Red dot on Double

[VBTHunting]

Hello everyone,

I’m heading on a buffalo/lion hunt later this year and recently picked up a Heym 88B in .470 NE. I’m considering adding a red dot and would appreciate hearing from those of you who actually hunt dangerous game with a double rifle.

For those running red dots on doubles:

• What optic did you choose?
• Any regrets or things you’d do differently?
• If you’re using an RMR, did you go with the RM09 (1 MOA) or RM06 (3.25 MOA), and why?

This rifle will primarily be used for buffalo, but there’s a good chance it will also be used for lion.

Thanks in advance for any advice and photos of your setups.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

Welcome to the AH forums. You asked good and often repeated question of running a reflex sight on a double rifle. If your vision is still good enough to quickly and accurately shoot metallic sights, then good for you. For most of us, a reflex sight's single sighting plain makes the sighting task much easier!

The short answers are:

• Trijicon SRO or RMR with top loading battery
• Aimpoint H2 is you don't mind the size
• Smallest dot available. The dots increase in size as their intensity is increased on bright days!

Our AH members contributed to the posts below with answers to questions you haven't thought of yet

Thread 'Red Dot & RMR Sights For Dangerous Game Rifles'

Feb 5, 2023

Red Dot and RMR Sights for Dangerous Game Rifles

Above photos are Trijocon SRO on Heym 88B

I have been contributing information concerning Red Dot and RMR Sights for Dangerous Game Rifles on a couple of other threads that some AH members may have missed. I figure that this information warrants its own thread, so here you go!

Warning, this isn’t an article about every sight available. I am not a professional writer, as evident my often lack of editing! Nor do any manufacturers send me stuff to use so that I will give them free advertising. Rather, this is...

• Mark A Ouellette
• Replies: 147
• Forum: Articles

• 

S

Thread 'Trijicon RMR red dot for Heym double '

Sep 17, 2023

I have acquired a 470 NE Heym 88 B double and have ordered a mounting plate from Heym to install an easy to remove red dot sight. Heym says use Docter or Trijicon RMR. Docter sights are not available, so I will go with Trijicon.

I prefer a small dot, one MOA. Does anyone have experience with selecting the right Trijicon model for a Heym double? Thanks for your help here.

• ScottP
• Replies: 17
• Forum: Hunting equipment, gear & optics

Thread 'Red Dot /RSM for Dangerous Game'

Apr 9, 2024

Looking for advice. I am planning a future DG hunt for cape buffalo. The platform will be a Winchester model 70 Safari Express. I am not overly pleased with the open sites and am interested in adding a red dot /RSM? Any recommendations? Brand? MOA dot? battery? What do the experienced cape buffalo hunters ...

• RLP
• Replies: 27
• Forum: .375 & up

• 

L

Thread 'RMR or SRO on Heym DR'

Aug 9, 2024

Looking for recommendations on types and sizes of RMR/SRO optic for a heym 88B DR. JJ is putting the mount on it.

I currently use a Ruger No 1 375 with a Burris Fast Fire 2. 3MOA Dot. It’s amazingly for target acquisition but the DR is a bit bigger/wider and wondering what others have found that works successfully. Would 1MOA dot be two small?
I just never mastered using the blades all that well on a rifle for fast acquisition and I love the RMR/SRO’s for that reason.

• LHPF565
• Replies: 20
• Forum: Double rifles

Thread 'Best Sighting Option Ele Double Rifle'

Aug 20, 2024

I am putting together a Double Rifle for Elephant in Zim next spring. I have a Sabatti 470 NE with Ken Owen’s that he regulated at 60 yds.

What sighting system should I use? Possible day or night shots.

My eyes are OK, only wear reader glasses (1.75x) so far

• wildwilderness
• Replies: 13
• Forum: Firearms & ammunition

The following if from a DM in which I as asked for advice. DMs don't have links so I copied everything except who asked the question.
As for a reflex sight, I use a Hennenberger RMR (footprint) mount for the lowest sighting plain. https://www.optics-trade.eu/us/henneberger-hms-trijicon-rmr-mount-for-uni-6-10-mm-rail.html

I use military-quality equipment such as Trijicon and Aimpoint. Although these are not built to military specifications, they are tough as nails!

