Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires red dot sights

Anyone using a red dot sight on a rimfire for shooting squirrls?

Am wondering if the dot would be small enough for small varmits, or would it cover up too much for head shots?

Am thinking a Ruger American 22 mag with a red dot might work.

Will be shooting mostly at 30 yards. (guarding my bird feeders)

Thanks! Virgil B.

i personally wouldn't have a red-dot on a .22.
On a CF rifle that i needed fast sight acquisition on a larger (read human sized) target, yes and the fact that i don't need to close one eye (unity magnification) is a huge bonus in some situations.
The lack of magnification, and the lack of fine accuracy would preclude me from ever attempting a red-dot for anything but a CQB/SD weapon (shotgun/AR/Handgun).
you can get some excellent scopes designed for rimfire usage for very reasonable prices

Same here, on a large target at relative short ranges for fast acquisition yes.
The red dot sights cover out too much on small targets like squirrels or gophers for accurate head shots.

Thanks guys!

That's what I needed to know.

Have several Leupold rimfire scopes on rifles and am very happy with them.

Guss this is still the best option for me.

Was hoping the red dots would be finer. Never looked at one.

Thanks again! Virgil B.

I disagree firmly about the utility of red dots on rimfires.

Been busting hogs and other vermin with a .22 for about 8 years now and with very few exceptions used a Millett SP-1. It is not top of the line in any regard save performance. Careful use will allow MOAish groups if the gun is capable. Both eyes open, critters die. Those saying otherwise likely have not used them. Aside from the .22 I have one on a Sav 24 (20/.30-30) and a 77/44 Ruger. They are tough and reliable....and cheap. Did I mention light? About 4 oz or a bit less.

Agreed.

I have used them on one rimfire and two levers - a 30-30 and a 45-70. They are small, light and effective. I still use one on my 30-30. Look at the animal with both eyes open, drop the dot on it and pull the trigger. No parallax worries and critters fall over.

Buy a quality red dot (I use Ultradots: best buy out there, in my opinion) with an appropriate dot size and you won't have any of the problems the earlier posters indicated.

Been using a Millett SP-1 for a number of years on rimfires. Sturdy and reliable.

Lots of bang for the bucks.

Thanks for more feed-back!

Going to have a look through some of these.

Virgil B.