Shotgun rear sight
- Thread starter ct456568
- Start date
It's not absolutely necessary, but it's highly advisable.
I've used two bead-sighted shotguns at work, you can get decent and mostly repeatable accuracy out to maybe 50 yards if you pay attention, but 25-40 is closer to being realistic. The beads are not always regulated well, they don't give you two constant reference points to aim with each time, you have to compensate yourself if they're off, and they're just not as easy and accurate in use as sights are.
I have two 870s now, both with sights, they are set for slugs at 50 yards, and I can take them out farther if necessary. Much easier than "making do" with the old beads.
Denis
I've used two bead-sighted shotguns at work, you can get decent and mostly repeatable accuracy out to maybe 50 yards if you pay attention, but 25-40 is closer to being realistic. The beads are not always regulated well, they don't give you two constant reference points to aim with each time, you have to compensate yourself if they're off, and they're just not as easy and accurate in use as sights are.
I have two 870s now, both with sights, they are set for slugs at 50 yards, and I can take them out farther if necessary. Much easier than "making do" with the old beads.
Denis
Dfariswheel
New member
If you're going to hunt with slugs, rifle sights are almost necessary.
There are two basic types:
The standard type are the barrel-mounted front and rear.
The rear sight is a simple notch-type.
These work well for most people, and are less trouble to get, since you usually just buy a slug barrel with the sights already mounted.
The so-called Ghost ring is simply a new name for the peep, or aperture sight as used on most military firearms.
The peep is almost certainly the best, fastest to use and most accurate sight.
To use, you simply look THROUGH the rear aperture and focus your eye on the front sight.
Since your eye automatically centers the front sight in the aperture, you aren't trying to focus on both the front and rear sight and trying to align them.
Installation of ghost ring sights is a little more complicated.
The front sight must be brazed onto the barrel, in most cases, and the rear assembly is attached to the receiver by drilling and tapping two holes.
This is usually best done by a gunsmith with experience at doing the job.
Due to the red heat needed to braze the front sight on, the barrel needs to be refinished.
As an interesting option, there is a new front sight available that clamps to the barrel. This requires no gunsmithing or alterations, and greatly simplifies the job.
In addition, you can remove the sights easily if you desire.
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=9203&title=TACTICAL+SHOTGUN+SIGHTS
A great many ghost ring users are buying the Wilson sight, and this is the sight Remington is using on their Police guns.
There are two basic types:
The standard type are the barrel-mounted front and rear.
The rear sight is a simple notch-type.
These work well for most people, and are less trouble to get, since you usually just buy a slug barrel with the sights already mounted.
The so-called Ghost ring is simply a new name for the peep, or aperture sight as used on most military firearms.
The peep is almost certainly the best, fastest to use and most accurate sight.
To use, you simply look THROUGH the rear aperture and focus your eye on the front sight.
Since your eye automatically centers the front sight in the aperture, you aren't trying to focus on both the front and rear sight and trying to align them.
Installation of ghost ring sights is a little more complicated.
The front sight must be brazed onto the barrel, in most cases, and the rear assembly is attached to the receiver by drilling and tapping two holes.
This is usually best done by a gunsmith with experience at doing the job.
Due to the red heat needed to braze the front sight on, the barrel needs to be refinished.
As an interesting option, there is a new front sight available that clamps to the barrel. This requires no gunsmithing or alterations, and greatly simplifies the job.
In addition, you can remove the sights easily if you desire.
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=9203&title=TACTICAL+SHOTGUN+SIGHTS
A great many ghost ring users are buying the Wilson sight, and this is the sight Remington is using on their Police guns.
If your shotgun barrel has a ventilated rib you can do what I did.
I bought a set of Tru-Glow, Pro Series Magnum Gobble-Dot sites. They make them for varying widths of ribs based on the manufacturer of the shotgun. The set consists of a fully adjustible rear sight and front site that clamp to the rib along the top of the barrel.
They cost $44.99 from Cabelas or you can most likely pick a set up at either Gander Mountain, Bass Pro Shops or other major sporting/hunting store.
I put these on my 20 Guage, Winchester Model 1300 and it turned it into a deer harveting machine.
Boo586
I bought a set of Tru-Glow, Pro Series Magnum Gobble-Dot sites. They make them for varying widths of ribs based on the manufacturer of the shotgun. The set consists of a fully adjustible rear sight and front site that clamp to the rib along the top of the barrel.
They cost $44.99 from Cabelas or you can most likely pick a set up at either Gander Mountain, Bass Pro Shops or other major sporting/hunting store.
I put these on my 20 Guage, Winchester Model 1300 and it turned it into a deer harveting machine.
Boo586
Sights
I recently installed a dot sight on my slug gun. Delighted beyond expectations. It's one of those about 1 inch long and maybe 3/4 inch wide, with a tv screen shaped window about 3/4 x 1. I had it on a revolver and hated it, slowed me down a lot. On the long gun however, it's right there cause you have a natural eye position to the barrel. Accurate as any scope and much more friendly. This one has a 4 minute dot, I think. It used to be a Tasco, I think, Pro Point 2000 sound familiar, but has since been sold under other names. It's on a saddle mount weaver base on an 870. Even faster than the ghost ring at least for me, and only one spot to put on the target. My old eyes love that. I think with so little weight, maybe the recoil won't bother it.
