Collimator sights for smooth-bore weapons are used very actively in our country. The thing is that they are compact in size, light weight, and have a bright reticle. In this case, there is usually no parallax. So this is a position in our catalog that is worthy of your attention.

Why should everyone have this device?

A collimator sight for a smoothbore shotgun is an element of humane hunting. Do you agree that it is much more correct when the game dies in a matter of seconds, without experiencing prolonged suffering? This is possible thanks to increased shooting accuracy. After all, a hunter can aim and watch the game with two eyes at once. Even if it is not in a static position.

Principle of operation

The collimator sight complements the smoothbore gun on the principle of collimation of light rays. A beam of rays located in a parallel plane at a far distance repeats the object of observation. The lens is thus long-focus. It contains a point called the aiming mark. It glows and allows you to draw correct conclusions about the location of the object.

Mounting type for red dot sight

Remember: the best red dot sight for shotguns is the one that fits you perfectly. Therefore, first pay attention to the type of bracket. It must match the design of the gun in your arsenal. If you choose a model without a bracket, you can easily buy it separately.

– This is a separate class of optical sights for installation on military, hunting and sporting weapons. The collimators have a magnification of x1, which eliminates distortion of target sizes, and an unlimited field of view. Even with active movement of the eye relative to the center of the sight, due to the rapid alignment of the luminous mark with the target, the aiming speed is several times higher than with other devices. The luminous reticle is clearly visible both during the day and in relatively low light, and with several interchangeable reticles, you can change them depending on specific conditions. Some models are combined with a laser target designator for targeted shooting from any position.

A red dot sight is considered the best choice for shooting at short distances (100-150 m) at moving targets of medium and large sizes. These red dot sights can be installed on different types of firearms, but they are most popular among air rifle enthusiasts. Along with this, collimators are great for pistols, bows and crossbows. These sights usually have built-in mounting brackets, so when purchasing, you need to make sure that the device is compatible with the weapon you are using.

TYPES OF COLLIMATOR SIGHTS:

Active and passive. The first type of sights operates on batteries, so their reticle is always visible. In passive sights, the mark glows only when there is sufficient ambient light.

Open. The simplest in design and affordable sights, designed for standard shooting conditions. Open sights are also called single-lens sights because they only have a front lens in a frame. Due to the fact that these devices are less well protected from precipitation, it is not advisable to use them during rain and snow, since drops can fall on the glass and distort the brand. At the same time, unlike closed sights, open sights are much lighter and more compact, therefore they do not block the view with their body and allow you to aim with both eyes. Their advantages include a clear, unobscured field of view. Open sights are the most optimal solution for small-caliber carbines.

Closed. Models in this category are a shortened version of an optical sight, where the optics are located in the spotting scope. Closed sights, in addition to the front lens, also have an eyepiece lens. They are better protected from external factors, therefore they are all-weather devices, but they are characterized by shading of the aiming area. Closed red dot sights are larger in size, but due to their durable housing they can withstand greater recoil. If you install a special optical attachment, you can double the magnification of the sight and, accordingly, its range. Fixed sights are usually mounted on long guns of medium and large calibers.

Holographic. Devices of this class are of the open type, so they do not block the view and allow you to aim with both eyes. The main feature of holographic sights is the presence of a flat hologram with an aiming mark, which is visualized by a laser beam. Both standard and 3D reticles are applied to this transparent hologram. They are perfectly visible in any lighting and are always located in the center, regardless of what angle the shooter is looking at. Holographic sights, like closed-type models, have proven themselves to be excellent when used with shotguns. Their cost is higher than other types of collimators, since the process of producing a hologram is complex and expensive.

BEST RED SIGHTS:

