Many hunters, owners smoothbore weapons 12 gauge riflemen are faced with the challenge of choosing a decent red dot sight for their rifle. When shooting at short distances, the target is clearly visible even to the naked eye, so there is absolutely no need to install more bulky optical sights that upset the balance of the gun.

Naturally, when choosing a collimator for a 12-gauge smoothbore, the question arises about the sight’s resistance to powerful recoil. Of course, when buying Docter or Aimpoint, you can be 99% confident in the trouble-free operation of the device. However, often the task is to purchase a relatively inexpensive but reliable sight.

It is also important to clearly understand the goals that the shooter pursues when choosing a collimator. And it's better to be prepared before purchasing.

For example, there are still heated debates among hunters about whether a collimator is needed on a 12k smoothbore at all. And neither side in this dispute can win.

Proponents of the use of collimators confidently claim that their shooting has improved both in aimed shooting and in “offhand” shooting. At the same time, shooters often provide reasoned and documented reports in the form of photos of shot targets. And, as you know, it is difficult to argue with a practitioner based on only one theory. The theory, by the way, just speaks of the usefulness of using collimator sights (“CP”) in terms of improving the rate of fire, and at the same time with better hit statistics. After all, in essence, if you shoot only at the barrel, then before firing the shooter performs the following algorithm (in short):

1. He raised his weapon and put it down
2. Combined the bar with the front sight and target
3. Shot

The second point plays a very important role. It must be done quickly and accurately. And since you need to combine three points, the hunter, if he is not an athlete with a crazy shot, often misses. Well, in any case, some more often, some less often, but everyone applies it. Our brain and eye are not fast enough to instantly combine three objects for an unmistakable hit, so it will take some time for the brain to “process” the information (and therefore, experienced shooters often make such a shot without thinking, relying on experience and intuition to reduce the time of the shot , and at the same time have very good results).

When the shooter uses a collimator, only two objects need to be aligned: the aiming point and the target. Obviously, it is much easier for the brain to perceive this information to make a much faster decision about the correct insertion and assess the accuracy of the shot. Be that as it may, having a collimator, the shooter must still have good experience in throwing up with a quick and correct application if he wants the collimator not to turn out to be just an expensive and unnecessary toy on the weapon. It is not enough to simply buy a collimator in the hope that you will now fill your entire basement with game stew. No, this cannot be achieved without experience. And when experience is achieved, such a shooter no longer thinks about stew.

When choosing a 12k collimator, it is also worth considering what the shooter plans to shoot from. After all, in the same disputes between hunters, both sides came to a more or less unambiguous conclusion: for a bullet, a collimator is not so bad. But for fractions, we argue further. In any case, even if the shooter shoots with shot, how much the presence of a collimator will interfere is still a question, but with some skill it can even help. So in this case, you shouldn’t put aside the purchase of a collimator. Take a couple of shots from a friend's gun that has a CP installed to see if you're interested. However, remember, if the CP is new to you, then keep in mind that when shooting with a collimator, you need to aim with both eyes! Here it will be difficult to cope with the practiced habit of squinting the other eye, but the essence of the collimator is precisely that it assumes that the shooter does not waste time playing blind man's buff, but simply sees a point on the target and fires a shot. All.

Very important point in choosing a collimator is an understanding of how the shooter will install this CP on his weapon. Is it equipped with the required rail? If not, can it be equipped? If so, which one? Dovetail or Picatinny rail. Or maybe the hunter has a ventilated bar (very often), in which case you need to make sure that the collimator he has his eye on can be installed on a ventilated bar. In any case, if a master will install the CP for you, it is better to ask him if it is possible to screw the CP that you like onto your weapon. And if you dare to place the CP on a ventilated rail, be careful in your choice, because the mixture of a heavy sight and powerful recoil can adversely affect the rail itself, since it may turn out to be too soft, and recoil can bend it if the collimator is installed without taking this feature into account.

