‘The Guys’ have gotten into a pretty big debate on whether or not an aimpoint or similar sight would be a good choice on a home defense shotgun. I have searched on this topic and came up with only this thread, but didn’t quit get as much as I would like to hear/see. I will refrain from posting my point of view, I only want to hear the opinions of the experienced and knowledgeable people of M4C, arguing for or against the use of these optics systems on home defense shotguns, for slug AND buckshot use.
i really dont see the need for one on a HD gun unless you live in a very big house. But if you’re looking for something to stand out in complete darkness then I’d put one on it, unless I had a light source on it.
I’d say use what you practice and train with. If, for example, you shoot three-gun matches with a dot-sighted shotgun, it would make sense to carry that over to the home defense gun. With the battery life of the Aimpoints, one could just leave it “on”, so there wouldn’t be an issue with yet another task to ready the weapon.
There might be issues with getting the dot intensity set correctly so that it’s not too bright in low-light but still doesn’t “wash out” when you hit the target with a bright white light. The target-side slight light signature of the Aimpoints might be an issue–a slight one–but it’s there. Both of these issues would need to be checked out in the various lighting scenarios that you might encounter in the house.
The slug/buck issue is, well, a non-issue. At in-the-home ranges, the user will need to aim just as precisely with buck, as the pattern will be quite small and the only safe backstop is the attacker’s body.
I actually don’t like them on shotguns, and no, not just because I prefer to relegate the shotty to the duty of opening doors.
I have found that since most shotguns have a comb height that places the eye very close to the barrel once a higher optic is placed on the receiver it makes my cheek weld less than favorable, which reduces my recoil control.
Just my opinion and preference.
I’ve heard this, F2S, and would agree that cheek weld could be a problem on high optics. A low mounting optic would be a necessity, and a stock change could fix most anything cheek weld related.
Barring cheek weld issues, how do you feel on the subject?
I had an aimpoint on my Benelli M4 and found that it wasn’t the best choice for home defense… the red dot is great for range and target but i found that the best way to manuever around the house was with a tactical light/laser combo… just my opinion, but i found i could move faster in confined areas, and get off a hipfire if needed…
Based on issues like dot intensity and cheekweld/comb height, I’d suggest something like the Trijicon RMR, if you want one. Bigger dot, auto brightness, lower profile.
Otherwise, a big XS style tritium front sight with white circle might be a more affordable, more practical option.
I wasn’t going to let a poor cheek weld stop me from using my EOTech on my SLP Mark 1. For less than $30, I raised the comb up to the correct height where a good cheek weld is once again available.
I agree 100%. For most short distance home defense type shooting, I really don’t see the need for a red dot on a shotgun.
My opinion is based on firing 1000’s of round of shotgun shells skeet shooting and shotgun hunting, but I have found this to carry over to tactical shotgun matches as well. I find it extremely easy to get into a shotgun and know exactly where it is pointing, mainly from shooting so many rounds. Anything under 25 yards I think a bead is just as fast and allows you to keep a consistent cheekweld.
Just finished up a shotgun course at Front Sight this past week. Sure beats pounding the keyboard at the office.
We worked distances from 3 to 100 yards. Having done the same course before using a ghost ring sight on my Benelli, I had no regrets concerning the money spent putting a EOTech XPS2 on my SLP. 25 yards and closer was done with shot…35 yards and out was managed with slugs. I shot a fair amount of slugs.
While a carbine certainly work well for anything past 25 yards, as previously suggested, you won’t convince me that I need to transition off my shotgun to my rifle when I hit the 25 yard mark. We had too many students owning the 100 yd steel.
Edit: FWIW, those consistently making the 100 yard shots were using Aimpoints, EOTechs, or Trijicon non-magnifying optics.
I think that an Aimpoint, or any other good red dot sight, would be very beneficial for a shotgun used in HD. It will allow much quicker and easier target engagement, regardless of the range. Just be sure to train with it.
Naysayers, I don’t think there are any “easy” shots even at close range when your life is in danger.
I’ve got an Aimpoint H1 with Larue short mount on my duty Benelli M4. I love it, faster on target. Both eyes open. Probably more of a personnel choice.
