Red dot optics are slowly infiltrating their way onto every type of firearm. Without question they’re a great choice for many shooters . They started life as a rifle aiming solution, and they’ve slowly become more and more popular for pistols. Now it’s quite common to see a red dot optic on a variety of shotguns. In this article we’re going to cover the 5 best red dot scopes for shotgun. We will also review the best mounting solutions, and other accessories you might want to consider with your red dot optic. Keep reading for more.
These days we are spoiled for choice. There are dozens of quality red dot sights that you can mount on your shotgun, That doesn’t mean that a red dot scope / optic is the best solution for every shotgun shooter. I don’t see much use for those shooting sporting clays, and bird hunters. Those sports are more about finding the right lead for a moving target, and follow through, than pin point accuracy.
I think ground game hunters, self defense shooters, as well as tactical / sport shooters are the best users for a good red dot. In these use cases you’re very often target focused, and the red dot is built for target focus.
If you read my previous article about the utility of the quiet eye, and the possibility being killed because you used your sights, you’ll remember that target focus is what we need to win a gunfight, or take home that trophy. Before we get into the meat of this article, let’s quickly review what we’ll be talking about.
5 Best Red Dot Scopes for Shotgun Overview
- Red dot optics provide unlimited eye relief unlike iron sights
- Red dot sights allow for target focused shooting
- Some red dot sights are magnified
- Sighting window, and field of view differ depending on shotgun mount
- There are three primary shotgun mounting solutions for red dots
- The best red dots cost between $300-500
If you’re interested in finding your best home security shotgun for self defense, then I recommend reading this article where I reviewed some of the best shotguns available today. There is no doubt that the shotgun is one of the most effective self defense tools available. Don’t believe me, check this chart out.
This chart comes from my article where I reviewed data on over 1800 shootings. There are some surprising findings in there; however, the shotgun consistently performed well compared to rifles, and pistols. Now let’s review a few good shotguns for home defense, close quarters battle (CQB), and general purpose uses.
My Top 3 Shotgun Recommendations for Red Dot Use
These three shotguns are some of the best choices on the market today. In this section I’ve recommended two pump-action shotguns, and one semi-automatic AR style shotgun. These shotguns have great reviews and a wide variety of accessories so you can mount lights, lasers, and more.
If you want to see the best accessories for each shotgun then check out this article, where I cover that topic in depth.
Remington 870 Express
The Remington 870 Express is, and will always be, a great choice for a home security shotgun. It’s a great all around shotgun, that is reasonably compact. It features an 18.5-inch barrel, and a 6 round capacity. It uses a black synthetic stock that’s very durable.
This shotgun has a very affordable price. As of this writing it’s priced around $450. Given the great stopping power of a 12 gauge shotgun, this is probably the best bang for your buck. However, it doesn’t come with much extra, and I think it needs a few items to make it a truly great home security choice.
Remington TAC 14 with Brace
The Remington TAC 14 is the best choice for those that want a compact and maneuverable firearm. Due to inane ATF regulations, this shotgun is able to have a 14 inch barrel and not require special authorization from them. This makes it a great defensive shotgun. The variant pictured below also features an arm brace, which can be used exactly like a stock. This makes for a very compact package.
You can see that this shotgun is about 5 inches shorter than the 870 Express. It also features a pistol grip, which can be more comfortable for some shooters. Even though it’s very compact, you can still load 5 rounds into the shotgun, which meets our requirements. You can see that it already has the Magpul MOE forend, so we don’t have to add that in.
The only down side to this shotgun, is that it can be hard to find in stock, especially in this configuration. It’s possible to find the non-brace Remington Tac 14 much easier. If you’re at all handy with a screw driver, you can then add in your own brace kit. This is the fastest way to get this shotgun, if the pre-built version happens to be out of stock.