I recently installed a dot sight on my slug gun. Delighted beyond expectations. It's one of those about 1 inch long and maybe 3/4 inch wide, with a tv screen shaped window about 3/4 x 1. I had it on a revolver and hated it, slowed me down a lot. On the long gun however, it's right there cause you have a natural eye position to the barrel. Accurate as any scope and much more friendly. This one has a 4 minute dot, I think. It used to be a Tasco, I think, Pro Point 2000 sound familiar, but has since been sold under other names. It's on a saddle mount weaver base on an 870. Even faster than the ghost ring at least for me, and only one spot to put on the target. My old eyes love that. I think with so little weight, maybe the recoil won't bother it.
imur_huckle_berry
New member
Good thread! Sure made me start thinking, now I have some new projects!
Mmc?
Don't know that acronym. I have always loved the short barreled shotgun with sights, and not being in the type of LE that requires shotgun deployment, that has meant hunting deer with it in Indiana. 50 yards max, as slug groups were about 5" at that range if you counted the flyers, which I do.
Then enter the rifled barrel. Poor 1963 Christmas present shotgun got an after market RIFLED barrel. Shot so well it had to have a scope. Suddnely it was a fat deer RIFLE good to 100 yards or so AND I could take shots I had to pass up before cause now I could see holes in the brush and trees and had the accuracy to slip a slug through them. I'm coming to a point, really.
This year I bought a black 870 with cantilever mount, scoped it, and that left me with an extra. YAY! My old 870 got it's 20 incher back. Since I had a saddle mount on it I decided to add the little red dot I mentioned. Better slugs available too. Dang, I was shooting groups in the 1.2 to 1.8 inch range at 50 yards with a short smoothbore. Not quite as sleek as with no reciever sight, but still unobtrusive and really fast and light. Nearly as good at 50 yards as with the rifled barrel. 7 inches at 100 yards is still remarkable to me, but not as good as the sabots in group or retained energy. But it's my little baby and I think I'll hunt with it again. For serious longer range slug hunting, the RIFLED barrels are still the way to go, and give sometimes, but not with most loads, real ranges of maybe 150 yards, in the hands of a person who cared enough to do the load testing, zeroing, and practicing. That's expensive and somewhat challenging to the body, and I've never seen anybody but me silly enough to do it. I wouldn't if not restricted from rifles for deer in my state. As an aside, while the dreaded RIFLE is banned for deer hunting, you can use it in any caliber for many other species, like crow, coyote, squirrel, or rabbit. I feel much safer. Of course you can take your 308 or any other cartidge and put in into a 14 inch barrel and you're legal. I feel much safer. Let's see, a 300 Win from 14 inches, vs a 30-30 from 18 or 20 inches. Hmmmmm. yep I feel much safer. OK, I'll quit.
Don't know that acronym. I have always loved the short barreled shotgun with sights, and not being in the type of LE that requires shotgun deployment, that has meant hunting deer with it in Indiana. 50 yards max, as slug groups were about 5" at that range if you counted the flyers, which I do.
Then enter the rifled barrel. Poor 1963 Christmas present shotgun got an after market RIFLED barrel. Shot so well it had to have a scope. Suddnely it was a fat deer RIFLE good to 100 yards or so AND I could take shots I had to pass up before cause now I could see holes in the brush and trees and had the accuracy to slip a slug through them. I'm coming to a point, really.
This year I bought a black 870 with cantilever mount, scoped it, and that left me with an extra. YAY! My old 870 got it's 20 incher back. Since I had a saddle mount on it I decided to add the little red dot I mentioned. Better slugs available too. Dang, I was shooting groups in the 1.2 to 1.8 inch range at 50 yards with a short smoothbore. Not quite as sleek as with no reciever sight, but still unobtrusive and really fast and light. Nearly as good at 50 yards as with the rifled barrel. 7 inches at 100 yards is still remarkable to me, but not as good as the sabots in group or retained energy. But it's my little baby and I think I'll hunt with it again. For serious longer range slug hunting, the RIFLED barrels are still the way to go, and give sometimes, but not with most loads, real ranges of maybe 150 yards, in the hands of a person who cared enough to do the load testing, zeroing, and practicing. That's expensive and somewhat challenging to the body, and I've never seen anybody but me silly enough to do it. I wouldn't if not restricted from rifles for deer in my state. As an aside, while the dreaded RIFLE is banned for deer hunting, you can use it in any caliber for many other species, like crow, coyote, squirrel, or rabbit. I feel much safer. Of course you can take your 308 or any other cartidge and put in into a 14 inch barrel and you're legal. I feel much safer. Let's see, a 300 Win from 14 inches, vs a 30-30 from 18 or 20 inches. Hmmmmm. yep I feel much safer. OK, I'll quit.
ct456568
Put a red dot on it like I did. I bought a Bushnell with 10 light adjustments on it. It was on sale for $35 bucks. It works great. The Remington factory mount was only another $25. For $60 bucks it was well worth it. Quick target acquasition for first or follow up shots. I love it!
Put a red dot on it like I did. I bought a Bushnell with 10 light adjustments on it. It was on sale for $35 bucks. It works great. The Remington factory mount was only another $25. For $60 bucks it was well worth it. Quick target acquasition for first or follow up shots. I love it!
Try this site. The one I bought was # 19440 for my 870. It also comes in cammo. Remingtons price might be high, I got mine through my local gun shop. Even so, it's worth it. It is solid and olds zero. I love it!
http://www.remington.com/accessories/factory_parts/scopemounts.htm
http://www.remington.com/accessories/factory_parts/scopemounts.htm