Ten years ago, people would tell you that you were crazy if you wanted to use a red dot for duck hunting. That’s because, as they say, duck hunting is more about instinct and less about “aiming” like you would with a regular sight.
However, there is evidence to support that red dots can be useful for duck hunters. They’ve been tested by professional shooters for some time now, and in trials, shooters hit 24%[1]https://www.wildfowlmag.com/editorial/aimpoint-micro-s1-red-dot-sight/368902 more targets using a red dot optic.
Best Red Dot Sights For Shotgun Duck Hunting
So, what should you be looking for if you want to purchase a red dot for a duck gun? Well, most likely, you’d want an optic that is lightweight, preferably waterproof, paralax-free, and has good brightness in different lighting conditions. Here’s our list of the top red dots for shotgun duck hunting!
Aimpoint Micro S-1
Aimpoint has been working hard to market their Micro red dot for various forms of bird hunting. They have been well received in Europe, and in Sweden, where huge geese populations have become a problem, the Aimpoint helps to take them out. The hunters behind this effort found that the Aimpoint red dot boosted their success rate by 20%, not too shabby!
This particular red dot is also very easy to mount, and it doesn’t require any modifications to your shotgun. The Aimpoint Micro mounts right to the rib of most shotguns, making it an easy way to add a red dot to your shotgun hunting arsenal.
While it’s pretty pricey, it is one of the best red dots for wing shooting, and it will also work nicely for turkey, deer, and hog hunting.
Click here to check prices and availability for the Aimpoint Micro
Trijicon RMR
The Trijicon RMR is an excellent sight for wing shooting. Targeting is quick, and it does a great job of following moving targets. You don’t have to wait for the red dot to be centered. If it’s on the target, you can fire.
This red dot is lightweight, making it a great choice for shotguns, and its low profile keeps it out of your way while still allowing for good targeting. It’s also extremely durable, allowing it to take heavy recoil and accidental damage. Oh yeah, and it’s waterproof, which is definitely a bonus!
The Trijicon RMR also has 6.5 MOA instead of a 2.5m MOA. While not as versatile as a smaller red dot, if you intend to use it mostly for duck hunting, you can simply put the dot on the bird and fire, making it a great choice. Many duck hunters prefer 6-8 MOA for this reason.
An RMR is also easy to mount on a number of different weapons. This allows you to get more use out of the sight rather than investing in a one-trick pony. Your RMR will happily sit on your shotguns, rifles, and even pistols.
Click here to check prices and availability for the Trijicon RMR
Delta Pointe Pro
This super compact red dot is extremely rugged, accurate, and parallax free. It will allow you to take shots from angles that aren’t ideal, getting you more birds.
It features a low-profile design that does not limit your field of view, and it has a battery-saving “motion wake” feature. Your red dot will shut off after five minutes of inactivity but will reactivate as soon as you pick up your gun.
For high-powered firearms users, this sight will be particularly attractive. That’s because Leupold puts their optics through “the Punisher”, a recoil machine simulator which applies 3x the recoil of a .308, and the optics must survive 5,000 rounds to pass. Not to mention the fact that Leupold offers a lifetime guarantee on all of their optics, and they’re made in the USA!
Click here to check prices and availability for the Delta Pointe Pro
Burris Speed Bead
While the above sights are the best of the best, we understand that they could be outside the average Outdoorsman’s budget. If that’s the case for you, or you just don’t want to spend much on a shotgun sight, you may want to look at the Burris Speed Bead.
This shotgun red dot is also lightweight, waterproof, and shockproof, but it comes with a much more attractive price tag. It’s actually the Burris Fast Fire 3, but with a shotgun-capable mount.
The only problem with this particular sight? Some hunters claim that the fit for certain rifles is not great. So, check carefully before you purchase it, or buy it from an online retailer like Amazon with a good no-questions-asked return policy.
Click here to check prices and availability for the Speed Bead
Vortex Venom
The Vortex Venom is an affordable, easy-to-use, and versatile red dot. It can be mounted on a wide range of equipment; including rifles, shotguns, and pistols. Plus, it’s backed by Vortex’s fantastic VIP warranty which covers pretty much any accidental damage.
However, it’s not perfect, and if you read the reviews online you’ll see that while most people are happy, there are some quality control issues. Most complaints seem to be about an annoying battery cover, and issues getting the sight to work.
If you can get past these issues though and you don’t want to spend a ton of money on a red dot, the Venom is an affordable red dot that is also parallax free. (Not all cheaper red dots are, so check the fine print before you buy.)
Click here to check prices and availability for the Vortex Venom
References
| ↑1 | https://www.wildfowlmag.com/editorial/aimpoint-micro-s1-red-dot-sight/368902 |
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