Rock Island Tactical VR-80
Prior to doing the research for this article, I was not very familiar with the Rock Island Tactical VR-80. At first, it looked like a gimmick, but as I read more about it, it appeared as if this was a great semi auto shotgun that costs almost the same as a pump-action shotgun. As of this writing, you can grab one for about $600. It also includes a front and rear flip up style sight.
This shotgun has some great features. First, and foremost, it’s patterned after an AR15 style rifle. This is a boon for those that feel comfortable shooting that platform. It can be a pain in the ass to learn how to operate a firearm that’s completely different than your previous experience.
It also appears to work reliably with a wide variety of ammunition. As it ships, it will come with a 5 round magazine, for a total capacity of 6 in the gun. Moreover, you can easily buy higher magazine capacity. They come in 10 or 20 round varieties. You probably won’t need that for a home security gun, but it’s nice option to have.
I like that you can customize it however you like. You can add any AR15 style stock you want, and easily swap out the pistol grip. Although, most reviewers found the regular stock to be perfectly adequate. The only downside is the length of the gun. It comes in at an overall length of 40 inches, with a 20-inch barrel. This can be difficult to maneuver in a house.
Now let’s talk about the primary considerations we need to think about when choosing the best red dot sights for our application.
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Finding the Best Red Dot Scope / Optic for Your Application
The first thing you need to consider when choosing your red dot is what is your intended use for the shotgun? Are you planning on engaging at extended ranges? Is this a home defense shotgun, which will be used at CQB distances? The intended use and subsequent engagement range is the most important factor to consider when choosing a dot.
If you are expecting to engage your target beyond 50 yards, then I strongly recommend you invest in a variable powered optic, that has an illuminated reticle. This allows you to see your target in much more detail, and you can engage more accurately.
If you need fast target acquisition, and fast follow up shots, then I recommend a simple red dot sight, with a large window. Holographic sights are quite popular for this use.
If you don’t have a specific use case for your shotgun, and want a red dot that can be used on a wide variety of guns, then I recommend getting a mini red dot sight. They can be used on pistols, rifles, and shotguns, giving you maximum versatility.
Now, let’s talk about our long range, magnified red dot optics for shotguns.
Magnified Red Dot Scopes for Shotgun
Like the mini red dot sights, these magnified scopes can be used on rifles as well as shotguns. They also have the widest variety of reticles you can choose from. For shotgun users, I recommend something like the ACSS reticle or a circle and dot reticle.
The larger circle gives you a good idea of the pattern for your shotgun, and the center aiming dot gives you a precise aiming point for those more difficult shots. You can also adjust the brightness level from very dim to daylight bright. Here is my favorite variable powered red dot scope for shotgun.
Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6x Magnified Optic
It should be no surprise that I’d recommend a Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6x scope for my top magnified red dot optic. It’s extremely popular for rifle shooters, and Vortex has a well deserved reputation for manufacturing quality optics. They also stand by them with a great no questions asked warranty.
I know some of you are getting ready to mash that caps lock button and question the need for a 6x scope for a shotgun. To a certain extent you’re right, you probably wouldn’t want to shoot at 6x, even for turkey hunters, or folks that hunt deer with slugs.
That being said, this optic provides tremendous flexibility by allowing you to shoot at any magnification from 1x all the way to 6x. There is the added benefit of still being able to use this reticle even when the battery dies. The reticle is etched on the glass. Unless it falls off your gun, or your glass is broken, you can still aim with the scope. Try aiming with a traditional red dot once the battery dies!
The tube is filled with inert gas which effectively makes this optic fog proof. This doesn’t mean water can’t form on the outside of the lens, it simply means it can’t enter the inside of the optic.
You will need to mount this optic with a 30mm scope mount. If you click this link, you’ll be able to get the optic and mount for $389 as of this writing. This is a great deal. Don’t forget that you can use this on your AR15 style rifle as well.
Now let’s talk about more traditional red dot optics that are ideal for tactical shotgun users.
