Ghost Rings vs Bead Sight on a Combat Shotgun

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chasep255

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Can't decide weather to get my Mossberg 590 with ghost ring sights or just a bead. The ghost rings seem to be better for long range whereas the bead seems to be faster on acquiring the target.
 
A properly used Ghost Ring is just as fast as a bead. It has the advantage of providing a reminder to put your head in the right position, which prevents shooting high.
 
For a combat shotgun I would get ghost rings, but how much combat are you going to be in really? :D I would opt for a non-unitasker shotgun and get something that you can put interchangeable barrels on. There are some reports of bird barrels that fit on the 590, but I cannot confirm that. Not saying I don't like the 590... its certainly a sweet piece but kinda limited due to the barrels.
 
If you are pointing the gun properly, then no sight is necessary as your finger and eyes become the sights. Ask someone who shoots a lot of targets, they will have no conscious memory of using the sight, just their eyes
 
Bead

Ever tried to shoot clays or flying birds with a ghost ring sight?

With a little practice, you should be able to place slugs inside a man-sized target at 100 yards with a bead. That's kind of all you can expect from a smooth bore.

You really don't gain much with the ghost ring sights and you lose speed and the ability to reliably hit flying/moving targets (the one application where a rifle can't do a shotgun's job).

If you get the bead sight and decide you want more precision, you can always add a rail and a red dot.

Or, you could just use a rifle for applications where you think precision shooting will be necessary . . .

My $.02
 
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My 590A1 originally had a bead. I found I had to stay uncomfortably low on the stock or else I would shoot very high. I ended up buying a ghost ring from Mossberg's website and installing it with JB Weld. I wish I would have purchased one with a factory installed ghost ring in the first place.

I also think the ghost ring would be much better in a self defense situation. In a self defense situation you're probably not going to look for the ring anyway, but the large bright front sight is 20 times quicker to find than the bead. You can't even see the bead in low light.
 
I agree with AIP Tactical:
"Ghost rings can get you killed ( my opinion ). Bead sight or rifle sights and yes the tritium inserts for the rifle sights are worth it on this weapon. If you go with bead then ask me about the tritium bead sight on the 18.5 police barrel. The rifle sights on the P barrels are designed for you so you can transition from the hand gun to the shotgun with the same sighting system and the rear sight is the about the same distance from you eye as the rear sight of you hand gun they are the same type of notched rear sight."
Had a 590 with GRS and got rid of it. The fastest shooters use a bead.
http://aiptactical.com/Build_Your_Weapon.html
 
Ever tried to shoot clays or flying birds with a ghost ring sight?
Click to expand...

No question that GRS are a disadvantage when wingshooting.

I don't see how that has anything to do with the OP's question about sights for a combat shotgun though.
 
I choose bead over everything else.

Faster target acquisition and nothing to obscure my view while gun is in mounted position...

Brent
 
Try the ghost rings on flying stuff sometime. It works. All you see is the front sight post- prrress. I was surprised how well it worked.
 
I do not have any immediate plans to participate in combat, but my HD shotgun has a factory bead with the frivolous add-on of a Hiviz clipon sight.
For shooting a burglar or rapist at 10 feet, for my application it all doesn't matter.
On a rural property with my aging eyes, I might want a ghost ring. I have one on a carbine and at 100 yards it is great. If you want one, you will probably be money ahead to just buy it with the gun.
 
i'm with those who say no sight is necessary on a combat shotgun. you should be close enough that point and shoot does the job.

that being said, my remington 870 express has the full ati mod with top folding stock, heat shield, and ghost ring package.
 
to be entirely honest, when practicing clearing my house with it at night, the most useful target acquisition tool i had was the flashlight with pressure switch. the light tends to point where your shot is going, and you can turn it on and off quickly with the pressure switch.
 
Like most shotgun stuff, it's a matter of training, experience and personal preference. I like GRs on a working gun, especially if more precise or longer distance slug shots might be required. It's possible to ignore GRs at close range and run the gun every bit as fast as with a bead, but it isn't possible to slow down a little when time permits and be as precise with a bead as with sights at a distance.

jmho, fwiw,

lpl
 
I went from a Ghost Ring (GR) on my short 590-A1. I patterned it and put it thru its paces on a Sunday and ordered a beadsighted barrel the next morning. The GR hampered my ability to get to, and on, target. With the GR I was never confident gun was on target.

Subsequently I compromised and got their 3-Dot sighted barrel -- lol!

Gehr
 
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