Red Dot or Scope?

[GARY HASTINGS]

ok.So I went with the umarex notos. Thanks for the input. Now I need to get an option on optics. If you watch Air Gun Detective on you-tube. That is basically what i am going to be doing with the Notos.I'm not going to go over 30-40 yards for now. I like that Sig MSR and then I like a high power scope to see right where the pellet hit. Any help?Normally I would just buy both. But after the housing market crash and covid,I am no longer a money tree.LOL

 

[3Crows]

I feel your pain. I can see a red dot and have the Sig sight. However, I have moderate astigmatism. The red dot is more like a mushy red comet. If you have an astigmatism or cataracts or even very early cataracts as do I as well, you might rethink the red dot. I use mine to about 10 yards for night pesting up closer than my scope and light can easily manage. Beyond that it is useless.

 

[Doc C.]

just a thought, there are several nice AR-15 style scopes that feature long eye relief , good magnification and different reticles like
circle-dot that have red or green illuminated reticles for night shooting.
Most are reasonably priced as well.

Luck

Doc

 

[the_derelict]

One other option that might work for you is a "prismatic" style scope like the Element Immersive or MTC SWAT optics. They have a very fast target acquisition because of the wide viewing angle, while still offering some (fixed) magnification. It takes a little getting used to, but I like mine.

 

[MikeVV]

On one hand, with the "proper setup", a red dot and an astigmatism "can" work.
Been there, I have the dreaded astigmatism, and...most of my guns, have...red dot sights !!

On the other hand , DON'T forget the "prism" sights. They are kind of a cross between a red dot, and a scope. You have an astigmatism...the Prism sight doesn't care ! Once you set the clarity by adjusting the first lens, the reticle is as clear as ANYTHING youll ever see !
You can buy them in several multiplications, I've seen 1x, 3x and 5x. There may be others.
Price, just like the sight, between a quality red dot, and a cheaper scope.

Then there is the scope.

Like I said above, most of my guns (both pistol and rifle) have quality red dot sights. BUT...more and more, some of my guns have been swapped to a "prism" sight. One of the best things about the prism, while they all have lit up reticle, you don't NEED a battery. Just like an old fashioned scope, the retical is black !! So if you like colored recitals, yeah, you'll need batteries. But...you don't need...them, to use the sight.

Mike

 

[GARY HASTINGS]

I feel your pain. I can see a red dot and have the Sig sight. However, I have moderate astigmatism. The red dot is more like a mushy red comet. If you have an astigmatism or cataracts or even very early cataracts as do I as well, you might rethink the red dot. I use mine to about 10 yards for night pesting up closer than my scope and light can easily manage. Beyond that it is useless.

Thanks.Kinda thinking scope.......gary

 

[bucketboy]

Only you can really answer this question, I was at a gun show last week and had a look through many red dot and prismatic scope, while some were better than others, none really suited my eyes, the floating dot or cross hair seemed strange to me, that not to say they wouldn’t suit anyone.

Bb

 

[ToddGeddes63]

ok.So I went with the umarex notos. Thanks for the input. Now I need to get an option on optics. If you watch Air Gun Detective on you-tube. That is basically what i am going to be doing with the Notos.I'm not going to go over 30-40 yards for now. I like that Sig MSR and then I like a high power scope to see right where the pellet hit. Any help?Normally I would just buy both. But after the housing market crash and covid,I am no longer a money tree.LOL

Check out the Arkin zulus 5-20

 

[Lazarus Long]

I would suggest that you buy both, and switch them out as needed. For not much money the Bushnell TRS-25 is an excellent red dot, that will leave you some cash to try a rifle scope, as well. We use the Bushnell on several air rifles.

AR Optics TRS-25 HIRise Red Dot Sight | Bushnell

The TRS-25 HIRise Red Dot Sight offers pinpoint accuracy and durability for your AR platform or shotgun. Shop now!

www.bushnell.com

(Just so you know I am not cheaping out here, I run an Aimpoint Comp-ML2 on my PB.)

Aimpoint CompML2 Red Dot Sight 30mm Tube 2x 2 MOA Dot Matte

Used by the United States Military, this heavy-duty variant of the CompC is built for extreme conditions. These sights have a special hard-anodized...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[elh0102]

I think it depends on what you're going to be attempting to hit at 30-40 yards, and under what conditions. I have found a red dot sight useful only under conditions in which I would be shooting almost instinctively, barely using the sight. For instance, I have one on an M4 carbine for defense. I prefer a traditional scope for any stationary target. But it's personal preference.

 

[GARY HASTINGS]

I would suggest that you buy both, and switch them out as needed. For not much money the Bushnell TRS-25 is an excellent red dot, that will leave you some cash to try a rifle scope, as well. We use the Bushnell on several air rifles.