Red Dot Optics for Tactical Shotgun Users
If you’re a tactical shotgun shooter, you have a very particular set of needs (said in Liam Neeson voice). You need a wide field of view, long battery life, and a very rugged optic with unlimited eye relief. If you’ve every been in combat or even done any sport shooting like 3 Gun, or USPSA, you’ll know that you can’t always achieve perfect eye relief, and you have to shoot in some odd positions from time to time.
Red dot optics (red dot reflex sight) allow you to do just that. In this section I’m going to recommend two red dot optics that have a proven track record for reliability. Sure you can buy a cheaper optic, like the Burris Fastfire, but don’t expect it to last very long!
Eotech Model 512 Holographic Sight
The Eotech Model 512 is a great holographic weapon sight for shotgun users. While this particular model is slightly bigger than the newer XPS 2.0 and 3.0, it does have some notable benefits. First, it uses a common AA battery instead of a 123 cell battery. It also features an anti-reflective coating on the lens.
Furthermore, if you use a lithium battery (AA) it actually has an 1100 hour battery life. Other offerings from Eotech are listed at 500-600 hours of battery life.
This reticle also makes a lot of sense for tactical, and sport shooters. You have the central dot for precise aiming, and you have a 65 MOA reticle which approximates the pattern on most normal shot shells.
Yes, yes, I know there are all kinds of Turkey chokes, and flight control rounds that have super tight shot patterns. Remember, this aiming circle is to be used as a rule of thumb, rather than a precise aiming point.
The only downside for this optic is that it doesn’t feature shake awake technology. You have to manually turn it on and off when you want to use it. While 1100 hours of battery life sounds like a lot, that won’t last long enough to leave it on all the time, like some of the offerings further on.
As of this writing you can buy this red dot optic for $379 dollars which makes this the best value for an Eotech. If you don’t mind manually turning it on, then this is a great option for hunters, sport shooters, and tactical users. Next, let’s take a look at a similar option, with some improved features.
Holosun HE510 GR Elite Solar Powered Red Dot Optic
The HE510C-GR Elite is an amazing option that will work for almost any user. It functions much like an Eotech with way more useful features, and battery life. One of the most important features the green dot reticle rather that the 510 features.
Physiologically the human visual system can perceive green the easiest, and most shooters find that a green reticle is easier to see in all shooting conditions. This is why night vision devices often display in shades of green.
Moreover, this optic has multiple reticle patterns that are user selectable. You can configure the optic to display a simple dot, a dot and 65 MOA circle, or just the circle. This is a nice option for those that might be shooting slugs one day, and shot shells another day.
The best feature is the solar cell on the back of the unit. This cell is able to power the unit by itself in bright sunlight, or it can run on a single CR2032 battery. Given these two systems, Holosun states that it can run for 5 years or 50,000 hours of continuous use, without needing a battery replacement.
It also features shake awake technology, where the reticle will turn on the instant it’s moved. Not only does this further conserve battery power, it provides a valuable safety function. If you’ve ever grabbed a rifle with a red dot, and forgotten to turn it on in a high stress situation, you know the oh shit feeling you get when that dot doesn’t appear!
If I was building a tactical shotgun right now, I wouldn’t hesitate to put this optic on there. I’ve used other Holosun optics in the past and they’ve worked very well. They’re also backed by a solid warranty.
As of this writing, you can pick up this green dot optic for $339. Given that this optic is cheaper, and lighter than an Eotech, with better features, there’s nothing not to like. We’ve covered several full sized sights, next we’ll take a look at some mini red dot sights.
Mini Red Dot Optics for Shotguns
Mini red dot optics are the Leatherman tools of the sighting system world. They can be mounted on anything and are universally rugged, as they have to contend with the violence of being mounted on a pistol slide. They’re also the lightest option due to their small size.
In this section we will be recommending two solid options that are based off of the excellent white paper published by Sage Dynamics. Aaron has done the most thorough testing for mini red dot optics, and has demonstrated which optics truly are rugged enough for hardcore use.
