I have an Aimpoint CompML2 on a Winchester 1894 in .45 Colt which is primarily used for gallery rifle competition.
The Aimpoint was fitted after going through 3 other (cheaper) red-dot sights in very quick succession. The less expensive sights just didn't cut it in either optical quality, red-dot size (too large) or in red-dot visibility in certain light conditions. The Aimpoint suffers none of these faults.
Red-dots have many advantages over traditional scopes, including:
- unlimited field of view - the non magnified image allows you shoot with both eyes open
- they are parallax-free with unlimited eye relief allowing you to place the sight anywhere on the rifle.
- fastest target acquisition
- they work in any light conditions that you can see in and also with NV if you buy one that provides a NV dot
As much as I love the CompML2, it would not be my first choice for hunting as it has a 4 MOA dot. For the competitions I shoot which go to a maximum of 50 meters, it is giving a 2" dot projected on the target and that is fine. However for deer stalking, unless all your shots are going to be at very close range, it just wouldn't be fine enough.
However, Aimpoint also do models with a 2 MOA dot which would probably be fine out to about 150 yards on deer size targets.
Having looked through a great many red-dots and read all the reviews I can get my hands on, there are only 2 manufacturers I'd touch - Aimpoint and Eotech.
Kev.