Scope vs Red Dot

[11-87]

Looking for recommendations on scope or red dot 

 

I basically hunt turkey and whitetail, live in southern MN. So it’s all deer/ shotgun 

 

looking to add a scope/ red dot as my eyes don’t work like they used to to with the open sights. 
 

my gun options are 11/87 12. Browning BPS 12 

 

not looking for the most expensive or the cheapest 

 

pros and cons of one over the other

[Wanderer]

Kinda depends on if you want magnification or quick target acquisition.  

More magnification options and better accuracy with a scope.  You get what you pay for too so get comfortable with a budget for one.  Tasco and Bushnell work but I find they lose their zero easier, have low contrast and don’t gather light well in low light conditions.  That said, I’m still using one I haven’t replaced yet.  Vortex has been the hot brand for the past several years for bang for the buck.  Good products.  Nothing beats Swarovski though.  Huge dough for those.  Burris is another decent option.

 

There are some specific models for shotgun/slug hunting in the economy brands and bullet drop compensation (BDC) reticles.  Based on experience I’d recommend not falling for that marketing ploy.

 

Red dots are usually lower magnification and easier to get on target.  Reasonably accurate but don’t do well with definition, like searching the brush for your target.  I put a HAWKE red dot on a .22 for squirrels and it’s been good.  For turkey, that’s probably the route I’d go.  
 

If your slug shots are normally not too far and too brushy, I’d think a red dot could work there too if you’re only buying 1 scope.  You’ll be better off dimming the reticle to the lowest setting you can easily use to not over shine the target and get a finer aim point.

 

If you don’t have a slug barrel, you might appreciate one of those.  I had a browning with a smoothbore slug barrel that shot Brenneke 2-3/4 inch well.  The 11-87 would well fitted with a cantelever rifled barrel. 

[leech~~]

Wanderer is right on the money and covered it well.  I was wondering too if you had a slug barrel for one of your guns?  If so you could make that your slug gun with a scope, and the other your turkey gun with the Red dot.  As you can afford it. 

Edited November 21 by leech~~

[11-87]

2 hours ago, leech~~ said:

Wanderer is right on the money and covered it well.  I was wondering too if you had a slug barrel for one of your guns?  If so you could make that your slug gun with a scope, and the other your turkey gun with the Red dot.  As you can afford it. 

That’s almost exactly what I was thinking.  Have slug barrels for both
 

One for turkey and one for deer.   
 

I have a 20ga mosseberg as well. (Combo came with the scope but never used.   I always liked the 12 better

[leech~~]

30 minutes ago, 11-87 said:

That’s almost exactly what I was thinking.  Have slug barrels for both
 

One for turkey and one for deer.   
 

I have a 20ga mosseberg as well. (Combo came with the scope but never used.   I always liked the 12 better

My son always bugs me about getting a nice light over-under 20ga for grouse hunting.  I say Heck no, I'm getting a 3 1/2" 10ga so I can put as much lead in the air that I can!!     So, I'm keeping my 12ga.  

[Wanderer]

2 hours ago, 11-87 said:

I have a 20ga mosseberg as well. (Combo came with the scope but never used.   I always liked the 12 better

20 ga has become a real popular deer round in the last 5 or so years.  The rifled barrels are zinging those sabot slugs with rifle like accuracy out to 100 yards easily.  Some go so far as dialing in for a 200 yard shot but really, by 150 they’re falling off pretty low.

 

I have a single shot Ultraslug in 20 ga that shoots really well at 100 yards.  Most everyone I know that has bought a slug gun lately has gotten the Savage 220 in 20ga.  Problem can be finding the shells you want.

[leech~~]

Screw that, here's whatch need! 

 

Power-Shok Rifled Slug 10 Gauge 766 Grain

Grain Weight: 766

Shotshell Length: 3-1/2in / 89mm

Muzzle Velocity: 1280

[Wanderer]

1 hour ago, leech~~ said:

Screw that, here's whatch need! 

 

Power-Shok Rifled Slug 10 Gauge 766 Grain

Grain Weight: 766

Shotshell Length: 3-1/2in / 89mm

Muzzle Velocity: 1280

Oh, h e l l no! 

[gim]

8 hours ago, Wanderer said:

20 ga has become a real popular deer round in the last 5 or so years.  The rifled barrels are zinging those sabot slugs with rifle like accuracy out to 100 yards easily.

 

I hunt in the rifle zone so I don't have a need to use a shotgun to hunt deer, but I would be looking at this if there was ever a need to.

 

There could be state legislation introduced next summer that eliminates the shotgun zone completely.  It has bipartisan support.  Wisconsin removed theirs years ago and MN is usually later to follow.  They've tried to pass it more than once and it came up just short both times.  Probably just a matter of time.

[11-87]

This was looked at this year.  It would go through, but from what I seen the Olmsted ,County/ Rochester/Mayo Clinic/ DMC are against it.  Too worried about population and accidents.  
 

it’s a joke, but Mayo is the Mafia down here

[Wanderer]

@ 11-87 

 

On 11/20/2024 at 4:06 PM, Wanderer said:

Tasco and Bushnell work but I find they lose their zero easier, have low contrast and don’t gather light well in low light conditions.  That said, I’m still using one I haven’t replaced yet.  

That Bushnell I have… WILL be replaced before next season.  I got bit by using it yesterday morning.  Really gotta blame the shooter but I didn’t overcome its poor quality and made a bad shot on buck in a tough situation.  He’ll be fine but I spent 3 hours tracking a thin blood trail before giving up.

 

It was the exact scenario where cheap glass loses.  I’ve taken a couple bucks with the set up already and figured I knew what I was working with well enough to not get bit.  Wrong.
 

I’m going to look at Burris, Vortex, Leupold.  Basic 3x9 most likely.

Edited November 25 by Wanderer

[Wanderer]

@11-87

 

Shop the Burris line here.

https://www.burrisoptics.com/

 

You can mount a red dot on top of a regular scope if you want but they also off lighted reticles in some of their standard scopes.

 

Impressive lineup of optics that have come a long way since I last looked.  Drop Tine is their economy line.  I’m probably going to look at the mid level Signature HD.

 

Lifetime warranty on all models.