Since we are talking about recoil, it is quite natural that you need to choose a control unit that can handle it. I remember, when I was still a boy, I went hunting with my stepfather. For me, he fired a light charge, and I almost didn’t feel the recoil, although I was frightened by bruised shoulders. But here we are sitting on the reeds, my stepfather’s gun is ready, I’m barely breathing next to him, and then a duck flies up, about six of them. I don’t know how it happened, but after the shot my stepfather found himself thrown onto the reeds. And he is a guy of enviable size and weight. The collimator will have to withstand powerful recoil many times. You need to be sure that after the very first shots the collimator glass will not fly out, or the dot will not begin to “float” as it wants. In this case, you will have to rely on the experience and honesty of the seller, you should turn to the forums for help, or maybe your friend has a CP that has served him faithfully for more than one year. IN Lately Collimators have become very common on 12k smoothbores, so some experience with recoil for the most popular models has long been available. An honest seller will always tell you which model holds returns and which one is best avoided. At the same time, it is not always the case that a collimator that is guaranteed to withstand recoil will be very expensive. Often, even expensive gearboxes cannot withstand the load, and the point begins to “float”. But you shouldn’t go for the cheapest sights either, because this way you can buy a CP, which at most can be installed on an airsoft weapon.

Another thing worth thinking about when choosing a 12-gauge collimator is what type it is: open or closed. Here we will not go into too much detail, but will only confine ourselves to the fact that the open one is lightweight, but it is very unlikely to work in bad weather, the closed one is larger, heavier, but you can still shoot with it in bad weather. You can read more about the types of collimators.

In conclusion, I would like to write only the following (after all, we are a store, and as sellers we also have some experience). Based on the many years of experience of our store employees and our customers - experienced shooters, we can confidently recommend a number of open and closed collimators that will definitely not let you down on the hunt. Thus, among the most compact devices are open collimators Delta Optical MiniDot, Delta Optical MiniDot HD 24, Delta Optical MiniDot HD 26, Hawke RD1x WP Digital Control (Weaver), Konus Sight-Pro Fission 2.0. By the way, these models are also popular among shooters with 7.62x39 carbines. Closed collimators include Delta Optical MultiDot HD 36, Hawke RD1x30M WP (9-11mm), Hawke RD1x30M WP (Weaver), Konus Sight-Pro TR. You can be sure that you can easily shoot these sights, and they will definitely not let you down “in battle.” The “survivability” of the listed sights has been tested over the years. And we specifically do not cite Docter, Burris and Zeiss as examples here; these collimators are quite expensive and at the same time have strong brand support: everyone already knows them, but not everyone can afford them, which is why many shooters are looking for something more affordable , but reliable.

One of the most popular optical devices for hunting or sports shooting (after weapons, of course) is a scope. It is designed to simplify aiming the weapon at the desired target. Manufacturers today make a variety of models that can be used for different types of rifles, both firearms and air rifles.

Modern sights have high-quality optics, as well as a lightweight and shockproof body made of aircraft-grade aluminum. Most owners of hunting carbines and air rifles equip them with an optical sight, which fully reveals the potential of precision weapons.

The online store site offers a wide selection of models from reputable global manufacturers. The sights presented in the catalog are made of reliable, high-strength materials that can withstand heavy loads and have a long service life.

Which optical sight to buy for a hunting rifle

When choosing, it is important that the model matches the weapon with which you will interact. You should understand at what distances you plan to shoot, what will be external conditions, the caliber of the weapon and what goals the shooter is pursuing. First of all, you should pay attention to such parameters as the magnification and diameter of the lens, the tightness of the body, resistance to recoil, mounting brackets and an aiming reticle.

The online store site offers sports shooting at affordable prices. Delivery is possible to any city in Russia. If you have any questions, our specialists will provide professional advice and help you make your choice.

A device that directs the beam of the aiming mark into the shooter's eye parallel to the rays that form the image of the terrain in the sight lens. Therefore, no matter how the shooter moves his eye relative to the lens, the position of the aiming mark will still correspond to the aiming line. This feature significantly speeds up the search for a target through the sight and the alignment of the aiming mark with the outline of the target.