	SIGHTMARK LASER DUAL SHORT SIGHT WITH SM13002 laser sight
	The SightMark Laser Dual Short Sight collimator sight with laser target is a hunting model from a well-known American company, part of the Yukon concern. This is an open-type sight with an integrated laser designator, designed for use with smooth-bore weapons of up to 12/70 caliber and has proven itself well during ambush and manhunt hunting. The device demonstrates impressive results when shooting at moving targets, including in dense thickets. You can buy a scope not only for hunting, but also for sport shooting. The optics of the SightMark Laser Dual Short Sight with a laser sight are a 33x24 mm lens and lenses with anti-reflective ruby ​​coating. Good visibility is ensured both in bright sunlight and at dusk. The model has a red reticle of 4 modifications and a 7-step brightness adjustment. The brightness switches, like the battery compartment, are located at the top of the case. Common characteristics of collimators also include 1x magnification and unlimited eye relief. The body of the SightMark Laser Dual Short Sight red dot sight is shockproof, waterproof and made of anodized aluminum alloy. The model does not require zeroing after dismantling and re-installation. For mounting, a Weaver/Picatinny rail with a mounting size of 17-23 mm is used. The device operates for two hours on a CR2032 lithium battery and weighs 162 g.
	CLOSED SIGHT AIMPOINT MICRO H-1 COMPLETE 2MOA
	The Aimpoint Micro H-1 closed-type collimator sight is a representative of the Micro compact series, into which the manufacturer has introduced an aiming system for full-size models. Designed for hunters, the scope is marketed for use with shotguns, rifles and handguns up to .500 Nitro Express caliber. Possessing the increased reliability characteristic of all products from the world-famous Aimpoint company (Sweden), these are the lightest closed collimators in their class. Thanks to this, sights can be installed on lightweight weapons, as well as on hunting revolvers, crossbows and bows. The lens of the Aimpoint Micro H-1 collimator sight has dimensions of 21x15 mm, and all lenses have a double-sided multilayer Anti Reflex coating. In addition to high-quality optics that provide a clear image, a large field of view allows for effective offhand shooting at short distances. The model features a 2 MOA red reticle with a mechanical intensity switch. The ability to use the sight day and night is provided by a 12-step brightness adjustment of the mark. The Aimpoint Micro H-1 red dot sights are produced in an aluminum waterproof case - the device does not fail even when immersed in water at 5 m. This model has protective rubber covers and a patented mount to the case that reduces recoil. For installation on weapons, the manufacturer recommends using brackets from the German company Frank Henneberger. Thanks to Acet energy-saving technology, the sight is capable of operating on one set of CR2032 batteries for up to 50,000 hours (about 5 years). Together with the mount, the device weighs 105 g.
	HOLOGRAPHIC SIGHT EOTECH EXPS3-2
	The EOTech EXPS3-2 holographic sight is a popular model in the EXPS line for targeted shooting at short and medium distances. The device differs from the XPS series in improved case protection, the presence of quick-release brackets for the Weaver bar and side buttons for switching modes. The sight allows you to detect a target at a distance of up to 280 m and can be fully used on light weapons - carbines, semi-automatic and automatic rifles. The design of the device was developed with the participation of representatives of the US Army special forces and professional shooters. The EOTech EXPS3-2 holographic sight features anti-fog optics with anti-reflective coating and no parallax effect. This model can be used with night vision devices. For night mode, there are 10 levels of reticle brightness adjustment, and for standard conditions – 30. EOTech EXPS3-2 is compatible with the G33.STS magnifiers from the same manufacturer, which have a magnification of 3.25x, which allows you to switch from close to medium distances. The A65/1 2-dot modification is used as an aiming network - a circle with a diameter of 65 MOA and two dots (1 MOA) for ballistic corrections. Like regular red dot sights, holographic ones also have 1x magnification and unlimited eye relief. EOTech EXPS3-2 hunting scopes are of the open type and are housed in a sealed housing. The complete waterproofness of the internal optics allows the device not to fail when submerged to 3 m. Installing the sight on a weapon is greatly simplified by quick-release mounting bases. This model is powered by a single lithium battery, providing autonomy up to 600 hours, and weighs 317 g.
	RED SIGHT ELCAN SPECTERDR 1-4X CX5396 7.62
	The Elcan SpecterDR 1-4x CX5396 7.62 optical sight is a representative of the SpecterDR series, which includes the world's first combat sights with a dual field of view, designed for shooting at short and medium distances. All models in the line undergo rigorous testing to meet the standards of optical devices developed for the US Army. This is a pancratic sight with variable magnification of 1-4x, allowing you to easily switch from long-range targets to near ones with a constant eye relief (70 mm). The aiming range is 100-600 m, and in terms of field of view angle at 1x magnification, this is one of the best models in its class. The device is designed for use with weapons of various calibers, including large ones (.300, .308), as well as to work together with high magnification sights and collimators with a Docter mounting base. The optics of the Elcan SpecterDR 1-4x CX5396 7.62 sights have a multi-layer anti-reflective coating that provides a detailed image and clear color reproduction. The model has a lens with a diameter of 32 mm and a system for optimized transmission of light rays. The reticle uses a double-thick crosshair with 5 brightness levels: you can set the device to the crosshair or just the central red dot. The stamp size at 1x magnification is 6 MOA, at 4x magnification is 1 MOA. Elcan SpecterDR 1-4x CX5396 optical sights are produced in an aluminum alloy body with an anodized coating, which is extremely resistant not only to weather conditions, but also to falls, shocks and immersion in water up to 10 m. The devices have a quick-release mounting base with a special patented mechanism , which eliminates the failure of the reticle settings. The device weighs 660 g and can operate for up to 3000 hours on one 3V lithium battery.
	COLLIMATE SIGHT DOCTER SIGHT II+ 3.5
	The DOCTER Sight II+ 3.5 collimator sight is a model of an ultra-compact open collimator from the German manufacturer Analytik Jena AG, specially designed for dynamic hunting, especially for shooting offhand. Thanks to the mounts, which are purchased separately, the device can be installed on different types of small arms (rifled, smooth-bore, short-barreled) and conduct aimed shooting at short and medium distances. Models of the Docter Sight series have no caliber restrictions - the sight has a very high recoil resistance (1000 g). The optical system of the DOCTER Sight II+ 3.5 collimator sight consists of two glued lenses. The observation range without parallax is 40 m. A 3.5 MOA red dot with automatic brightness adjustment is used as an aiming mark, covering a 5 cm zone at 50 meters. The dot is clearly visible in any light, both in complete darkness and during the day. Effective shooting is also ensured by the ability to aim with two eyes. Like all collimators, the magnification of the DOCTER Sight II+ 3.5 is 1x. This model does not have a separate switch: the device operates in energy saving mode and turns on after installing the protective cover. All elements of the DOCTER Sight II+ 3.5 collimator sights, which bear the main load, are made of stainless steel and anodized aluminum alloys. The device is fully usable in a wide temperature range (from -25C to +40C) and is moisture resistant, but not waterproof. For power supply, one CR 2032 lithium battery is provided, which can not be changed for 2-3 years. The sight has ultra-compact dimensions and is lightweight - only 25 g.
	COLLIMATE SIGHT HAKKO BED-35 PANORAMA MR-02
	The Hakko BED-35 Panorama MR-02 collimator sight is a multi-purpose open collimator made in Japan, which is very popular among hunters in different countries. Of the entire series, this model has been the undisputed leader in sales for more than one season. Despite the low price, the sight belongs to the professional class. Zeroing takes only a few minutes, and the results of the device are stable both at short and medium distances. The manufacturing company provides a lifetime warranty on these sights, regardless of the caliber of weapon with which they will be used. The Hakko BED-35 Panorama MR-02 red dot sight has a 33 mm objective lens and multi-layer coated lenses that completely eliminate any distortion in image transmission. The observation range without parallax is 50 m. The device has 4 types of 4 MOA luminous reticle, which can be changed using a switch, and a 7-step brightness control. The brand is clearly visible even in clear sunny weather. Like all collimators, this model is not critical to eye distance and has a 1x magnification. The Hakko BED-35 Panorama MR-02 collimator sight is produced in a sealed case and is installed on any weapon with a Weaver base and on shotguns with side mounting through an adapter bracket. The sale of the sight is intended for owners of rifled, smooth-bore and pneumatic weapons, as well as carbines and pistols. The model does not require zeroing after removal and reinstallation. The device is powered by one CR2032 battery, providing operation for more than 100 hours, and weighs 112 g.

FEATURES OF COLLIMATOR SIGHTS:

It is believed that collimators increase the weight of the weapon, although even when using closed sights the weight is not so significant. In addition, the installation of any optical sighting devices, one way or another, affects the total weight of the weapon, but this does not mean that this deteriorates its balance. Red dot sights (especially open sights) get dirty quickly, but regular cleaning or protective caps on the lens and eyepiece will reduce the likelihood of dirt getting in. There is an opinion that at low temperatures the battery life of active collimators powered by alkaline batteries is reduced to a minimum. However, as practice shows, even with a decrease in capacity at subzero temperatures, alkaline batteries can provide several hours of full operation of the sight. Along with this, you can always have a spare set or use lithium cells that are less sensitive to cold.

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 done offhand, and the weapon itself is quite heavy. 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 reliable enough and not run out at low temperatures. 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 their 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 in 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.

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 the external conditions will be, 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.

Recently, there has been a tendency to change sighting devices on smoothbore guns. Standard sighting devices, still installed on most serial hunting rifles around the world, appeared at the earliest stage of the development of firearms, and if we talk about breech-loading weapons, then simultaneously with the advent of breech-loading double-barreled shotguns, i.e. more than a century ago. And a significant number of shooters still use such sighting devices quite successfully. However, recent trends indicate that a lot has changed in this matter, and the sights of a modern gun should differ from the standard adopted one hundred and thirty years ago.

