Dot Size?

[DanGee]

I recently bought a new 686 and want to put a reflex sight on it. I see different size dots are available, from 3 to 8 MOA. Most of my shooting will be at 25 yards, with some clay birds on the berm at 100 yards. Which size dot would serve my purposes better?

[Krogen]

My preference is for larger dots. I use a 4 MOA dot for Bullseye at 25 and 50 yds. It also works fine for 50 ft indoor matches when the weather is not so nice. 8 MOA might be fine for those matches; I don't know. It would be about 8" in diameter 100 yds, though, and cover up your clay birds.

[75Vette]

I use the 3 MOA Burris FFIII and set it to the smallest dot possible. I've placed shots out to 200 meters as long as I don't get the dreaded wobbles.

[H Richard]

It's going to be a personal preference matter, but normally precision shooting is helped by a smaller dot, a 3 or 4 minute dot. Action shooting is helped by a larger dot, 6 - 8 minute dot as it is picked up easier.

[diyj98]

Originally Posted by H Richard

It's going to be a personal preference matter, but normally precision shooting is helped by a smaller dot, a 3 or 4 minute dot. Action shooting is helped by a larger dot, 6 - 8 minute dot as it is picked up easier.

Exactly. I have an Ultradot Matchdot on a 686+. The dot can be adjusted to 2, 4, 6, and 8 MOA. I use the 2 MOA for informal paper punching and hunting. For my uses, I've never had the need to use the larger dot sizes.

[one eye joe]

Originally Posted by DanGee

I recently bought a new 686 and want to put a reflex sight on it. I see different size dots are available, from 3 to 8 MOA. Most of my shooting will be at 25 yards, with some clay birds on the berm at 100 yards. Which size dot would serve my purposes better?

IMHO---THE SMALLER THE DOT, THE BETTER......

[zogger]

I put a Vortex Venom 3 MOA on my 325 TR that I use for Home defense. I also go to the range with it (indoor at 16 yrds and outdoor up to 25 yrs). If you want precision, go with the 3 MOA. If you want to just hit something, go larger. An adjustable would be nice but then the sight get kinda big.

[revolver_ph]

Definitely the 3 MOA dot for the type of shooting the OP indicates.

The action pistol crowd seems to prefer the larger dots for quicker acquisition.

[msauter]

I use the 3 MOA dot on mine, have shot out to 25 yards with it, works great for me.

[reddog81]

If your goal is to get shots on a relatively close target as quickly as possible the larger dot will be better. For 100 yard shots the smaller dot will be best. 8 MOA would be about useless for clays at 100.

[DS-10-SPEED]

Here a dot size comparison I made for bowling pins at 25 feet.

I use an 8MOA for up close steel and pins, I have a 3MOA for longer range targets.

For long range a small dot would be better.

[AzShooter]

I now shoot an 8 minute dot for Steel Challenge where the farthest target is only 35 yards way.

For the OP, I'd shoot a 3 minute dot because larger will cover the entire target at 100 yards and you want precision.

For speed shooting larger is better. I use a 12 minute on my autos.

[BAM-BAM]

Originally Posted by DS-10-SPEED

Here a dot size comparison I made for bowling pins at 25 feet.

I use an 8MOA for up close steel and pins, I have a 3MOA for longer range targets.

For long range a small dot would be better.

Thanks ....... seeing is believing

[pittpa]

I use a 3 MOA for bullseye, from 50' to 50 yards, inside and out, with a Merit aperture on my glasses to keep it tight. If the sun is out or I want to pick it up quicker for rapid fire, I'll turn up the brightness. I need control over that, would not want it to be automatic.

[daglockman]

I would stick with a 3 or 4 MOA for the type of shooting described by OP. I have used the 3 MOA Venom and FF3 with great results. As pittpa stated, I would put it on the brightest setting for USPSA competition or bright outdoor conditions. Most shooters seem like having a larger dot for competition, but I found the smaller dot to be beneficial for me on longer distance shots. Some people seemed to put as big a dot as they could on just because that was what everyone else as doing.

[DanGee]

Originally Posted by pittpa

I use a 3 MOA for bullseye, from 50' to 50 yards, inside and out, with a Merit aperture on my glasses to keep it tight. If the sun is out or I want to pick it up quicker for rapid fire, I'll turn up the brightness. I need control over that, would not want it to be automatic.

The main reason I want to try a red dot sight is that I believe the Merit aperture (which I use now) won't be necessary. Am I misinformed?

[bulletpoints]

I run an RMR 6.5 moa on my carry gun. That would be the biggest I would use for hunting with a max of 100 meters. Although, if I were to use it for hunting and protection in the woods I would go with a medium sized dot like a 5-6 moa. Finding a 2 moa dot when excited might he tough. Be sure to practice, practice, practice with a dot. I know a lot of people who dumped their optics because they could not find the dot as fast as iron sights. One has to put in the training time.

[ACORN]

I’ve never fretted about dot size cause I ain’t that good of a shot. I site in for a 6 o’clock hold and call it good.

[pittpa]

Originally Posted by DanGee

The main reason I want to try a red dot sight is that I believe the Merit aperture (which I use now) won't be necessary. Am I misinformed?

I started using the Merit when my floaters began to increase and made the dot look like stars or grape clusters. Might not matter much for regular shooting but for Bullseye precision I need a tight round dot.


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[357 shooter]

Originally Posted by DanGee

The main reason I want to try a red dot sight is that I believe the Merit aperture (which I use now) won't be necessary. Am I misinformed?

I still use the Merit or more often these days - a stick on aperture for my glasses. Like pittpa mentioned above , the dot looks like a star without. With the aperture and the red dot be it tube style or the Fastfire/Venom type the dot is fairly well defined and I can shoot as I did back when my eyesight was 20/20.

My Burris Fastfire IIIs and Vortex Venoms have 3 moa and my Ultradots the 4 moa.

[Ivan the Butcher]

I use a Burris on my Camp 45 carbine. It has 2 dot sizes and 4 or 6 other recitals, including a dot in circle and an inverted "V" then the whole thing has 12 brightness settings. They run about $225. I have a second one I haven't mounted yet.

Dad had a 4MOA on his Camp 9 carbine, he would use a flashlight in his left hand, with the carbine laid across his wrist. The dot was adjusted to match the brightness of a Raccoon's eyes reflection, Then as he swept a branch, when the coon had 3 "eyes", he would pull the trigger, got 5 kits one night just Baam, Baam, Baam, Baam,.....and Baam! The last one was on the move! Not bad for an 81 year old!

Ivan