Scopes and optics

[JRS]

Who has em and why?

After papering my hand loads and learning my POI, I can see exactly zero reason to use anything but a bead.

 

[Native NV Ducker]

That's fine for you. Others appreciate what optics have to offer.

My Father was the best wingshot I have ever seen. Some of the guys I hunt with say I am, but I couldn't hold a candle to my Dad in his prime hunting years.

That said, he got older, and at the end, he got some type of red dot sight for his shotgun. It enabled him to keep hitting birds at a reasonable rate. Having witnessed that, there is no way I would question someone wanting to use one.

 

[SB2MAG]

You can pick out Jakes among the hens.

The scope helps to cut through the glare while looking into the sun.

You can pick out a Tom in the thick cover and make sure no hens are in the way.

The scope makes for a more precise shot at more than 50 yards.

You can see and shoot a turkey roosting at the top of a cedar tree especially when all you can see with the scope is its head.


Disadvantages:

Harder to make a follow up shot.

When the turkeys are less than ten yards, they are hard to find in the scope.

When the turkeys are at 85 yards, they look close enough to shoot.

 

[Jawbreaker]

Don’t want to use the red dot, but my front sight (even with a high viz) is so blurry that I switched to a red dot two springs ago. Killed several turkeys with it. Dont trust it being on target, but im 8 for 9 with it. The only miss was not the red dots fault. I check poi several times during the season.

 

[C M Wings]

I’ve been running a cheap old Simmons red dot and a Burris fast fire for years on my turkey guns. They hold zero great and are deadly. Older eyes have a harder time with just a white bead. Muller quick shot is another great one. It has 4 bead options including a circle which is my favorite. Put the head in the circle, done.

 

[bird junkie]

As my eyes have gotten older I like the extra magnification the red dot gives.

 

[mister gadwall]

100% a factor of eyesight in my decision to go to a leupold turkey scope /variable on my 870 SP some years ago. They don't make that scope any more . I tried a red dot before the scope and had a horrible time keeping it on holding the aim point . Leupold has taken a hell of a beating in 20 years and has held point perfectly on 100s of rounds and a lot of rough country .

 

[bill cooksey]

I’ve gone bead, try-glow rifle sights, scope, red dot and back to beads about 15 years ago. None of the others worked well for me. Rifle sights covered too much of the bird for my liking and never liked anything about the red dot. Scope had some good points, but it adds weight and something extra to catch on things and to possibly get banged up and cause a miss.

For me, the simplicity of just putting a bead at the base of his neck and pulling the trigger just plain works. Doesn’t make it right for everyone, but no doubt it’s right for me.

 

[2eagles]

I’m using a FF3 red dot on my SX4 20g, just finished my second season with it. Really like it! I can see the red dot SO much better than the bead.
Wing shooting, I’m a both eyes open, never look at a bead so I have forgotten to use the bead when shooting at a turkey. Oops

 

[nobands]

Yep the little bead goes just below the bigger bead and put it on the neck = dead turkey .
I got a red dot on the gun the grandkids shoot to simplify the process for them . Eventually they'll learn the correct way .
Everyone has their own way , I just see no need for it yet. I was a bit worried about my bifocals and any shooting when I 1st got them . Honestly I probably shoot better now .