What kind of groups do you get with your 1x red dot?

[wreckhog]

Stopped by the range today with the 30-06. With my $30 Cabela's red dot and a bipod. Shooting 3 shot groups at 50 yards, I burned 2 boxes of M2 ball. Was getting about 2.5-3" groups. No bad I thought, since the red dot completely obscured the target dot at that range.

[gcrank1]

Thats about what I got when I had one......not what I would call minute of squirrel, but I clanged the steel fairly regular at 50yds, some only 3-5". I went back to crosshairs, though I can see the value of a dot rig in the deep woods. Some have smaller dots or are adjustable I hear.

[manatee1947]

I use one on a 30-30 barrel on a 14" contender, I get about 3" at 75 yards from the bench.

[petemi]

I'm getting 2 -2.5 inches at 50 with most of mine.....about minute of deer.  I read, I believe here, that some guys were sighting in at the top or bottom of the dot so the dot isn't covering the target and got better accuracy.  I'm gonna try it.  Target acquisition is a lot easier with both eyes open.

Pete

[MSP Ret]

I have a couple of Red Dots. I have shot honest 1", and a little smaller, groups at 100 yards with my .22 WMR NEF Sportster. IIRC the dot on sight subtends either 3 or 4 MOA at 100 yards and I think the size of the colored center of the targets I was using was 4". I simply placed the dot squarely on the target center and presto, small groups with a red dot....<><....  

[PowPow]

I had a $40 Bushnell blister-pack 5 MOA red dot on my NEF 30-30 beginning last deer season.
Used homemade targets with a 5 MOA diamond. Got 2" groups at 100 off a plastic rest.

[tacklebury]

Depends on the dot size.  I had looked at a couple 1 and 3 moa versions recently.  I don't use them now, but considered setting one up for my wife.  All my guns except one .22 are iron sights still, but she has some issue with them.  With the 1 moa, if it is bright enough to be visible, you would cover much less target and is kind of the direction I'm looking.  Of course, they aren't available in the less expensive varieties and thus far the least expensive I've found with decent reviews was about 150 bucks.  8(

[shvlhead.45]

Wreckhog,

I've been using the red dot in one form or the other on personal and Army issue long guns for over 10 years.  Not good for tight groups but work for minute of bad guy to past 300 meters.  I set my Red Dots up for 6 o'clock hold, center of mass in bullseye at 100 yards for hunting (about 2" high) except for my .22 LR which is set up where I get center hits with a 6 o'clock hold on a golf ball at 50 yards and the EOTech on my M4orgery is set for center mass hits on a scaled 300 meter shilouette(sp) at 25 meters with the dot centered at the base of the shilouette and I will get hits on with a low center hold from 50 meters to 250 meters and center mass hits at 300 with a center of mass hold when shooting the Army qualification course (not what the Army teaches but it worked for me); I aways quailified and qualification is full battle rattle to include body armor with plates, loadbearing equipment/rack, Army Combat Helmet, and eye protection.  Try that with everything on and half the qualification is from unsupported prone, not fun or easy.

For tight groups, go with the scope of choice.  For any shooting much over a 100 yards you will like a scope better.  I currently use a red dot on my Handi .45/70 barrel for hunting feral hogs, my Ruger 10/22 used mostly for trigger time and cheap fun, and my M4orgery used for hogs, predators, and home defense.

v/r
Shvlhead.45

[jedman]

   I have experimented with different shapes and sizes of homemade targets to get the best sight picture of the red dot being centered.
   I have found that using a white paper plate is best for a red dot with a 6 moa dot size.  With a 30-30 handi and a bushnell trophy red dot I have been able to shoot 1 " groups on a paper plate , Its sort a like the way your eye centers the front site in a rear peep hole.
  With another carbine I have it has a red crosshair to aim with, on that I find a diamond shaped target works best, with that set up I have shot 1 1/4 " groups with a 357 mag.    Jed

  I forgot to mention , thats off a benchrest at 100 yards.

[gcrank1]

I expect what you are saying about the paper plate is that with the red dot centered you get an even, white halo effect around the dot, which tells you that it is, in fact, centered. If the dot completely covers the target you never know just where it's 'lookin'. All in all, though, thats some good shootin'!