What’s The Best Shotgun Red Dot?

Written by RangetoReel in Reloading Equipment,Scopes

The shotgun is one of the most versatile firearms on the market. It’s as good in the woods as it is in the bedroom, there’s no firearm more popular than the traditional shotgun.

When you picture a shotgun a red dot sight isn’t the first thing that pops into mind. A high quality red dot will help with both self defense and hunting applications. With a red dot you’ll easily be able to shoot 12 gauge slugs out to 75+ yards. That same red dot will work just as well in close range self defense environments.

What is The Best Shotgun Red Dot Sight?

1. Trijicon RMR

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The Trijicon RM06 RMR red dot is perfect for mounting on your shotgun. Trijicon makes some of the best optics in the firearm industry. They’ve mastered just about every market in the optics world.

From long distance magnifiied optics to pistol night sights Trijicon has taken over the the firearm industry. The Trijicon RM06 RMR red dot is one of the best products in their lineup.

Trijicon’s RMR lineup of red dots is one of the most versatile sights on the market. It comes in a wide variety of MOA ranges to suit your needs. Personally I think the 3.25 MOA is the best for a shotgun.

It’s decent out to 100 yards with a slug while allowing for quick target acquisition. Trijicon’s RMR lineup of sights can be used on just about any firearm. At 1.2 Oz this red dot will work on anything from your smallest 22Lr pistol to an AR15 or shotgun. The lightweight and slim design makes it perfect for lugging around the woods.

The main thing you’re paying for with a Trijicon sight is its durability. Trijicon designed the RMR so that it could be abused. Very few other sights on the market can stand up side by side with the RMR.

I’ve seen salesman hammer in a nail with this sight causing only minimal cosmetic damage. Completely waterproof fogproof and shockproof, the  RMR can handle even the worst environments on earth.

You won’t even have to worry about turning this sight on and off. On the medium brightness setting the battery will last over 4 years of continuous use. The Trijicon RMR is hands down the best red dot you are going to find.

2. Aimpoint Micro T2

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The Aimpoint Micro T2 is another great option for your shotgun The only thing holding the Micro T2 back is its price. Aimpoint is the original red dot manufacturer and they make some of the best red dots on the market.

If you have the money you can never go wrong buying an Aimpoint sight. The Aimpoint Pro is another more affordable option, but it’s a little bit bigger than both the Micro T2 and the above Trijicon RMR.

Aimpoint’s Micro T2 is probably the only sight that comes close to matching the Trijicon RMR. The main detriment to the Micro T2 is the price. It’s hard to justify paying the high price for the Micro T2.

The reason this Aimpoint is more expensive is that it’s compatible with both night vision optics and magnifiers. It’s compatible with all generations of night vision equipment, so if you need night vision you’re going to want this sight. 

Being one of the smallest red dots on the market has its advantages. Weighing in at 3.7 oz this sight is only slightly larger than the RMR. The Micro T2 will easily handle the recoil of even the worst 12 gauge shotgun.

It might even be more durable than the Trijicon RMR. It’s waterproof up to 80 feet and can handle any temperature range on the planet. The Micro T2 was designed to withstand anything life throws at it in both the civilian and military markets.

With a battery life of over 5 years of continuous use and over 58 years at the second brightness setting. Aimpoint’s Micro T2 will be ready any time you need it.

3. Vortex Strikefire 2 Red Dot

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Vortex Optics StrikeFire 2 is another great red dot at an affordable price. The vast majority of people don’t need a red dot that can be run over by a car. They won’t need a sight that will stay continuously on and withstand an explosion.

Vortex Optics makes great sights for the everyday run of the mill shooter, and they don’t break the bank either. Vortex is known for squeezing more features than the competition at every price point. Most people will find that the Strikefire 2 pairs perfectly with just about any shotgun.

The Vortex Strikefire 2 packs a whole lot of features into this budget package.  With 4 MOA sight this is perfect for your hunting shotgun or bedside self defense gun.

It will stretch out to the maximum distance of your slug while maintaining a fast sight picture. In a perfect world you would choose a continuous use sight for your self defense gun, but most people can’t afford the perfect sight. With a 500 hour battery life the Strikefire 2 should be ready when you need it. With a proper a co-witness setup you’ll still be able to use your shotgun even if the batteries die.

You can even pair your StrikeFire with an additional magnifier. This red dot uses a nitrogen purged tube which allows for a completely waterproof and fogproof design. Though not as rugged as the RMR and Micro T2, this strikefire can handle some abuse.

I wouldn’t worry about carrying this sight through the woods or rattling around the back of my atv. If for some reason you do manage to break this red dot Vortex has one of the best warranties in the business. They offer a no questions asked lifetime replacement warranty.

The adjustable brightness can be seen in just about any lighting, and you can even switch between a red and green reticle. If you like this strikefire 2 you may also want to check out the Vortex Venom. The Vortex Venom is another small red dot similar in size to the Trijicon RMR.

4. Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 Red Dot

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Bushnell’s Trophy TRS-25 is another great budget option for your shotgun. This is honestly the cheapest red dot sight I would feel comfortable recommending for a high recoil gun. The TRS-25 is one of the hidden gems in the budget red dot market.

Bushnell is one of the oldest manufacturers in the firearm industry and they know how to make a quality product. I actually really like the entire Bushnell Trophy lineup of products. All of their trophy products are very durable at a low price point.

Bushnell’s Trophy TRS-25 is actually a really nice red dot for the price. It’s hard to believe that this scope is priced as low as it is. Try and shop around online, because the price varies wildly from store to store.  It comes with a 3 MOA reticle which is great for a shotgun or your AR15.

You can even mount the TRS-25 to your compound bow. With a completely Waterproof fogproof and shockproof design you won’t have to worry about damage.  I wouldn’t hunt with an optic that isn’t entirely waterproof.

Far to many hunting trips were ended early because of water getting into a cheap scope. It’s not as durable as the more expensive scopes, but it will hold up to just about anything life throws at it.

With the adjustable brightness and multicoated lens you should be able to see your dot in even the brightest and darkest environments. Without spending a lot of cash you will definitely be happy with the Bushnell TRS-25.

Final Verdict

When choosing a red dot sight most peoples choice will come down to their budget. If you are looking for an absolute top of the line product you’re going to want a Trijicon RMR or a Aimpoint Micro T2. These red dot sights are two of the best products money can buy. If you’re on a moderate budget you should consider the Vortex Strikefire 2. The very durable design and extra features makes the Vortex sight hard to beat. The absolute cheapest red dot shotgun sight I would recommend is the Bushnell Trophy TRS-25. The TRS-25 is a durable sight that will last multiple hunting seasons.  Any of the above sights will be perfect for most outdoorsman.

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