Sidearms & Scatterguns For you guys who run a red dot on your shotgun

hypno02

Not Politically Correct
Banned !
Minuteman
Jul 23, 2006
1,427
470
South Dakota
I would like to pick your brain! First off, here’s what my setup come Monday is going to look like:



-18.5” Mossberg 590a1 50774 w/ accuchoke system ( I will have modified and Cylinder available)

-XS Sight Rail w/ Ghost ring rear sight

-Leupold Deltapoint pro 7.5moa triangle with leupold low cross-slot mount



The primary use for this shotgun will be pheasant hunting. (I know-“he retarded?”)



I grabbed some fiocchi slugs as this was my thinking:

  • Zero Irons @ X distance using slugs w/ cylinder choke (factory modified choke carries the “don’t use with slugs” disclaimer)
  • Confirm my #4 phesant loads have the same POI
  • Mount Deltapoint
  • Repeat above process with DP


My concerns:

  • I’ve heard from some experienced 3 gunners that slugs have a much different POI compared to birdshot
  • I’ve heard that even if one choke patterns dead center that choke #2 could shift the pattern X amount
  • What distance should I “Zero” this thing at? I’m thinking 20 or 25yds as my shots on pheasants generally never exceed 40yds
  • Does sight height matter? I won’t be shooting much of anything within 10yds
  • The slugs will separate my shoulder—JK


I have total confidence I’ll be able to get this bad boy working I just wanted to check in and see if you fellas bad any useful pointers for me. Thanks!
 
Pattern the shotgun with whichever choke and load that you're going to hunt with and settle on a max distance at which you have good, consistent shot density. Mount the dot sight and zero for the center of that pattern. Shoot a couple of rounds of clays to see how you have to lead using the triangle. Switch up chokes and see where your slugs go. Learn that holdover.
If you really have to go back and forth between the dot and irons, remove and replace the sight several times shooting a group each time to see if your mount returns to zero.
 
I'm interested to hear how it works out for you. I know some people are starting to go to red dots for bird hunting, but I feel like it would just screw me up. I stuck a strike fire on my old nova for a dedicated turkey gun, I've been meaning to get it out and try to bust some clays just to see if I can.

I used to kill birds with a 16 inch youth model 20 gauge just fine, so you're good there. I would probably go a tighter with the choke for hunting though.

I think your thinking for sighting in is right on. Post some pics when you get it, especially what you see when aiming.
 
Thanks for the input guys! The only time the irons will ever be used (as of now) is in case of optic failure. Especially since this isn’t a QD mount. (Still plan to carry the torqx and a spare battery on the gun somehow)

I’m also worried about comb height and having a chin weld instead of a cheek weld. Gun isn’t here yet but I mounted the dpp on a 870 magpul and it definitely wasn’t a cheek weld. I really don’t wanna drop $130 bucks on a magpul buttstock+riser or install a karsten.

I’ll probably just put in some more time training and suck it up.
 
I had to put a riser on my nova too. I don't have any idea what brand it is, but it's just a neoprene sleeve that you slide over for spacers. Works just fine, especially for a shotgun.
 
I’ve been running a RMR on a Benelli M4 in a Scalarworks mount for a few years. I zero’d at 50 yards with slugs and everything else has been spot on, at least for the purpose of hunting and clays.
 
I really like the RDS's with the circle around the dot (like Holosun 510c, etc.)

The outside circle almost exactly coincides with my modified choke AND gives you a reference for lead amount on moving targets.

And you have the center dot to zero your slugs.
 
when shooting birds, you DO NOT look at the sights....

Can you find a used 28" barrel for bird hunting... and use the short barrel with the red dot

I’ve been shooting pheasants since I was 12. I’m 28 now.

If I had completely disregarded my front bead on all birds between age 12 and today most of them would have survived. Perhaps I’m confused as to what you’re saying?