When choosing such a high-precision device, a red dot sight is usually compared with traditional optics. When selecting a sight for the most common type of hunting weapon - 12-gauge shotguns - the collimator has the following important advantages:

• The range of an accurate shot from a smooth-bore weapon is limited to a distance of 100 - 120 m. At such a distance, the ability to zoom in on the target is not needed, which means that the characteristics of the optical sight are clearly redundant. Or, in other words, the scope is more accurate than the shotgun itself. And since the characteristics of a complex optical sight are redundant, there is no need to overpay for them. The characteristics of the collimator sight are fully consistent with the capabilities of the weapon itself.
• When hunting with a smooth-bore weapon, shooting in most cases is done offhand. The time that can be spent aiming under such conditions is minimal, and hesitation in aiming will almost certainly result in a miss. The aiming speed through a collimator is much higher than the aiming speed with traditional optics, so the choice should be made in favor of a collimator.
• Aiming through a red dot sight does not deprive the shooter of the ability to use both eyes, and the narrow frame of an open red dot sight does not interfere with observing the movement of the target. This allows you to quickly adjust your sight when shooting at a moving target, for example, flying game. An optical sight often does not provide such an opportunity.
• Shooting from a 12-gauge shotgun is usually carried out with shot ammunition, which means that in order to hit, it is not necessary to align the aiming line as accurately as possible. Consequently, aiming through the collimator will be quite effective and fast.

What to look for when choosing a scope?

Today you can find a wide selection of collimators on the shelves of hunting stores. Sights for every taste and budget, built on various designs and made of different materials, domestic and foreign... But how to choose the appropriate option for 12 gauge among this variety?

First of all, you should pay attention to the characteristics of your weapon. 12 gauge has a powerful cartridge, and therefore greater recoil. Shooting from such weapons is usually carried out offhand, and the weapon itself has quite a heavy weight. Knowing these characteristics, it is clear that when choosing a collimator you should pay attention to the following:

• Sight type. Open collimators with a single lens enclosed in a thin frame are best suited for 12-gauge smoothbore weapons. They provide the fastest aiming and are comfortable when tracking a moving target or quickly carrying the device. But closed collimators are better left for other weapons.
• Mounting type. There is diversity here beyond your wildest expectations. Many scopes are sold complete with mounts, while for others (for example), you will have to purchase a mounting base separately. Before purchasing, you should check which type of mount will fit your weapon. Or bring the gun to the store so you can try on the scope before purchasing and make sure it can be installed.
• Type of aiming mark. Modern sights can have one mark (most often a dot), or several switchable ones - a dot, crosshair, circle and their combinations. The diameter of the reticle dot is expressed in MOA. For a 12 gauge shotgun, sights with large dots (at least 7 MOA) or a circle mark are best.
• Reticle brightness. As a rule, a good scope should have at least 5 reticle brightness levels. But here it is worth starting from a real need: if you plan to hunt at dusk, then such a variety of brightness modes will be really useful. But for hunting during the day, fewer adjustment modes may be sufficient.
• Sight power supply. The batteries must be sufficiently reliable and not drain when low temperatures Oh. It is believed that button batteries are quickly discharged in the cold, so during a winter hunt you can suddenly be left without a scope due to a dead battery. But modern high-quality lithium batteries do not have this drawback.
• Price. Usually the price of a high-quality red dot sight is quite high. There are many options for cheap Chinese-made collimators, but the possibility of them effective use on 12 gauge is extremely doubtful. A powerful 12-gauge cartridge creates high recoil, and low-quality cheap sights are very poorly protected from this. Therefore, such a “high-precision element” may lose its settings after each shot.

