need extremely low parallax scope or just get a red dot? caused hunting fail

[stanley1131]

Last night I went outside to dump some trash only to find a opossum in my backyard. Went inside and grabbed my .22 disco and shot it in the shoulder as it tried to run away. I managed to corner it against a fence but here is where i screwed up big. I couldn't get close enough for a clean execution style shot as it was in some thick brush but at the same time it was too close for my scope to focus even with the AO turned down all the way. It took way too many shots for it to die and it was far from a clean kill.

Basically my questions is what scope should i use for extremely close shots? I have alot of coons and some opossum roaming around  and most encounters are within 25 yards.. sometimes within a few feet like this. I thought about getting a red dot but i also like having magnification for the pest birds during the daytime

[BillK]

First thought is a Bug Buster 3-9x32AO.  It is small and many feel it looks better on smaller guns.
Next thought is higher "shoot through" scope rings.  Using the Disco OEM open sights you can look through the rings & see the sights for close distance.

[JD]

Bug Buster focuses as close as 3 yds. High rings are also a good idea so you wouldn't have to change the AO if you have it set on a standard distance. They could mess up your "cheek weld" though if your comb isn't high enough.

[Geoff]

the hammers 3-9x scopes AO down to 5 yards and are less expensive than the bug buster. I own both the 3-9x32 and 3-9x40 and both work quite well on my springers

[Ol'DeadEye]

Because the BugBuster is so short, you would probably need to use an offset mount to get proper eye relief.
That would probably require a 2 piece offset set since you need to clear the breech for loading.
I don't believe there are any high, 2-piece, see-thru. offset  mounts.
The higher you mount the scope, the more you need to compensate your POA at very close range.

I tried a few similar setups with my Disco, even trying a pistol scope on an Air Force TriRail mounted forward of the breech.
Nothing seemed to work satisfactorily, so I went to a Williams peep and the original front sight.
My maximum shooting distance is 30 yd. for targets and my max for starling sniping is more like 20 yd.

I have other rifles with scopes for smaller targets at longer ranges, if the opportunity arises.
Nice thing about iron sights is the lack of complexity.
Set 'em and forget 'em.
At the ranges involved, the POI change is minimal.

[mobilehomer]

For less money you could get a springer or pump with open sights. Use that for close night work.

[Roadworthy]

You could consider a reflex type sight, though it may not be bright enough for daytime use.

You could also consider mounting a Weaver or Picatinny rail on the scope or under the barrel.  You could mount a red dot or laser on that.

[stanley1131]

thanks for all the quick replies. i'll try the bug buster scope since i can buy them from my local walmart. If that doesnt work i'll buy one of those cheap 1000 fps springers and a red dot for night work. unfortunately high see thru sights aren't an option as i have a bnm breech installed so there's no open sights

[Kailua]

You could get get scope rings that are made to add on a dot sight. Either clamped on to scope tube or on the scope ring.  JMO
https://www.primaryarms.com/Primary_Arms_1_Rail_Top_Cap_with_Four_Step_Picati_p/pa1rtc-pair.htm

[stanley1131]

You could get get scope rings that are made to add on a dot sight. Either clamped on to scope tube or on the scope ring.  JMO
https://www.primaryarms.com/Primary_Arms_1_Rail_Top_Cap_with_Four_Step_Picati_p/pa1rtc-pair.htm

wow that is exactly what i need, i'll be ordering some tonight.. btw will mounting the red dot so high up affect accuracy in any way?

[MicErs]

Last night I went outside to dump some trash only to find a opossum in my backyard. Went inside and grabbed my .22 disco and shot it in the shoulder as it tried to run away. I managed to corner it against a fence but here is where i screwed up big. I couldn't get close enough for a clean execution style shot as it was in some thick brush but at the same time it was too close for my scope to focus even with the AO turned down all the way. It took way too many shots for it to die and it was far from a clean kill.

Basically my questions is what scope should i use for extremely close shots? I have alot of coons and some opossum roaming around  and most encounters are within 25 yards.. sometimes within a few feet like this. I thought about getting a red dot but i also like having magnification for the pest birds during the daytime

In my experience 'possums are the hardest small beastie to kill cleanly.  Their brain is about the size of a pea and they have a good strong skull.  Body shots are slow to kill them.  I'd say they are tougher than a house cat and as tough as a bobcat.

At the ranges you are describing a red dot or a laser I would think.  Green LASERs are easier to see most of the time.

[roadfix]

I have just a laser pointer mounted on my 2240 just for these kinds of close range situations.

[Bryan Heimann]

See through rings are garbage.  Rings that tall can't give you a proper stockweld on a rifle with a cheek rest low enough to work well with the open sights.  Adding a red dot on top of your scope mah be problematic for the same reasons and more.  I think a lazer, preferably barrel mounted, or a bug buster woukd be the better options.  A lazer mounted under the barrel as close as possibke would probably be ideal, especially up close at night.  Or maybe try some quick release rings to remove the scope.

[stanley1131]

okay well now i'm considering a laser instead. Is it possible to mount one onto an airtube or should i mount it on top of the scope

[floydlong]

Stanley, I have a green laser mounted on top of my scope on my Disco. I have it sighted in for 18 yards. It works great for close up work. Heck, you can shoot 'em from the hip. I mounted a 1" scope ring on the scope and then a Picatinny rail in the rail mount then the laser on the Pictinny rail. it works fine. Cheap mount too as I already had the ring and 3" piece of Picatinny rail.

[Methuselah]

If they are that hard to kill I suppose the quickest way to keep going with what alredy didn't work is the laser suggestion.

Maybe this is a stupid question, but why not just carry a backup, like a .357 with snake shot shells?  An escaped wounded animal can be dangerous...

[anuthabubba]

Daisy used to market an inexpensive scope-rail mounted laser sight that you could still see the opens through when mounted. Had one, underslung on the barrel, of a scoped R9 .22 a few years ago. Worked well. Had it zeroed at ~15 yards. The sight was a red laser pointer mated to a mount that had two set screw adjusters to sight it in with. Still have two of them.

[stanley1131]

If they are that hard to kill I suppose the quickest way to keep going with what alredy didn't work is the laser suggestion.

Maybe this is a stupid question, but why not just carry a backup, like a .357 with snake shot shells?  An escaped wounded animal can be dangerous...

because i don't want to make my neighbors mad, it's the main reason for my shrouded disco. I could pull out my ar15 but i'm sure the sound of a .223 at 3am would be a rude awakening

[ancient1one]

Packard8 posted a 4x32 crossbow scope in bargain gate for about $10 shipped. Perfect for close range the only thing is you would have to figure out how to mount a 8.75 inch scope so its close enough for the recommended eye 3.25" relief.

http://www.natchezss.com/horton-4x32-crossbow-scope-black.html

States its a BDC redical.

[Methuselah]

If they are that hard to kill I suppose the quickest way to keep going with what alredy didn't work is the laser suggestion.

Maybe this is a stupid question, but why not just carry a backup, like a .357 with snake shot shells?  An escaped wounded animal can be dangerous...

because i don't want to make my neighbors mad, it's the main reason for my shrouded disco. I could pull out my ar15 but i'm sure the sound of a .223 at 3am would be a rude awakening

Not sure what your neighbors would say, but if mine asked me to choose between his loosing a wounded pest or finishing it off at 3:00 in the morning I'd be inclined to rationally consider his question (if the noise became an issue I might also say heck with this and get the county to set some traps).

My $.02, no offense intended