I am zeroing in on a Docter reflex sight. Comes in 3.5 and 7.0moa. Suggestions please.

Will be used on a mod 41 for plinking and informal target shooting at 25 to 75 yrds.

thanks

Charlie

I would definitely go for the finer 3.5 dot. Small targets at range will be completely covered by a large dot, and even 3.5 may be a tad big for trying to nail shotgun hulls and such far out.

I don't think you will like it even at 3.5 for target shooting. Those are all about speed right now. For real target work I would want at least 2moa or even better something like the 1moa that Eotech offers. But the Eo is a big unit. I'm holding out on buying one until they get a finer dot. My 2 cents, of course.

hmm. How did you know I shoot shotgun hulls

I've done a fair amount of shooting with both 2 and 3.5 MOA reflex sights. The 2 MOA is useful at 50 yards but since it will cover most of an NRA 25 yard slow fire pistol target you have to rely on visually centering the dot on what is visible of the target. As for my 3.5 MOA J Point, it flares pretty badly at the indoor range I shoot at so the actual dot size is probably closer to 6 MOA due to the flaring. It's one defect of those sights that use a light sensor to balance the sight intensity with the lighting present. Most read off the overhead lighting and as a result they'll provide too much intensity at most indoor ranges. End result in my case is that the dot for the J Point will completely obscure that NRA target at 50 yards, however at 35 yards it's worked out well for me.

Bottomline, IMO they work quite well out to 35 or 40 yards in poor lighting and are useful out to 50 yards but you won't be able to see or hit a shotgun hull. For that kind of precision shooting you really need to use a handgun scope. Something the size of a tennis ball on the other hand might be doable, provided you are shooting outdoors where the balance between dot intensity and ambient light is better.

I had one 3.5 minute Docter and sold it shortly after I acquired my first 7 minute Docter sight. The 3.5 minute is too small for effective use in either bullseye pistol or action pistol matches.

As you can see there is a disagreement about dot sizes. I lean toward the smaller the better side.
I have an UltraDot, Matchdot on a 10/22 it has 2,4,6,& 8 moa. dots and manual adjust intensity. Some use them on Bullseye guns, I don’t like tube type sights on handguns. However, on the 10/22 I set the dot size at 2 all of the time with intensity the minimum for distinct view.
I have an EoTech with the 1 moa dot and 60 moa circle on a scout rifle, I find the dot to be less than satisfactory, not clear and sharp.
My Docter sights are both 3.5, I wish they were smaller.
I would like to try the Leupold DeltaPoint 7.5 (triangle not dot) because I think it might work out really well for a center hold using the top of the triangle.

__________________
Ipsis Rebus Dictantitbus

I didn't, but I know I shoot a lot of them myself.

My only experience is with the Deltapoint mounted on my 45c. It has the 3.5 moa red dot. I shoot at an outdoor range and find the dot very much to my liking. I have only used it on paper from 3 to 25 yards and on falling plates at 25 yards.

My guess is that the reticle shape and size preference will vary with personal taste. The expense will keep me from being able to use multiple sights to decide which one I like the best. Right now I don't feel cheated at all because I'm very happy with the Deltapoint.

Howdy,
I would say the biggest part of bulls eye shooters using optics are shooting 3-4 M.O.A. dots. A 4 M.O.A. dot only covers 2" of the 8" of black on a B-6 50 yard target and only an inch at 25 yards.
The 7 M.O.A. and up dot sizes would have an edge in steel plate or other speed events.
Good luck
Mike