How easily do the holographic red-dot sights get knocked off of aim?
I have a Mueller Quick-Shot on my 870 which I and my aging eyes are very happy with. A few weeks ago I bumped the sight getting into a hunting cart. I dismissed the incident and didn't check to see if the aim had been affected. Two weeks later a 3 year old strutter got a free pass when I shot at him at 30 yards and didn't put a pellet in him. A quick trip to the range revealed that at 20 yards the POI was 12" high and 6" right of the POA. Adjustments were made and we went on from there. I know that this sight is a mechanical device and I do try to treat it like I treat the scope on my deer rifle, but I have never knocked the rifle scope off like that.
Are the red-dot sights all that vulnerable to moderate impacts like that?
FC
I have a 10 GA single barrel that I have an Aimpoint 9000SC red dot on. A week before the season this year I decided to remove the 1 pound steel rod in the stock to make it lighter. The rod was a very tight fit and did not want to come out. I ended up beating the devil out of the stock to get it out, and knew that I was going to have to re zero it after that much abuse. However, took it to the range and it had not moved a bit. I think movement has more to do with how secure the base and rings are than the internal adjustment of the scope.
My FFII with SpeedBead mount has held up well as far as holding zero is concerned. I'm pretty rough on it too if I'm being honest.
It will all depend on the optic. You could drop an aimpoint off a skyscraper and it probably wouldn't be off a bit. In contrast, you could probably take one of the $25 Walmart sights and knock it off by flicking it with your finger.
My Aimpoints are pretty much indestructible.
I've had 2 different ones on my 835. I sent them both back. They were unable to handle the recoil(JMO) They were very customer friendly. She rides with open fiber sights now.
I'm surprised a bump on a cart would throw your sight off that much. I can't tell you how many times my gun has fallen in the woods and I've never had a problem. When you really think about it, I can't think of anything more violent than when a gun goes off and no bump or drop I've ever had could equal the force of recoil on my shotgun. But....I like quality optics and would rather shoot a bead or aftermarket sights rather than lesser quality optics. Aimpoint and burris on my sporting guns and aimpoint only on my work guns.