Henry Rifle Forums

I just got a Henry 30-30 (H009 AW) in January and I don’t really want to scope it as the effective range seems to be about 125 yds or so. My question is, would Red Dot be a helpful addition for 40-125 yd range or is it mostly for show?

as with any type of sight or optic, some folks like them, some don't .... I have and use a very good AimPoint red dot .... at short range (say 50 yards or less) it works great under most lighting conditions .... the further the target is down range and the brighter the light, the less effective it is for me .... your impressions certainly may vary

I agree with JEBar. I don't have a red dot myself, but I have used one that was on my son's rifle. Perfectly usable at the range on 50 yd targets. Without magnification, no way was I able to see detail well enough to be precise on 100yd targets.

I use one all the time. If your eyesight is good as mine still is Ive used them to 100 yards. I like them myself.

I've done well with red dots at 100 yards for punching paper. One trick you can do with a quality red dot that gives you a sharply outlined dot is to use the top of the dot as your aiming point at that distance, rather than covering the whole target with the dot and using the center of the dot as your aiming point. As mentioned, though, it's really a matter of whether you need magnification at that distance, but tat's also true of iron sights.

To be honest, though, I like a low power variable scope better at 100 yards, say a 1-4x or 1.5 - 5x. Even at 1x, you get a shaper aiming point than a red dot, still easy to hold steady and the option to crank up the scope for a better view is always there, plus the optics on the scope allows you to see back in the shadows in a way the red dot never will. I can really see the difference between a scope and a red dot in this respect in our dark north woods. No batteries to worry about, either. A trim low power variable like a Leupold is hard to beat. For me, a compact low power scope is a win all the way.

North Country Gal wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 18, 2020 8:28 pm

One trick you can do with a quality red dot that gives you a sharply outlined dot is to use the top of the dot as your aiming point at that distance, rather than covering the whole target with the dot and using the center of the dot as your aiming point.

excellent suggestion

I like that suggestion. I want to be accurate out to about 125 yds, so....can I use the red dot for close and leave it off for longer shots...?

You can't go wrong with a red dot on any gun IMO. It does not matter. My AR has an EoTech on it and I love it. I might purchase the magnifier for it someday.

For what it's worth, 125 yards is plenty of need for a scope. I am currently putting a 3-9x40 on my 357 All-weather.

I usually will put a low power scope on the rifles I am not using for lever silhouette but I put a red dot on my Smith 22 pistol and like it a lot. My groups tightened up and its a lot of fun popping clay birds at 25yds.