Review of 12 gauge red dot sights

• . Very high quality collimator made in Germany. The advantages of the sight are high-quality Zeiss-class optics, automatic adjustment of the brightness of the aiming mark, very compact size and low weight. It is worth considering that Docter sights do not have brackets for attaching to weapons, so the sighting base will have to be purchased separately. This makes the sight more versatile, but forces you to spend extra money on purchasing a sighting base.
• . Inexpensive scope, well suited for hunting in winter conditions. Even with cold weather The manufacturer guarantees the absence of negative effects such as a decrease in the brightness of the aiming mark or premature battery discharge. The device weighs little and withstands recoil or accidental impact well. This makes the scope popular among outdoor hunting enthusiasts.
• . Another device from SightMark. Its main advantages are its compactness and wide viewing angle. Thanks to its small size and compact mounting base, this scope will not snag on branches or grass. Its lens is enclosed in a narrow body, which practically does not interfere with the sight when carrying it.
• An affordable wide-angle collimator, very convenient for hunting moving game (for example, a hare). The aiming mark can be adjusted in brightness and size. The weight of the sight is small, and the characteristics are quite sufficient for effective hunting. The sight withstands recoil well, so it can be mounted even on 12 gauge.
• The Redring Mark II is a very high quality scope for 12 gauge shooting. This device was developed by the coach of the Swedish skeet shooting team. The aiming mark is made in the form of a ring, the diameter of which very well corresponds to the diameter of the shotgun at a 100-meter distance. The sight holds recoil perfectly and provides greater accuracy of hits on fast-flying game. The only drawback is the high price.

Thus, a properly selected red dot sight will be quite effective when used with 12 gauge hunting weapons. But when choosing a scope, you should carefully study its characteristics and mounting method.

GSS 30-12-2008 03:30

Well, the time has actually come to examine the question of the actual use of CP on hunting weapons. Is the collimator even suitable for our hunts and climatic conditions, is it convenient for the average hunter? We will try to address these and other questions below.
First of all, it must be said that the KP, in comparison with other sighting devices, has a number of generally recognized and important advantages. Namely:
1. Simplicity and speed of aiming. When using a CP, the shooter has to align only two points on the axis: the target and the reticle. That is, the aiming mark (Red Dot) is simply aimed at the target. Since the mark itself is a point projected at infinity, the target will be visible to the shooter as clearly (sharply) as possible, since his gaze is completely focused on it. Whereas when aiming at a sighting bar with a front sight, or even more so a front and rear sight, it becomes necessary to focus your gaze on one of these elements. In this case, no matter how hard you try, you won’t be able to see the target as clearly as possible, because that’s how the accommodative apparatus works: the human eye has a certain depth of field.
This feature of the CP determines its ease of use in sports bullet shooting. Many have already appreciated the advantage of aiming at a sharply defined circle of a target over aiming the front sight at a blurry black circle.
Now let's imagine how this works on a hunt. Actually, you don’t need to imagine anything, just try turning on your home computer and starting any shooting simulator. It looks about the same. You see the aiming mark (in the computer this is the image of the front sight, crosshairs, or the same red dot, in the case of simulating a collimator sight) and see the target. Moreover, both images are visible equally clearly. All that remains is to point the mark at the target. The shooter observes the same thing when hunting. At first, this feeling of the unreality of what was happening did not leave me. Then it gradually became a habit. One more feature should be noted. Since the mark itself is projected to infinity, the aiming line also appears to the shooter as infinitely long. Therefore, when looking through the sight, the shooter has a feeling of confidence that the projectile will reach the target. This is an undoubted advantage when shooting at a distance of 50 m. Although this illusion can cause some problems for novice hunters, since one should not forget that, unlike the aiming line, the flight distance of a projectile in a smooth-bore weapon is very limited.
From my own experience, I would like to note that the use of CP gives the hunter a lot of interesting and beautiful moments. I'll give just one example. At the next autumn paddock, a fox came out to my number. At first, not noticing my presence, she jumped up to me at a distance of about 7 meters. Finally, seeing something towering above the grass, the firefly stopped and froze, looking at the looming obstacle in surprise. I managed to carefully raise the gun so as not to scare the beast. What I saw, many have seen, perhaps, only in a Hollywood movie: the red head of a fox, half rising above the yellowed autumn grass, two wary, surprised red eyes and a red dot clearly between them. So I held the mark on the fox's forehead for three seconds. And then with a movement of his hand he scared her away, since there was no command to shoot the fox, and the “enemy” had already been “conditionally destroyed.”
The next striking example is shooting at a moose from 50 meters away, when all the features of its morphology were visible. It would be simply impossible to achieve such a result with an open sight. Another feature is the subjective feeling of the unreality of what is happening. The shooter observes the target through the sight glass. The body itself seems to isolate the shooter from outside world and separates him from the goal. To some extent, this allows you to cope with anxiety and gain the necessary confidence in the shot.

