The down side to red dots.

dayman · November 22, 2012, 09:25 AM

Mine just died - or at least the batteries died. I can't seem to find the box I have the spares in. I do have a scope, but with only 3 more days in the season up here, I know both my neighbors are out in the woods too, and so I don;t really want to sight in a rifle and drive everything away.
So, in the spirit of the holiday, I guess I'm thankful that I have back up iron sights.

jmr40 · November 22, 2012, 10:25 AM

They sell batteries at the store, shouldn't be much of a problem finding replacements.

rickyrick · November 22, 2012, 08:44 PM

The upside to them, if you turn it off when not in use... The battery may last years

Double Naught Spy · November 22, 2012, 09:43 PM

Depending on the red dot, like the Aimpoint Micro series, the battery will last for several years with the unit turned ON.

Getting a battery(batteries) should be no problem.

ripnbst · November 22, 2012, 10:33 PM

I don't believe the aimpoint has an off option. It's on 24/7 but still has a battery life of years.

Yeah you should be able to get a battery at an outdoor store like cabelas or bass pro, potentially Walmart.

Mr. Davis · November 22, 2012, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ripnbst

I don't believe the aimpoint has an off option. It's on 24/7 but still has a battery life of years.

Yeah you should be able to get a battery at an outdoor store like cabelas or bass pro, potentially Walmart.

All Aimpoints can be turned off. Just roll the intensity wheel to zero.

Pahoo · November 22, 2012, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Mine just died

I don't know if I'd call it a negative for you know that it will happen. Just have no indication as to when. I always turn mine off and the batteries have lasted me through many seasons. .....

Then it happens when you least expect it. For that reason, I always carry a spare. One of my buddys, has a spare taped right on the top of the battery compartment. A bit extreme perhaps but that is how he deals with the potential problem. ....

Be Safe !!!

**JohnKSa** · November 22, 2012, 11:39 PM

Quote:

I guess I'm thankful that I have back up iron sights.

To my way of thinking, BUIS are for when an optic fails right in the middle of a time-critical situation. For any other situation, having a spare battery on hand makes a LOT more sense than BUIS. Spare batteries are cheaper, smaller and can typically be switched out very easily.

Double Naught Spy · November 23, 2012, 08:34 AM

Quote:

The real problem is, predicting when it will die. ..

I Sharpie the install date on mine. They use the coin-sized battery. On my HD Aimpoint, I change it every couple of years. It should go 5, but this way I am not worried about predicting which it will fail. It costs me a buck or so to make the switch.

The others will get changed around 4 years, though they will probably last beyond that given the units do get turned off once in a while. Once again, I should not have to predict when the batts will die since I will be changing them early.

For folks doing stuff like hunting, I don't see the problem in carrying a spare if it is a mission-critical item. I also don't understand the OP's comment...

Quote:

Mine just died - or at least the batteries died. I can't seem to find the box I have the spares in. I do have a scope, but with only 3 more days in the season up here, I know both my neighbors are out in the woods too, and so I don;t really want to sight in a rifle and drive everything away.

On what unit does changing the batteries require sighting in the red dot unit again?

Nathan · November 23, 2012, 09:14 AM

I find a spare in my AR stock is good.

I might have to tape one to my shotgun stock!

Salmoneye · November 25, 2012, 07:41 PM

It should be the same battery as the CMOS 3v Lithium on your motherboard...

Pull it from the computer...

But then it won't boot...

WV_gunner · November 26, 2012, 01:11 PM

The red dot on my .22 uses the same battery as a GM key fob.

JimDandy · November 26, 2012, 01:33 PM

The fact that you guys are pulling batteries from your key fob, and computer to power a hunting scope...

dayman · November 26, 2012, 02:07 PM

I did have a spare battery, but I had misplaced it. I keep it with all my other assorted gun stuff at home, but it had apparently hidden it's self under a lens cover. All is well now.
This was year 3 on that battery, so I'd kind of forgotten that it might die.
As I generally hunt just out behind my house I prefer keeping spare parts in one place as apposed to making sure they're in the correct pants/vest every time I go out. But that only works when I can actually find stuff

rickyrick · November 26, 2012, 02:12 PM

I left mine on lol, that's how I know. If I kept a spare I wouldn't be able to find it when the Time comes

bird_dog · November 28, 2012, 12:23 PM

I've never had one die on the stand. Locked in a gunsafe in the 'on' position for a month, I had one battery go dead.

Regardless, my practice is to leave it off until I hear a deer approaching, or only turn it on at dawn and dusk. And always, always carry a spare battery, just in case. If you have one, you will never need it!

Moby · November 28, 2012, 12:44 PM

Iron sights never need batteries.

