[Pinned&Recessed]

Hey guys!

I just got my first pump-action shotgun, a Winchester 1300 Defender. It is going to be my "Serious" shotgun. I really liked the feel of the Winchester and the Aluminum receiver and Locked Rotary Bolt made me feel right at home. (I'm an AR-15 kind of guy):cool:

Anyway, aside from HD/SHTF/Zombie-Killin', I may do some clay/aerial work with this gun. I recall Dave McCracken saying that Ghost Ring sights are kind of a liability on a gun when shooting clays and a bead is better/faster, but on a "Serious" gun, they were a good thing. I searched, but couldn't really find out HOW badly it would hinder using this gun for occasionally popping clays with friends.

Basically, should I go Ghost Ring or not, and how badly would it mar the receiver to put them on? How much does this usually run as well?

Finally, I would like to thank Dave and others here for really putting me on the road to shotgunning. I'm a rifleman and shotguns were something that never interested me. Now, I'm really getting into it. I still like rifles best, (I probably always will), but I feel like I'm really becoming a well-rounded shooter.

Thanks Dave and others.

[SDC]

I've tried a ghost ring on skeet, and they worked well on the incoming/outgoing shots, but they don't really give you the field of view you need for the passing shots (the edge of the ring ends up blocking your view of the bird). For anything else, I love them, but for small moving targets, I think you'd be better off with a bead.

[ACP230]

I have shot at a few grouse with my Mossburg 590. I didn't notice any problem with the ghost ring sight.

I usually use it as a HD gun, or as a backup to my deer rifle during the season.

[Dave McCracken]

Thank YOU, P&R, knowing I'm helping(Along with many others) made my morning.

Now onward and upward. My take on GRs is this, and please note these are opinions, not edicts issued Ex Cathedra.

On a dedicated "Serious" shotgun, GRs are a good idea. Not absolutely essential, good work has been done and will continue to be done with just a bead. A good idea though, for in short time frame emergency situations, a peep sight forces us to have our heads in the right position.

However, on a GP, all around shotgun, GR systems handicap users. Excellent handling practice and familiarization awaits in the form of the clay sports, and hunting also. These are best with just a bead.

As a rule of thumb, here's my suggestions....

For a person owning just one shotgun, have a bead setup on it. Decent slug work can be done out to 50 yards for most folks, and for HD it's no drawback and may indeed be best.

Next up, a second barrel with open, rifle style sights can be used for slug hunting, HD and even casual "Practical" competition.

And finally, those of us with multiple shotguns can set up one or more with GRs, use those on occasion, and have lots of fun and meaningful practice with a bead sighted version of same. Skeet, Trap, SC and /or any other discipline where one shoots small fast targets alone or in pairs will turn a newbie into a decent shotgunner in short order. This is my approach, and it works for me. The "Serious" 870s get shot some, and the TB, Frankenstein and now #6 get lots of exercise. And I'm having lots of fun with them.

One big plus on this for many people is that Skeet, Trap and SC ranges are somewhat easier to find close by than "Practical" ranges.

Finally, GRs can be furnished and installed for about $100. Note the front sight has to be mounted also. Two holes are drilled in the receiver.

HTH....

[Bix]

P&R,

I went through the same thing with my 870 - one gun, two purposes. I eventually went with Dave's #2 suggestion - a second, rifle sighted barrel. IMHO, this was the best solution for maximizing the gun's performance in each role.

A long, bead sighted barrel is exactly what you want for clay shooting. A shorter, rifle sighted barrel is excellent for "serious" work. As compared to ghost rings, you may compromise sight radius and speed, but a dual purpose gun is necessarily a compromise. Additionally, several manufacturers (AO, PT, Meprolight, Trijicon) make "tactical" replacement sights for rifle sighted barrels, which are designed to be quicker than the standard sights.

Aside from the sight picture issues mentioned above, the "serious" GR setup may be a liability on the clay field for other reasons. First, you short barrel will not swing as smoothly as something a little longer. Second, choking could be an issue. Many HD shotguns come set up with a fixed open choke (cyl or imp.cyl). At anything beyond skeet ranges, this will probably throw too wide a pattern for reliable hits.

A final note - a second barrel is not all that expensive a proposition. Mine was purchased used for less than the cost of installing GRs.

Enjoy your new shotgun!

[Pinned&Recessed]

Thanks for the advice everyone.

I may go with the second barrel, but I'll probably just use the bead for right now. It's been pointed out that the only real advantage GRs have over the bead is long-range slug shooting. I think that with a proper cheek-weld, good accuracy can be achieved with just a front-sight. I really wouldn't use this gun for skeet much, just kind of for fun. I've got one of those Ubiquitous single shots with a nice long barrel and a modified choke, but wanted a repeater. I'm considering a second pump down the road, maybe a true sporting arm. Who knows?

Thanks again for the advice. This is a great forum.