Traditional sights

Traditionally, the sighting devices of a shotgun were only one front sight, usually cylindrical-spherical (European tradition) or spherical (American tradition) in shape. In Russia, guns are produced with cylindrical-spherical front sights (i.e., a full or flattened sphere on a cylinder or cone). In this case, the gun, as a rule, also has an aiming bar. Double-barreled shotguns almost always (with extremely rare exceptions), and self-loading guns and magazines - mainly since the end of the Second World War, although they were produced with a rail before that time. Single-barreled guns most often did not have an aiming bar.

The sighting bar is a very important element of sighting devices for most shooters. With a conventional front sight, only a few shooters do not experience discomfort when shooting from a gun without a sighting bar. The bar and the front sight, versus the front sight alone, significantly increases the convenience, speed and accuracy of aiming.

The sighting bar can taper towards the muzzle (this is the case on most horizontal and a few vertical rifles), or not have a narrowing (this is done on almost all vertical rifles). The bar can be narrow (6-7 mm) and wide (9.5-12 mm). Wide rails are mainly equipped with sporting guns; such rails also often have a white or red narrow stripe or groove in the middle.

The domestic shotgun MP-233 has a wide rail and is equipped with two front sights

My opinion: the width of the bar is whatever you are used to. Personally, I don’t like wide slats, with or without grooves, stripes, but I like the narrow slats. However, this opinion is subjective and, most likely, within the framework of sports disciplines, such wide rails really provide an advantage, since almost 100% of sports shotguns are equipped with them.

The material of the strip is traditionally steel or, more recently, carbon fiber. Plastic is good because it is lighter, and, being not soldered along the entire length of the barrel, does not change its geometry when the barrel heats up from intense shooting. But its disadvantage is its fragility, so on a hunting rifle it can be used mainly on “sterile” hunts, without wading through thickets and other Russian attributes of running hunting.

The first step towards changing sighting devices was that two front sights began to be installed on the gun - a small one in the middle of the bar and a large one at the end. When aiming, they had to be combined. This system has become widespread mainly on American self-loading and repeating shotguns, the Mossberg company especially liked this idea, but other companies (Benelli, Remington, etc.) produce shotguns with 2 front sights. The idea is not bad, but in reality it does not have any advantages over one front sight and a bar, either in speed or in pointing accuracy. Although many users find this system very convenient for themselves. The first domestic shotgun that leaves the factory with 2 front sights is the MP-233.

But a qualitative step forward was made possible by new materials for the manufacture of sighting devices.

What was the main disadvantage of the traditional fly? Low contrast against the forest background. They fought against this by making a fly from brass (yellow), ivory, and painting it white. But these were all half measures. A real breakthrough occurred with the advent of special plastic, which had the properties of optical fiber, i.e. was capable of directing most of the light flux incident on a cylinder (or parallelepiped) made of such plastic from all sides, only along the axis of this cylinder. Because of these properties, front sights made of such plastic are called light-collecting and retroreflective, although the latter definition is incorrect, since it refers to products capable of directing the light flux back to its source. An example is reflective blocks on cars.

An “intermediate” option is flies made of ordinary bright plastic. Recently, very often such front sights are installed on sporting shotguns. They are usually made in the form of a parallelepiped about 20 mm long, with a truncated end facing the breech. For daytime conditions for a shooter, they differ little from fiber optic ones, and shooting at dusk is not practiced according to the rules.

Fiber optic front sights are produced by TRU GLO, HIVIZ and others. They differ mainly in length and method of fastening.

Option 1 - a small (7-10 mm in length) red plastic cylinder, located horizontally with its end and held by a small metal clip. Screws in instead of the standard front sight. The projection shape is a circle, the diameter can be different - from 2 mm to 4 mm. Such front sights are installed on many sporting shotguns.

The front sight on the MP-233 is made of ordinary plastic

The Russian IZH-39 and MR-233 also have similar front sights installed, but the plastic used in them does not have the properties of fiber optics.

The second option is a cylinder or cone extended to 30 mm, often made with interchangeable front sights of different colors. The base of the front sight is made of metal or plastic. With a metal base they usually have the ability to be adjusted, but are usually designed to be installed together with the rear sight.

The third option is a long, 60-80 mm cylinder mounted on a guide, almost always made of plastic.

There is a front sight of this type, produced domestically by PKF Efkon. It's called "Cat's Eye" and costs 3 USD in Moscow. It is a plastic parallelepiped mounted on a steel guide with U-shaped holders. The front sight is attached with a screw to its standard place. The projection shape is square. The initial version was designed for an 8 mm rail (TOZ), later they began to be produced in 2 versions for shotguns from the Izhevsk and Tula factories.

Front sights of the second and especially the third type (long) look noticeably brighter than small ones and allow successful aiming in low light conditions. In general, the longer the front sight, the more light it can collect, and the brighter it will be and the lower the light level at which the front sight will be visible. The longest and brightest ones are visible almost at night, as well as in moonlight.

All fiber optic front sights allow you to subconsciously focus attention on them immediately, even when raising the gun, unlike collimators and conventional front sights. Thus, the process of aiming with light-gathering front sights begins when the gun is raised. High contrast and unmistakable identification allow you to aim much faster than with a conventional front sight.

What are the disadvantages of fiber optic front sights? The main problem of such front sights (of the second and third types) is their mechanical fragility and attachment to the weapon. The first type of front sight is made of much stronger plastic, less light-gathering, and is firmly embedded in a metal holder. Since they are fastened in place with a standard screw located in the lower part of the clip, such a front sight has neither problems with strength nor with installation height. When shooting in the daytime, such flies are practically in no way inferior to flies of the second and third types.

The fragility of longer flies is due to the considerable length and material of the front sight, as well as the material of the guide, which in the vast majority of cases is made of plastic. However, if you handle the gun carefully, the front sight does not create any problems.

The second problem is installing a front sight on a gun that was not originally equipped with such a front sight. The thing is that the standard front sight is usually very small, and the fiber optic one, in addition to the fact that it itself is often larger than the standard one, is also mounted on a guide. The guide is almost always made of plastic. Since to ensure strength it is necessary to make this guide of sufficient thickness, all together this leads to the fact that the fiber optic front sight installed independently on the gun turns out to be significantly higher than the standard one, and the gun begins to lower, often quite noticeably.