My sights are Trijicon SRO with 1-MOA dot, and Aimpoint H2 with their smallest 2-MOA dot. AS their intensity is increased, so is the appearance of the dot. Aim small, miss small…

This is my Heym with the Aimpoint H2 on a Hennenberger mount,

This setup is larger than I like but the Aimpoint dot doesn't flare to my eyes as much as the Trijicon or other dots. The Aimpoint also "tracks" with windage and elevation adjustments. Not so much for the Trijicons. I've shot similar Aimpoints in pistol competitions at the National Matches. NO ONE used a Trijicon-type reflex.

The Trijicon SRO has a larger viewing window than their RMR sights. The RMR are more rugged than the SRO if one wants to beat an animal to death with the sight. I find the larger window more user-friendly than that of the RMR or Micro-RMR.

SRO next to RMR,

Heym with SRO on Trijicon RM57 mount,

Rib milled for RM57 mount,

SRO on Hennenberger mount,

Hennenberger mount bottom milled to fit on rifle rib,

I hope this helps. I recommend a Trijicon SRO with 1-MOA dot. The Hennenberger mount it probably easier to mill and drill and tap the rib than is milling the rib for the higher RM57 mount.

 

[VBTHunting]

thank you @Mark A Ouellette

 

[gcbailey]

On a scope, I want a small sight for precision. For close in work on dangerous game, including man, I prefer something larger, and have both a 3.25 MOA and 7 MOA RMR. I find myself using the larger combat pistol triangle sight more.

 

[Beck]

I have a Leica on my double, and I am not fond. I have a Trijicon on my .450 Rigby, and a I love it. I am going to replace the Leica with a Trijicon

 

[Mats Bergholm]

Have a look at the new Aimpoint COA TM. It weights only 48 gram or 1,7 oz. battery life 5 years

https://www.aimpoint.com/products/coa-r-35-moa-red-dot-reflex-sight-with-a-cut-interface-for-rifles/

 

[Russ16]

I have a Trijicon SRO with 1 MOA dot on my double. I really like it. I would like to get one with the 2.5 MOA to compare.

 

[RIGBY]

I have a Leica on my double, and I am not fond. I have a Trijicon on my .450 Rigby, and a I love it. I am going to replace the Leica with a Trijicon

I would love to see a picture of your set up!

 

[The Engineer]

I like RMR mounted as low as possible on the rib of my Heym 470. I wanted to keep it low to be as close as possible to the iron sight line (Less perceived recoil and faster sight acquisition.). Even then, I added a stick on 1/4" thick rubber cheek piece. If I were doing it again, I would have custom fitted lace on leather cheek piece.

I was only interested in short range "minute of buffalo" accuracy so I went with the 3-minute dot. It worked fine for me.

 

[reinwood]

I have a Leica on my double, and I am not fond. I have a Trijicon on my .450 Rigby, and a I love it. I am going to replace the Leica with a Trijicon

I am surprised, I did the opposite: replaced my old docter and burris by Leica Ampus 2 - the best one to my view. Best optically, clarity, no distortion, no color shift, etc. Why were you not fond of it ?

 

[Beck]

I am surprised, I did the opposite: replaced my old docter and burris by Leica Ampus 2 - the best one to my view. Best optically, clarity, no distortion, no color shift, etc. Why were you not fond of it ?

I only took it on one trip, and it did not hold its zero. I suppose it could be my fault, but the gun/sight didn't get abused during the trip. The Trijicon just worked for me

 

[MacJenkins]

My 470 88b started with a Doctor red dot 17-18 years ago. That stopped working almost a decade ago and went to an RMR. I like the 1 MOA dot.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Welcome to the AH forums. You asked good and often repeated question of running a reflex sight on a double rifle. If your vision is still good enough to quickly and accurately shoot metallic sights, then good for you. For most of us, a reflex sight's single sighting plain makes the sighting task much easier!

The short answers are:

• Trijicon SRO or RMR with top loading battery
• Aimpoint H2 is you don't mind the size
• Smallest dot available. The dots increase in size as their intensity is increased on bright days!

