Red dot / scope sighting in question....

[blume357]

I kind of asked this in a thread over in the rimfire section...but it got buried....

Here is the deal... lots of folks are into Red dots and other such optics on their rifles (and even handguns)... every so often someone will point out that depending on the size of the dot and or the distance you are shooting the dot will cover up the bulls eye on your target...

Here's what I think I figured out a long ways back.... even though it seems 'natural to adjust the point of impact where the 'dot' is.... this has to be wrong. Should not the point of aim/impact actually be on top of the dot not directly behind it, same as with iron sights? I actually do this with my scoped rifles too. I try to adjust the point of impact to the top left of the cross hairs.. I don't think anything should be covering the point of impact with the optic you are using.

What do you riflemen/women say?

 

[rugerjunkie]

On a larger dot I can see your reasoning. On a rifle scope the crosshairs go on target to keep things constant. I would think sighting away from center would cause a larger variable as ranges increase? I could be wrong but the last thing i want to do is take extra time to think about a hold on a big buck or something.

As far as a scope , you use a scope with crosshairs fitting for your target. Thicker crosshairs on a deer rifle , not a big deal. The same crosshairs on a pdog town where they would cover the target at say a couple hundred yards , not so good.

Interesting discussion and as long as you are used to your point of aim vs point of impact anything would work. I dont own a red dot but some ive seen have some pretty small dots where I cant imagine it would cover a target unless ranges were extremely far.

 

[Silent Sam]

I believe you should adjust your sights to suit yourself. I don't use any red dots per se. I do have an illuminated scope w/ a circle/dot reticle. I also use peeps w/ a bead. I don't use them for small targets. If your aiming "dot" hides your target then either your dot is too large for the target/range or your target is too small for the range you are shooting. My dot reticle and beads are zeroed so I can just slap the bead on the target and squeeze. If you are punching paper your target should be compatible with your sight. For a dot, I would use a circle or ring visible around the dot. Diamonds and squares can work as long as you can fit your dot in the shape.

 

[KurtC]

On handguns and shotguns, which are used at close range, most shooters just cover the impact area with the dot.

On hunting rifles, a 3-4 moa dot will cover the typical bullet trajectory. For instance, the bullet should strike near the top of the dot at 100 meters and near the bottom of the dot at 200 meters. Close and intermediate range will be in the center.

As mentioned above, always make sure your target is larger than the dot.

 

[blume357]

As mentioned above, always make sure your target is larger than the dot.

I suppose that makes sense.... but something in the back of my mind has a problem with that.... then again the same issue happens at my sail club... I'm not a racer and the one weekend a year I have to spend on race committee it gripes the bejeebers out of me that the head guys spend hours moving buoys around trying to get them positioned just right for the race so that the start is dead into the wind.... while the fleet of boats racing just sail around waiting for a start... often for hours.... because the wind is usually constantly shifting 10 or 20 degrees on our lake. point being that sail racing is based on the 'old' days when war ships had to fight it out and often who could sail the fastest and the best came out ahead.. I don't think in those old naval battles they got to sit around and wait for the right wind to blow.

In a perfect world the wind blows constantly from one direction and your 'target' is just the right size for your sights.....

 

[mattsbox99]

The red dot, actually reflex, that I primarily use would be impractical if I were to sight it in below the target. However, iron sights are set for 6 o'clock hold on my handguns and rifles. I shoot far more Trap than anything else at the moment, so my reasoning is that if you can't see the target - you can't hit it.

 

[blume357]

That makes sense when killing poor defenseless clay pigeons. (don't get upset, it's just that I belong to the Save the Skeets Foundation).... because you have to shoot where the critter is going to be not where it is....

 

[Pal Val]

The POA/POI relation issue could be discussed forever with no end result. The sights/croshairs/dot (and all the variations available) give the shooter a constant. It's up to the shooter to deal with all the variables. I would conclude that once you hit on (pun intended) the POA/POI arrangement that works for you, just stick with it and don't try to fix what you just made right.
I discovered that in most red dot sights you can set the dot brightness down to the point that you see through it. This allows you to center it on a target even if the dot covers it. Another thing I learned from experience is not to stare at that dot for too long, or it will become ingrained in your eye and appear as an annoying black dot as you aim.

 

[Major T]

My brilliant suggestion: Do it the way that works for you. jack

 

[Mobuck]

I've used a red dot on Son's assisted aiming system for over a decade. My best way is to turn the power way down so you can see the target through the dot. We use smaller dot sights because they produce better accuracy at rifle ranges(100-150 yards) so it's not as much of a problem but when sighting the dot in, I use the see through method for fine tuning.

 

[chefrob1]

just started sighting in a SRH with a red dot and i ended up turning down the brightness like others have said.

 

[blume357]

Yep, discovered that little suggestion a while back.... turn the intensity of the light as far down as you can and still see it.