Aimpoint Micro S-1 Red Dot Sight Perfect for Shotguns

0
607
Aimpoint Micro S-1 Red Dot Sight Perfect for Shotguns
Photos by Brad Fitzpatrick

Optics have become standard equipment for most hunting applications with one exception—wingshooting. It’s still relatively rare to see a waterfowl or upland gun that’s equipped with an optic, but that’s changing thanks in part to sights like the Aimpoint Micro S-1 red dot.

The Aimpoint Micro S-1’s miniaturized dimensions and light weight make it an ideal optic for use on a shotgun. With a length of 2.5 inches, a height of 1.6 inches and a weight (with battery) of just 3.5 ounces, the Micro S-1 doesn’t take up a great deal of space on the rib of a shotgun. With a high-strength aluminum housing featuring a semi-matte anodized finish and an integrated carbon fiber-reinforced polymer base, it doesn’t significantly change the balance point of the gun, either.

Unlike traditional shotgun optics that require shooters to purchase aftermarket bases and attach them to the gun’s receiver the Micro S-1’s integrated base fits onto the rib of virtually any gun. By measuring the height and width of your shotgun rib you can determine which base/plate combination is required, and Aimpoint offers an easy-to-follow diagram that helps you determine the right combo for your firearm.

The base secures to the sides and bottom of the rib and, when it’s tightened in place, holds zero even while firing magnum loads. It’s a simple installation process and, unlike traditional shotgun optics, you can quickly and easily install or remove the optic as desired. The Micro S-1 can be positioned at any point along the rib of the shotgun, and the low (.55 inches) optical axis makes it easy to view the 6 MOA red dot from a natural shooting position without having to lift your head from the gun. Eye relief is unlimited and there’s no parallax error with these sights.

See also  .223 Remington vs .30-30 Winchester Ammo Comparison - Ballistics Info & Chart Caliber Ballistics Comparison 07 Dec, 2018 Posted By: Foundry Outdoors The following ammunition cartridge ballistics information and chart can be used to approximately compare .223 Remington vs .30-30 Winchester ammo rounds. Please note, the following information reflects the estimated average ballistics for each caliber and does not pertain to a particular manufacturer, bullet weight, or jacketing type. As such, the following is for comparative information purposes only and should not be used to make precise predictions of the trajectory, performance, or true ballistics of any particular .223 Remington or .30-30 Winchester rounds for hunting, target shooting, plinking, or any other usage. The decision for which round is better for a given application should be made with complete information, and this article simply serves as a comparative guide, not the final say. For more detailed ballistics information please refer to the exact round in question or contact the manufacturer for the pertinent information. True .223 Remington and .30-30 Winchester ballistics information can vary widely from the displayed information, and it is important to understand that the particular characteristics of a given round can make a substantive difference in its true performance. Caliber Type Velocity (fps) Energy (ft-lb) .223 Remington Rifle 3150 1250 .30-30 Winchester Rifle 2370 1890 [Click Here to Shop .223 Remington Ammo] [Click Here to Shop .30-30 Winchester Ammo] VelocityAs illustrated in the chart, .223 Remington rounds - on average - achieve a velocity of about 3150 feet per second (fps) while .30-30 Winchester rounds travel at a velocity of 2370 fps. To put this into perspective, a Boeing 737 commercial airliner travels at a cruising speed of 600 mph, or 880 fps. That is to say, .223 Remington bullets travel 3.6 times the speed of a 737 airplane at cruising speed, while .30-30 Winchester bullets travel 2.7 times that same speed.Various calibersEnergyFurthermore, the muzzle energy of a .223 Remington round averages out to 1250 ft-lb, while a .30-30 Winchester round averages out to about 1890 ft-lb. One way to think about this is as such: a foot-pound is a unit of energy equal to the amount of energy required to raise a weight of one pound a distance of one foot. So a .223 Remington round exits the barrel with kinetic energy equal to the energy required for linear vertical displacement of 1250 pounds through a one foot distance, while a .30-30 Winchester round exiting the barrel has energy equal to the amount required to displace 1890 pounds over the same one foot distance. As a rule of thumb, when it comes to hunting, muzzle energy is what many hunters look at when deciding on what caliber of firearm / ammunition to select. Generally speaking, the higher the muzzle energy, the higher the stopping power. Again, the above is for comparative information purposes only, and you should consult the exact ballistics for the particular .223 Remington or .30-30 Winchester cartridge you're looking at purchasing. [Buy .223 Remington Ammo] [Buy .30-30 Winchester Ammo] Please click the above links to take a look at all of the .223 Remington and .30-30 Winchester ammo we have in stock and ready to ship, and let us know any parting thoughts in the comment section below.Foundry Outdoors is your trusted home for buying archery, camping, fishing, hunting, shooting sports, and outdoor gear online.We offer cheap ammo and bulk ammo deals on the most popular ammo calibers. We have a variety of deals on Rifle Ammo, Handgun Ammo, Shotgun Ammo & Rimfire Ammo, as well as ammo for target practice, plinking, hunting, or shooting competitions. Our website lists special deals on 9mm Ammo, 10mm Ammo, 45-70 Ammo, 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, 300 Blackout Ammo, 10mm Ammo, 5.56 Ammo, Underwood Ammo, Buffalo Bore Ammo and more special deals on bulk ammo.We offer a 100% Authenticity Guarantee on all products sold on our website. Please email us if you have questions about any of our product listings. 1 Comments Bruce Barbaro - Jun 02, 2022Why have a web sight for ammo when YOUR OUT OF STOCK ON EVERYTHING.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Leave a commentComments have to be approved before showing up Your Name * Your Email * Your Comment * Post Comment