Front sights installed at the factory are practically free from these shortcomings. They are attached with U-shaped holders directly to the sighting bar, without a guide. Or a dovetail is milled into the bar for the front sight guide. Thus, their height coincides with the height of a regular front sight. In addition, a fairly large number of holders are used, literally every centimeter, and these holders are made of steel, not plastic. This significantly increases the strength of the front sight, and, at the same time, reduces, or even practically eliminates, the visibility of the side surface of the fiber optic insert with the left (non-dominant) eye. And this increases the ease of aiming.

The front sight itself of the second and third types, sold separately, can be mounted on a magnet and using a special plastic clip, pre-installed on the gun's rail, and glued with double-sided tape. Almost all of them have a hole in the front for fastening with a screw that is screwed into place of the standard front sight. However, due to their length and the plastic used as a guide, it is impossible to secure such a front sight firmly with only one screw.

The magnetic fastening, if not duplicated by any other attachment, can easily become dislodged when the fly touches the branches. Therefore, such front sights are usually secured with a screw.

A plastic clip pre-attached to the gun allows for easy replacement of fiber optic inserts while maintaining front sight alignment. The fiber optic insert on its own guide is fixed simply by friction.

Both the magnetic mount and the plastic clip have the significant disadvantage that they change the shape of the projection of the front of the bar. Aiming becomes somewhat less convenient due to the fact that at the end, at the place where the front sight is attached, there is an extension that does not fit with the projection of the breech of the rail. As a result, time is wasted on precise combination. And with a high front sight height, resulting from the clip + guide, the sighting bar practically falls out of the aiming tools.

The method of attaching it to double-sided tape is simple, but requires extremely careful installation, since if the fly is skewed and the position of the front sight is corrected and the tape is peeled off, it can tear and stretch out, thereby losing its adhesive properties. In addition, double-sided tape very quickly (a year of operation, or even less) under the inevitable influence of oil and water loses its properties. The author knows of a case where the front sight, glued to double-sided tape that came with the TRU-GLO front sight, fell off and was lost on the third day of hunting, which greatly upset the owner of the gun, since the front sight was not cheap, the hunt was not over yet, and the standard front sight was already available dismantled. You can glue the fly with any strong oil- and water-resistant glue. It should be remembered that domestic adhesives made on the basis of rubber (glue “Moment” and “Super Moment”) are capable of firmly fixing the front sight for no more than a couple of years - later, under the influence of oil, the glue loses its properties. It is best to use epoxy resin. It will hold on very firmly, and neither shots nor use of the gun will change the position of the front sight. There is no doubt that the connection is not as strong as a soldered one, but with normal handling there will be no problems. When gluing a new front sight, I recommend leaving the factory one. The advantage of an adhesive fit is that it is much easier to align the front sight when gluing it, since it is allowed to move while the glue hardens. Also, the adhesive fit is lower than on double-sided tape, which is also important. Naturally, before applying the sticker, you need to thoroughly degrease the surface.

It is by gluing that it is better to install the domestic "Cat's Eye" front sight, produced by PKF "Efkon", on any gun. Thus, regardless of the purchased option for the IZh (6.75 mm) or TOZ (8 mm) rail, you will best attach the front sight to your gun, while the shape of the projection of the front part of the gun will not be changed. We do the following: remove the fiber optic insert itself from the metal guide, and simply glue it with epoxy resin directly to the bar. When using epoxy resin, the effect of changing the color of the front sight is noticed - yellow modifications acquire a greenish tint.

A "Cat's Eye" front sight glued to the rail of a Rus gun. Effective and inexpensive

In this case, the height of the front sight almost coincides with the standard height, only aiming will be carried out not at the target, but at the target itself (i.e., the projection of the front sight is the center of the scree). The front sight holds very firmly, since its projection shape is square, and the surface area under the glue is quite large. The fiber optic part itself is made of more durable plastic than the front sights produced by TRU GLO and HIVIZ, and can withstand even light hammer blows without consequences. It is, of course, noticeably less bright than imported front sights, but its brightness is quite sufficient for instant identification. It is visible until late twilight, when hunting is generally possible. I note that the Blaser company began to install a front sight made of such plastic as a standard one on some rifled weapons (say, the R93 in the “Off-road” modification). They are about 20 mm long.

I recommend this “bare” installation of the “Cat’s Eye” front sight on domestic double-barreled shotguns with horizontal barrels. The concave shape with a tapering bar on domestic horizontal sights creates serious problems when installing imported long front sights. None of the fastenings are suitable here, except gluing. Due to the relatively wide guide with a concave strip, gluing with double-sided tape results in a very strong lowering of the center of the scree. The adhesive fit reduces the drop, but you still have to aim at the open rib. True, as for me, I did not consider this a disadvantage, since it turned out that it was more comfortable and faster for me to aim horizontally with an open bar. This is because I’m used to verticals, so even though after training I don’t feel the difference in aiming vertically and horizontally, I still feel more comfortable aiming along an open bar (this way the view is much greater, the barrels cover a smaller area) from the horizontal. The "Cat's Eye" front sight, being freed from the steel guide and lightly processed with a file on the lower part for better matching with the concave shape of the bar (however, this does not have to be done), sits perfectly on the glue and holds firmly, while its height turns out to be equal or almost equal (if without modification) to the standard front sight! In addition, the price of such a front sight at 3 USD is much more suitable for owners of, for example, a trigger sight or IZH-58 than a Truglo for 40 USD. The latter often turns out to be equal to the cost of another gun. When installing, I recommend keeping the old front sight in its place.

The TRU-GLO front sight on the IZH-54 gun is glued to the bar and additionally secured with a screw

TRU-GLO is very bright, but the installation height is too high

You can make a fiberglass front sight yourself using a ruler or other product made from the appropriate material from an office supply store. Similar or similar fluorescent plastic is also often used to make toys and various items. All you need to do is be careful when cutting so that the edges of the front sight are perfectly straight. However, the brightness of such homemade flies will still be inferior even to the “Cat's Eye” fly, not to mention TRU GLO and HIVIZ.

Fiber optic front sights are available for installation on single-barreled shotguns that do not have an aiming rib. They have a semicircular guide, shaped like the trunk, that is glued to the trunk. Such a front sight is shown in the photo for the third type of fiber optic front sight, photo “c”.

The "Cat's Eye" front sight is also easy to install on such guns by slightly spreading the ends of the U-shaped guide to the sides to better mate with the barrel and reduce the height of the front sight, and securing it to the barrel using "cold welding" (high-strength epoxy resin).

Long front sights slightly reduce the aiming line, but with a barrel length of 700-750, reducing the line by 80-90 mm does not have much effect.

Often fiber optic front sights are sold as a front + rear sight kit. The rear sight is also made of fiber optics, and most often has a different color or projection size to improve identification.

