Impact M3 - red dot? Holographic?

[jay.c.litzinger]

Anybody using a Red Dot or Holographic on their airgun for small game hunting.

Max distance you shoot?

In another post I asked about FFP versus SFP for squirrel hunting but that seems to be a rabbit hole of its own.

 

[qball]

Impact isn’t really designed for close up shooting so I doubt many have done that. Another issue is the optic rail is rather high above the barrel/center bore so red dots aren’t really practical on a bullpups which all have very high scope rails. 

 

[E_Welch]

I have a Trijicon MRO HD that I use on my M3 compact from time to time . I don't do any hunting but its great for plinking in the back yard and the kids really enjoy it too . 

I have it zeroed at 30 yards and am pretty comfortable with it out to 50 yards( 1" group from a rest) 

Again, I am not a hunter but I would think for 50 yards an in it would be adequate. However, past that I would be too concerned about making humane shots. The drop on (in my case) a .22 pellet is too great and without any real graduations in the optic hold overs would be tricky in my opinion . But it looks cool ! and that's at least 85% of it right ??

 

[jay.c.litzinger]

I know what you mean that it’s not designed for close up shooting… not like it’s being used to clear a room or building.

Not so sure about the rail part but I see your point. I’ve been looking at them and it looks like the rails on some of the powder burners that they are mounted on are pretty high.


Just wondering… seems like it would be a good answer for shots 50-60 yards and less.

 

[biohazardman]

Really limiting yourself with a red dot on an Impact you are. The guns are good for 200+ yard shots the red dot maybe 50 if your eyes are good.

Small game shots are OK if you can hit it with open sights then a red dot is slightly better.

Still most of us like a little magnification for the best shot placement especially on anything past 15 or 20 yards. A scope will likely shrink your red dot groups by 30-50% even at 50 yards.

 

[jay.c.litzinger]

E_Welch,

Yes it does look cool!
Thanks for the feedback.

 

[jay.c.litzinger]

Biohazardman,

Yeah I know what you mean. I have a compact and am trying to get back into squirrel hunting. So far I’ve seen a bunch and nearly all of them are within 50 yards in the woods. So I don’t really have any shots much greater than that. I do have a Athlon Ares BTR 4.5-27 and from the bench in my back yard, I’m shooting 85 yards in 1-1.5 inch groups.


However, in the woods, I’m having trouble finding them in the scope even on 4.5x. Adjusting the parallax is also a pain and slows me up.

 

[qball]

I would highly recommend a 1-6 or 1-8 LPVO with mil or MOA reticle, a lot more versatile with illuminated reticle for heavier shades in the wood. I found my eyes can’t see using red dot with astigmatism and as time goes on it’s getting much worse. Leave it on 1x for 20 yards and closer and target acquisition then flip the lever to 3-4 for shots at 40-50 yards with ease. 


another option is a 3x prism scope with side red dot I would still pick LPVO over that because I can make more precise shots with flick of lever out pass 50 yards easy. 



EDIT: forgot to mention most LPVO scopes do not have side parallax because during squirrel CQB speed is of the essense. just adjust the eyepiece focus for your eyes and the "frame" or the boarder of the image would almost disappear so it's actually faster than a red dot for me. 

 

[E_Welch]

I would highly recommend a 1-6 or 1-8 LPVO with mil or MOA reticle, a lot more versatile with illuminated reticle for heavier shades in the wood. I found my eyes can’t see using red dot with astigmatism and as time goes on it’s getting much worse. Leave it on 1x for 20 yards and closer and target acquisition then flip the lever to 3-4 for shots at 40-50 yards with ease. 


another option is a 3x prism scope with side red dot I would still pick LPVO over that because I can make more precise shots with flick of lever out pass 50 yards easy.

LPVO sounds like a great fit on an Impact!

 

[qball]

I would highly recommend a 1-6 or 1-8 LPVO with mil or MOA reticle, a lot more versatile with illuminated reticle for heavier shades in the wood. I found my eyes can’t see using red dot with astigmatism and as time goes on it’s getting much worse. Leave it on 1x for 20 yards and closer and target acquisition then flip the lever to 3-4 for shots at 40-50 yards with ease. 


another option is a 3x prism scope with side red dot I would still pick LPVO over that because I can make more precise shots with flick of lever out pass 50 yards easy.

LPVO sounds like a great fit on an Impact!

A good LPVO on an Impact compact would be deadly! 

 

[tibor]

not a m3..but a stock impact X 25 cal 700mm...light weight truck gun ..starlings at under 50 yards deadly.

 

[Scouty]

Biohazardman,

Yeah I know what you mean. I have a compact and am trying to get back into squirrel hunting. So far I’ve seen a bunch and nearly all of them are within 50 yards in the woods. So I don’t really have any shots much greater than that. I do have a Athlon Ares BTR 4.5-27 and from the bench in my back yard, I’m shooting 85 yards in 1-1.5 inch groups.


However, in the woods, I’m having trouble finding them in the scope even on 4.5x. Adjusting the parallax is also a pain and slows me up.

I have a 4.5x minimum power scope & it's not enough FOV for me in the woods so I can relate. But I'm guessing it has an even narrower FOV than your Athlon.

If you don't rely on side focus for ranging you might prefer a smaller objective lens for an increased depth of field which makes focus more forgiving. 

I don't have a need for 1x but do have several LPVOs because I can mount them lower. The increased depth of field is a bonus but doesn't make a huge difference to me. But I can see where some would prefer it.

 

[jay.c.litzinger]

Qball, 

Yeah I’m looking at the Burris RT-6 combo. Seems like it might be the best of both worlds. Has a 1-6 and a fast fire red dot. I could keep the LVPO on 4-6x and use the fast fire for the close shots 10-25 yards or so.

Thanks!