The Aimpoint Micro S-1 red dot operates using a reflex collimator with LED display. This offers shooters the ability to adjust point of impact, a major advantage for shotgun shooters. Traditionally, shotguns ribs were designed with different points of impact (POI) based on the application. Trap guns, for instance, have a higher point of impact, from 70/30 (where 70% of the pattern rises above the rib) and up. Skeet, sporting clays, and field guns usually shoot “flat” with a 50/50 POI. Some high-end competition shotguns offer interchangeable ribs to adjust POI, but swapping ribs is a hassle. The Micro S-1 allows shooters to adjust POI quickly in the field using the provided tool and you can also adjust windage — something that’s difficult on guns without an optic. The ability to change POI is a major benefit for shooters and this feature increases the versatility of your shotgun.

Using a reflex sight on a shotgun has traditionally been a challenge because a bright sky can wash out the dot. To compensate for this, Aimpoint offers additional brightness settings. Illuminance is measured in lux (lx), and the Micro S-1’s red dot is visible from .1 lx (the equivalent of a moonlit night) to 55,000 lx (full sun). With 12 separate brightness settings, you can match the intensity of the dot to the light conditions regardless and you won’t lose sight of the dot even when you’re shooting clay targets or birds in full, bright sunlight.

Aimpoint Micro S-1 reflex optics are powered by a single CR2032 3V lithium battery that lasts for 50,000 hours of continuous use. Operating temperatures range from -20 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit and the unit is submersible to 15 meters which means if you drop your gun in shallow water while duck hunting your optic will still function properly. The durable Aimpoint sight is also resistant to shock, humidity, vibration and is resistant to occasional chemical exposure from gun cleaners, lubricants, fuel and insect repellents.

See also  DIY: Prime Tips for Prime Cuts from Venison Hindquarters

Aimpoint Micro S-1 Red Dot Sight Applications

I mounted the Aimpoint Micro S-1 red dot on the rib of a CZ 1012 12-gauge semiauto shotgun and zeroed the unit for a flat POI at 20 yards. The polymer base holds firmly onto the gun’s rib and even after multiple rounds of skeet and five stand there was no shift in point of impact. Despite having used shotguns with traditional beads throughout my shooting career I found that transitioning to the Micro S-1 was seamless. The aluminum housing is compact enough that it doesn’t distract the shooter and the 6 MOA dot offers a reference point regarding muzzle position even when the shooter is focused on the target. When I transitioned to trap targets, I had the option of adjusting POI to 70/30 in seconds. Additionally, I fired a full box of 3-inch magnum turkey loads through the CZ 1012 and the Micro S-1 withstood the heavy recoil without shaking loose or shifting POI.

The Aimpoint Micro S-1 improved my accuracy when shooting moving targets, especially on very bright days, and science shows that I’m not alone. Research conducted in Sweden in 2018 indicates that shooters who used Micro S-1-equipped shotguns performed markedly better than shooters who used guns with traditional bead sights on the country’s mandatory hunter exam. Two separate trials demonstrated that hunters using Micro S-1 optics hit a combined average of 24% more targets on the portions of the exam that simulates running hare and flying upland birds that shooters who didn’t use an optic. That’s an impressive jump in accuracy and lends credit to Aimpoint’s claim that shotgun performance improves with a reflex sight in place.

See also  Best Fiskars Hatchet For Kindling (tested with pics)

The unit’s innovative base design makes it the most versatile shotgun optic available. You can attach it to your upland shotgun while hunting birds or braking clays and then quickly transition the Micro S-1 to a waterfowl or turkey gun. It also improves the accuracy potential when shooting smoothbore slugs and its low-light capabilities make the Aimpoint Micro S-1 red dot a superb option for home defense scatterguns. Never before has a single optic offered this level of versatility for shotgun shooters in such a compact, durable platform. MSRP: $820

Previous articleHow Tall Is A Moose – How Big Is A Moose
Next article5 Quick and Easy Leech Trap Ideas for Anglers
Ethan Smith
Ethan Smith is a seasoned marine veteran, professional blogger, witty and edgy writer, and an avid hunter. He spent a great deal of his childhood years around the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in Arizona. Watching active hunters practise their craft initiated him into the world of hunting and rubrics of outdoor life. He also honed his writing skills by sharing his outdoor experiences with fellow schoolmates through their high school’s magazine. Further along the way, the US Marine Corps got wind of his excellent combination of skills and sought to put them into good use by employing him as a combat correspondent. He now shares his income from this prestigious job with his wife and one kid. Read more >>