2. Accuracy and convenience when shooting. This feature is determined by the fact that the use of CP allows one to navigate in corrections for exceeding and lowering the average point of impact of the bullet at different distances. Needless to say, in order to use this feature of his sight, the owner must shoot it well at a certain distance and know how much the STP shifts when deviating from the shooting distance. In this case, the elevation and decrease of the STP are easily selected by the shooter, who, out of habit, is guided by the gap between the mark itself and the body of the sight. All this also gives the shooter confidence in the shot and insures him against possible errors in the form of overestimation or underestimation.
The same effect can be achieved when using standard sighting devices, but only at the cost of long training. And the time for remembering and selecting an aiming point during a hunt is very limited.
The same effect allows you to choose the lead wisely. We can say that with no sighting device it is impossible to select the lead as quickly and accurately as the right number figures. Of course, for a shotgun shot this is not particularly important, since the spread of the shot ensures reliable hit of the target if the direction in which the projectile will be sent is correctly chosen. This is the convenience of aiming uphand along the bar, or as hunters say, “along the trunks.” However, it is quite difficult to call such shooting actually targeted. Rather, it is a technique to “hook” the target with a shower of shot. The method, of course, is time-tested and fast, but... When firing bullets at a moving target, the result of the shot entirely depends on the accuracy of the choice of lead. The CP allows you to shoot at a running animal at a glance with the highest possible (within the allotted time interval) aiming accuracy. This eliminates the factors of nervousness and vagueness of the target, which lead to the “wandering” of the front sight and, as a result, a miss.
This advantage of using a CP allowed the author to completely abandon grapeshot shots while hunting. While many hunters prefer buckshot to a bullet and use a bullet cartridge only if the probability of release is very large animal. As a result, there are no permanently disappeared wounded animals hit by one or two buckshots.
Let me give you a small example. During one of the driven hunts for roe deer, the shooter standing in the room next to me shot twice at the animal that came out at him. At the same time, the only thing he was to blame for was the face of the beast. “Full face”, so to speak. The double-barreled shotgun was loaded with large eight-millimeter buckshot. As a result, the buckshot, flying around the muzzle, shot off one of the goat’s ears and the goat, marked by the “good” hunter, serenely galloped away. As a result of the “debriefing”, it was found out that the shooter from that number, instead of taking a little lower, shot at the visible part, since psychologically he could not bring himself to aim the front sight below the head of the roe deer, which he also could not clearly see on grass background. If many errors had been installed on that hunter’s weapon, perhaps it would have been possible to avoid and the long-awaited trophy would have been obtained.