This is good when shooting bullets, as it allows you to increase your shooting accuracy. The aiming speed with a fiber optic front and rear sight is faster than with a conventional rear sight and front sight. A rear sight is not needed for shot shooting, although with some getting used to it it does not interfere very much, maintaining the constant ability of a relatively more accurate shot when shooting a bullet. However, it should be taken into account that such sighting devices do not provide high combat accuracy due to the round shape of the front sight and the edges of the rear sight, as well as the visible distances between them. When aiming, strict uniformity is not obtained, which leads to a significant shift in the STP. Whether to install a rear sight or not - there are more arguments “against” than “for”. The rear sight, although it allows you to eliminate the decrease in the point of impact when installing a non-standard front sight, but at the same time practically removes the aiming bar from the aiming process. Its installation is partly justified if you often have to fire a bullet from a gun. But the best solution in this case would be to install a collimator sight, which is much more accurate and easier to aim.

Thus, we have already touched on another type of shotgun sights - a conventional open sight, equipped with a rear sight and a front sight. Such sights are installed on shotguns designed primarily for shooting bullets, the so-called. "deer" guns ("Deergun").

It can also be seen on some police shotguns (for example, Benelli M3T with a folding stock). The barrel of such shotguns is shortened, without an aiming rib. Often these American-made shotguns are equipped with a fully rifled barrel. An open sight is very suitable for shooting bullets, since it can be adjusted along two axes. Fiber optic front and rear sights have been developed specifically for such guns.

The front sight is usually about 20-30 mm long. Both the rear sight and the front sight have a high steel base and the possibility of adjustment. If a fiber optic front sight is not used, then white dots (paint or plastic inserts) are usually applied to the rear sight and front sight. In view of the aforementioned low accuracy of fiber optic sights, it is recommended that when choosing an open shield sight, give preference to a conventional model with a rectangular front sight and a U-shaped metal rear sight.

Note that the trend is a complete abandonment of conventional sights on guns intended for shooting bullets. Such guns are equipped with a rail for mounting an optical or collimator sight and have a stock shape adapted for such a sight.

Diopter sights

Another type of sight that has firmly taken its place on military and police shotguns is the diopter, or, as it is called in the USA, the “ghost ring”.

As an example, the SDASS TACTICAL pump-action shotgun (see photo).

Diopter sights on shotguns, naturally, have an enlarged aperture, compared to diopters for rifled weapons, about 3-3.2 mm, for the fastest possible aiming. Such a sight is often called a ring sight, although the only difference is the size of the hole. The advantages of such sights are an enlarged sighting line, which is especially important for short shotguns, which are used for combat purposes, as well as the exclusion of one element from aiming - the rear sight. The shooter is only required to align the front sight and target, since keeping the front sight level in the visible ring is done instinctively. The sight, in contrast to the traditional front sight, covers the target significantly less, since the shooter sees only the front sight (which is usually high) on the target. With a conventional scope, the entire bottom of the target is completely covered. This is why open sights are often aimed at the target.

The canonical drawback of the diopter is the low light threshold; it is of little relevance for sights on shotguns. Indeed, using a rifle diopter with a very small aperture (1-1.78 mm) in low light conditions is very problematic. However, on smooth-bore guns the hole has a diameter of about 3-3.2 mm and in low light conditions it is not much inferior to a conventional front sight bar. The installation of a fiber optic front sight greatly helps with the convenience and speed of aiming. Of course, this is not a scope for night shooting, but it is quite possible to shoot until late twilight.

In general, the sight is good, but it is of little use for a feather hunter, since it is designed for shooting at large, not very fast moving targets, and quickly aiming at a flying bird with it is difficult, although it is possible after developing the skill. Therefore, diopter sights have found their niche on shotguns, slug guns and tactical shotguns.

A conventional front sight still provides greater speed of aiming and ease of tracking a moving target.

Diopter sights are now increasingly using bright plastic or fiber optic front sights.

Ring sight

A very exotic design, borrowed from anti-aircraft machine guns. It consists of several concentric semicircles (usually 3), connected by 3 radial straight lines (one vertically, 2 horizontally. The overall size of the sight is 20-30 cm. Made of wire with a diameter of 2-3 mm. Attached to the end of the barrel. Ring sights, mainly homemade, often sold in stores. There is an opinion that with its help it is good to teach beginners to take the correct lead. However, its dimensions and obvious inconveniences of operation do not allow this type of sights to spread to any extent.

A “smaller” version of the ring sight is manufactured by RUEB (see photo).

RUEB"S SHOTGUN SIGHT for $7.75

Collimator sights

Another type of sighting device has appeared very recently, but is already vying for a place on a significant number of shotguns. This is a collimator sight (hereinafter referred to as KP for brevity). In Russia, the main popularizer of this type of sights is the Chief Editor of the magazine "Russian Arms Magazine - Shotgun" A. Vasiliev.

Let's consider this type of sighting devices.

Collimators are divided into:

• Active (powered by batteries, the reticle is visible around the clock) and passive (do not require external energy, but the reticle is visible only during the day and in faint twilight). The aiming mark for passive ones is very dim and low-contrast.
• Through (light passes through the body or meniscus of the sight, you can aim with one or two eyes) and blind, they are also called “stereoscopic” (they project only the mark for the right eye, nothing except the mark is visible through the sight, aiming is carried out with only two eyes)
• Open (one lens) and closed (several lenses, similar to optical, only shorter).

View through an open collimator sight. Dot type sighting mark

The principle of forming an aiming mark on collimators can be LED (the image is formed by illuminating a photo-lithographic plate with an LED) or holographic (the mark is recorded in the form of a hologram and illuminated by a laser).

Collimator sights provide fast targeting. Due to the lack of magnification, they practically do not limit the field of view, since aiming is done with two eyes. An additional undoubted convenience is that a gun with a collimator sight installed fully retains the ability to fire shot at a bird in flight. For some closed-type sights, optical attachments with magnification up to 2.5x are available.

Advantages of collimators.

1. They significantly simplify and speed up the aiming process, since there is no need to align anything, just align the mark and target, and the problem of different focusing of the eye on the target and mark is eliminated, which is very important when using conventional sighting devices, where either the target is visible blurry or front sight. Adding a rear sight makes aiming even more difficult. This makes KPs especially attractive to people who do not have much shooting experience. The speed of aiming and shooting efficiency when using a collimator noticeably increases, this is especially noticeable for beginners.

2. Increases the accuracy of bullet shooting, especially for people who do not have extensive training. Allows you to zero a gun with a bullet with a significant displacement of the STP - the sights have a wide range of adjustment. Which is completely inaccessible to the front sight and is often very difficult or also inaccessible in open metal sights on a shotgun (they are often made non-adjustable).

