Red dot sight for possum shooting?
Printed From: Kiwi Airgunners
Category: New to airguns?
Forum Name: Tips and things to look out for
Forum Description: Thinking of getting into airgunning? ask you questions here
URL: www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/forum_posts.asp?TID=779
Printed Date: 12 May 2024 at 5:32pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 10.14 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Red dot sight for possum shooting?
Posted By: KiwiTR6
Subject: Red dot sight for possum shooting?
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2023 at 3:26pm
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I'm looking to fit a red dot sight or similar to my PCP specifically for night shooting possums (at some point in the near future). From my very limited knowledge, they will be sitting up trees typically at a range of around 5-20m. For this purpose I'm thinking a decent red dot sight and a good miniature LED torch fitted to the underside of my gun would be a good combination. I'm keen to hear any recommendations regarding this setup or better, and for suitable equipment. ------------- FX Wildcat MK111 BT Sniper .25 Walther Reign M2 .22 Evanix AR6 .22 FX Dreamline Classic .22 Cometa Fenix 400 .177 Weihrauch HW50 .177 Air Chief Junior .177 ($100 Challenge) |
Replies:
Posted By: RangerPete
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2023 at 7:50pm
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Hi Kiwi, Not sure if you got to trying your red dot sight on your pcp? If you did let us know how it went. I have never used a red dot sight, but I don’t think they have the ability to give you a 5m, 10m, 15m and 20m “mark”, which you would probably need for close range Accurate possum work with an air rifle. Even a pcp is not flat shooting enough to only have one (accurate) point of aim from 5 to 20m. Just my 2c worth. ------------- Walk quietly, but carry a big stick. |
Posted By: KiwiTR6
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2023 at 8:02pm
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Hi Pete. Spent some time setting the gun up today so I can go hunting with a work colleague who has been shooting big numbers of possums on a customer's property. I'm using a Holy Warrior S1, a very good clone of the Eotech but a red dot rather than a holographic display. All was going well sighting it in at 20m, but I then started struggling with the adjustment and just before I packed up I noticed the silencer was loose. Took a look for nicking and found that plus a lot of lead particles so that explains the problem. at this stage the sight is very nice to use, a nice clean illuminated reticle and I can get a good view with my glasses on. I was planning to do some 10m indoor sighting tonight but for some reason most of my flouro lights have decided to stop working. Yet another job to do!    Cheers ------------- FX Wildcat MK111 BT Sniper .25 Walther Reign M2 .22 Evanix AR6 .22 FX Dreamline Classic .22 Cometa Fenix 400 .177 Weihrauch HW50 .177 Air Chief Junior .177 ($100 Challenge) |
Posted By: Pauly5
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2023 at 8:40pm
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Nothing better than figuring out an issue. |
Posted By: KiwiTR6
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2023 at 9:09pm
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Something I remembered seeing on YouTube - such a great resource! ------------- FX Wildcat MK111 BT Sniper .25 Walther Reign M2 .22 Evanix AR6 .22 FX Dreamline Classic .22 Cometa Fenix 400 .177 Weihrauch HW50 .177 Air Chief Junior .177 ($100 Challenge) |
Posted By: RangerPete
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2023 at 11:41pm
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Let us know how the red dot goes out in the field and different distances 👍🏻 And good luck with those possums 😉 ------------- Walk quietly, but carry a big stick. |
Posted By: KiwiTR6
Date Posted: 12 Jun 2023 at 7:33am
------------- FX Wildcat MK111 BT Sniper .25 Walther Reign M2 .22 Evanix AR6 .22 FX Dreamline Classic .22 Cometa Fenix 400 .177 Weihrauch HW50 .177 Air Chief Junior .177 ($100 Challenge) |
Posted By: RangerPete
Date Posted: 12 Jun 2023 at 11:25pm
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Looks like it’s working 😂 What distances does the one (red dot) point of aim cover? ------------- Walk quietly, but carry a big stick. |
Posted By: KiwiTR6
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2023 at 7:52pm
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I should have commented on that. The haul is from one nights shooting by my colleague and a couple of mates, all using powder burners. I hope to go out with them in a couple of weeks and see how the PCP compares. I'm new to this so I'm not sure what you mean by "What distances does the one (red dot) point of aim cover?" ------------- FX Wildcat MK111 BT Sniper .25 Walther Reign M2 .22 Evanix AR6 .22 FX Dreamline Classic .22 Cometa Fenix 400 .177 Weihrauch HW50 .177 Air Chief Junior .177 ($100 Challenge) |
Posted By: Pauly5
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2023 at 9:51pm
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It means at what distance does the point of impact line up with the point of aim (the red dot). So if that happens at 20m, it means that at 10m your point of impact will be below the aim point. |
Posted By: RangerPete
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2023 at 11:14pm
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Hi Kiwi, Air guns don’t push pellets very fast, even PCP’s are still comparatively slow compared to a powder burner. The slower velocitys mean more of an arking trajectory, like a rainbow, where as a faster powder burner will shoot a flat trajectory, like a laser beam. The red dot sight only gives you one point of aim, perfect for a flat shooting projectile out to 30 or 50m. Where as usually an air rifle would need an aim point for 10m, another one for 20m, and probably another for 30m because of the big ark in the trajectory. ------------- Walk quietly, but carry a big stick. |
Posted By: Billbobnz
Date Posted: 14 Jun 2023 at 9:17am
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nice work on those tree bears... did you pluck them for the fur?
