Been using fiber optic beads, 2 green rear and I orange front, for about 30 years. Thinking about maybe switching to a red dot for turkey hunting. Shotgun is an 870 express, black metal and wood (which needs refinished, but that's another post). What's everyone's thoughts on brands? Not looking to break the bank, but I know you get what you pay for, cry once buy once kinda thing. Dad had a cheap one on his turkey gun and after a dozen or so shots it won't hold zero any more.

My 13 year old has a sig Romeo 5 on it I think. First it was on a 300 black out pistol and then I out it on his turkey gun. It works well. Locally they were about $220 when I bought it but I got it foe $ 120 off psa web sight whan I waS geting parts to put the 300 black out together.

I have a Truglo red dot on my turkey gun and love it. Has red for bright days and green for low light or dimmer days. Can’t say I haven’t missed with it, but it’s sure helped me keep my head down and reduce my number of misses considerably.

Try swinging it on a target and see if it sights ok doing that I tried optics before for standing they were great moving not so much. Never used a red dot much so that might be different then regular optics.

Have a truglo on my 870, I really like it. Eric

If I were to put one on a turkey I'd consider one of these.

https://www.primaryarms.com/holosun-paralow-hs503g-red-dot-sight-acss-reticle

https://www.primaryarms.com/primary...n-illuminated-acss-cyclops-gen-2-reticle

Reason, the reticle.



Probably go with the microprism as I have astigmatism and some red dots don't work for me.

I have several my go to gun has a Burris speed dot It has handled the 3 1/2 well.

Check out Ultradot Red Dots - not expensive and durable. Many used on heavy recoiling handguns. I'm very satisfied with mine at the price point.

I have gone through two tru glos, I have switched to Bushnells and been quite happy.

I have an older tru-glo on one gun and a micro from primary arms on another both have served me well, it is a game changer in that you are often forced to shoot from awkward positions where a great check weld is not possible and with a traditional bead this often results in a miss, with the bead if you can see the bead and get it on target you have a hit no matter how your head is positioned relative to the gun now the recoil is another story . I only use the dots on turkey, predator, and slug guns, I have not tried shooting flying targets with them, I don't know how well they would work for that.

Thats exactly why I am thinking of switching. Odd angles, trying to line beads up, etc have lead to a few misses. I've used red dots on friends' guns, and they seem pretty nice.

This is a dedicated turkey gun. I am not a good wing shooter, so moving turkeys are out of the question. For other birds and rabbits, I'll grab my 20 gage side by side.

Fast Fire III…have one on my 20ga for the past 7-8 years or so. Change battery every two years, sometimes after a year. Auto brightness and can cycle through brightness. Can’t complain one bit, I know if red is on red then it’s dead. They’re easy to sight in as well.

What I would recommend is no matter which you choose, if it’s not flush mounted, take it out and shoot skeet with it. Mine is on a saddle for a Remington 870 so it sits a little higher. I didn’t have an issue with it, but some people do due to the fact the gun isn’t to your cheekbone.

decent budget options are Sig Romeo 5 and Vortex crossfire

I have the crossfire on my 870 , I am also running a Magpul stock with high cheek rest which lines up the eye perfect

on an express used as a turkey gun I would paint it camo my son did that

get that rust off some steel wool and hoppes foaming cleaner or blue wonder , or cva bore gel they all disolve rust .
the cva and blue wonder are same thing different tube as best I can tell.
then degrease , tape off and spray with a lighter color rustoleum camo paint then layer in the darker

test your cammo skills on some other things first , mesh laundry bag makes an interesting camo breakup pattern but leaves and stuff work well also
my 870 police 20 inch slug barrel I had tapped for rem-choke

sons 21 inch barrel 870 express picked up used at a local shop

870 express after the camo job


I have shot trap with mine first time out 23 and the 2 were me trying to go too fast I was on very fast out of the house and was running a full choke , I slowed back down just a touch after I missed the 2 and hit all the rest , I knew it was me when I broke the trigger I had over swung. if the red is on the clay it is dust.

Nice looking guns Pete. I camo'd my AR, and even though it loomks ugly, it blends well with the grasses, corn stubble and cattails I am usually in qhen using it. The finish on the wood is just about gone, not much rust at all, what little there is is inside the magazine and one tiny spot by the front fiber optic.

If I go the red dot route, what saddles are best to mount it on?

In this case, I think you will love having a red dot on your shotgun. I would hate to go back to a bead or rifle sights after using the dot.

Depending on budget I have one with nikon spur not made anymore the other is a vortex . Both low profiles lit pricey but worth it. If you never used one i get a true glow much bigger site picture cheaper but durable I have one on a 1187 20 ga I use for new guys and I'll take it out some it's been a good red dot for o er 12 years and always holds its zero and it's priced good

Depending on budget I have one with nikon spur not made anymore the other is a vortex . Both low profiles lit pricey but worth it. If you never used one i get a true glow much bigger site picture cheaper but durable I have one on a 1187 20 ga I use for new guys and I'll take it out some it's been a good red dot for o er 12 years and always holds its zero and it's priced good

drill and tap , I have not liked an of the saddles I have tried

I have a guy in Monroe drill and tap was costing me 40 so when you figure the price of a saddle it was easier for me to drop off the gun and let him drill and tap it and put the weaver rail on.

also if I hunt in the rain I want to be able to break the gun down and get it dry and oiled and not worry if my zero will be right after putting a saddle back on.

As you can see the sig Romeo 5 works well as intended.

exactly because it doesn't matter how your head lands or the awkward position your in if the dot is on the target that is where the round is headed .

I shot one buck at first light from a tree stand it had snuck behind me , he heard me when I moved a little so I couldn't move my feet any more , it was an over my shoulder contorted couldn't stretch any further shot with the gun half upside down but I had dot on a good spot on the deer , pulled the trigger and round hit exactly where the dot was.