3. Corrects shortcomings in gun grip, balance, pitch angle, etc. in the usual hunting sense.

4. The aiming mark does not cover the target.

5. Allows for targeted shooting in low light conditions, up to complete darkness, as long as the target is visible. Only a night sight or special optics is better, but they have their limitations.

6. Makes it easier for people with insufficient visual acuity in the right eye (for example, astigmatism, myopia). If the left eye sees better, then it actually becomes the leading eye, the right eye is “leading” only out of psychological habit, and this becomes especially noticeable when raising the gun, when after a moment the sighting devices are already visible with the left eye. The CP, unlike the front sight, allows you to neutralize this drawback, since the aiming mark is not visible to the left eye. When applying a gun, the right eye, although not the dominant one, will see the aiming mark, and the surrounding reality will be visible to the left eye. For the shooter, it will be enough to align the mark with the aiming point to fire an accurate shot. The shooter actually faces an alternative - whether to learn to shoot from the left shoulder, or whether to make a stock with an outlet for the left eye, or to purchase and install a gearbox. I note that in not very difficult cases, when the right eye still sees quite well and initially retains the properties of the dominant eye, the situation can be improved by installing a fiber optic front sight, the brighter the better. In this case, raising the gun can be done with the left eye closed, and only by placing the gun to the shoulder and catching the front sight with the right, the left eye opens. However, the problem is most effectively solved with the help of CP.

Disadvantages of collimators, real or perceived:

1. They increase the weight of the gun and change its balance (the latter, however, usually for the better), not by much, since the collimators are very light. In the best models, this increase is very small and, with fairly heavy weapons such as Saiga semi-automatic devices, is almost unnoticeable.

2. Not cheap (140-150 USD for good domestic ones, 300-500 USD for good imported ones). Holographic ones are especially expensive.

3. Clogging. Any optics requires careful handling, if possible, protection from debris and periodic cleaning in compliance with the rules (not with your finger). Closed collimators can be fitted with transparent caps on both sides to protect the eyepiece and lens. They can be cleaned with your finger. Alas, they naturally significantly reduce the aperture ratio. Pollution is especially important in winter, when you literally can’t take a step without snow falling from the trees. Note that a developed visor in good open collimators (and not just a reflector rim) protects the scope quite well from clogging, while at the same time making it easy to clean the scope. Open sights are also sealed, so closed-type collimators do not have much advantage.

4. Parallax. Any optical system has this phenomenon to varying degrees: if you take any optical or collimator sight, point it at some stationary target (it is better, of course, to secure it), and then, without touching the sight, move your head, i.e. look at the lens from different angles, the scope will point at different points on the target while remaining stationary relative to it. In practice, this very unpleasant property of optics means that with different stances and methods of holding the weapon, the weapon will be aimed at different points. Parallax is inherent in almost all scopes, cheap and expensive, and the only thing you can do is to choose a scope whose relative error will be subtle, i.e. will be within the desired shooting accuracy. Thus, when choosing optics, you should pay attention to how stable the position of your head is relative to the sight, and what error at the required distance will be caused by your usual movements of your head relative to the sight. Since a shotgun primarily fires shotguns, the problem of parallax is completely irrelevant, and when shooting a bullet, the distance is limited to 100 m, and a good sight at such a distance does not produce a significant displacement, and the spread of hits is a consequence of other factors to an incomparably greater extent. The parallax of a good collimator is 1-1.5 arc minutes, i.e. 3-4.5 cm at 100 m, and when holding the weapon uniformly, it is equal to zero, so when choosing a scope for a shotgun, you can not pay attention to parallax.

5. Alkaline batteries have reduced capacity at low temperatures. It is not recommended to turn off the sight in the cold in winter. It is rational to carry a couple of spare sets of batteries in winter. Good sights have automatic brightness adjustment not only depending on the ambient light conditions, but also on the degree of discharge of the batteries, so the complete discharge of the batteries does not occur suddenly, but will occur gradually, reducing the brightness of the aiming mark, which will allow the user to notice this in time and replace it in a timely manner batteries. Lithium batteries are significantly less sensitive to frost, so even in severe frost (down to -35 C) they will last for several days of hunting. In any case, a couple of spare sets of batteries are inexpensive and completely solve all the problems associated with the cold.

In my opinion, the advantages of collimators significantly outweigh the disadvantages, but, of course, it is up to the user to decide, since a good scope does not cost that little. However, all the shortcomings turn out to be surmountable, and the additional capabilities obtained after installing the sight can bring an extra trophy.

There are also features inherent in installing collimators on smoothbore guns.

Smoothbore guns, especially domestic ones, simply do not have places to install collimators. For imported shotguns, there are both those with standard seats with a Picatinny (Weaver) rail (Benelli M1super90 Practical, Benelli M4), as well as removable linings on the receiver (aesthetically unattractive) or a spare barrel with a welded Weaver rail (for Mossberg, Remington and Winchester) . Among domestic shotguns, only Saiga models have a standard side bracket so far. However, let's hope that soon the guns of the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant (MR-153, MR-133, maybe even IZH-94 and IZH-27) will be equipped with a side rail already at the factory.

The problem of installing a sight is easily solved by installing a bracket for the side bracket on the side surface of the pump box, semi-automatic, single-barreled or double-barreled over-and-under. The work is very simple and can be done independently. You can install a side rail on almost any gun. On guns with horizontal barrels, installing the gearbox is difficult and requires a non-standard approach, but it is possible.

Too many manufacturers do not pay enough attention to the high optical axis in their scopes. Meanwhile, this significantly changes the position of the head relative to the gun, forcing the shooter to lift his cheek from the butt and completely straighten his neck. Often the high optical axis of the scope itself is aggravated by the type of bracket used, which raises the optical axis even more. As a result, the stock (and this is still an important shotgun sight) ceases to participate in the aiming process, and the process itself loses its naturalness. Many manufacturers of sights and mounts do not pay attention to this problem. This indicates a lack of understanding among manufacturers of shooters' needs.

An example of a completely incorrect location of the gearbox is shown in the photo. The shooter even got a bruise on his chin due to the poor grip of the weapon with this collimator position.

An example of incorrect sight installation (OCO) - the shooter’s head is suspended, touching the butt only with the chin

However, there is a collimator sight with the lowest possible optical axis - OKP-1.

An example of correct installation of the sight (OKP-1) - the shooter’s head is in a natural position, the optical axis of the sight is low

When hunting or competing, you must keep your scope turned on at all times. Batteries for most scopes are inexpensive, and it is quite possible to carry a spare set with you. Just remember to turn off the sight when the gun is not in use. Good sights have the ability to see standard sighting devices through the sight reflector, which, if you fail or forget to turn on the collimator, will allow you to quickly hit the target with a standard sight.

The standard sight is clearly visible through the OKP-1 reflector

What should you pay attention to when choosing a collimator?

