Should I use I scope or red dot on my Thompson contender 12" 22LR barrel for small game hunting?

I love my UltraDots, but I prefer some magnification for small game. Most dots will obscure the head of a squirrel as close as 20 yards.

I suggest a scope for precision shooting. I suggest a 2 - 6 Bushnell scope. 2x for offhand close work and 4x to 6x for shooting from a rest.

What Billa said!

I have Bushnell 2X-6X scopes on other barrels I own. I guess I'll get another for this barrel. Thanks for the advice!

x2

Jimbo, I am a fan of red dots but like others have suggested...with this application I would vote for a scope on your Contender. I've got a 4X Leupold on my 8" Bullberry 22 LR barrel. Good luck!

Scope it.

I vote scope also. Had one red dot, and hated it. It's on my life list of "Never again".

What happened RT? I am a red dot fan, I've got reflex sights and ultra dots on all my hunting revolvers, scopes on the single shots.

Thx in advance,

Darrell H

I've never tried a red dot, so I can't say anything one way or the other about them. However, I do really love my scopes.

Hey Darrell. Don't want to hijack the thread, but I put a red dot on my 460 that was supposed to have a lifetime warranty. Blew it up in 5 shots or so. Went to take it back, and almost had to kill the guy that sold it to me to get my money back. Never been back in that store since, and won't EVER use Burris again. That red dot was absolutely worthless.

In my book, put a Leupold on it, zero it, and forget it.

Thanks for the information RT. It sounds like you definitely got a bad one along with some poor customer service. I have run Burris Fast Fire II's on guns up to to 44 caliber without any issues. Currently, I have two and they are on .22 LR pistols.

I'm running Trijicon RMR's these days on a .41, 2-44's, a 454, 475 Linebaugh, 500 JRH, and a 500 S&W. I've had excellent reliability with Ultradots on the hard kickers too.

FWIW, I recently broke a Leupold 4X on an unbraked 375 JDJ.

Yeah, I know there are bad scopes of any brand. But to have such a bad experience on my first one, I swore them off altogether.

I'm sure I'll get over it one of these days, and may use a red dot on something down the road. I promise ya it won't be a damn burris though!

Ha! In fairness that gun was brutal to shoot. It broke a 2-7X Burris (your favorite brand) before it broke the Leupold. Since I couldn't keep a scope on the gun, the barrel went to SSK for a muzzle brake installation. I still need to send the scope to Leupold for repair. Based on past experience, Leupold's customer service is second to none!

Couldn't tell ya! Never had to use it, and that's the way I like it!!

Scope.

My personal philosophy on dot sights is that they are an alternative to iron sights for hunting but they do not increase precision aiming the way a scope does. If you can't get it done with iron sights due to conditions, vision, whatever then a dot is a good choice. I also would assume that a new handgunner could become proficient quicker with a dot than with irons. Dot lovers please do not attack me. I have been shooting irons for over 40 years. Rest assured that when my eyes go I will jump on the dot bandwagon!