As of this writing there are only two manufacturers that have optics that continue to function after being dropped on concrete dozens of times, frozen, put in an oven, with over 10,000 rounds fired. Those two manufacturers are Trijicon, and Holosun.
Trijicon RMR Type 2 Mini Red Dot
The Trijicon RMR Type 2 mini red dot sight features a 3.25 MOA dot, and very rugged construction. In the Sage Dynamics white paper, this particular optic has over 30,000 rounds fired with it and continues to function perfectly. It’s by far the most thoroughly tested option on the market currently. This is an excellent choice for almost any use.
This optic features a forged aluminum housing that is incredibly rugged. If you dig into the testing protocol from Sage Dynamics, you’ll see that every 500 rounds he drops the optic on the slide from shoulder level onto concrete. That means his RMR has been dropped over 60 times directly onto the housing. It doesn’t get any tougher than that!
It also features an excellent battery life. Trijicon states that it will operate up to 4 years of continuous use. This makes it an excellent defensive use optic as you can just leave it on for years at a time. It’s also one of the lightest options at only 1.2 ounces.
As of this writing you can purchase the optic for $459. This is a pretty good price considering other manufacturers regularly sell their less durable options for $600 dollars or more. Next we’ll take a look at the Holosun mini RDS.
Holosun HE-509 RD Mini Red Dot Sight
The Holosun HE-509 RD mini red dot sight is the only other option from the white paper that continues to function after 13,000+ rounds and dozens of drops. It also has some great features that make it ideal as a tactical shotgun sight for a home defense situation.
This optic features a titanium construction, and has many of the same features our other Holosun optic has. It has a solar back up system, and shake awake technology. It features a multiple reticle system allowing you to chose between a dot, dot and circle, or just a 32 MOA circle.
This style of mini red dot features an enclosed emitter, which is a fancy way of saying that the electronics are fully enclosed in a housing. This can increase reliability, but as we saw with the Trijicon RMR, it’s not a must have feature for a reliable optic.
As of this writing you can pick up your 509 for $429. I wouldn’t hesitate to pick this optic up as it has a proven track record of working under the harshest of conditions. This is a perfect choice for those that want multiple reticles in a compact package. Next let’s talk about some quality mounting solutions for your shotgun red dot scope / optic.
Shotgun Red Dot Optic Mounting Methods
There are only a few ways you can mount a red dot to your shotgun if it doesn’t come from the factory with a receiver mounted rail. Ideally the shotgun will come with a rail that’s preinstalled. This will save you the trouble of having it drilled and tapped for for a rail.
If you don’t want to send your shotgun to a gun smith, for rail installation, you have two options. First, I recommend installing a picatinny mount like the one featured below. This mount from Mesa Tactical will fit a Remington 870 or 1100. They also make variants for other popular shotguns.
This product is mounted directly to the receiver via the pins on the side. It has the added benefit of adding in a place to carry extra shells which you’ll find on most tactical shotguns used by law enforcement .
The other common mounting option for those that don’t want to have the receiver drilled and tapped, is purchasing a barrel with a direct attach cantilever mount. Currently, these are relatively hard to find, and are almost always for rifled for slug use only.
I highly recommend attaching a picatinny rail to the shotgun receiver. This provides you with maximum flexibility when mounting your red dot optic to the receiver.
If you have a scope you can simple use these scope rings to mount it to the rail. Moreover, if you’re using one of the mini red dot sights, you can use one of these mounts to attach them to the picatinny rail. Make sure you check the compatibility with your chosen red dot optic, as some use proprietary mounting systems.
Final Thoughts
This has been a pretty detailed article, and you now have some great options to mount a red dot scope to your shotgun. Make sure you consider the purpose, and likely engagement range for your shotgun. That will push you towards one of the choices we’ve highlighted above.
Above all else, make sure that you practice with your shotgun once you zero the red dot. It doesn’t matter how awesome your set up is if your skills are still sub par. If you have any questions or comments put them below, and I’ll get you an answer. Now get out there and get training!
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