The Best Red Dot Sights for Shotguns

Having a reliable red dot sight on your shotgun can really help with target acquisition. Much like a laser sight on a shotgun, a good red dot will cut down the time it takes to put the front sight post on the target.

best red dot sight for shotguns

There are plenty of red dot sights out there, but which are the best for shotguns in terms of price, durability and the ability to hold zero reliably? We set out to find the answers to these questions in this post.

So let’s get started with our list of the best red dot sights for shotguns below.

Ohuhu Red and Green Reflex Sight with 4 Reticles

Cheap, easy, done. If you have a rail on your shotgun, just toss this guy on it and call it a day. For an incredible price, you get a four reticle selection in two colors (red and green) that will have you on point in no time. This is a reflex style dot sight, and thus the glass is open and exposed to the elements, unlike the other sights listed here, but it will serve well on a shotgun.

The price is the big winner here, and it obviously isn’t as rugged as tube style red dots.

BSA 30mm Red Dot Scope with 5 MOA

BSA isn’t the best name in sighting systems, but when it comes to a red dot, sometimes you don’t need the absolute best of everything. If you aren’t using magnum shells in your shotgun, then this red dot sight should work fine. The glass is coated for durability and a little extra light transmission, but it’s not the best.

The 5 MOA laser dot is large, even for a shotgun, but it’s fast. The biggest issue when shopping shotgun sighting systems is acquisition speed, and the giant dot will put you on target quickly, making this system as fast as the bead on the end of your barrel. If you are on a budget, but you want a simple, enclosed, red dot sighting system, this is an easy choice.

Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 Red Dot Sight Riflescope

This is easily my favorite red dot scope. It’s small, light, tough as nails and ready for action. If you want a sighting system you can depend on when it means the most, check out the Bushnell Trophy, also available in camo. 100% waterproof, shockproof, and fogproof.

The battery lasts a long time. Bushnell claims 3000 hours on the tiny button batter. The amber colored coating increases contrast, something important when you want to be able to mark a squirrel against the background tree. It’s like having HD vision while you’re hunting varmints, pests, or anything else.

You might spend a little extra money, but you can be sure that those funds are going into a quality sighting system that you’ll never need to worry about.

We wrote a full review on the Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 a while back, so check that out if you’re interested in this great, inexpensive red dot.

UTG 4.2″ ITA Red/Green CQB Dot with QD Mount

This is a truly wonderful red dot scope for shotguns, at a great price. It comes with a green dot as well, and the adjustability doesn’t end with the color of your sight picture. The quick detach system that comes with this sight is great for more than swapping from weapon to weapon quickly. It’s also height adjustable, so if you decide you need a flip over magnifier for a slug gun, you can be sure it will mate up nicely.

The sight itself is a tad on the bulky side, and while that emerald coating looks nice, the best glass in the world won’t be found inside of this aluminum tube.

Any sighting system in this price range is bound to have a few high-end features trimmed from its resume, but UTG seems to know all the right places to make those sacrifices, so you still get a quality sight without the need to bust open the piggy bank.