freescopesdad
Member
Can I shoot out to 100 yards with just a red dot, or would a scope be more appropriate?
100 Yard Shooting [no scope]
- Thread starter freescopesdad
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
RedNeck Jim
Member
Depends on what you are trying to achieve. When I start shooting farther out than my normal 25-30 yards, then I start using my 3x magnifier on a flip to side mount. I personally prefer shooting with a red dot, as I can acquire the target quicker... plus like I said, I prefer shooting inside 50 yards.
I do have a scope on my much more accurate bolt gun.
I do have a scope on my much more accurate bolt gun.
Targets Guy
US Veteran
I have never used a scope shooting at 100 yards. Or a red dot. Just iron sights.
These new fangled rifles.
These new fangled rifles.
You can shoot out to a mile with iron sights but what are
you gonna hit?
I have a Eotech 512 red dot scope on a Rock River AR
and can keep a 55 grain FMJ inside a skoal can at 120 yards.
It has a 1 MOA dot no magnification.
I couldn't come close to that with ANY iron sights.
I have a 3x9 on another Colt AR and you can cut
those groups above in half at 9 power and a good rest.
Just depends on what you think you will be using the
rifle the most for. But if you get a small enough and
accurate enough red dot you can do great things with
a good rest and a good barrel.
Chuck
you gonna hit?
I have a Eotech 512 red dot scope on a Rock River AR
and can keep a 55 grain FMJ inside a skoal can at 120 yards.
It has a 1 MOA dot no magnification.
I couldn't come close to that with ANY iron sights.
I have a 3x9 on another Colt AR and you can cut
those groups above in half at 9 power and a good rest.
Just depends on what you think you will be using the
rifle the most for. But if you get a small enough and
accurate enough red dot you can do great things with
a good rest and a good barrel.
Chuck
Targets Guy
US Veteran
Shot expert for many years using iron sights.
UNCLE PAULY
Member
In my 20's I would shoot 100 yards with my S&W 29-2 8-3/8" barrel revolver.
No scope, just iron sights and resting on sandbags.
Now at 55, I limit my handguns to 25 yards but shoot my Colt AR15 out to 100 yards
with iron sights or Aimpoint PRO red dot.
No scope, just iron sights and resting on sandbags.
Now at 55, I limit my handguns to 25 yards but shoot my Colt AR15 out to 100 yards
with iron sights or Aimpoint PRO red dot.
Last edited:
With "Young eyes" iron sights will work out to 100 yards with no problem, if you have the time along with steady nerves and breathing.
A Red Dot comes in handy for fast shooting action sports but lots of practice is needed.
I have yet to buy one, old school, don't you know.
A Red Dot comes in handy for fast shooting action sports but lots of practice is needed.
I have yet to buy one, old school, don't you know.
We shot with iron sights in Vietnam on our M-16's and they worked fine. Of course we also had excellent eyesight seeing that I was old at 25 years old when I was there and most of the others were 18 and 19 years old. As I aged to my now 72 years old a 3x9 scope is a huge benefit in my shooting when I'm hunting.
OP
freescopesdad
Member
Thanks for the comments. Just to clarify, I'm talking about shooting my M&P 15-22 with a TRS-25 red dot. To start I just want to zero at 50 yards and hit paper at 100. I have no illusions as I'm 68 with "less than perfect" eyesight. I have access to an AR 3-12x40 scope but have never mounted it.
RedNeck Jim
Member
Just curious. With your stated age & poor eyesight, why shoot such a gun at 100 yds? That is pushing the envelope on what a 22lr can do, especially with a 3 MOA gun such as the 15-22. Sure it can be shot at that range but just not very accurately, especially for us older guys with failing eyesight & less than steady hands.
Also IMO that is quite a long zero distance but maybe it is proper for shooting at that range. I'm not real familiar with the ballistics of the 22lr as I personally don't shoot out that far. Heck, even my ARs are zeroed at 30 yards. Older I get, the less sniper I have in me.
TRS-25 is a fine optic & I have several... one of which is on my spare 15-22. I have a couple of the 3x magnifiers with quick attach, flip to side mounts, that I use with all my red dots. When not needed, I simply remove them or flip to the side. They are helpful for me when I need to check my zero. Gives me enough magnification to stay on target but still allows me to shoot with the red dot.
