoda.gif)

I like red dots quite a bit, but have yet to put one on my shotgun.

One thing I find is that environmental brightness is factor when using a red dot. Especially at night.
If it is dark, you need a lower setting. Turn a weapon mounted flashlight on and now you need the brighter setting again.

Just something to think about.

 

[Odd Job]

I'm also cross-dominant and I have a BR99 shotgun.
I put a Burris Fast Fire III on it, in a flat top mount.
That's a reflex dot and I aim with both eyes open.
I don't shoot a lot of shotgun, but I can still hit 10 out of 20 clays with that gun and when it comes to stationary plates accuracy is really good even for small plates (I have a variety of chokes which helps).

I reckon if you have the facility to practise enough then the FF3 will do just fine. Mine is the 3 MOA dot and the key thing is to aim with both eyes open.

 

[George P]

Red dots and similar on shotguns aren't an issue if you are talking about using it like a rifle for deer or turkey. I have shot almost 500K clay targets over 35 years. NO ONE who is serious even uses a bead, let alone a glow worm, let alone a red dot or similar.........It just isn't a successful way to hit moving targets

 

[Odd Job]

For his stated requirements the reflex dot will work. If I understand him, it's primarily a HD gun which is occasionally used to shoot clays.

 

[luzyfuerza]

I don't have the OP's eye dominance issue, but I used a RDS on a 18.5" bbl pump gun for three defensive shotgun courses and loved it. I acquired targets much more quickly than when using a bead alone, or than when using aperture or rifle style sights...particularly when the targets were at distance (up to 50 yards with slugs).

 

[roo_ster]

Right handed wife learned to wing shoot lefty due to left eye dominance. She picked it up quick.

I am a smidge left eye dominant, but can force the issue when fresh. When tired, I find I have to close my left eye to shoot righty. Or use the scotch tape. I keep both eyes open to search for the target, but left eye closes to engage and get a SHARP FOCUS ON THE TARGET when wing shooting.