Clays with Ghost Sights

A

anthony6727

New member
Hey All,


I'm just about ready to pick up my first (and only) shotgun. I'm pretty much sold on the benelli m4. I've heard nothing but good things about it and many people have said that if you only get one, get the m4. Primary purpose is HD, but I plan on shooting clays quite a bit in the summer months. I've shot clays with standard bead sight system but never with Ghost Sights.

Anyone have any experience with this? Are ghost sights terrible for clays?

Any input greatly appreciated!
 
GRS or any front and rear sight system is designed to shoot at more or less stationary targets, not for wing shooting. They will just serve as distractions / obstructions while trying to follow a flying target. My advice would be to use your M4 as a dedicated HD gun and get something else for wingshooting.
 
The standard bead is for normal shotgun shooting which is 'pointing'.
The ghost ring is , as mentioned , for stationary targets where you are 'aiming' like a rifle.
 
It can be done, I often use my buddies nelli M2 just for my own amusement. But as mentioned, its built to bust people, not clays, and it is much more difficult to use. I just point shoot and ignore the sights all together, but it'll chuck enough lead to find em..... ;)
 
Not ideal as with sport shooting like that you're usually more focused on the bird, not the sights. How do you hit a moving bird, when the rear sight would be covering up the spot where the bird would need to be in your sight picture?
 
I've been thinking about an M4 too but haven't been able to find many in stock options. Have you found one and what sort of pricing are you seeing?
 
I'm just about ready to pick up my first (and only) shotgun.
Click to expand...
There is your clue. You need to decide what you want to use your first shotgun for... Doesn't mean you can't double or triple duty it - just remember the differences between a defensive shotgun, a clays shotgun, and a hunting shotgun (sighting, round choice, length, fit, etc.). But - as noted above, a ghost ring is probably not a good thing for seeing the required leads on clays games.
 
Darn. I was hoping that I'd be able to shoot with ghost rings with no problem. With that in mind, any suggestions on a good auto that can be used easily for HD and clays? Price isn't an issue. Trying to get something reliable that I can use forever :)
 
I would just caution you to make sure the one you decide on can cycle everything. Because that M2 I use has not once cycled ANY 2 3/4 shell I've tried.ever..... As a lightweight tactical shotgun it just can't generate enough inertia with anything under 3inches to work the action, and alot of other autos have same problem. But a friend of mine says his benelli Super Black Eagle has never failed to fire anything he's put in it over probably 10yrs time! And it has I'd say a 20-22 inch barrel, which is about the best comprise I think you'll get for a "do it all" shoty
 
If price isn't an issue, why stick with just one shotgun? The requirements for a good defensive shotgun and a good clays gun are completely opposite.

For a defensive shotgun, weight is the enemy, you want reduced length for improved maneuverability, rifle type sights help with accuracy when shooting slugs, and in semiautos the gas system is oriented towards heavy loads.

For a clays gun (be it trap, skeet, sporting, or just hand tossing them), weight helps you maintain a swing, a longer barrel does the same, front bead (and MAYBE a mid bead) are all you use, you'll be shooting much lighter loads, and on top of it all stock fit is crucial.

About the only thing that is not necessarily diametrically opposed is that skeet can be played just fine with a cylinder bore choke (trap and sporting clays will present a bit more trouble with a cylinder bore).

Now, you CAN get your hands on two guns from the same product family that will fill both purposes; Remington has made 1100s for both tactical applications as well as clay/competition purposes. I'm not sure what Benelli has in that kind of thing, but I'd be surprised if they didn't have a more club oriented variant of their autoloader. But trying to make one gun do it all is just going to disappoint you. You CAN make a tactical gun shoot skeet without horrible results, but the mediocre fit is likely to cost you at least a couple birds per game.
 
Just shoot the damn thing.....

The ghost ring and or rifle sights on a shot gun will serve as a guide to make sure you have a good cheek weld. If you find yourself staring at the sights, you'll miss the bird.

You'll quickly learn to ignore the "sight picture" and get the shot gun swinging in really little time at all.

My Benelli M1 serves well on the skeet field, sporting clays course and in 3 gun without issue. I have a rifle sight setup on it but it doesn't bother me in the least shooting clay.

I've also used my Saiga-12 on the skeet field. Other than being a pain in the ass to load 2 rounds at a time, it breaks clay just fine, thank you very much.

Are there BETTER tools for the game? Yes. But so what? I have no illusions of being a champion clay breaker. I enjoy shooting my shotguns and the familiarity you build with it on the clays course will be invaluble if you ever need to use it in a HD situation.

Just my opinion. YMMV.

The Fudds don't like it much, but it is quieter than the ported "clays guns" they are all shooting. ;)
 
Most any shotgun can be used for "Defense" - but it may not be an optimal "Fighting" shotgun. The M4 is a very good "Fighting" shotgun...

But in terms of general defense ...you just don't need a "Fighting" shotgun / they may be cool - and if you like them, then buy one ...but in terms of any of the clays games, its a waste of money for the most part ...it'll put shot downrange ...but not to the level where you're going to be sucessful or have a good time.

In the semi-auto market / I like the Benelli Super Sport in a 12ga with a 30" barrel. Its an Inertia gun / shoots very cleanly ...easy to maintain / and it'll shoot 2 3/4" shells just fine as long as they are 1200 fps shells or standard target loads in 7/8 oz or 1 oz ...it doesn't matter. New, they are about $ 1,875 in my area - but they have a lot of adjustability - and I've had my 12ga for about 7 yrs and its been a good versatile gun.

But in the semi-auto gas operated guns ....Beretta makes a very good gun / so do Browning/Winchester (same company) ...Browning Silver series, Win SX3 ...and you'll have a lot of options around $ 900 - $ 1,250...and they're all good guns.

Nothing wrong with the Rem 1100's or the Rem 11-87's / but they are old technology ....

But the first issue on any shotgun is "Fit" - so it hits where you look. Drop at comb, drop at heel, length of pull ...are all real big deals in "target" shotguns ..so they hit where you look. Since you don't have a lot of experience /you need to shoot some shotguns ...and ideally take them to a pattern board ...so you can see what the drop at comb, drop at heel and length of pull mean to you.

If you're buying a gun based on what you can feel in a shop ...then buy a gun with the most adjustability ( shims between receiver and stock / adjustable comb inserts or an adj comb, etc )...
 
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