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Posted By: KiwiTR6
Date Posted: 14 Jun 2023 at 3:08pm
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"Where as usually an air rifle would need an aim point for 10m, another one for 20m, and probably another for 30m because of the big ark in the trajectory." Understood Pete. I initially sighted in at 20m, but based on what my colleague has told me I'll reset that to 15m for the possums. I just need to make up my mind what pellets I'll use, initial sighting in was with 18g AA Diablo heavies which seem to be very good but currently in short supply. Being someone who wears glasses with progressive lenses, using scopes presents a number of issues. The beauty of the red dot is I can see both the image and the dot (which in the case of the EotechS1/S1 clones is known as the doughnut of death) clearly which means I can use the gun without having to touch my glasses. Effectively it's an open site but with only a single point to align and this plus the target are both in focus. With the open sights I'd be trying to align two points on the gun with the target and two of the three will be out of focus. No contest really and the pellet drop is the same, although it would be nice if the red dot had a mil-dot reticle rather than the doughnut to make it easier to cater for that. Thanks also Pauly for your explanation.... ------------- FX Wildcat MK111 BT Sniper .25 Walther Reign M2 .22 Evanix AR6 .22 FX Dreamline Classic .22 Cometa Fenix 400 .177 Weihrauch HW50 .177 Air Chief Junior .177 ($100 Challenge) |
Posted By: KiwiTR6
Date Posted: 14 Jun 2023 at 3:09pm
Yes, they went to the local plucking outfit and I believe the carcasses also go into pet food. ------------- FX Wildcat MK111 BT Sniper .25 Walther Reign M2 .22 Evanix AR6 .22 FX Dreamline Classic .22 Cometa Fenix 400 .177 Weihrauch HW50 .177 Air Chief Junior .177 ($100 Challenge) |
Billbobnz wrote:Posted By: RangerPete
Date Posted: 15 Jun 2023 at 6:36pm
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“No contest really and the pellet drop is the same, although it would be nice if the red dot had a mil-dot reticle rather than the doughnut to make it easier to cater for that.” That’s it, 100% 👍🏻. Sounds like the red dot is definatly a better option for your eyes 👍🏻 If you are happy with only one aim point, you can have confidence in knowing that your rifle will be deadly accurate at that distance. And if you have the skill of being able to judge distance, you can learn to hold over or under depending on how far away your target is. Just as a little extra, (I’m no expert on these things, but from my experiance) your pellets trajectory will have a “flatish” spot at the top of its arc, where it has almost stopped climbing out to where it has just started dropping. That “top of the arc” area will cover a distance in length from 8 to 15m depending on the speed of your projectile. If you can work out at what distance your pellet reaches the top of its arc, and zero your red dot there, you have given your self a range of 8,10, maybe 15m where you will be dead on target, as apposed to zeroing at only one specific distance where your pellet might still be climbing. I hope that all made sense? I know a diagram would help! If it doesn't make sense let me know and I’d be happy to try explain it again using examples and maybe a diagram 😂 ------------- Walk quietly, but carry a big stick. |
Posted By: KiwiTR6
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2023 at 9:53am
Yep, that all makes perfect sense Pete. Nevertheless a diagram would be appreciated if you have the time
 ------------- FX Wildcat MK111 BT Sniper .25 Walther Reign M2 .22 Evanix AR6 .22 FX Dreamline Classic .22 Cometa Fenix 400 .177 Weihrauch HW50 .177 Air Chief Junior .177 ($100 Challenge) |
Posted By: RangerPete
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2023 at 11:03am
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Hi Kiwi, I’ve drawn up what I think best shows what I’m trying to explain. But again, I’m not an expert on anything and this is just from my own experiance. I’ve just used example distances in the diagram, you will have to work out at what distance your pellets from your gun reach the top of their arc before they start dropping. Every rifle and pellet combination is going to be different. But in the diagram, if u zero ur scope at 30m, any target from 25m out to 35m you will hit, with just one point of aim. Just point and shoot! I’ve also found that most (not all, but a good majority) of the pests that I encounter are around this range. But if u zero your rifle at 15m, u will only be accurate at 15m because ur pellet is still climbing at that closer distance. At 10m u will be low, and at 20m u will be high. U will of course have a second zero (which I haven’t shown on the diagram but would be at about 37m in this example), so at 15 and 37, dead on, but any other distance u will need to know the distance and know your hold over or under. For me personally zeroing at the top of the arc is the most practical and easiest way to do it, but everyone will be different 😉.  ------------- Walk quietly, but carry a big stick. |
Posted By: KiwiTR6
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2023 at 8:22pm
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Thanks for that Pete. It makes perfect sense and I have a range finder so it should be fairly easy for me to plot a curve. As you say, it will be different for different pellets, although I purchased a couple of tins of JSB Diablo Heavies this morning so it looks like I've made a decision in that respect. Cheers ------------- FX Wildcat MK111 BT Sniper .25 Walther Reign M2 .22 Evanix AR6 .22 FX Dreamline Classic .22 Cometa Fenix 400 .177 Weihrauch HW50 .177 Air Chief Junior .177 ($100 Challenge) |
Posted By: RangerPete
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2023 at 9:36pm
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Cool beans 👍🏻 Let us know how it goes with the heavies and plotting ur trajectory 👍🏻. ------------- Walk quietly, but carry a big stick. |