Have any of you ever tried hunting with a shotgun with a mini size shotgun optical aiming system, or small telescope, mounted on it? Actually , I believe that these aiming aids are NOT telescopes, as the ones I've read about do not magnify the image. One popular brand is Aimpoint, and I believe that there are many other brands. They look similar to a small rifle telescope that's had the crap kicked out of it, and is only about 3-5 inches long. Some have a dot, or other style reticle in them, as the aiming point. They mount on the shotgun receiver, as a rifle telescope does on a rifle, and supposedly present a very clear field of view, and a positive aiming point as an aid to shooting.
I watched a crow hunting video on my computer and the shooter was using one with good success. He may have just been a good shot! I have a great deal of rifle shooting experience using a telescope, and know that a rifle without a telescope on it is about as handy as a baby with a dirty diaper. I am wondering if a shotgun with a optical aiming system on it would improve the shooters success, in the same manner that a telescope does on a rifle. Assume in my question that the shooter is using bird shot, and not slugs.
I would look at what the hot shot trap/skeet shooters are using. If they are moving toward optics (and the rules permit it) that would be a sign that the things are effective at least on clays, which would lead one to think that they would work on feathers. As I am not a clay shooter; just a thought.
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"Arms are the only true badges of liberty. The possession of arms is the distinction of a free man from a slave." -- Andrew Fletcher 1698
Shotguns are pointed not aimed, unless you are hunting a Turkey. Shotgun aiming systems for use in wing shooting is a gimmick and the purpose of them is to separate you from your money.
Shotguns are pointed not aimed, unless you are hunting a Turkey. Shotgun aiming systems for use in wing shooting is a gimmick and the purpose of them is to separate you from your money.
I find the idea interesting but never really felt I had to have one. In fact the above reply cracked me up. I'm certainly not opposed to the idea of course....think I'd rather spend the money on more ammo-not gimmicks!
Shotguns are pointed not aimed, unless you are hunting a Turkey. Shotgun aiming systems for use in wing shooting is a gimmick and the purpose of them is to separate you from your money.
As I said, I'm no clay guy, and don't recall seeing any optics when a while back, I attended a sporting clays (my first ever) fundraiser in GA when visiting our girls. I, of course, signed in toting my 1926 Model 12 crow beater with the Poly-Choke (featured many times in reports on this esteemed site) surrounded by dozens of shooters with really beautiful guns--high-end scatterguns ($3-6K price range) with all kinds of slick modifications--but no optics whatsoever. I/my poor gun were viewed politely as some form of Yankee curiosity. However, some of the old boys there were quite excited by the old Winchester. I was quite pleased to end up with a respectable 85/100 that day--no optics.
Yeah Ted, you're quite right.
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"Arms are the only true badges of liberty. The possession of arms is the distinction of a free man from a slave." -- Andrew Fletcher 1698
Because I use my shotgun for more than just birds I have the SpeedBead on my Benelli SBE2 and it works great. The nice thing about it is that because it is so close to your eye that when it is turned off it is just like looking over a non optical barrel. This is what I do for birds of course, but for turkey, coyotes, squirrels and even deer I can turn on the bead and get an exact shot placement. It really makes a shotgun a one gun solution. Look it up.
Because I use my shotgun for more than just birds I have the SpeedBead on my Benelli SBE2 and it works great. The nice thing about it is that because it is so close to your eye that when it is turned off it is just like looking over a non optical barrel. This is what I do for birds of course, but for turkey, coyotes, squirrels and even deer I can turn on the bead and get an exact shot placement. It really makes a shotgun a one gun solution. Look it up.
I like this idea..good to learn on this idea...I think if it works why not...? The rain up here is killing critical days ....!!
I do not have any experience with products like these so my opinion below is stated with what could be described as an ignorant position. But I’ll say this about these things...
No. Just no.
BH
PS - Admin I’ll give you a pass since you are shooting non-flying game with the device. ;)
Shotguns are pointed not aimed, unless you are hunting a Turkey. Shotgun aiming systems for use in wing shooting is a gimmick and the purpose of them is to separate you from your money.
No truer words have been posted on this site. Amen to what you have said!!
Demi
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The man who thinks he can, and the man who thinks he can’t are both right.
I agree that red dot optics don't help with wingshooting. I have dropped a couple of flying crows with my EoTech equipped Benelli M4, when hunting coyotes and raccoons. I did that in spite of the red dot, not because it helped.