3. Possibility of aiming from awkward positions and constant control of the target. Due to the peculiarities of projecting the mark, the CP allows the shooter to aim from a variety of positions. Including uncomfortable ones. The shooter does not need to rigidly fix his head on the butt. Although it would never hurt to do so. You just need to point the mark at the target. This advantage is clearly manifested when hunting from a concealed position, when you have to open fire from an initially unfavorable and unstable position, and there is no time to properly insert the gun. This advantage of the CP has long been appreciated by athletes from “practical shooting” (IPSC). Therefore, the presence of CP on their weapons has already become a ubiquitous phenomenon. And the collimator itself received well-deserved recognition.
The only negative. Due to the fact that the sight is in any case installed higher than the standard sights, the aiming line will also be raised above the barrel. As a result, the shooter’s head can no longer be fixed to the original stock in a “classical manner”. The head is no longer fixed with the cheek, but with the chin. Which, in principle, can be noticeably manifested in the form of a blow to him. There are two ways to solve this problem. The first is building up the ridge of the butt and installing cheek pads (similar to those used on SVD). The second is to forget about this and get used to fixing your head as is, remembering the experience of WWII snipers armed with three-line rifles with PU sights on the Kochetov bracket, which showed excellent results and without any “excesses” (the sight was mounted high and the head was also fixed on the butt chin). On my own behalf, I’ll add that I took the second path and, after a certain amount of time, I stopped noticing the inconvenience in the tab. In addition, for me, such a “specific” tab turned out to be even more convenient, and, importantly, faster.
As for target control, the CP has a pleasant feature, thanks to which a moving (running, flying) target is constantly in the hunter’s field of vision in any direction of its movement and is not obscured by the body of the weapon. Thus, shooting using a CP is always carried out with precision. Let us remind you that correct aiming through the CP is carried out by two with open eyes. This allows the shooter to maximize his vision potential.

4. Possibility of shooting at dark time days. Actually, this advantage of CP is obvious. Shooting with it is possible as long as the silhouette of the target is still visible. No fiber optic front sight, of course, can provide such an effect.
In general, it should be noted that the above advantages of using CP open the way for it into the world of amateur and sport hunting. Perhaps soon the “sight” on a hunter’s smoothbore gun will no longer look so unusual.
By the way, as the hunter who marked the roe deer with a shot later admitted to me, the first thing he remembered when he lowered his gun was that same “red dot” that he had seen with me the day before.

All experienced hunters and those involved in sports shooting recommend choosing a collimator to “pump up” your gun. It is the collimator sight for 12-gauge smooth-bore weapons that is a rational option. With its help, the speed of preparation for a shot is significantly increased - you just need to point the marker beam at the target. Thanks to a special device, the shooter's eye is at a safe distance from the sight. This eliminates the possibility of injury from recoil. A collimator is an indispensable assistant for a novice hunter or if the shooter does not have good vision.

Using a collimator for smoothbore weapons (rather than traditional optics) is preferable. First of all, you should take into account the fact that any shotgun has a limited firing range. Even if the charge is amplified, this limitation will be about 120 m. Multiple magnification at such a distance is not required, and therefore optics will be superfluous.

It is also important to consider the method of firing a shotgun. As a rule, fishing is carried out by walking, that is, the hunter shoots offhand. Any delay in such a matter will lead to failure. Therefore, an optical sight will be useless here.

Classification

The Aimpoint Micro H1 case design has good water resistance

A red dot sight is an ideal option for a hunting shotgun. But before you purchase it, you should know that such “tuning” has several varieties in terms of characteristics.

Energy consumption type

Regarding this parameter, modern collimator sights are:

1. With removable batteries. Such batteries are installed in almost all modern sights of this type. Due to the fact that such designs operate on batteries, their aiming mark is characterized by continuous burning. This is a convenient and practical type of sight, which allows for convenient removal of the battery - without dismantling the entire structure.
2. Working offline. Such designs have a built-in battery, the resource of which is enough for several years of operation of the device. For example, modern military-type collimators can operate for 5-8 years using a standard battery. Such devices are not afraid of complex weather conditions, since their housing reliably protects the battery from external influences. Such designs contain fiber optic front sights.

Appearance of the case

The body design of collimators from different manufacturers may be different. However, there are two main design options:

1. Closed. This collimator, installed on smoothbore shotguns, looks like a standard optical sight, only slightly shortened. Such designs require the presence of several lenses. They are perfectly protected from negative influence environment and are distinguished by darkening the aiming area. Features of the models closed type are their compactness. At the same time, they are very durable and can withstand very strong recoil, which makes it possible to install such structures on large-caliber weapons.
2. Open. This type of sights has a relatively simple design, which determines their low cost. Open type models can be installed on almost any smoothbore weapon. It is optimal to use them for hunting under standard conditions. Since they have only one lens installed, they are called single-lens. The main advantage of open collimator sights is the ease of shooting from them: the device is small and has little weight, and therefore the view is not blocked by the sight body, and the image from the lens is clear and undistorted.