In the pic below, the 300 blackout is using a magnifier. My 15-22 optic is far enough forward to allow one to quickly attach.
Also IMO that is quite a long zero distance but maybe it is proper for shooting at that range. I'm not real familiar with the ballistics of the 22lr as I personally don't shoot out that far. Heck, even my ARs are zeroed at 30 yards. Older I get, the less sniper I have in me.
TRS-25 is a fine optic & I have several... one of which is on my spare 15-22. I have a couple of the 3x magnifiers with quick attach, flip to side mounts, that I use with all my red dots. When not needed, I simply remove them or flip to the side. They are helpful for me when I need to check my zero. Gives me enough magnification to stay on target but still allows me to shoot with the red dot.
In the pic below, the 300 blackout is using a magnifier. My 15-22 optic is far enough forward to allow one to quickly attach.
Remember a red dot sight's "red dot" can cover 2-4 some even 6 inches at 100yds...... so don't expect MOA groups with a red dot sight......
My goal is to keep them "under the dot" at that range.
MOA groups at 100yds with a .22 plan on a 12-20X scope IMHO
Redneck ..... IIRC there is a school of thought that a AR .223 zeroed at 30 yds. is GTG plus or minus 1-2" out to 200 yds.
My goal is to keep them "under the dot" at that range.
MOA groups at 100yds with a .22 plan on a 12-20X scope IMHO
Redneck ..... IIRC there is a school of thought that a AR .223 zeroed at 30 yds. is GTG plus or minus 1-2" out to 200 yds.
Depends largely on your eyes. I used to shoot a Dirty Harry special with just the iron sights at 100-125 yards with some regularity with decent success. That was thirty years ago. I can still shoot an M-1 carbine pretty well with milspec sights out to 250 yards, but I shoot it a lot better with a red dot. For me a scope is slightly better but much slower.
I bought my son a 15-22 for his birthday. And my eyes have seen better days too. I like the ghost ring though. I can still do it. Though I won't let him put anything on it yet, I really could use some help.
The problem I have with the red dot is that the dot is rather big. It doesn't affect shooting inside 100 yards. But we do a fair ammount out to 350 yards with his. When you look through a red dot at 300 yards, the dot covers a lot of area.
For universal application, I would pick a scope over the red dot any day. For just playing around, it's about what fits your need. They are fun in the right venue.
The problem I have with the red dot is that the dot is rather big. It doesn't affect shooting inside 100 yards. But we do a fair ammount out to 350 yards with his. When you look through a red dot at 300 yards, the dot covers a lot of area.
For universal application, I would pick a scope over the red dot any day. For just playing around, it's about what fits your need. They are fun in the right venue.
RV4driver
US Veteran
The size of the dot is a determining factor as to accuracy at a certain yardage. At 100 yds a 1 moa dot will cover one inch of the target. A 4 moa dot will cover 4 inches at 100 yds. Smaller is better, but for some, that 1 moa dot is pretty small.
The red dot sights will come with different size dots. A 6.5 MOA dot will cover about 6.5 inches at 100 yards. Sounds fine, but if you start aiming at 3" targets or Coke cans, you'll see how difficult it is. You'll likely need a fine dot or a scope with a crosshair.
OP
freescopesdad
Member
I have no illusions. I just want to have fun, and the outdoor range I have access to is 100 yards deep. I'll probably try both the TRS-25 and the scope. Again, just for fun. Thanks for the feedback...
On my S&W 15 22LR and my Ruger 10/22 I zero it at 50 yards with the 1.75x4X scope that I have on them. They both shoot in the black with the Ruger 10/22 groups being about 1/2 the size of the S&W 15-22. I consider the S&W 15-22 to be plinking rifle and the Ruger 10/22 to be a better plinking rifle. Both are zero of man at 50 yards and while not my first choice but they would still work for self defense.
chuckfw
US Veteran
I agree with the above.
chuckfw
US Veteran
I have no illusions. I just want to have fun, and the outdoor range I have access to is 100 yards deep. I'll probably try both the TRS-25 and the scope. Again, just for fun. Thanks for the feedback...
Want some more fun... throw some clay pigeons on a 50 yard dirt bank and then use your red dot to take them out. At dusk, use a laser.
