Adding a Trijicon RCR to a Swarovski 4x12 Scope?

[Justbryan]

Does anyone have experience using a Trijicon RMR or RCR mounted to the side or top of a scope? Will it work on a 375 H&H as an all-around dangerous game/plains game/Elephant/Hippo/Bison/Buffalo/Brown Bear/Moose rifle? Which mounting method would you prefer or is this a bad idea? I would prefer to use a Swarovski Z3 4x12x50 and RCR which I already have both.

 

[Laniarius]

So, basically adopting the competition / 3-gun idea? Aside from the weight and bulk, one consideration would be how readily you can switch between holding the rifle for the scope vs. the red dot. People learn to do that to be fast in a competition with different ranges to shoot at, but that's usually shooting a 5.56 sporting rifle. With the recoil of a DG rifle, even "only" a .375, it might not be good to shoot using a red dot with your head so high off the rifle. And to do that quickly under stress might not be good. I suppose it would come down to the familiarity you could achieve with the setup.

In terms of the equipment itself, I think that competition shooters usually use scopes more tailored to that purpose, and this could include the stress of mounting a red dot to the scope and then throwing the rifle into a bin before you go off and shoot some other stage. Of course the Z3 is an excellent scope but that might be pushing the intended use too far.

In my opinion, it makes more sense to keep it simple and either use something in 1-4 or 1-5 range, or in the 3-9, 2-10 or 2-12 range.

Maybe there are people on here who have done both DG hunting and the kind of competition shooting where your proposed kind of setup is used. I'm curious to see what they say.

 

[Barry J]

One reason to use a red dot scope is to allow both eyes open when acquiring your target.
I have found I can leave both eyes open when using my scope on the 1.5x setting, which gets me on target a bit quicker.
Maybe a less cumbersome option would be to install QD rings on a small scope (1.5~4x) and your large scope, so you can switch optics depending on the demands of your particular hunt.
This would allow for the same cheek weld and would keep the overall weight to a minimum.

 

[Laniarius]

This picture is from a show that included a red stag hunt in Sweden (Field Ethos TV on MOTV). I'm pretty sure the rifle was used by Don Jr. (THE Don Jr.). I think it's a lodge rifle from some context in the video. Ok, it's not for DG but it's an example of a big game rifle with a higher magnification scope and a red dot.

It's way too bulky for my taste but maybe it works for them, allowing longer shots on open farm fields and shots at driven game, both from the same rifle. I think a 2-10 or 2-12 with illumination would serve the same purpose in a more practical way, but maybe there's a reason why the rifle is set up that way. It could simply be that they needed a somewhat powerful scope but also wanted to showcase an Aimpoint.

 

[mdwest]

Interesting alternative to quick detach rings.. rather than pulling the scope off and going to irons... just cant the rifle and go to the red dot..

Im not sure its for me.. but I do think this probably has some merit as an idea..