Have any of you guys tried reflex sight and decided to go back to using a scope. Got the Nikon turkey taker scope on my 835 and swampfox kingslayer on my 20. What I like about the scope is I can use some magnification. What I like about the reflex is the precision of the dot but miss some magnification.
I enjoy using both and feel each one has its place... I like the scope for large open areas and red / green dots for woods etc... this is just my preference
It's like turkey calls everyone has one they like better than others ... IMO
I do agree, magnification is a plus ...
I like the reflex for the weight difference in gun
I have a Leupold turkey scope and a Burris Fastfire 3. Both work. I'm still trying to decide which one is best. Have used both a couple years now.
I use both. Big open field hunts I like the guns with scopes. In tight quarters in greened up timber I prefer a reflex type sight. You would probably really like an illuminated scope reticle if they made one just for turkey hunting.
Have a FF3 reflex on a .410 I built for my son. It'll never be used outside of a blind. It's good.
For my own use, it's an old skool, tube red dot for me. I feel there's an added measure of durability. And, it's just what I've been used to using for quite some time.
I have been researching Prism scopes for my next rig, still on the fence but would not mind a 2x optic with the etched reticle in case of battery failure or malfunction. I think an actual scope is too heavy for what I want to do!
Bead
Used a scope on my shotgun for close to thirty years. Went to a red dot about 5 years ago mainly just to cut weight and for just me, it makes the gun seem smaller in the woods. Personally, I love a scope reticle on his waddles at crunch time, but hunting solely in mountainous terrain, weight reduction has won out and I use the small reflex sights.
I will say this, the red dot can let you down. I run vortex and Leupold and keep a close watch on my batteries and keep an extra new battery with me in the woods at all times. That said, I was working a bird one day this past spring and shot and killed him. A couple of minutes later, when I went to turn the red dot off just to save a touch of battery - it was off on its own and would not come back on until I put a new battery into the Delta Point Pro. Had that bird came in a minute or two slower, he would have got to live to see another day. I guess it was just a defective battery as it had been recently changed.
My vision is 20/20 even though I'm pushing 70. However, I wear 2.5 readers, so aiming a turkey gun has evolved from 1 bead to 2 beads to Tru-Glo snap on sights to a Vortex Venom red dot to a Holosun 510c green dot circle reticle.
I've been extremely pleased with the green dot circle reticle configuration. I wish the Holosun carried a smaller profile, but other than that, I am very happy with it.
I think both have their place. I do like the magnification of a scope. I usually run mine just about 2.5X and I feel like it really helps me. The trade off is my gun weight goes up close to a pound after scope rings and base. And on the subject of rings and base, don't be cheap. The recoil of a shotgun will eat single screw rings. The extra you spend on setting up your gun will likely keep you in the wood later down the rd.
Quote from: Yoder409 on June 15, 2025, 06:45:02 PMHave a FF3 reflex on a .410 I built for my son. It'll never be used outside of a blind. It's good.
For my own use, it's an old skool, tube red dot for me. I feel there's an added measure of durability. And, it's just what I've been used to using for quite some time.
My semi auto has a reflex sight. My single shot has an old tube style dot. That's the one I carry when rain threatens.
When I made my 12 gauge into a dedicated turkey gun, I put a Vortex 1 power scope on it. It was an improvement over the bead. The problem was that I could see the bead through the scope, I missed the first turkey I shot at, because I could see the bead and I instinctually use the bead through my scope. I painted the bead black and that did the trick. Then I put a Leupold a 3X7 on it. I have to put it on 4 power to get the barrel and bead out of the sight picture.
I 1000% prefer the red dot on my 20 gauge turkey gun. I will eventually put a red dot on my 12 gauge.
A reflex sight is absolutely useless to me, my astigmatism won't let me use them. I now have Glaucoma and I am hoping I won't develop a problem with my scope, but that could be the worst of my worries with that.
So far, I prefer the red dot. Less cumbersome. Easier acquisition. Less weight. Haven't needed the magnification. As I get older, my opinion may change.
I've never seen a need for a scope, I've been using a vortex reflex and absolutely love it. It's a much cleaner look on a gun plus the weight reduction over a scope is worth it.
I've said it before, a prism is better than either. You can get one magnified 2,3x for instance or can be 1x.
It can be illuminated if desired but it's got an etched reticle so the prism always there like a scope. It's also supposed to be tougher but I can't say I've had probs with any of the above. I just stay away from cheap optics
I normally prefer a reflex but with that being said I just mounted a scope on my 870 about a month ago. With cataracts on both eyes & my eyesight not being what it used to be it just seemed like the smart thing to do.
Quote from: grayfox on June 21, 2025, 01:29:33 PMI normally prefer a reflex but with that being said I just mounted a scope on my 870 about a month ago. With cataracts on both eyes & my eyesight not being what it used to be it just seemed like the smart thing to do.
[/quote what scope did you mount? I might go to another scope.
great read here guys.
some excellent insight