100 yd shooting, no scope
Aging takes a toll. Back around 1980 on in-law's farm would shoot at empty 5 gal. chemical cans at 265 yds with 8 3/8 model 29. On a good day, sitting on ground leaned up against pickup truck tire rested across the knees could hit one 4 times out of 6. The red bar on the sight aided estimation on how high to hold top of front sight over rear. Today I doubt I could even see the darn can!
Aging takes a toll. Back around 1980 on in-law's farm would shoot at empty 5 gal. chemical cans at 265 yds with 8 3/8 model 29. On a good day, sitting on ground leaned up against pickup truck tire rested across the knees could hit one 4 times out of 6. The red bar on the sight aided estimation on how high to hold top of front sight over rear. Today I doubt I could even see the darn can!
Goodnews
Member
Most fun I have had is shooting clay targets set up on a sand bank at 105 yards, using open sights, off hand, with my 6 inch 686 Classic Hunter using 38 spl. Long gun not needed.
I'm in my early 60's and have a CMMG Mk4 Ht with a 16'' stainless steel barrel and an Aimpoint Patrol Optic red dot sight. I also have Magpul Gen II MBUS flip polymer sights. I had no problem shooting with my red dot out to 100 yds. Groupings were pretty close to 1" MOA, although maybe more like 2" and slightly high and to the right of the bulls eye.
One tip that worked for me was to minimize my red dot and both centering and groupings were better. I was slightly worse with my MagPul flip sights, but not enough to matter.
I think I would be accurate to 150 yards, but after that I need and want an optic.
One tip that worked for me was to minimize my red dot and both centering and groupings were better. I was slightly worse with my MagPul flip sights, but not enough to matter.
I think I would be accurate to 150 yards, but after that I need and want an optic.
Backlighting
Member
Trained and qualified with the M-14 during Army Basic. Iron sights only... out to a 300 yard target in the prone position, less (can't remember exact distances) in the squatting (difficult) & standing positions. The overwhelming majority of us passed. Couldn't do that today.
Eyesight not what it once was.
If you have good eyesight iron sights may certainly fit the bill.
Eyesight not what it once was.
If you have good eyesight iron sights may certainly fit the bill.
Last edited:
Englishrob
Member
1 MOA required for any attempt at hitting a small target with accuracy.
Remember at what range your sights are set and be fully aware of the ballistics of the ammunition you're using. 5.56 may well be still climbing at 100 yards. 22 will be dropping.
I practice against 4" clays at 75-100 yards, off hand, so when I shoot IPSC at closer ranges it feels a lot easier... also 8" steel plates at 80-100 yards begin to look large. My green dot is set for 50 yards so need to shoot a fraction higher at 100 to hit the target.
Remember at what range your sights are set and be fully aware of the ballistics of the ammunition you're using. 5.56 may well be still climbing at 100 yards. 22 will be dropping.
I practice against 4" clays at 75-100 yards, off hand, so when I shoot IPSC at closer ranges it feels a lot easier... also 8" steel plates at 80-100 yards begin to look large. My green dot is set for 50 yards so need to shoot a fraction higher at 100 to hit the target.
Lickureye
Member
Master the iron sites first. Then everything else will be cake. I love reading from all these old heads...****, I'm one of them now....just master the iron first, then go as high tech as you want.
It's all been said, yet..
While a friend was setting the scope on one rifle, I hit the 300yd 4"x6" metal plate on a piano wire on the first shot with just the stock iron sights. He looked at me stunned, yet really, a good rifle should be able to do this if you just relax and pull the trigger the split second you know you're on target.
Awhile later I did a one-day training with the trainers of BlackWater. We were under live fire all day, rifle to pistol, jammed loads, clearing, reloading, fire fire fire, bullets over our heads and next to us, etc, shooting at 8" metal pie plates set up 4' apart x 8 of them, at 20-100yds, plus some standard body forms. We probably shot 10 30-shot mags each. (I agree the 8" start to look huge.)
I was using a borrowed rifle from the squad, a cheap old thing, with a $100 Tasco red dot, no tweaking, no resetting, just "here you go" and off I went.