Ricklin · November 28, 2012, 12:53 PM

Don't loose the original battery! It seems like there are a zillion and one different kinds of these coin cells. Most sights do not have an indication of what battery is right for them. It can be a real issue if you don't know the number for it's replacement.

I have a local store that sells big cardboard packages of assorted coin cells for a couple of bucks. So far so good. Sure beats 5 bucks ea. at wally world.

November 22, 2012, 09:25 AM	#1
dayman Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2011 Location: the north woods Posts: 674	The down side to red dots. Mine just died - or at least the batteries died. I can't seem to find the box I have the spares in. I do have a scope, but with only 3 more days in the season up here, I know both my neighbors are out in the woods too, and so I don;t really want to sight in a rifle and drive everything away. So, in the spirit of the holiday, I guess I'm thankful that I have back up iron sights. __________________ Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. ~B. Franklin

November 22, 2012, 08:44 PM	#3
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Location: Mesquite Jungle Desert, West Texas, USA Posts: 2,278	The upside to them, if you turn it off when not in use... The battery may last years __________________ *Navin R. Johnson*: "He hates these cans!!!! Stay away from the cans!!!!"

November 22, 2012, 09:43 PM	#4
Double Naught Spy Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2001 Location: Forestburg, Montague County, Texas Posts: 9,729	Depending on the red dot, like the Aimpoint Micro series, the battery will last for several years with the unit turned ON. Getting a battery(batteries) should be no problem. __________________ "If you look through your scope and see your shoe, aim higher." -- said to me by my 11 year old daughter before going out for hogs 8/13/2011

November 26, 2012, 02:07 PM	#14
dayman Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2011 Location: the north woods Posts: 674	I did have a spare battery, but I had misplaced it. I keep it with all my other assorted gun stuff at home, but it had apparently hidden it's self under a lens cover. All is well now. This was year 3 on that battery, so I'd kind of forgotten that it might die. As I generally hunt just out behind my house I prefer keeping spare parts in one place as apposed to making sure they're in the correct pants/vest every time I go out. But that only works when I can actually find stuff __________________ Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. ~B. Franklin

November 26, 2012, 02:12 PM	#15
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Location: Mesquite Jungle Desert, West Texas, USA Posts: 2,278	I left mine on lol, that's how I know. If I kept a spare I wouldn't be able to find it when the Time comes __________________ *Navin R. Johnson*: "He hates these cans!!!! Stay away from the cans!!!!"

November 22, 2012, 10:25 AM	#2
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 4,473	They sell batteries at the store, shouldn't be much of a problem finding replacements.

November 22, 2012, 10:33 PM	#5
ripnbst Senior Member Join Date: November 24, 2010 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 1,038	I don't believe the aimpoint has an off option. It's on 24/7 but still has a battery life of years. Yeah you should be able to get a battery at an outdoor store like cabelas or bass pro, potentially Walmart.

November 23, 2012, 09:14 AM	#10
Nathan Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2001 Posts: 1,259	I find a spare in my AR stock is good. I might have to tape one to my shotgun stock!

November 25, 2012, 07:41 PM	#11
Salmoneye Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 942	It should be the same battery as the CMOS 3v Lithium on your motherboard... Pull it from the computer... But then it won't boot...

November 26, 2012, 01:11 PM	#12
WV_gunner Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2011 Location: WV Posts: 444	The red dot on my .22 uses the same battery as a GM key fob.

November 26, 2012, 01:33 PM	#13
JimDandy Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2012 Posts: 1,497	The fact that you guys are pulling batteries from your key fob, and computer to power a hunting scope...

November 28, 2012, 12:23 PM	#16
bird_dog Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2004 Posts: 173	I've never had one die on the stand. Locked in a gunsafe in the 'on' position for a month, I had one battery go dead. Regardless, my practice is to leave it off until I hear a deer approaching, or only turn it on at dawn and dusk. And always, always carry a spare battery, just in case. If you have one, you will never need it!

November 28, 2012, 12:44 PM	#17
Moby Member Join Date: November 11, 2012 Posts: 85	Iron sights never need batteries. __________________ “A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government.” ~George Washington US Coast Guard 76-86 Semper Paratus

November 28, 2012, 12:53 PM	#18
Ricklin Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2008 Location: North Orygun Coast Posts: 499	Whatever you do Don't loose the original battery! It seems like there are a zillion and one different kinds of these coin cells. Most sights do not have an indication of what battery is right for them. It can be a real issue if you don't know the number for it's replacement. I have a local store that sells big cardboard packages of assorted coin cells for a couple of bucks. So far so good. Sure beats 5 bucks ea. at wally world. __________________ ricklin Freedom is not free