Home Forums Birds & Dogs Turkey Hunting Which optics survive turkey loads?

I am considering adding a red dot or possibly even a fixed 2.5x (maybe a 1-3x) scope to a Mossberg 835, and I am curious which ones typically survive the heavy recoil of 3.5" turkey loads. Do the cheaper $100 range red dots stay together? I have a couple red dots, including a Vortex SPARC solar and Holosun HS403B, but I also have a fixed Burris Fullfield 2.5x and Weaver 1-3x scope.

Thanks!

I’ve had a TRUGLO GOBBLE-STOPPER on a REM 870 Supermag for years now. It’s my loaner gun and I’ve never had any trouble with it.

I run a Leupold hog 1-4 on my 20 gauge with no issue and I don’t baby any of my guns

I completely forgot about the Leupold, I actually have the same scope.

I have a Remington 11-87 with a Rem-choke slug barrel with a cantilever scope mount. I have had a cheap Nikon (Prostaff?) fixed 4X on it for 10 years with no problems. I shoot 3 inch 12 gauge shells, but the rig does weigh about eight and one half pounds. It only gets fired a few times a year, but it has been perfect so far.

I've had decent luck out of a Bushnell Banner 1.5-4.5X32. It replaced another Bushnell Banner that was still functioning after 30years. The new optics made things brighter. I've had the rig since 1996. It's a Mossberg 500 with a 28" barrel shooting 3" #4 lead. The recoil on this SOB is just north of a .416 Rigby.

Tru-Glo Gobble Stopper, various low power scopes, and am now using a Sig Romeo red dot. They all have withstood the recoil of turkey loads. I've actually been pretty impressed with the Gobble Stopper, as I used it for years on a 3 1/2 inch Benelli. I also have one of the Tru-Glo open dot sights that is no longer made. It didn't like the 3 1/2 loads, but worked well on everything else.

our group of hunters use Burris FF3's, 2 3.5" 12's and a mag 10 in the mix, no failures in 3 full seasons

I have several different red dot sights on turkey guns. But the only one I use on a 12ga mag, (from your list) is the Holosun. It has held up just fine and I really like the shake and wake feature.

I like small red dots and 2 MOA dot vs a scope. The Burris FF III on my current turkey gun has ridden atop others and is still going strong.

All the guy's I know use a 410 no problem killing Turkeys. Rio7

Wasn't the question. Working on your post count? Lol!

I had a Vortex Venom go tits up and cost me 2 birds in the same day a few years ago. Said no more cheap dots after that. I run a RMR on my Franchi 20 and a Aimpoint H2 on my SBE3 12 now. Never an issue with either.

NO!! no need to it's about the same as yours except i have been a member sense 2009. Rio7

I have several Burris fast fires on both 12s and 20s. Ive had no issues. Recommended.

Burris fast fires are perfect, that's all I can say.
The only issue I ever had was battery installation.

I have the FF# also and love it. Have it on a model 94 and love it too.

The only optic I've had puke on a turkey gun was a $275 Weaver red/green dot. And it happened TWICE with two different ones.

I actually had an early (probably 1997 or 1998 ??) BSA 30mm sight that I got free from Midway when I bought a BSA target scope that rode a 3.5" Super X2 for 15 years.........never losing zero or hiccupping in any way. I took it off the SX2 when I went to the SX3 and put it on the kids' 10-22 where it resides in perfect working condition, yet.

I can also recommend the Burris FF3, I use it on a Benelli 20ga. with the Meadow Creek vent rib mount and loaded with Apex 3” 1 5/8oz #9 or Federal 3” 1 1/2oz #9 TSS.

https://www.meadowcreekmounts.com/