New shotgun and a question...

[Moparmike]

I just bought an "uber-eeeevvvvviiiillllll super-black ultra-deadly self-animate self-aware sinfully fun shotgun™":D and have a question about mounting ghost rings: How much are they and their installation? I plan this to be a HD weapon, so I may as well have appropriate sights.

The gun in question is a Legacy Escort Aimguard 7+1 in 12ga.

Thanks,

[Dave McCracken]

If it's really for HD, leave it as is. GRs are a nice to have, but not essential.

Run a few cases of ammo through it at typical HD ranges and fast COFS. My guess is, with good fit and form, practice will show you to be deadly w/o them.

[Moparmike]

Thanks for the info. Do they make tritium paint, or should I just "white-out" the front sight? It doesnt have a bead, but instead a front sight like a rifle.

Also, how much are swivels and a sling with ammo holes?

Thanks,

[El Tejon]

Mopar, as Dave says, ghost rings sights are a very good idea but by no means mandatory. Knowing your weapon is mandatory. I have ghost rings sights on my fighting shotguns as they have several advantages (biggest one for me is that they help keep my head down as I have a bad habit of looking over the weapon).

Painting your front sight or using medical tape to reflect ambient light may help, but biggest help is dry practice. Dry practice will create that instant and consistent cheek weld that you need. Shooting will help your manipulation skills and you will get to know your weapon at anticipated ranges.

Are you certain you wish to stow ammo on the sling? Have you tried one of these things? They sway and retrieving ammo from a moving source under stress in the dark is not a good thing.

How about a saddle? Have you considered a light source? Points to ponder.:)

[Andrew Wyatt]

you probably won't be able to find accessories for this shotgun, because it's not one of the big four. Light mounts are nonexistant. Sights are, too, most likely.

[Moparmike]

Yep. Got a saddle with 2-- 2.75in 00buck, 2--2.75in 1oz slugs, and 1--3in 00buck. The tube will be filled with #8 shot, and I wanted to keep more in the sling. While I dont expect to need all 12 rounds or all 7 in the tube for that matter, it is said that "you cant have too much ammo" as long as you can carry it all.:)

Lighting has passed thru my mind as well. How much do they typically go for, and how well do they hold up to repeated shooting? I would probably be practicing with that on there. Wouldnt the mounts be "one fits all" for 12ga? It should just go right on...

[Andrew Wyatt]

universal mounts are inferior to dedicated mounts, because of the design compromises involved.

for shotgun use, the only light that's acceptabe is a surefire with a battery stop. if you have access to a machine shop, i can provide a CAD drawing of a surefire compatable light body that you can build yourself that has a battery stop in it.

if you're mechanically inclined, you can mount a rail to the forend. add a scope ring and a surefire universal type light with a battery stop and you're good to go.

I can guarantee you that surefire doesn't make a forend for this gun, which is the best way to go.

[El Tejon]

Mopar, as to the sling, just be aware that having that weight swinging around up front may not help you shoot and manipulate the weapon.

As to lighting, I am unfamiliar with your weapn and do not know if one is available. It is worth checking into, IMHO.

[sm]

Suggested reading:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=29131&highlight=HD%2A+shotguns

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11646

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=99765

Of course I'm probably the only idiot using a stock gun with 28" bbl and 00 buck. I am babysitting a 870 police trade-in, wood stock, leather sling, without GR, side saddle, or light. I did do 200 repetitions of mount and dry fire today tho'...sling removed- didn't want the "pendulum effect" with even a plain leather sling.

CWG here...showing my age, and simple side again. :)

[C.R.Sam]

Like Dave McC says...
Just shoot it till you get good with it.

Sam

[Dave McCracken]

A coupla thngs, Mike, and if it sounds familiar after reading the threads that friend 73 referenced, so be it.

Nowhere on this thread have you mentioned SHOOTING this. All the gadgets and gimcracks on earth will not make up for a lack of practice.

Technology is a poor substitute for expertise. So is a checkbook.

Buy all the ammo you can afford. Cheap value pack stuff will do for now.

Shoot it at silohuettes,clays,tin cans,landfill rats,steel plates,old cars, anything, but shoot it until it feels like a body part.

Get the fit right, get your form down, and BA/UU/R until you're absolutely $%^&*()ing deadly. THEN, decide if there's a mod or addon needed to up performance or improve comfort.

BTW, one fast COF using a sling loaded with ammo will acquaint you with The Pendulum Effect and convince you that you've wasted money on something that downgrades performance.

(Dismounting from pulpit)...

[Moparmike]

Yep, shooting was the plan for 9/20/03. Unfortunately, I became ill with one of those ultra-powerful 24-hour bugs that put me down. Shooting is for tomorrow, and I plan to do at least 50 rounds providing my sholder holds up. Old cans, sporting clays ($4 a box, WOW!!!).

It seems to fit really nice in any case. Good legnth, nice controls except for the safety. Safety is really tight, and I press so hard that when it finally breaks on or off, my fingernail hits the trigger guard and jars half my arm. Quite an unnerving feeling.

What is COF?

[sm]

COF: Course of Fire

BA/UU/R : Buy ammo/use up/repeat.

[JMag]

I bought the Escort 20" 12 today for $165. Looks to be a good deal in a Turkish scattergun. It comes with a pistol grip, too.Here's a pic from Legacy Sports:

[CWL]

In near dark and very dark conditions, I have found it difficult to find let alone sight thru a ghost ring -unless it has tritium inserts. At home defense situations and ranges, front bead/sight and shoot is probably good enough if you have done your patterning & training homework.

If you want to mount tritium ghost ring sites -the cost of this for a smith to install would probably be close to you just buying one of the big 4 shotguns from the start.

If you want to install a light system, I have found that ITI (Streamlight) makes some universal mounts for their M3 lights on 12ga.s