Defensive shotgun sights

[checkmyswag]

What sights do you prefer and why?

Bead?
Rifle sights?
Ghost ring sights?

In the title I wrote defensive not home defense so I am considering the possibility of longer shots too.

 

[Skribs]

You left out Red Dots.

 

[Owen Sparks]

You only need a ghost ring if you plan on shooting slugs. I prefer a red light pipe that will act exactly like a red dot and allow you to focus both eyes on the target just like a skeet shooter does. A properly fitted shotgun should hit right where you look.

 

[TrailWolf]

Stick with the classic bead site.

Simple, wont break, lets you have a wide view and VERY QUICK.

 

[BADUNAME37]

One bead at the muzzle, preferably on the top of the barrel.

At 21 feet, one could most likely hit a basketball with the majority of pellets, if not ALL the pellets. A rear sight is not necessary, unless one is shooting the shotgun like a rifle, with rifled or saboted-rifled slugs.

 

[fatcat4620]

Nothing beats the bead for fast shots.

 

[oneounceload]

Since my eyes are the back sight, a simple bead is all that is necessary

 

[MCgunner]

I don't even need a bead if the gun fits me. I like having a rib, though, for eye reference.

 

[Gordon]

I really don't care if the back sight is a ghst ring, an express open or none at all but I sure do want some sort of square topped post. It can have a luminous insert but I want the square post as it does not shift point of aim when the angle of light changes like a bead does. Also it allows for a known , repeatable sight picture for planting those slugs in the place you want them in the cabeza if NEED be. The post can be small and on the barrel as my first gen Robars were or up on ramps with tritium inserts and express rear
sights as on y last generation guns are.

 

[Chevelle SS]

A bead sight works for me

 

[Bobson]

For a HD shotgun, I could do just fine with no sight/s at all. I'd be most comfortable with a bead or red dot.

 

[LeonCarr]

Bead

You do not need ghost ring sights to shoot slugs, but it does make it easier.

IME a typical Remington 870 will shoot right around point of aim at 100 yards using the factory bead sight with full power Foster type slugs. The first time I heard this I was like yeah right whatever. So I went to the farm with some Remington Slugger One Ounce Slugs (My nickname for them is Greenie Meanies) and a bone stock Remington 870 Express HD with 18" barrel.

I then sandbagged the gun and put three slugs inside a 8.5 x 11 inch piece of typing paper at 100 yards. They shot about 6 inches high at 50 yards.

Ghost Rings? We don't need no stinking Ghost Rings .

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Fred Fuller]

I can use 'em all, but prefer rifle sights or GRs for slugs at longer range.

 

[checkmyswag]

I've always shot with a bead. Do believe its the fastest as youre not really looking for the sights at all. It's just "there" and you're looking over the barrel.

Deciding if I need to upgrade to a remington police 870. I would mostly be doing so for finish and sights. But someone brought up an excellent point...the bead will be the most rugged. So then that takes about half my reason for upgrading away.

Maybe ill put the $ into the Mesa Tactical recoil reducing stock instead.

 

[Youngster]

Bead.

I find rifle sights perfectly acceptable as an all-round option though.

 

[btg3]

Bead.
Skeet...doves...defensive shotgun... it'll hit the targets.

Doubtful that you need to upgrade to a police 870, but I can relate to the desire to do.

 

[The-Reaver]

IMO in a defensive situation ( presumably close range ) open sites would be the best. So my vote goes for bead.

 

[DaleCooper51]

A bead is the fastest for me, but it doesn't really matter as I am looking at the target not the sights. For a number of years, I didn't even have a bead as it fell out and I never bothered to replace it. If the gun fits and you practice enough, it will hit where you look.

My current set up has rifle sights because Remington doesn't make a bead sighted short barrel for a left hand Wingmaster.

 

[Yo Mama]

What sights do you prefer and why?

Bead?
Rifle sights?
Ghost ring sights?

In the title I wrote defensive not home defense so I am considering the possibility of longer shots too.

Not home defense, but a longer shot also? Hmmmm............

You're going to have a really hard time imagining a defensive use for a shotgun outside of your home. You'll also choose different ammo for the home vs. outside.

For a defensive shotgun, best set up is a bead sight, with a flashlight mounted at end.

 

[Skribs]

I'm betting a lot of you come from a clay shooting background. Me, I come from a video gaming background, and I'm much more used to seeing ghost rings or red dot/holographic reticles, so that's what's faster for me.

 

[MtnSpur]

Old and set in my ways I reckon in a HD situation that front bead sight in good light is about as good as it gets but if you factor in a no/low light situation something of the order of an illuminated reticle/red dot can't be a bad thing. Barrel length, distance to target and time constraints obviously comeinto play.
Being used to your shotgun like it's a part of you is your best defense/offense. Recently purchased a shorter barreled/differently configured shotgun for the house and went through boxes of rounds just practicing safe handling and shooting drills until I felt comfortable with my transition/option.

 

[Striker]

With a nod to Fred.

I have them all, but have come to prefer r/s barrels, as I shoot slugs and/or tight patterning OO buck exclusively in shotguns used for HD/SD.

 

[JEB]

my first choice is a bead. ghost ring sights would be a close second provided that longer range slug shots would be common.

 

[Owen Sparks]

I actually WON a tactical shotgun match once and found my Hi-Viz front sight on the ground afterward while picking up empy shells. It came off sometime during the match and I did not even notice! A properly fitted shotgun will hit right where you look and trying to align sights will only slow you down.

 

[bubba in ca]

Scary

``I actually WON a tactical shotgun match once and found my Hi-Viz front sight on the ground afterward while picking up empy shells. It came off sometime during the match and I did not even notice!``

I was going to reply ``I have a vent rib and a Hiviz, but If I lost the Hiviz I might not even bother to buy a replacement``.

Back to basics-- most HD shootings are 0 to 2 shots at 0 to 20 feet. I maintain that at that distance your need for sights is based on how much money one wants to spend, not on tactical reality.

If you live on a farm or other large property, you might want to look into the other sights, but even then if your perceived risk is more that 40 yards you should move up to a rifle.