Red Dot sight worthy of a 7mm-08?

[megastink]

Here's the deal.... My Dad taught me how to hunt when I was 6 years old. Every year since then, we've hunted together. I get two weeks a year off a year, and hunting with Dad gets one of them.

However, Dad is getting old... a problem I'm sure most of you can attest to. He is a left handed shooter and owns a lefty Savage 11 7mm-08. It used to wear a Nikon Buckmasters 4.5-14x40, but he always had an issue finding the sight picture. Now I'm no professional, but I've been shooting accurately for a while. We've spent hours at the rifle range with my Savage .22lr and .17MHR, both capable of sub-moa groups, teahing him about form, breathing, muscle relaxation. For some reason, I always see him sliding his cheek foreward and aft on stock, looking for a clear image. He rarely finds it.

The last straw came last gun season. We stuck him in a treestand overlooking a small hill above a swamp. A nice little shooter buck stepped out, and Dad prompty sent a round into the treebranch six feet in front of him. I was furious. It was, literally, the only object in his way (he was shooting offhand).

Short story long, I've decided to get my Dad a Red Dot or Reflex sight to put on his deer rifle. No magnification, and he'd be limited to about a 75 yard shot (long for the woods where we hunt). It must withstand a 7mm-08 recoil without losing Zero. Also, please try and keep options budget-minded. ($300???).

Thanks!

 

[mattri]

Have you tried adjusting the eye relief on the scope he has?

 

[megastink]

I've tried everything. He needs a red dot. Do you have any recommendations??

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

I've tried everything. He needs a red dot. Do you have any recommendations??

I have several, strait red dot the winner is aimpoint hands down! If you want to combine a red dot and a scope you should look at trijicon accupoint, zeiss dyrulat etc

 

[LouBoyd]

Hitting the branch isn't quite as dumb as those who have laid their rifle on the hood of their truck and shot a hole in the hood even though the scope showed a clear shot. A dot scope's larger field of view might have allowed seeing the limb but it still would not have appeared to be blocking the shot. No scope design I'm aware of will compensate for a shooter who isn't aware of the relationship of their bullet's trajectory relative to the line of sight.

 

[megastink]

Hitting the branch isn't quite as dumb as those who have laid their rifle on the hood of their truck and shot a hole in the hood even though the scope showed a clear shot. A dot scope's larger field of view might have allowed seeing the limb but it still would not have appeared to be blocking the shot. No scope design I'm aware of will compensate for a shooter who isn't aware of the relationship of their bullet's trajectory relative to the line of sight.

Louboyd, let me rephrase my question for you: what affordable red dot sight will stand up to 7mm-08 recoil? Do you have a suggestion?

 

[westcliffe01]

I have a Bushnell TRS-25 Red dot sight on an SKS bullpup which is quite light and has a lot more recoil than an AR rifle. It was less than $100 and has held up fine for many hundred rounds.

Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 Red Dot Sight 1x 25mm 3 MOA Dot Integral

It has decent battery life. Just be sure that you get it set up at the right height (if your head is way off axis it is harder to find the dot). We recently had a group shoot on steel and the closest target was at 160 yards, a 12x12 plate and I was hitting it every shot once I figured out the hold over for 160 yards with the 7.62x39 bullet. This was from a seated position, no rest or bipod of any kind.

I would also try to get it within the "normal" eye relief distance since that way the field of view is as wide as possible.

 

[HARPERC]

First give the guy a break.

Second, I have the Burris Fastfire 11 on a Ruger 96/44. Not a lot of rounds under it, but so far so good. I like it better for beginners having dominant eye issues, and like been said not a substitute for situational awareness, but line of site is closer to the bore.

I've known guys a lot younger make that error. I saw a film of a professional LE sniper put one in a wall he thought he could clear. Could have been two? Eyesight is the only thing that goes.

 

[LouBoyd]

Louboyd, let me rephrase my question for you: what affordable red dot sight will stand up to 7mm-08 recoil? Do you have a suggestion?

If you must choose a dot scope I'd suggest you check out the Ultra Dot with a 1" tube and 4moa dot. They're compact., light, rugged, and under $200 new. I have five, One is now over 30 years old and shot many bullseye matches. It took me from novice to NRA expert. I switched to metallic sights and continued to improve but quit when I moved away from a range. One is mounted on a 50 AE Desert Eagle and one on a 45-70 Thompson Contender. None have failed. I have little experience with other brands of dot scopes.

That said I would not choose a dot scope for a nunting rifle. It's my opinion they have no advantage over an optical scope with an appropriate calibrated reticle.

 

[grunt0311]

Hitting the branch isn't quite as dumb as those who have laid their rifle on the hood of their truck and shot a hole in the hood even though the scope showed a clear shot. A dot scope's larger field of view might have allowed seeing the limb but it still would not have appeared to be blocking the shot. No scope design I'm aware of will compensate for a shooter who isn't aware of the relationship of their bullet's trajectory relative to the line of sight.

Years ago I was shooting from inside my truck and blew my mirror to pieces, my scope was lined up fine but my barrel was not, oh well.

 

[uka]

the bushnell trs 25 holds up to shotgun slugs it is 70 bucks and has 3000 hr battery life. you cannot do better for the money or triple the money

 

[LouBoyd]

If you must choose a dot scope I'd suggest you check out the Ultra Dot with a 1" tube and 4moa dot. They're compact., light, rugged, and under $200 new. I have five, One is now over 30 years old and shot many bullseye matches. It took me from novice to NRA expert. I switched to metallic sights and continued to improve but quit when I moved away from a range. One is mounted on a 50 AE Desert Eagle and one on a 45-70 Thompson Contender. None have failed. I have little experience with other brands of dot scopes.

That said I would not choose a dot scope for a nunting rifle. It's my opinion they have no advantage over an optical scope with an appropriate calibrated reticle.

This is the one inch UltraDot mounted on a 50 AE Desert Eagle. It works but it prevents carrying the DE in it's holster and makes little difference in accuracy or speed for someone who can use open metallic sights. I'm fairly certain this application is rougher on a scope for a box of ammo than having it mounted on a 7mm-08 rifle for a lifetime of hunting. The peak accelleration of a 50AE pistol is high. The rings are low steel Warne Maxima QD. I don't know if the aluminum two screw UltraDot rings would have held or not. I didn't try them.
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[westcliffe01]

One of the benefits of the TRS 25 is that it has an integral picatinny mount. Thats worth easily $30-$50 compared to buying a decent pair of rings.

 

[uka]

Years ago I was shooting from inside my truck and blew my mirror to pieces, my scope was lined up fine but my barrel was not, oh well.

lol. you are honest guy many would not admit to that. we all mess up and some would have you think they are perfect