Our AH members contributed to the posts below with answers to questions you haven't thought of yet

Thread 'Red Dot & RMR Sights For Dangerous Game Rifles'

Feb 5, 2023

Red Dot and RMR Sights for Dangerous Game Rifles

Above photos are Trijocon SRO on Heym 88B

I have been contributing information concerning Red Dot and RMR Sights for Dangerous Game Rifles on a couple of other threads that some AH members may have missed. I figure that this information warrants its own thread, so here you go!

Warning, this isn’t an article about every sight available. I am not a professional writer, as evident my often lack of editing! Nor do any manufacturers send me stuff to use so that I will give them free advertising. Rather, this is...

• Mark A Ouellette
• Replies: 147
• Forum: Articles

• 

S

Thread 'Trijicon RMR red dot for Heym double '

Sep 17, 2023

I have acquired a 470 NE Heym 88 B double and have ordered a mounting plate from Heym to install an easy to remove red dot sight. Heym says use Docter or Trijicon RMR. Docter sights are not available, so I will go with Trijicon.

I prefer a small dot, one MOA. Does anyone have experience with selecting the right Trijicon model for a Heym double? Thanks for your help here.

• ScottP
• Replies: 17
• Forum: Hunting equipment, gear & optics

Thread 'Red Dot /RSM for Dangerous Game'

Apr 9, 2024

Looking for advice. I am planning a future DG hunt for cape buffalo. The platform will be a Winchester model 70 Safari Express. I am not overly pleased with the open sites and am interested in adding a red dot /RSM? Any recommendations? Brand? MOA dot? battery? What do the experienced cape buffalo hunters ...

• RLP
• Replies: 27
• Forum: .375 & up

• 

L

Thread 'RMR or SRO on Heym DR'

Aug 9, 2024

Looking for recommendations on types and sizes of RMR/SRO optic for a heym 88B DR. JJ is putting the mount on it.

I currently use a Ruger No 1 375 with a Burris Fast Fire 2. 3MOA Dot. It’s amazingly for target acquisition but the DR is a bit bigger/wider and wondering what others have found that works successfully. Would 1MOA dot be two small?
I just never mastered using the blades all that well on a rifle for fast acquisition and I love the RMR/SRO’s for that reason.

• LHPF565
• Replies: 20
• Forum: Double rifles

Thread 'Best Sighting Option Ele Double Rifle'

Aug 20, 2024

I am putting together a Double Rifle for Elephant in Zim next spring. I have a Sabatti 470 NE with Ken Owen’s that he regulated at 60 yds.

What sighting system should I use? Possible day or night shots.

My eyes are OK, only wear reader glasses (1.75x) so far

• wildwilderness
• Replies: 13
• Forum: Firearms & ammunition

The following if from a DM in which I as asked for advice. DMs don't have links so I copied everything except who asked the question.
As for a reflex sight, I use a Hennenberger RMR (footprint) mount for the lowest sighting plain. https://www.optics-trade.eu/us/henneberger-hms-trijicon-rmr-mount-for-uni-6-10-mm-rail.html

I use military-quality equipment such as Trijicon and Aimpoint. Although these are not built to military specifications, they are tough as nails!

My sights are Trijicon SRO with 1-MOA dot, and Aimpoint H2 with their smallest 2-MOA dot. AS their intensity is increased, so is the appearance of the dot. Aim small, miss small…

This is my Heym with the Aimpoint H2 on a Hennenberger mount,

This setup is larger than I like but the Aimpoint dot doesn't flare to my eyes as much as the Trijicon or other dots. The Aimpoint also "tracks" with windage and elevation adjustments. Not so much for the Trijicons. I've shot similar Aimpoints in pistol competitions at the National Matches. NO ONE used a Trijicon-type reflex.

The Trijicon SRO has a larger viewing window than their RMR sights. The RMR are more rugged than the SRO if one wants to beat an animal to death with the sight. I find the larger window more user-friendly than that of the RMR or Micro-RMR.

