TARGET TAKER
Can the latest red dot sights make you a better wingshooter?
Advertisement
My introduction to shotgunning was pretty shaky. With no formal training, I remained a pretty poor shot for several years, despite earnest advice from mentors. My form was terrible, and I had no idea how to lead a bird, always asking successful gunners how far they shot in front of the ducks. And I had yet to learn there were several shooting styles, including sustained lead, swing through and instinctive, and how the appropriate lead is a little different for each method. Fortunately, I eventually figured it all out. While my form wasn’t textbook, it was consistent, and I learned what the proper lead on flying birds should look like, at least to my eyes.
How times have changed when it comes to learning the basics of correct form and lead. These days, beginner wingshooters have many more resources to guide them, not the least of which are countless online videos. Then there’s the new generation of red dot sights. Leading the way is the Acro S-2 from Aimpoint. But do such reflex sights really help? Naturally, I had to find out.
Advertisement
RED DOT INTRO
Red dot sights have been popular on shotguns for some time, particularly for hunting turkeys and varmints, but the folks at Aimpoint designed the Acro S-2 specifically for knocking down flying targets. Unlike its predecessors, the sight attaches to a shotgun’s ventilated rib, so it can be easily moved from gun to gun (it comes with several baseplates for different rib widths). It also has a much larger dot than similar reflex scopes, making it easier to see when you mount your shotgun. It’s all powered by a CR2032 lithium battery, made to last for five years.
I first used the S-2 last fall on my Beretta A400 during a big-water hunt, taking turns with a buddy shooting bluebills. It was admittedly a little frustrating at first as the ducks roared through our decoys. As a wingshooter, you’re told to focus on the target, but I found myself looking for the red dot first, then the target, before trying to establish the correct lead and pulling the trigger. So for the first little while, I was constantly hitting the switch late, resulting in too many misses or poorly hit birds. Eventually, I became more comfortable with the sight, and my shooting improved.
Advertisement
RED DOT INSIGHT
The S-2 also revealed my bad habit of not consistently getting my head down on the stock. I discover this when mounting my gun—sometimes I could immediately see the red dot, while other times I had to move my head slightly to see it. The beauty of the red dot is that it’s always aligned with your barrel—if you can’t see it, you’re not looking straight down the pipe. That, in part, makes these sights effective training tools.
The red dot’s other benefit is it allows you to clearly see how much you’re leading your target. If you hit your bird, you’ll have a precise sight image of how far in front you were. If you miss, on the other hand, it’s easier to adjust your lead until it’s just right.
RED DOT REALITY
In hindsight, I should have shot some clays with the S-2 before taking it on a hunt. Hitting birds with a red dot sight takes some getting used to, after all, especially for someone like me with 50 years of established shotgunning habits. I found the sight was most effective when the birds were a long way off, and I had time to think about proper gun mount. On the other hand, when birds suddenly appeared—as they’re prone to do on big marshes—my instincts would take over and I shot without even thinking about the red dot, gun mount or how much lead I needed.
For developing shooters establishing their own form and learning the correct target lead, the Acro S-2 would be a very helpful tool. It would also make a fine, easily transferable shotgun scope for hunting turkeys and other terrestrial game. But if you’re an experienced wingshooter and hoping this type of sight helps you bag more birds, take my advice and spend some time with it on the clays range first. Like me, you’ll eventually figure it all out.
Visit www.aimpoint.us to learn more about the Acro S-2 SCOPE.