The most optimal for smooth-bore shotguns are active open sights.

Despite the fact that closed sights can be better protected from clogging by installing transparent caps on both sides, and they are usually made completely sealed, such properties of closed sights as significant obstruction of the sight body, lower aperture ratio and high weight of such models will only be justified when installed on rifle. The above disadvantages are very significant, they significantly change the sight picture and instead of just an aiming mark against the background of the terrain, achieved in the best open models, especially those with a removable protective visor, we get a clear view through the sight, with part of the field of view covered by its body. In addition, due to the significantly greater mass, the balancing of the weapon changes. For effective shot shooting at a fast-flying target, a better picture and lighter weight of an open type sight are preferable.

What requirements should a modern collimator meet:

1. Service strength and tightness. No matter how much we all love our weapons, they always have a chance in the field to plunge into water, snow, sand, or simply receive a strong blow. Therefore, any optics must be (+ this must be guaranteed by the passport) sealed and, if possible, shockproof.

2. Resistance to recoil. Cheap collimators (up to 50 USD) usually cannot withstand the recoil of 20 calibers and above. However, more expensive sights usually do not have any problems associated with recoil (with one exception - no one is immune from defects). You just need to securely attach the sight to the weapon.

3. Convenience and clarity of sight alignment.

4. Minimum parallax.

5. Lowest optical axis.

6. Light weight of the sight.

7. Sufficient reflector size (>30, and much better 35 mm) for comfortable shooting.

How to attach the selected scope to your weapon.

1. The strongest and best fastening is on the side bar. It’s easy to attach the sight, and the zeroing point does not change when removing/installing it. The aiming line of conventional sights in the best scopes does not close. In addition, this method is the most affordable and can be done on almost any gun.

2. You can install a weaver bar or a regular dovetail on top of the box. In this case, it is easy to mount the collimator, but with this installation the standard sight, even if it is OKP-1 under the Weaver rail, is impossible to see. The optical axis with such an installation will inevitably be higher than with a side one.

3. No red dot sights can be attached to the aiming bar, except for the Docter Sight alone (it weighs 25 g) - there are a sufficient number of cases of the bar being torn off.

Attaching the side rail to the box can be done on almost any gun. In the photo - MP-153

The rail has a low profile and does not interfere with the use of the gun when the sight is removed

Collimator on a smooth gun in relation to types of hunting

Hunting is different. And talking about the suitability of a collimator for hunting “in general” is incorrect.

Let's consider the following options - running hunting for upland and swamp game, hunting for waterfowl from an ambush (with stuffed animals), for waterfowl in flight (ducks and geese), for animals in a round-up, for animals in ambush, for animals in stealth.

Obviously, the shooting and hunting conditions here are very different; different weapons and ammunition are required. Accordingly, the suitability of the CP will vary.

Suitable hunting for swamp game - a collimator allows you to successfully shoot on these hunts, but increases the weight and dimensions of the weapon. Since lovers of swamp game prefer the lightest possible guns, and even with horizontally positioned barrels, then most often there is simply nowhere to put the CP and it will add weight. Therefore, it is usually not used on such hunts, except in cases where there are vision problems. It seems that on a light semi-automatic machine the use of a manual gearbox would be quite appropriate, although this would not significantly increase the yield on the hunts under consideration due to the “fidgetiness” of swamp game.

Walking hunting for upland game. Since many people prefer to use medium-weight weapons or even chambered for 12-gauge magnum cartridges on these hunts, the increase in mass is not so noticeable, which makes the suitability of the collimator high. An undoubted significant convenience is the ability to accurately fire a bullet, since such a need sometimes arises during pine hunting. The collimator, improving the adaptability of ordinary domestic shotguns and having instant identification of the aiming mark against the background of the forest, allows you to shoot faster. Closed collimators are of little use because they do not provide a sight picture convenient for a shotgun. To the greatest extent, the spread of collimators for these hunts is hampered by the banal lack of seats on double-barreled shotguns. But on double-barreled shotguns with vertical barrels, you can install the bar yourself or in a workshop, thereby significantly “correcting” the shortcomings of the gun’s usability and ergonomics.

Hunting for waterfowl (ducks and geese) from ambush, with stuffed animals and in flight. Due to the lack of need to walk and often twilight shooting, having a red dot sight on a gun will be very useful. It is worth especially noting that it is precisely under these conditions that a collimator is preferable to the best fiber optic flies. A peculiarity of waterfowl hunting is that shooting is mainly carried out at dusk, and the target moves in the direction of the shooter. A good fiber-optic front sight is visible, of course, in open space until late twilight (although it depends on the position of the gun, besides, the domestic “Cat’s Eye” fades faster), but the bar becomes invisible much earlier! There is a way to rub the bar with chalk, but this helps extremely little, and is more of a hindrance than a help - clear visibility of the bar becomes impossible, you have to shoot with an “open bar”. Shooting at the front sight alone, without clearly seeing the bar, is possible only with a 100% stock gun, and at the same time having very developed muscle memory. However, does everyone have such a gun and such training? Skeet shooting athletes - yes. What about the rest? But that's not all the difficulties. Most often, the shooter is positioned during the flight so that the game flies high (and quickly) in the direction of the shooter. Therefore, in order to ensure a hit, you need to take sufficient lead. You can take the lead in such a bird's flight only if you completely cover it with the gun barrels! Thus, aiming at a flying bird is made difficult by moving the aiming point out without visibility of both the aiming point and the target. The collimator, which has an aiming mark “hanging in the air,” does not completely block the field of view and is completely free from this drawback - moving the aiming point in the direction of the bird’s flight in no case shields the target with the gun, allowing you to choose the completely correct lead and even correct a sudden sharp maneuver game (this sometimes happens when a flying bird sees the movement of the shooter raising his gun). Plus, the collimator mark is illuminated and thus visible even in absolute darkness. At the same time, a good collimator has automatic brightness adjustment, which will allow you to shoot effectively when there is a sharp change in the direction of fire - you missed it with a bayonet - you shoot at a carjacker (in one of these directions in relation to the other, lighting conditions due to the moon/sun or sunrise/sunset can be very differ significantly). Manual brightness adjustment can be an obstacle to this.

On the beast (on a raid, ambush, stealth) - the use of a command post is highly desirable. For bears on oats - great, only a night sight or special twilight optics is better.

It can be noted that the CP is best suited for those hunts where magazines and self-loading can be successfully used, but it will not be out of place with a double-barreled shotgun. The CP is the optimal choice for a combination gun, since it is impossible to shoot from a smooth barrel with optics. The CP will allow you to quite accurately shoot a rifled bullet at a distance of up to 100 m, and at the same time leaves the opportunity to shoot a bird in flight from a smooth barrel.