SRO next to RMR,

Heym with SRO on Trijicon RM57 mount,

Rib milled for RM57 mount,

SRO on Hennenberger mount,

Hennenberger mount bottom milled to fit on rifle rib,

I hope this helps. I recommend a Trijicon SRO with 1-MOA dot. The Hennenberger mount it probably easier to mill and drill and tap the rib than is milling the rib for the higher RM57 mount.

Mark, love the setup. Personally, I would just have liked it to sit a little bit lower, so interested to hear how she picks up for you. Just seems like you would need to search for it a bit once shouldering the rifle.
Had them mill into the ribbing on mine, and mounted the red dot almost flush with the ribbing.

 

[mdwest]

Chapuis double with an RMR 1 MOA here… works exceptionally well for me…

 

[Rare Breed]

Hello everyone,

I’m heading on a buffalo/lion hunt later this year and recently picked up a Heym 88B in .470 NE. I’m considering adding a red dot and would appreciate hearing from those of you who actually hunt dangerous game with a double rifle.

For those running red dots on doubles:

• What optic did you choose?
• Any regrets or things you’d do differently?
• If you’re using an RMR, did you go with the RM09 (1 MOA) or RM06 (3.25 MOA), and why?

This rifle will primarily be used for buffalo, but there’s a good chance it will also be used for lion.

Thanks in advance for any advice and photos of your setups.

You bet I have for my lion, buff and elephant. I use Trijicon RMR 1.0. “Aim small miss small”. I want the smallest red dot I can see

 

[UpNorthMI]

Trijicon RMR 3.25 on my .500/.416NE Krieghoff double rifle, I took it on it's maiden voyage to Australia for a cull hunt, it shot like a dream, I believe it was 17 buffalo, some camels and at least 1 donkey. It allowed me to pretty much shoot anything under 100 yards, it makes shooting fast and much easier in poor light.

It's time to move forward and fit your red dot.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

Mark, love the setup. Personally, I would just have liked it to sit a little bit lower, so interested to hear how she picks up for you. Just seems like you would need to search for it a bit once shouldering the rifle.
Had them mill into the ribbing on mine, and mounted the red dot almost flush with the ribbing.

Marius, please post photos of your RMR set up. Curious minds want to see the light

I mount my reflex sights as far forward as possible. When I should the rifle I see the dot either on the target or darn close to it. Of course I practice mounting and dry firing a couple times a week, each and every week. This drills my proper mount into my subconscious so that my muscle memory is consistant.

The "eye box" on a scope can be small. A reflex sight provides a hugh eye box compared to a scope.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Marius, please post photos of your RMR set up. Curious minds want to see the light

I mount my reflex sights as far forward as possible. When I should the rifle I see the dot either on the target or darn close to it. Of course I practice mounting and dry firing a couple times a week, each and every week. This drills my proper mount into my subconscious so that my muscle memory is consistant.

The "eye box" on a scope can be small. A reflex sight provides a hugh eye box compared to a scope.

Mark, I first handled a double where the red dot was mounted forward on an Elephant hunt in the Caprivi, last year. Rifle was a Verney Carron in 500N.E. I only carry a Merkel, and thought if they would do it to a Verney, I would be fine...LOL.
Had a discussion a couple of weeks ago, and was told it was wrong to mount it forward because it interferes with the peripheral, but anyone knows that you shoot a double with both eyes open. Point number two, the owner of the Verney is a very well respected Professional Hunter, with numbers in the multiple 100's of Elephant.
Had mine done, and could not be happier. Initially, the milling bugged me a bit, but once I picked up the Verney, it was a done deal. As you would know, with that red dot further forward like that, it is a game changer.

Here is mine:

Close up so that you can see how the base was fitted into the milling and also give you a good idea on height. Basically, flush with the ribbing.

 

[Beck]

I would love to see a picture of your set up!

Second from the front, unfortunately it is not a Rigby Rifle!

 

[Spey]

I used a Trijicon RMR 1 MOA dot on my Heym 88B, installed by JJ Perodeau. I used it on an elephant at 14 yards and was glad to have it. I also have a Trijicon RCR with an enclosed emitter that I may install and use next time. Walking through the tall wet grass the enclosed emitter may be beneficial.