whats the verdict on fiber optic sights?

Status
Not open for further replies.
A

AcceptableUserName

member
Joined
Mar 24, 2009
Messages
1,627
as much as I like Mossberg products, I'm not a fan of the factory beads. They're about the cheapest beads I know of. Seems like they deform or chip just looking at them - and I'm pretty careful with my guns.

So, I'm looking for a replacement for my new 590 Mariner 20". I could probably upgrade the part for 3-4 dollars, but I'm also considering a fiber optic insert or tritium bead. Keep in mind, I know not to AIM a shotgun, I always instinctively point, so I'm taking these products for what they are - a slight aid, if anything. I remember hearing some stuff about fiber optics momentarily "confusing" or "blinding" the shooter - in the sense that the bright fiber optic obscures the target a bit and rattles focus subconsciously (which could be an issue without even knowing it). Is this true?

How about the tritium beads? Worth the money? Are the Mossberg beads 6-48, and the ones I buy should thread directly in, correct?

I am going to be shooting a LOT of slugs out of this gun, so as much as I'm not a fan of sights on a shotgun, I really want to like ghost rings. I really do. They just seem inherently slower than a bead even if more accurate. I've tried my hand with them for around 500 rds, and just couldn't get past the distracted feeling. They WERE accurate, but either I was doing something wrong, or they are a tradeoff that needs to be accepted. A tradeoff in my opinion much easier lived-with on a rifle because of the range the rifles possess. Thoughts?
 
As someone who puts lots of light target loads through my guns (sorry, you can keep the slugs), I prefer a simple bead. I do not use it while pointing the gun and moving to my target, my eyes are on my target. Perhaps if I was using the shotgun on a static target like a deer hunter does, the fiber optic might have some merit. But for dynamic targets, I find that bright dot a little distracting
 
thanks. Target loads are all I can afford to actually SHOOT these days, beyond a box or two here and there of the good stuff. The fiber optic I'm considering is the straight line tube style, or a skirted bead in and of itself. Both ACT as a bead - I would never consider rifle-type fiber optic or the other AIMING type sights out there.

I can definitely see how the bright color could cause a split second optic scramble though, and I don't want that. I had a fiber optic on a Win 1300 defender that I never even got a chance to shoot before I traded it, and it was LOUD, colorwise - I'd point it during little shouldering technique drills and I found it a bit distracting. But I don't want to rule anything out without giving it a fair shake.

I can stay AT LEAST in a center-mass (animal OR bg) sized grouping with a slug-bead combo more or less as far out as the slugs will reach, so I'm not terribly worried, but if it can be improved, why not...


I am leaning towards a Williams silver bead at this point, but still considering...
 
I like the rifle sighted 18.5" Vang Comp barrel on my 870 with the XS Big Dot Tritium Sight system. With buckshot the Big Dot Tritium front sight is a bead I can see and the rear sight can be ignored. For more precise aiming with slugs the rear sight helps alignment and after a bit of practice it is functionally as accurate as the original rifle sights.

Take a look at the XS Big Dot front sight. Remember, most bad stuff happens at night.

I am a cross discipline shooter and I like a common set of skills between pistol, rifle and shotgun. I point my shotgun shooting trap. Any other purpose I use slugs and I want a front sight I can see.

http://www.xssights.com/store/shotgun.html
 
Last edited:
I have 2 Remington 870's. Both have 20" rifle sighted barrels. One of them is tritium front and rear. Both barrels came with the sights from Remington. I occasionally shoot some clays with them, and I just ignore the sights. When I shoot slugs at 100 yards or so, then the weapon is sighted like a rifle and the sights come in very handy indeed.

Some of my dedicated clay target guns have the fiber optic type front sights. The more I shoot, the less I notice any front sight. I recently shot 6 sporting clay stations before I noticed that the borrowed shotgun I was using had no front sight at all.
 
Not a big fan of fiber optics, either. They are just a distraction. I agree with oneounceload, I don't notice the bead, just point and shoot. Yes, I use the bead with slugs, but not shooting moving targets with shot loads. Since I don't shoot slugs much, just tested a couple of my guns with 'em, I am not a sights kinda guy. I do like a vent rib to look down, though. I can shoot without it, just sayin'. My Mossberg has a mid bead and a bigger white bead at the muzzle. I've not really figured out what use they are as I don't even notice them. Perhaps I'm using 'em subconsciously, but I can't really say. My old 16 gauge, the bead fell off it and I never bothered to replace it. Shoot just as well without it. :D
 
Not a big fan of fiber optics, either. They are just a distraction. I agree with oneounceload
Click to expand...
I agree. I tried one out a few years ago. I didn't like it at all...too distracting. I've never figured out what good a mid bead is either. If you can see it, you're doing it all wrong. For me the bead is just an out of focus reference point between me and the target. It helps me in a subconscious way to match target speed on crossing shots.
 
I like the fiber optic sight on my Ithaca 51, but that's waaaay out on the end of a 30" barrel and I'm not sure it wouldn't be more of a distraction than a aid on a tactical length gun.

An aftermarket brass bead might be the way to go.
 
My 28" Benelli SuperNova came with one, and I pretty much don't pay any attention at all to it when I shoot clays. I wouldn't call it a hinderance, but it's not like it helps me out a great deal.
 
What about the Ithaca style sight? I've never been quite sure what it is, though. Is that too large for your tastes? What about this?[/URL]http://http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=1886/Product/SIGHT_BEADS[/URL]
 
I believe Tom Knapp uses a light tube type front sight. I will use one if it helps me shoot like that!
Click to expand...

I have one of those, and it didn't make me shoot like Tom Knapp. The tube makes it so you can't see the glowing bead unless you are properly aligned. It also makes it impossible for your off side eye (the left in my case) to see the bead at all. It is specifically for cross eye dominance issues. It didn't help me in that regard.
 
Since I use my 500 mainly for stationary pests around the farm like armadillos and tree rats, a fiber optic sight helps. For fast moving targets like birds, clays, etc. the fiber optic sight would be a distraction to me and "pointing" would be more in order.
 
I like FO sites --- I have them on almost every handgun I use for action competition and I put one on my Moss 500 ---- it is a magnet type and has a small recess that the front bead fits into --- I've used mine with birdshot , buckshot , and slugs and its never come off in a match yet.

DSC01678.jpg
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

W
  • Locked
TruGlo Fiber Optic Sights
Replies
4
Views
628
P95Carry
P
H
  • Locked
High visibility sight for Mossberg 500?
Replies
4
Views
1K
pepper35
P
B
  • Locked
Fiber optic front sight for 870 bead-on-ramp?
Replies
1
Views
484
eldomatic
E
F
  • Locked
Bead Replacement With Fiber Optic
Replies
5
Views
656
ronto
R
J
  • Locked
Tritium vs fiber optic
Replies
2
Views
606
Chuck R.
Chuck R.
Back
Top