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General Discussion => General Forum => Topic started by: redwad on April 23, 2023, 12:43:06 PM

Title: Red dot question
Post by: redwad on April 23, 2023, 12:43:06 PM
Hey everyone. This is my second season running a red dot. Checked it in March and it was still on. It's had two kills this season. Then went on a four hour drive and four days through some thick woods and hills. Then I had two misses the same morning. They were different set ups one shot at each bird. I shot the gun on paper at 20 yards and it was 12 inches right or so. The gun was in check and everything was snug. Shells are new and taken care of. It is mounted on a sum toy plate and the red dot is a fast fire 4. Looking for tips or recommendations on why this may have happened. Anything else I should check? Has anyone else had this happen?
Title: Re: Red dot question
Post by: Gooserbat on April 23, 2023, 01:10:09 PM
It's mechanical and electronic.  Simply put it can fail. The point I'm making is check your equipment especially after a long ride or rough use.
Title: Re: Red dot question
Post by: jshark14 on April 23, 2023, 01:26:00 PM
I have been shooting a Vortex red dot for a few years now. Never had an issue. The gun doesn't get abused, but I don't baby it either. Not sure why it would move 12" right if everything is tight. The red dot shouldn't move unless an adjustment is moved (assuming everything is mechanically snug)...at least theoretically.


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Title: Re: Red dot question
Post by: runngun on April 23, 2023, 01:55:29 PM
Absolutely check out your gun/bow after being on the road. Any little thing can change your POI. Such as cleaning the barrel, pulling a boresnake through the barrel.  A change in temperature will make it shoot differently.  It is always a good idea to double-check your gun, I check mine at least once a week during the season. We have a recent thread on choke tubes, even loosening the choke tube will change it!!! Always check it!!!

Have a good one, Bo

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Title: Re: Red dot question
Post by: Greg Massey on April 23, 2023, 02:06:55 PM
Also check your magazine tube nut ... this can change the overall shooting ... But if everything is tight and you have not damaged the gun in any way, no reason a quality optic should have changed like you have described.  Optic builds take all this in consideration in building these optics. But failures can happen... I myself don't check and shoot my gun every week if I have taken care of the gun and not damaged it or dropped the gun in some way... IMO
Title: Re: Red dot question
Post by: Marc on April 23, 2023, 04:05:53 PM
Quote from: runngun on April 23, 2023, 01:55:29 PM
Absolutely check out your gun/bow after being on the road. Any little thing can change your POI. Such as cleaning the barrel, pulling a boresnake through the barrel.  A change in temperature will make it shoot differently.  It is always a good idea to double-check your gun, I check mine at least once a week during the season. We have a recent thread on choke tubes, even loosening the choke tube will change it!!! Always check it!!!

Have a good one, Bo


I removed my previous post after realizing I had read the initial post incorrectly...

But, (and I ask this question in complete ignorance), how do you check the sight on your shotgun without shooting it?
Title: Re: Red dot question
Post by: Spurs Up on April 23, 2023, 04:36:29 PM
Quote from: Marc on April 23, 2023, 04:05:53 PM
Quote from: runngun on April 23, 2023, 01:55:29 PM
Absolutely check out your gun/bow after being on the road. Any little thing can change your POI. Such as cleaning the barrel, pulling a boresnake through the barrel.  A change in temperature will make it shoot differently.  It is always a good idea to double-check your gun, I check mine at least once a week during the season. We have a recent thread on choke tubes, even loosening the choke tube will change it!!! Always check it!!!

Have a good one, Bo


I removed my previous post after realizing I had read the initial post incorrectly...

But, (and I ask this question in complete ignorance), how do you check the sight on your shotgun without shooting it?

A good starting point is chamber-seated laser pointer provided you've previously indexed it to your sight. Would definitely detect any coarse barrel and red dot alignment changes. May not get you to MOA or tell you much about a choke, but you'd easily know if you went from centered to "12 inches off at 20 yards."  That way you could save your shells for fine tuning and evaluating chokes.
Title: Re: Red dot question
Post by: TrackeySauresRex on April 23, 2023, 04:52:11 PM
Shells are new? Like a different brand? That kind of new??
Title: Re: Red dot question
Post by: runngun on April 23, 2023, 05:00:05 PM
I check mine with a barrel inserted laser, if any doubts I will absolutely shoot it. My home season is 4 weeks, I may not shoot it every week but I definitely check it. 

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Title: Re: Red dot question
Post by: redwad on April 23, 2023, 07:11:24 PM
Thanks for the input everyone. I have a laser bore sight. I will be keeping in the gun case as I travel from now on. By new shells I mean that they aren't rusted or anything like that. They're the same shells I sighted the gun to. I just meant that I bought them this year and have stored them inside besides hunting.