r/canadaguns • u/mistert9 • Mar 20 '26
Buy recommendations 12 Gauge optics
Wondering what kind of optics people have had good luck with on their shotguns. I know many will say the standard irons or beads are all you need, but I'm looking for an upgrade, and I'm torn between Utg pro flip ups or an actual red dot...for the latter, what would hold zero consistently but also not be silly on the price end? I am aware you get what you pay for, but I'm always for paying less (or reasonable) for quality.
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u/therowdyirishman Mar 20 '26
Pistol optics tend to suit this application best for a number of reasons - durability, low mount by default, small footprint, co-witness mount availability, and circle reticle options. Primary Arms 1x prism are solid and offer the benefit of an etched reticle as a back up sight alternative to co-witnessed irons. Decent quality Aimpoint micro clones like Holosuns mid tier options should hold up as well. If you don't care to pay the premium for an enclosed emitter you have access to more affordable options. The most popular enclosed models I see people using in the 1301 tactical subreddit are Holosun 509T, Aimpoint Acro and Steiner MPS. I started out with a 509T and then swapped to a Holosun 503CU as it offers a distortion free sight picture, tubular shape (preference/aesthetic choice) and preferred co-witness height when mounted on a CROM.
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u/mistert9 Mar 20 '26
Thanks for the info! I am brand new to the world of optics other than using and zeroing a cheap forcefield impulse that works well on my wife's 10/22, so I will have to check out some of those mentions you pointed out.
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u/JJJJJ2119 Mar 20 '26
What do you use your shotgun for…
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u/mistert9 Mar 20 '26
Sorry I guess I should have mentioned that. This is not a hunting shotgun...shorter barrel pump action setup for defence/security. I just find the current setup leaves a bit to be desired for quick target acquisition.
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u/Parking_Media Mar 20 '26 edited Mar 20 '26
I think the optics "controversy" thing is from classic clays games like skeet and trap. Optics are probably not useful for those - speaking for my skeet obsessed self, they would be actively worse (I don't even look at the gun).
For other stuff, yeah I can see it. Especially 3 gun, turkey hunting, dedicated slug gun, that kinda thing.
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u/ReturnOk7510 Mar 20 '26
I maintain that wing shooting with any sort of optic is going to result in a lot of missing behind. The bead isn't even really a sight, it's more a way to ensure you've mounted the gun consistently so you can point and shoot instinctively. But for other shotgun uses, ghost rings, red dots, holos, etc definitely have their place.
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u/mistert9 Mar 20 '26
Yes, I was always under the impression that for hunting bird, the standard bead is all you need and anything else could throw you off. I have a Mossberg 500 for turkey and that one works just fine for me with the bead. I guess I just thought most people shunned an optic on a shotgun, for any reason
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u/SpectreBallistics Spectre Ballistics International (Verified) Mar 20 '26
I've run a Meprolight M21 on my shotgun since 2018 and I've shot thousands of rounds in competitions with it. Never had an issue. Buy once, cry once.
I've killed every vortex I've put on a shotgun.
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u/cumbrad Mar 20 '26
Have you tried the Viper SG? (the one designed for shotguns)
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u/SpectreBallistics Spectre Ballistics International (Verified) Mar 20 '26
Nope. Don't plan on it. The track record is too poor to justify spending the money. Every Vortex red dot I've owned has died and been replaced at least once. I've never killed any other optic brand. EO Tech, Trijicon, Burris, Meprolight, random aliexpress optics, all fine.
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u/cumbrad Mar 20 '26
Fair enough. Myself, I’m willing to bet $200 on their lifetime warranty but different strokes for different folks. I generally go Holosun but picked this one up for cheap during a sale in the US (one curse of dual citizenship with a PAL and FFL and living close to the border on both sides is I spend 2x as much on guns, since it’s easier than doing import/export paperwork LOL)
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u/SpectreBallistics Spectre Ballistics International (Verified) Mar 20 '26
The Vortex warranty is great, but having an optic go down during a competition isn't worth it. I would rather not have to use the warranty.
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u/cumbrad Mar 20 '26
Since the only shotgun comps I do are clays where usually a red dot isn’t even allowed, I don’t really mind a little gamble but I def understand where you’re coming from
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u/FluffyPlays22 Mar 20 '26
Not sure why you are being downvoted, vortex red dots are terrible. I've had 3/3 vortex red dots die on me, that's before I learned that vortex red dots are outright garbage. For the same price you can get the equivalent of any other chinese manufacturer, and it will be way better. I've got over 15k+ rounds (not rimfire) on holosuns and never had one fail on me yet.
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u/SpectreBallistics Spectre Ballistics International (Verified) Mar 20 '26
I've owned 4 of their dots. Each one has died multiple times for different reasons. Last 2 times I just sold off the warranty replacement for cheap. Not worth the hassle. When my current ones die I'll do the same.
Holosun seems solid. I've been running one on my shadow 2 for a bit now.
I wouldn't say I'm rough on my gear, but I do run them in multigun so things get bumped.
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u/BI0WEED Mar 20 '26
What reticle ?
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u/SpectreBallistics Spectre Ballistics International (Verified) Mar 20 '26
I have the triangle. It's pretty good.
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u/mistert9 Mar 20 '26
That's good to know about the vortex stuff. Not familiar with mepro, I'll check it out.
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u/swift_gilford Mar 20 '26
but also not be silly on the price end?
What is "silly" to you? Also what is the end use of this shotgun once you have the optic on it? Flat range toy (not trap), tactical build, hunting (turkey, or deer)?
For a tacticool build, vortex just dropped their Viper Shotgun dedicated site - specifically with green dot - and i jumped on it and super happy with it. But people have been running regular red dot sights with adapters, or even more standard pic-rail mounted red dots with no issues as well. If you're looking for a scope for hunting purposes, personally anything more than a 2-10/3-9 magnification is probably overkill.
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u/mistert9 Mar 20 '26
I mean I know good optics cost, but I really wanted to keep it under $250 if I could. It's also why I was open to some sort of iron type sight, as this is more a defence/security build. How many rounds do you have through your vortex if you had to guess?
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u/New_Patience_8938 Mar 20 '26
I threw a bushnell trophy on my 14" 590 shockwave (with magpul buttstock). It handles slugs just fine. But im also not one to drop 500$ on a sight.
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u/mistert9 Mar 20 '26
See that's kinda me. I'd rather spend the money on more guns lol. But I also don't want to buy a piece of junk that won't stay zeroed after 10 rounds. I'll check out that Bushnell, thanks!
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u/cumbrad Mar 20 '26
I really like my vortex Viper SG. Flipups on a shotgun are silly. Red dot or go home. Bead or ghost ring are the only sg irons that make sense. Or rifle sights on a slug barrel of course.