Just bought another AR

[skeet]

Went to Cabelas the other day and they had Bushmaster ARs on sale..flattops with a Red Dot sight.Since we live in the out of town area here in Wyoming..Waaayyy out of town in fact...I am trying to teach momma about rifle shooting. She is doing well with the handguns and even enjoys some limited shooting with my Wilson Combat. We have a LOT of coyotes and not just a few wolves. I want her to be able to shoot critters that may be after her chikins cat and the dogs..The yotes will also kill calves and even a cow that is down. We have had one cow that we think was killed by wolves..but no way to really prove it. Anyway..Bought one of the Bushy's. I could also put a scope on the thing but feel momma would be better off with the red dot. What do you all feel about that decision? I have an old made in Japan Trashco 1 3/4 x 5 with European type crosshairs I could also use..or even a reflex sight. Just trying to get something she can use in a hurry and at probably shorter ranges. Like some input on this. If ya think I'm wrong..please say so. This Rifle also has the collapsible stock so it can fit her a bit better than a fixed stock. She tried my M-1 Carbine and didn't do too well with it..so..sold the sucker and gonna try this.. One of the sight choices has to be better than the M-1 peep. Any other ideas y'all might have?? If so please weigh in. I'd a let her use my Bushy Varminter but it is a bit too heavy and it is set up with a 4x12 Trophy Bushnell. That sucker is very accurate. It has a 1 in 9 twist and still shoots my 40 gr V-max loads very well. and I sell the hides in the winter.;)

[Jack]

I like Red Dot type sights for fast shooting, as long as the range isn't too long- most Red Dots have a pretty big dot.
The one thing I can see that might be a problem for your intended usage, Skeet, is that you have to remember to turn the sight on- and off, since they are battery powered. Easy to forget to turn one off, and it's easy to forget to turn one on when you're in a hurry.
Some of the aeriel image sights on the market now, like the one Burris markets for shotguns, that don't need a battery,might be worth a look.

[skeet]

I've seen those sights for shotguns.. advertised anyway. Have to check into it. I agree on the turn on turn off thing. Those little coin cell batteries are not inexpensive. Speaking of which..I bought a set of Crimson Trace grips in a pawn shop and got in touch with them..and they sent me the manual and a new set of batteries..with the promise of one set a year for life.. I was hoping to find a red dot sight that has a switch like the laser sights..hmmm. May be a worthwhile suggestion. I remember when Weaver had a red dot type sight for shotguns waaayyy back when..no batteries either. But they were awkward to use. Shot a few deer with one though. Gonna look at one of the reflex sights too. Do they have batteries?? Never looked at one. Went into a pawn shop in Billings the other day..got a Bushnell Trophy 4x12 DOA scope new in the box for 90 bucks. And a set of new RCBS 45 Colt carbide dies for 15.. Gonna drive those dies just like I stole 'em. That is another story.... But the scope could go on the rifle after momma gets used to it and learns how to shoot it. thanks for the suggestion about the Burris thing.

[Rapier]

Skeet,
The problem with a dot and a new shooter is the dot is round and they do not realize that they are canting the gun. At any distance at all, canting the gun throws the shot off, to the angle of the cant. I have had a lot of dot sights, well over 100 in all configurations, I used a 2 MOA Gilmore in long distance competition for years and that hummer had a level bubble glued on top of the rear ring flat just for that reason, even I after over 30 years as a competitor could not tell when the gun was canted.

Were it me, I would put that little Tasco on the AR. and set the magnification to where she had up close focus (target and cross hairs) for snakes and such. The wife is probably not going to be shooting much distance with precision, so short range focus will probably be the key. If she gets to where she can shoot well with the AR at distance, you can always put a better scope on it.

I like to put the wife in the shooting business without her having to do any thing but flip the safety off and shoot.
Ed

[skeet]

Ed..you do have a point. Momma does alright with a 22 rifle with a scope. I have a nice Remington Model 5..She shoots it quite well. But she is really slow with a scope.. With time she does well. I have an older Stevens 87A she does ok with... with open sights but not with any great quick precision. She shoots the old High Standard 22 I have very sell.. but the rifles just throw her a bit. We've messed with the AR mounting etc. She likes the red dot...but we haven't shot yet..Doing a bit of work round the place before winter. Cuttin wood etc. But tomorrow we're going to try shooting..just a bit to get used to the darn thing. She set the adj butt to where she likes it..seems like gettin in the seat of her car after she adjusted it to me..too up close for my tastes. But it is her rifle. She really is enthused. All I gotta do now is get her outfitted for elk huntin..but I doubt that will happen. She actually thinks moose are beautiful!!!HUH?? LOL. But I'm glad she is wanting to shoot. I made some target stands out of some PVC pipe the previous owners left around here. Hadda get some fittings but I made 'em large cause I have more than 500 yds to the cliff backstop. We're gonna try the red dot first but at shorter ranges.. Hopefully that will work out. Thanks for the reply..

[skeet]

Momma has been messing with my...er...her new AR. Yep she's claiming it as hers so that is a good sign. I let her mess with my Bushy Varminter..and she really likes it..but it's heavy. Have to take a sick lady to the docs as her daughter is sick too..so no shootin today..but tomorrow we're gonna try it out. I've got ear puffs and a set of muffs and a good set of shootin glasses. We're gonna see how she does. Right at first..I'm gonna use balloons as targets..no doubt when ya hit one ya know She does good on 'em with the handgun..LOL

[tim416]

I have been shooting and reloading for thirty years so am no new to firearms and ballistics etc. I have started looking into an AR style gun which is an area that I have no experience with since my military days in the eighties. Bushmaster was started here in Maine. There is another manufacturer here in Maine, Trident Armory. I have looked at both guns and am impressed by some of the features on the Trident. Does anyone have any experience with Trident and or feedback. I am not interested in the .450 caliber. Just want a .223 for coyote hunting in the winter months.

[skeet]

I've checked 'em out and they look good..but the price is waayyy too high. There is another company in Maine..where Bushmaster used to be..think it is named Wyndham arms..Make quality ARs at reasonable prices.. Or if really interested..try a Bushmaster Varminter. Mine is accurate..very accurate. and do shoot coyotes well. In fact..time to start shooting them now..the winter season be upon us.. If ya want to save hides..try the V-max 40 grainer in the 223..or if not problems with trailing..use the 55 gr FMJ..straight on through

Scuse me..Wyndham Weaponry