Home Forums Birds & Dogs Turkey Hunting scope or red dot?

I have a scope base on my 870 and debating about putting a optic on it for turkey hunting.

My best choices I have now are a Burris Fast Fire 3 (I think 3 MOA dot) or a leupold 1x4 shotgun scope with heavy plex.

Give me the pros and cons of each one.
Should I find a red dot that has a smaller dot?

Scope for me. Leupold Turkey Ranger M8-2.5X fixed. My eyes aren't as good as they used to be. Very Quick to lock on the wattles.

A scope let me dial in tight shooting turkey load/choke combinations dead center of the pattern.

The red dot should let you dial it to center also.
I use a turtle gobble stopper and been pleased with it. Been thinking of trying a scope sometime

I have an older Tasco Red dot on my shotgun. It has accounted for many birds. Tried a scope last season and while it was great for patterning, didn't like the way the gun felt.

I put a red dot, ( Cheap Barska) on my Turkey gun and am not sorry. I never shoot more than 30-40 yards, so magnification is not necessary. I like a quick acquisition and a scope can't give you that very well. That being said I did put a 2X Red dot on one of my Deer Shotguns. Because sometimes I hunt in Illinois and you can't use a rifle there. It was a worthwhile addition also. I guess you should try someone's else's gun that has a red dot on it and see if you like it. There are a few high end Red dot's out there, but I don't see any difference other than maybe shock resistance. A 12 Ga. jumps a bit so you may lose some repeatability with a cheap red dot,, but my 20 ga with a red dot has held up for many years.

Get a small unmagnified red dot with a 3 or 4 MOA dot. The best bang for your buck will be a Vortex Viper or Venom!

I've tried various scopes in the past and even had a Nikon Monarch Turkey Pro 1.5-4.5x20 on a rig until preseason this year. I like a scope more than a red dot as scopes just seem natural to me, but I've switched over to nothing but reflex sights now to cut weight. I think I was running about 12oz or so with the NTP/mounts and it's one of the lighter scopes out there. Reflexes can allow you to get that weight down to 2oz or less. I don't even notice a reflex on a gun as far as handling and carrying, but a scope is very noticeable.

I used a scope for many years and recently turned to a red dot. Red dot feels quicker, is lighter, less cumbersome to carry or handle, easier to view with 77yr old eyes through glasses. I like the smaller red dot. Opinion.

Thanks gents.

I have a a cheper reflex sight and my fast fire. The reflex sight has green capability.

Any bad issue using a cheaper reflex sight or put the best one on?

Shotguns are hell on optics, so choose wisely.

agree. I've had 3 buddy's not take my advice and go cheap only for the cheap red dots to loose zero. I run FF IIs or IIIs on my builds.

Just installed a J Point sight on my Mossberg M935 turkey gun. This sight has withstood the recoil of my Freedom Arms .454 Casull, so I suspect it will do just fine on this shotgun.

It looks like the FF 3 is my choice if I dont do the scope

Quick tip: Read the reviews on Amazon and Optics Planet before you buy the FF 111. I did and was amazed at all the issues reported with these and other red dots. The Leupold Turkey Ranger is small, light, bright and extremely unlikely to fail at a critical moment.

That's what steered me to a vortex venom.

Well....

I already own the FF3 so that ship has sailed.

It sits on top of my ruger mark 2 pistol that doesnt get shot much. I could put my cheap reflex sight on the pistol and try the FF3 on the shotgun to see what happens.

I'll read the reviews if the FF3 falls apart under recoil or not.

Cheap optics are no bargain, Just the cost of figuring out your sight has crapped the bed and re-sighting at the cost of premium shells will more than make up the difference in sight cost, don't ask me how I know.
I use FFII, FFIII and Vortex now.