Mark projection method

The collimator has proven itself well when shooting at a fast-moving target

A very important parameter that is often neglected by novice hunters. However, the accuracy of the shot often depends on the way the mark is projected. Let's look at the types of sights regarding this parameter in more detail:

1. Classic. On the front of the device there is a lens onto which the tag is projected. It can be in the shape of a square, a dot or a dot in a circle, or crossed straight lines.
2. Holographic. This is an open sight that is ideal for shotguns. The aiming mark here is on the hologram and is visualized laser beam. Both three-dimensional and conventional aiming reticles can be applied to such a mark. The advantage is that they are always visible to the hunter, no matter the level of illumination at the location. In addition, they are always located in the center, even if the shooter is looking from different angles. Holographic collimators are more expensive when compared to other models.
3. Dioptric. They are characterized by the fact that they provide high shot accuracy, which is achieved due to a large aiming line. Also, in diopter models, the combination of the front sight and the aperture-hole is simplified, which increases the speed of aiming. This makes them an excellent choice for recreational hunters.

There are several options based on the type of fastening: dovetail, Weaver or ventilated. On the market you can find models with laser designators, with magnification or with interchangeable aiming marks.

Benefits of use

The variety of models described above combines several important advantages. Among them:

• Simplicity and high speed of aiming. If in an open sight you need to compare the rear sight and the front sight, and then the target and the rear sight, then with a collimator everything is simpler. The mark, which is reflected from the lens, combines both the front sight and the rear sight. Due to this, the human eye focuses faster, making it easier to shoot.
• The dimensions of the target are not distorted. If we compare the collimator and optical models, the first one has minimal distortion. From the school physics course we know that any magnifying glass distorts objects, especially lenses. To notice this, just look at its edges. The collimator on smoothbore guns does not magnify the image, and the lens itself has a concave shape to reflect the beam.
• Provides a wide field of view. Characteristic feature The advantage of the sight is that you can aim without closing your other eye, which is especially important when using 12 gauge. In this case, the device body disappears from view, only the aiming mark remains in the field of view. This means that the view is almost limitless.
• The weight of the device is significantly less compared to other varieties. This is necessary not only to reduce the overall weight of the gun. The lightness of the collimator allows the hunter to aim faster and shoot more accurately, without having to focus on holding the weapon level.

Based on this, we can conclude that the red dot sight is excellent for short-range shooting at large and fast game.

How to choose a collimator sight for smooth-bore weapons

When choosing, you should focus on newer and more advanced models

When choosing a red dot sight for a 12-gauge shotgun, you should pay attention to open-type models. Their advantages are that they are compact and provide a really good overview.

If we're talking about about closed sights, you can only use holographic models, but in no case old-style designs, in which it was necessary to close one eye to aim.

Mounting type

There are many sights on the modern market equipped with universal clamps. And they should be given priority first. This is due to two reasons:

1. In this case, you do not have to try on a scope for your gun in the store. Therefore, you can leave the weapon at home and not worry that the purchased device will not fit it.
2. Very often, hunters change weapons. This is explained by the fact that new and more modern models often appear on the modern market. In addition, over time, the needs of a particular hunter may change. By purchasing a scope with a universal mount, you will not have to change it when changing weapons.

Power supply

Most experts agree that the most preferable in this case is the battery. The disadvantage of battery-type elements is their high sensitivity to low temperatures, which has an extremely negative impact on the functioning of the sight when used in winter time.

Modern batteries do not have this drawback, so the process of hunting in winter will be more convenient when using these batteries.

Brightness adjustment limits

Sightmark panoramic red dot sight

It should be remembered that good scopes have at least 5 interchangeable marks. Such sights can be successfully used in low light conditions, but they are also somewhat more expensive than simple models.

