870 Barrel/Sight Problem

[Lawyerman]

Awhile back I bought a couple of barrels from Centerfire Systems. The barrels are 18" cylinder bore and came with a rifle front sight with a tritium insert, they have NO rear sights. Tonight I decided that I would finally add a rear sight to one of these barrels. Problem, the total height of the front sight is only .29 off the barrel. The barrel of course gets larger as it goes to the rear. Which means that the rear sight would have to be pretty freaking low to work.

What kind of rear were these used with originally? Barrel has NO mounting holes in it for a rear site. Any ideas? I got the total front sight height by taking a caliper and measuring the circumference of the barrel including the height of the front sight, 1.165 and then measuring the barrel right behind the front site, .875 and subtracting that from the other measurement.

The only thing I can think of is to either install a taller front site blade to work with a conventional Remington rear site or I can use it like a bead. Need to shoot it to see where it hits I suppose. I do know that most of the newer factory "riot" barrels have the bead on a block, maybe this is the same height?

Help!

 

[dfariswheel]

Those were apparently set up to use a receiver mounted ghost ring or peep sight.

Depending on the rear sight, you might be able to fit a higher front.

How is this thing set up: A sight blade on a ramp base?
A one piece sight/base?
A sight only?

 

[Lawyerman]

The "bead" is mounted in a ramp style sight that is very low. It can be drifted out as the ramp has a dovetail. I have since seen one on another website, side by side with the Remington block/bead setup and the block/bead is the same height. It's not really a rifle sight just a fancy bead platform apparently. We'll have to see where the slugs impact.

 

[Dave McCracken]

I doubt it's to be used with any rear sight. If it's the same height as the bead, it's meant to be used like a bead.

FYI, the ramp setup succeeded the plain bead because of slugs. A plain bead and slugs usually means impact much over POA, like a foot at 50 yards.

 

[Lawyerman]

I have tried "snapping" the gun up around the house with this barrel mounted on it. So far it just confuses me-do I line just the bead up like a regular bead sight, do I line the bottom of the block up with the receiver groove and let the bead run higher on the target?

I really need to take it out and shoot it and see where it hits and use it that way.

 

[Dave McCracken]

"I really need to take it out and shoot it".....

Exactly! This applies to any shotgun.

 

[Lawyerman]

Took it out Christmas day. Shot some slugs and several types of buckshot through it. Best pattern at 15 yards was Estate Low Recoil with all shot in 11 inches. Worst was Federal Tactical at 14 inches. Remington Express 000 shot into 13 inches. The slugs which were Winchester Value pack cut one ragged hole for all five rounds.


Everything shot to the left so I drifted the bead slightly and it now shoots point of aim. Will probably keep the barrel after all.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Sounds about right, L-Man. I'd keep it.

 

[Garandad]

New member here. Thank you all for the combined wisdom and comraderie found on this site. This thread has answered a problem I encountered at a 3 gun match I recently attended. I foolishly removed the slug barrel from my 500 and shot the match with an 18" bead. All went well until the 50 yd. targets, where I managed 4 out of 5 head shots with the slugs. One missed altogether. If this sounds impressive, please consider that I was aiming COM and had no idea where the new barrel shot. Yep - a little over a foot high.
Maintaining my usual penchant for a quick fix, I moved the Mossy to the rear of the safe and picked up a trade in 870 Police for my 3 gunning. I bet one of those barrels could be the answer. Or perhaps BAUUR. Hope to meet you one day Dave. I shoot with Helmie and perhaps we could collaborate on soaking up some knowledge.
Steve

 

[Dave McCracken]

Welcome aboard, Garandad. After the Holidays, I'll be shooting some trap most Sunday morns at PGC. PM me if you want to get together.