AR Optics TRS-25 HIRise Red Dot Sight | Bushnell

The TRS-25 HIRise Red Dot Sight offers pinpoint accuracy and durability for your AR platform or shotgun. Shop now!

www.bushnell.com

(Just so you know I am not cheaping out here, I run an Aimpoint Comp-ML2 on my PB.)

Aimpoint CompML2 Red Dot Sight 30mm Tube 2x 2 MOA Dot Matte

Used by the United States Military, this heavy-duty variant of the CompC is built for extreme conditions. These sights have a special hard-anodized...

www.midwayusa.com

It's funny you said that because that's exactly what I was going to do. There $100 both. Both got the best reviews and if they turn out to be junk. I will return them.

 

[WIndOnYerGrape]

$40 CVLife 3-9x40 works very well on my notos.

 

[borne2fly]

I feel your pain. I can see a red dot and have the Sig sight. However, I have moderate astigmatism. The red dot is more like a mushy red comet. If you have an astigmatism or cataracts or even very early cataracts as do I as well, you might rethink the red dot. I use mine to about 10 yards for night pesting up closer than my scope and light can easily manage. Beyond that it is useless.

Astigmatism …. I have that too. “Pinhole glasses” clear it iup significantly. These things are solid black “lenses” full of lots of tiny holes. By limiting the amount of light getting through each hole it seems to correct your vision to some degree … not sure exactly how it works. But these pinhole glasses are cheap, I use them for shooting all the time.

 

[Phil.Probe]

I have two notos. Red dot on the pistol and a scope on the rifle. The red dot was $12 and the scope was $30.

I have the most fun shooting steel with the pistol, but if I have to take care of a pest, I go for the scoped rifle. For some reason I just don't find the rifle/scope notos that fun to shoot. It's a great tool for pesting though.

It's pretty amazing how accurate a cheap red dot can be. I can usually hit a 1"x3" (piano key) gong about 1/2 the time with notos pistol/red dot at 50 yards.

 

[MikeVV]

I have two notos. Red dot on the pistol and a scope on the rifle. The red dot was $12 and the scope was $30.

I have the most fun shooting steel with the pistol, but if I have to take care of a pest, I go for the scoped rifle. For some reason I just don't find the rifle/scope notos that fun to shoot. It's a great tool for pesting though.

It's pretty amazing how accurate a cheap red dot can be. I can usually hit a 1"x3" (piano key) gong about 1/2 the time with notos pistol/red dot at 50 yards.

They (dot sights) aren't...really accurate...or not !
It's just a dot on the screen. It's how well the shooter utilizes the dot is whether the target it hit or not.

So...I guess that says a lot about you.

Mike

 

[Sawney Bean]

I'd only opt for a red dot for low light conditions. IMO, they make good sense on a defensive firearm or if you're using your airgun as a simulator for a defensive firearm, but for other airgun use I'd go with a scope or iron sights.

 

[Phil.Probe]

They (dot sights) aren't...really accurate...or not !
It's just a dot on the screen. It's how well the shooter utilizes the dot is whether the target it hit or not.

So...I guess that says a lot about you.

Mike

Thanks, but I should clarify that's shooting with the pistol on a sandbag.

The one great thing about a scope with all the zoomies is that you can see where you're missing. OTOH, with a red dot you've basically got to waste a bunch of ammo trying to figure out your hold.

Shooting paper at any kind of distance is much more fun with a scope.

 

[Hold_Over]

I feel your pain. I can see a red dot and have the Sig sight. However, I have moderate astigmatism. The red dot is more like a mushy red comet. If you have an astigmatism or cataracts or even very early cataracts as do I as well, you might rethink the red dot. I use mine to about 10 yards for night pesting up closer than my scope and light can easily manage. Beyond that it is useless.

I also have astigmatism, but I don't get any flare around the dot outside in natural light...inside is another story

 

[MikeVV]

Thanks, but I should clarify that's shooting with the pistol on a sandbag.

The one great thing about a scope with all the zoomies is that you can see where you're missing. OTOH, with a red dot you've basically got to waste a bunch of ammo trying to figure out your hold.

Shooting paper at any kind of distance is much more fun with a scope.

No...not really, I don't "waste" any ammo !!
The only time I waste any ammo, is when I put a new "aiming device" on a gun. Be it a scope, a red dot, or the SeeAll as shown above !

To me...makes NO difference, the distance or the sighting device. As long as I hit what I'm aiming at.
And yeah...no "crutches" (benches, bags, single, bi, or tripods) for me, I shoot everything I own, offhand.
I KNOW my guns can shoot well, no secret there. I'm testing...myself.

Mike