I knew I was hitting everything I was aiming at, yet couldn't really hear it with all the others wailing away, nor see any sparks very often. End of the day I have a full mag, its dark dusk, they want to quit, and I want to shoot. Finally a woman trainer says she will spot me, and at 70 yards or so I cranked off 28, 29, 30 out of 30 at the pie plates pretty rapid fire changing right to left to right in random order, and that little red dot seemed to glow every time the target was seen. Instant pop, sparks flying.
I learned that day that its truly 'see it and shoot the split second you see it', and that most of the misses come from thinking, waiting, hoping, wishing, and pretending I can't see it, or whatever.
So...100yd, naked eye, or red dot is PLENTY. Add out to 400yds onward, get a scope.
While a friend was setting the scope on one rifle, I hit the 300yd 4"x6" metal plate on a piano wire on the first shot with just the stock iron sights. He looked at me stunned, yet really, a good rifle should be able to do this if you just relax and pull the trigger the split second you know you're on target.
Awhile later I did a one-day training with the trainers of BlackWater. We were under live fire all day, rifle to pistol, jammed loads, clearing, reloading, fire fire fire, bullets over our heads and next to us, etc, shooting at 8" metal pie plates set up 4' apart x 8 of them, at 20-100yds, plus some standard body forms. We probably shot 10 30-shot mags each. (I agree the 8" start to look huge.)
I was using a borrowed rifle from the squad, a cheap old thing, with a $100 Tasco red dot, no tweaking, no resetting, just "here you go" and off I went.
I knew I was hitting everything I was aiming at, yet couldn't really hear it with all the others wailing away, nor see any sparks very often. End of the day I have a full mag, its dark dusk, they want to quit, and I want to shoot. Finally a woman trainer says she will spot me, and at 70 yards or so I cranked off 28, 29, 30 out of 30 at the pie plates pretty rapid fire changing right to left to right in random order, and that little red dot seemed to glow every time the target was seen. Instant pop, sparks flying.
I learned that day that its truly 'see it and shoot the split second you see it', and that most of the misses come from thinking, waiting, hoping, wishing, and pretending I can't see it, or whatever.
So...100yd, naked eye, or red dot is PLENTY. Add out to 400yds onward, get a scope.
Last edited:
ChattanoogaPhil
Member
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2009
- Messages
- 14,601
- Reaction score
- 20,622
Things to consider in no particular order.
1x red dot advantages are unlimited eye relief and field of view. If you're just shooting at a piece of paper in front of you these advantages aren't of great value.
1x red dot is great for those of us with aging eyes struggling with irons but not wanting magnification. With a 1x red dot all you do is focus down range at the target. Now THAT is a blessing. It makes offhand unsupported shooting a pleasure instead of a struggle. For bench or other supported shooting, might as well use a magnified optic.
Don't get hung up on dot size. You can use a red dot just like the tip of a front sight post. There's no rule saying that the center of the dot must be used. Using the dot's top edge 12 o'clock works well for more precise aiming if the dot would otherwise cover too large of an area for aim. Or.... using the bottom edge 6 o'clock of the dot for a bit of holdover at distance depending on your zero. There's creative ways to use that dot to your advantage.
You mentioned that you just wanted to have fun. Well you picked the right rifle! A 15-22 with a red dot, soda cans, reactive targets of any kind is flat out fun.
Enjoy that rifle.
1x red dot advantages are unlimited eye relief and field of view. If you're just shooting at a piece of paper in front of you these advantages aren't of great value.
1x red dot is great for those of us with aging eyes struggling with irons but not wanting magnification. With a 1x red dot all you do is focus down range at the target. Now THAT is a blessing. It makes offhand unsupported shooting a pleasure instead of a struggle. For bench or other supported shooting, might as well use a magnified optic.
Don't get hung up on dot size. You can use a red dot just like the tip of a front sight post. There's no rule saying that the center of the dot must be used. Using the dot's top edge 12 o'clock works well for more precise aiming if the dot would otherwise cover too large of an area for aim. Or.... using the bottom edge 6 o'clock of the dot for a bit of holdover at distance depending on your zero. There's creative ways to use that dot to your advantage.
You mentioned that you just wanted to have fun. Well you picked the right rifle! A 15-22 with a red dot, soda cans, reactive targets of any kind is flat out fun.
Enjoy that rifle.
Last edited:
Similar threads