Adjusting the brightness will be an excellent option for sitting. However, when conducting a running hunt in daytime This function will not be useful for a day.

Types of tags

Various collimator manufacturers can equip their devices with different types marks. The most popular options are:

• single point;
• intersecting lines;
• dot in a circle;
• triangle, etc.

When choosing a scope, experts advise trying each of the options described above. In this case there is no concept best choice, since each hunter has his own concept of convenience. In this case, it would be useful to clarify the specific distance at which a particular sight will be effective.

Rating of the best models

The device is not afraid of falls and shocks

In addition to reviewing the main characteristics of modern red dot sights, it would be useful to consider the most popular models of such designs. By choosing one of the devices described below, you can be completely confident in its high quality and reliability.

So, the best models collimator sights for 12 gauge smoothbore weapons are:

1. Sightmark SM13001-DT. This open-type sight is compact in size and weighs only 60 grams. Despite its small dimensions, this is a serious optical device, since it has impressive adjustment capabilities and a capacious battery designed for 270 hours of use. If you are looking for a collimator for a 12-gauge shotgun, then this option will be an excellent option for hunting hares and ducks.
2. Sightmark SM13003B-DT. A good option for those people who prefer active hunting. If you are looking for a reliable and durable aiming device, then this model will appeal to you. The device is protected from impacts, but at the same time remains light and compact, without weighing down the gun. Long battery life is ensured even in severe frosts. At maximum illumination, the battery can last more than a day.
3. An excellent choice is also the SIGHTMARK SM13001-(6MM-8MM) model, which can be immediately installed on a 6mm-8mm ventilated strip. This collimator significantly saves time on its installation because... sold completely assembled with a quick-release adapter for shotguns with a vented rib of 12, 16, 20 gauge.
4. Leapers SCP RD40RGW-A. Collimator small sizes, the main difference of which is the removable mount. Therefore, it can be easily transported in a special case, having been installed on the gun upon arrival at the shooting range. Depending on the conditions of use, you can choose one of two colors of the reticle: green for a winter or autumn forest and red, which will be clearly visible against the greenery.
5. Leapers SCP-DS3028W. The sight is a closed type, the main feature of which is shock resistance. The model is perfectly tuned and designed for quick and easy installation on the Weaver bar. The lens installed in this model cannot be called large, but nevertheless, it is capable of providing an excellent field of view.
6. Sightmark SM13003B Box. A reliable and functional open-type collimator, which was specially designed for 12-gauge shotguns. Its light weight (only 108 grams) will not disturb the balance of your smoothbore, while you will be provided with a good panoramic view. Using different types of aiming strips will allow you to make accurate shots not only with standard bullets, but also with Sightmark SM13001 buckshot. This collimator perfectly withstands strong recoil, but at the same time has a small landing base, which means you will not cling to branches while moving through the forest. It should be noted the successful design of the lens, which has thin edges, providing the hunter with a convenient process of tracking the target.
7. Aimpoint MicroH1. This model is rightfully considered one of the best in its class. This sight is highly resistant to recoil, it is reliable, but at the same time easy to use and lightweight. Thus, the device was able to absorb the advantages of open and closed structures. It can be easily installed on any type of weapon that has a ventilated rail. The capacious battery performs well in low temperatures. The case is waterproof.
8. Docter Sight III. An open type collimator equipped with a specially designed mount. A special feature of the model is the automatic adjustment of the brightness of the mark, depending on the lighting.

Brightness is adjusted automatically

The price category of the device is also an important selection criterion. But you shouldn’t give preference to Chinese replicas for the sake of economy. The experience of hunters shows that it is better to purchase an original Sightmark than even a good copy of Docter.

Choosing a red dot sight for a smoothbore weapon can be another challenge. To purchase a truly high-quality and versatile device, you need to pay attention to a number of parameters, which were mentioned above. It should be understood that the choice should ultimately depend on your personal preferences and requirements. Ease of use is the main criterion, followed by reliability and durability.