Size of Target Dot

[csimmons]

I am looking to buy a scope for small bore silhouette and I apparently have more money than sense and  am looking at purchasing a Leupold VX-III 6.5X-20X 40mm EFR Target from Premier Reticles.  Premier has their silhouette special on sale for  $590.  This scope comes with a .0067" DOT.  To this point I have used more typical cross hair duplex style reticle.  To me this size DOT seems like is could be a bit big. I would appreciate comments  regarding the best size of DOT.

[Hornetx60]

I believe that dot is 5/8 MOA at 20x. That is a good size. I don't like anything smaller than 1/2 MOA as the 1/4 moa dots can disappear in some conditions.  I wouldn't go any larger than 3/4 MOA  dot. But you will get a lot of differing views on this. I do believe that a dot style reticle is the absolute best way to go.  I would buy the Silhouette special from Premier and try it. If after a while you decide you want a larger or smaller dot you can always send it back and have the reticle changed. The turn around time is great.  Dick and Chris Thomas do good work.

[davei]

perhaps a slightly different perspective...  i use a 1/4 minute dot.  i don't like dots bigger than 1/3 minute.  if your dot is too big it makes spot shooting difficult.  the dot blocks the spot.  the dot can also get distracting allowing you to follow the dot instead of concentrating on the spot.  just another train of thought.
dave

[bob259]

I am looking to buy a scope for small bore silhouette and I apparently have more money than sense and  am looking at purchasing a Leupold VX-III 6.5X-20X 40mm EFR Target from Premier Reticles.  Premier has their silhouette special on sale for  $590.  This scope comes with a .0067" DOT.  To this point I have used more typical cross hair duplex style reticle.  To me this size DOT seems like is could be a bit big. I would appreciate comments  regarding the best size of DOT.

For all my Leupolds I use the Premier 5/8 'silhouette' dot.  I like it so much I converted all my duplex's over to the same.  

Like someone else said you will get a lot of differing opinions on this because it's one of those things that boils down to personal preference.

[GeoNLR]

I love the .0067 dot (roughly 5/8min). I personally have shot with the smaller dots and I find them hard to see in low lighting conditions. When storms roll in and the sky goes grey, hard to see the small dots. Keep in mind I shoot at 40 power so that dot may look a little large at 20X,???

George

[shootingpaul]

Hi,
I use 1/4 dot and I like it, I agrree with Dave for the reason for smaller dot, the "trend " I have seen is that older shooters go to bigger dots, I think it makes it easier to aim, dot size is your personal prefference so I would suggest that you try few sizes before you make your decision, and I do not mean 1 or 2 shots, shoot at least 40
hope you will find your match

[dave imas]

another thought...  all of the local matches in washington are shot at white animals.  losing the dot isn't really a problem.  may be different on black animals?

[chunter]

I have the 1/4 dot,  it is great for paper shooting,; however, I do have to admit that I have had problems in the morning at our range when the sun is coming for the hill.  It can give me problems trying to see the dot.

However, I personally have a hard time trying to shoot a bigger dot,  it just seems to suck up the field of view on the scope, and I find myself following the dot and not the animal.

It really is all personal preference.

[hh4064]

I think the size of the dot is very very important. I have shot with a dot for about 20 yrs. Slowly but surely they keep getting bigger and bigger. Several of the finest offhand shooters on the planet suggest using a big dot. As a shooter prepares himself or herself to make a shot, they don't loose sight of the target. I was always taught to concentrate on the target. NEVER take your eye off the target while getting read to make the shot. With the large dot it is so easy to concentrate on the target, then, when the dot reaches the center of  the target, it is so much easier to see the center of the scope. (because of the  large dot) That is the key, knowing when the aiming point is in position so you can activate the trigger smoothly and cleanly without a jerk. Remember concentrate on your target NOT the center of the scope. When you  can do  that the gun will just go off almost by itself. WOW the perfect shot. This has worked for me very well. I hope it will work for you.

[Gringo Grizzly]

I've spent the past two years experimenting with different reticles and have made our friends at Premier quite happy with $60 appearing a few times per season.
It's been kind of fun - I've tried Duplex's, Post-Crosshairs, even the German reticle variant (similar to the one you saw in the move "Enemy at the Gates").
The last two were used since I was having such good luck with post front sights in NRA Service Rifle competition.
One I would have like to have tried but didn't is a open aperature type.
However, I've come back to where I started - a 5/8 MOA dot.

Now "all" I have to do is release the shot when this thing is inside the animal!

My next experiment will be to jack around with the LOWER power ratings.
This after nailing 10 chickens in a match this past Spring and realizing AFTER it was over that I shot these at 10 instead of 20X!

Gringo

[RobbW]

I had Premier Reticles custom build me a reticle with a 1/4 MOA center dot flanked by 2, 3/8 MOA dots on either side for windage.  The small center dot lets me know exactly where the shot will hit (in calm conditions) and the larger side dots help guide my eye towards the center in darker conditions.

I shoot 2 different air rifle courses, both in the dark New England woods, and have shot in overcast and rainy conditions and never had a problem with the optics on my setup.  

My eyes are still good, and I use the Leup. Competition 35x scope with 30mm tube, so either of those factors might be different for others.