CP for repeating and self-loading shotguns

Russian classic-looking shotguns (MTs21-12, TOZ-87, IZH-81, TOZ-94, MP-133, MP-153, Bekas and Bekas-auto) are best suited for installing collimators on the appropriate bracket on the side rail. With such a rail, you can also use an adapter bracket for a Weaver rail, to which the sight itself will be attached directly (if you have just such a sight). Installing the rail is simple and can be done independently or by a gunsmith.

Only the Saiga and Bekas-Auto models have standard seats (on the Saiga there is a side rail, on the Bekas there are grooves on the receiver, and the box is made of aluminum alloy). Bekas-Auto requires a special bracket for installation on standard seats.

The strap does not interfere with the use of the gun without a collimator and the alignment of the sight is maintained during removal/installation. In the photo - shotgun MP-153

Of the models of collimator sights integrated with a bracket under the side rail, two can be mentioned - OKP-1 and Kobra. The sights are equally reliable and have no recoil issues. The Cobra sight is made with interchangeable aiming marks. However, the Cobra has a smaller diameter meniscus, a noticeably worse sight picture due to the thick meniscus frame, and, most importantly, a very high optical axis height, which requires the installation of a high cheekpiece.

Cobra collimator family

The OKP-1 sight appeared on the market recently, but it can safely be called an excellent sight.

OKP-1 sight on MP-153

This is an open-type sight with active brand illumination, forming a single unit with a bracket for the side rail. The sight is removed/installed without disturbing the alignment. The main advantages of the sight are the minimum possible height of the aiming line, the ability to use conventional sights regardless of whether the sight is turned on or not. Very high aperture ratio and successful body design, which practically dissolve the lens against the background of the terrain. The visor, which well covers the meniscus from above from clogging, is removable, and in some models - quick-detachable. The aiming mark is made in the form of a circle with a dot. A simple and convenient solution to two problems at once - accurate shooting (a small brand is required) and fast shooting (a large brand is required). The dot size is 3.76 MOA. The low location of the aiming line - and there is currently no sight of a similar design on the market - is a significant advantage, as it preserves the natural elevation of the weapon and the use of standard sighting devices. No high cheekpiece required. Automatic brightness adjustment.

OKP-1 sight on Saiga-12

The sighting mark in OKP-1 can be changed at the shooter’s request (ring with a dot, enlarged ring with a dot, dot, square). The basic brightness of the mark can also be adjusted (for shooters who do not have very sharp eyesight).

For Bekas-auto, it makes sense to either purchase a closed-type gearbox and not remove it anymore, since you will have to zero the sight again each time (the Bekas aluminum box is unlikely to be able to withstand repeated alternation of installing and removing the sight), or simply install a side rail.

Optical sights on shotguns

The specifics of shooting a bullet from a shotgun are such that, as a rule, the maximum firing distance, with rare exceptions, is limited to 75 meters (and most often it is 20-40m), and the target moves quickly. In such conditions, an optical sight with a high (above 4) magnification is not even useless, but simply harmful. The best effect is achieved by using sights with variable magnification from 1 to 4 with a lens diameter of 20 to 26 mm, called the “Safari” class or sights for driven hunts. These types of sights have a minimum magnification of 1 (Leupold and Docter) - 1.1 (Zeiss) - 1.25 (Shmidt & Bender and almost all others) and are often equipped with an additional projected red reticle (the so-called Flash Dot).

Zeiss 1.1-4x24T Varipoint VM/V

Such a scope from brands is not cheap (about 600-800 USD); for mid-tier optics (Tasco Titan, Bushnell and Burris) they ask for around 350 USD.

In the minimum magnification mode (1-1.25) and with the backlight turned on, the optical sight will work almost like a collimator, but with the peculiarity that its exit pupil is not very large and has a fixed distance. So the image in the right eye, even at 1x, will be different from the image in the left. It takes some getting used to, but even after that, the ease of shooting is noticeably inferior to a collimator, especially the open type. True, sights without a projected mark do not require batteries, and the ability to magnify up to 4 times will allow you to comfortably shoot at a distance of around 100-120 m. It should be remembered that bullets from a smooth barrel usually begin to significantly round the flight path after 70 m, so the gun must be shot with the type of bullet used at such distances. An optical sight for a shotgun does not need high magnification (more than 4x at maximum), but it is useful to have the widest possible field of view.

The disadvantages of a collimator are obvious - much greater weight and cost, a significantly smaller exit pupil size, the presence of a fixed value of eye relief versus an unlimited one, which greatly affects the speed of the first shot, a noticeably different picture for both eyes, due to both the properties of the optics and the closure of the body review sight. The collimator will not hit the eye with strong recoil (it is further away) and when applied to smooth-bore guns, it easily allows you to shoot shotguns at flying birds, which is inaccessible to optics. All this leads to the fact that the driven sight is inferior to a collimator in terms of speed and ease of shooting at a moving target, and inferior to a 1.5-6x42 class sight in terms of versatility and range of application. A multiplicity of 1-1.25 gives very little in terms of accurate aiming, and it is not due to the task of bringing the target closer, but to align the image as much as possible for the right and left eyes.

Thus, when waiting for the beast at the number, if the sight is set to the minimum magnification, then a collimator would be better, as it is more convenient, faster and lighter, and when set to a magnification of 1.5 and higher (i.e. for more distant targets ) it is more convenient to shoot from a scope of the 1.5-6x42 class.

Constant magnification sights (2-2.5x) have some use, but this solution is inferior to pen-class optics (only cheaper) and collimators.

Laser pointers

A type of sight that became popular mainly thanks to Hollywood action films. It is a source of laser radiation mounted parallel to the barrel of a weapon. A red dot is displayed on the target, where the projectile is supposed to hit. Instills unnatural aiming skills - instead of actually aiming, the shooter cranes his neck and tries to make out a tiny dot on the target. When hunting for feathers, its use is practically excluded. It can find some use when shooting a bullet from a storage shed, in addition to the main “normal” sight, if the shooter is sure that this will not scare off the animal (although the beam itself is not visible, the switched on sight from the emitter side in the dark is noticeable from a great distance).

In conclusion, we note that despite the fact that the stock still plays an important role in aiming a shotgun, new technologies can significantly displace the traditional scope. Collimators, significantly improving the convenience of aiming from a shotgun, allow you to shoot faster and more accurately, while expanding the shooter’s capabilities at dusk. For shooting a bullet, the advantages of collimators are obvious. Thus, the established type of sighting devices on a shotgun - the front sight - although it remained as standard, but a new generation of sights - collimators - are increasingly finding their place on shotguns, and we add, completely deservedly so.

Mikhail HORNET (c)

2002-2003