Defensive Shotgun Sights

[MtnCreek]

What's your preferred sights for a defensive shotgun? Plain Bead? Rifle Sights, Other?

Do you feel you need to see your sights in the dark (tritium or similar) or do you rely on position / cheek weld?

Off the main topic; should a defensive shotgun that's kept in the home have a sling?

Thanks.

 

[Jason_W]

I like ghost ring sights for when I want to place slugs at longer distances. At close, HD distances it's no problem to just ignore the ring and put the front post on the target.

 

[allaroundhunter]

What's your preferred sights for a defensive shotgun? Plain Bead? Rifle Sights, Other?

Do you feel you need to see your sights in the dark (tritium or similar) or do you rely on position / cheek weld?

Off the main topic; should a defensive shotgun that's kept in the home have a sling?

Thanks.

Preferred sight(s)? Tritium front bead.

Do I feel that I need to see my sights in the dark? Yes, as well as see my target. That means a light as well.

Sling on a HD shotgun? Not for me. Just something else to get snagged and you generally shouldn't be needing to take both hands off of the gun.

 

[LeonCarr]

Just a Plain Bead for me.

No sling if kept in the home for the reasons allaroundhunter mentioned.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Inebriated]

For HD, a bead is all I want. An XS bead is better, but not requisite.

Also, any decent light... X-300, WML, TLR-1, Surefire forend, etc. Target identification is paramount..

And I keep slings on any HD long gun. Wear it or don't have one.

 

[oneounceload]

A simple bead as I am NOT focusing on the sight, but on my intended target. No need for a sling to activate Murphy's Law so it will snag on something at the worst moment. I have enough ambient light I do not need a light nor do i want that extra weight out near the muzzle to slow my swing

 

[nugun55]

For Home Defense, K.I.S.S. No bells & whistles. No sling. Bead sight. How big is your house?

 

[MtnCreek]

How big is your house?

All within shotgun range. I never struck oil while shooting at some food.

 

[herrwalther]

Sights are useless if you can't see them. And contrary to Hollywood, shotguns need to be aimed like most of other firearms. Fiber optic or Tritium sights for a HD shotgun. Although I have put a red dot sight on HD shotguns if they had really good battery life. Another method I have seen is to put a flashlight on the barrel and essentially point shoot using the light as an aim guide.

 

[oneounceload]

And contrary to Hollywood, shotguns need to be aimed like most of other firearms.

Guess you do not shoot them very much at moving targets then, do you? Shotguns are POINTED, not aimed, when dealing with dynamic targets while rifles are aimed as the targets are static

 

[kBob]

I like Mossberg's Ghost Ring system. I would like to do something to make the front sight more visable in low light.

I do not like weapons lights, but do have one on my HD shotgun and the Ghost ring are easy to see with the light on.

On the other hand I have not noticed any "wrong" answers in this thread.

-kBob

 

[MikeJackmin]

I like ghost rings with a big bright front sight. My 590's front sight came with a brilliant orange stripe that works quite well, and my 870 has an aftermarket sight with a glowing dot. Of course, a flashlight is good, too. (I consider a flashlight to be the only really necessary modification for a house gun).

It's uncommon, but not impossible, to have need of a gun outside the house. I like good sights and slugs that let me reach as far as I might conceivably have to.

 

[tacxted]

Sling, yes. I always have a sling on my long guns.

I prefer ghost ring sights. They work great for skeet, slugs and they are great all around.

My HD shotgun has a light on it. Side mount. So tridium front sight isn't needed ,but if I had the money I would upgrade.

 

[Gordon]

I like to replace Remington factory Rifle sights with the XS tritium blades front and rear. This gives see at night Express type sight picture. This is good for precise hostage rescue shots and effective to 100 yards and beyond with proper slug ammo.
https://www.xssights.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=993530&CAT=8270

 

[nugun55]

There you go... I didn't even factor in the inevitable hostage rescue shot. How silly of me.

 

[rbernie]

I flatly SUCK as a shooter, and I can reliably hit a target up to 40+ yards away that's moving sideways at 45mph or better, using a shotgun that has no bead. If snap shooting is on the bill, get a gun that shoots where you look.

If precision placement of a slug at 100 yards is on the bill, then get a set of ghost rings.

 

[oneounceload]

Sling, yes. I always have a sling on my long guns.

I prefer ghost ring sights. They work great for skeet, slugs and they are great all around.

My HD shotgun has a light on it. Side mount. So tridium front sight isn't needed ,but if I had the money I would upgrade.

How many drills you run like that?

 

[Frostbite]

Guess you do not shoot them very much at moving targets then, do you? Shotguns are POINTED, not aimed, when dealing with dynamic targets while rifles are aimed as the targets are static

The deer I shot with my muzzleloader this year was definitely a very dynamic moving target and I was glad I could use the fiber optic sights. Through both lungs, died quickly. I do not know of any human who can move faster than a deer on the run. I AIMED at the deer to take such a shot, I did not simply point.

That being said, regarding OP's question, there is no other sight than a bead on my shotgun right now. I took off the scope after the last slug shooting at the range. Then again, I do not use that shotgun or any other firearm for HD, but if I was, I would opt for fiber optic sights, and if at all possible, I would choose the exact same ones that are on both my Buckmark .22 LR and my Encore muzzleloader: I am used to those (I mostly shoot the .22 LR because it is still cheaper than my other guns), they are fast to take, and they are visible even in low light. Something you can practice often with seems the best option to me if you figure you are going to use it in a stressful situation. I practice quite a bit with the .22 LR and I find it very useful when I use the black powder wonder: the sights are familiar to the point they are instinctive. So, if you are going to put slugs in the gun, I would suggest the fiber optic sights. If it is a buckshot only thing, I guess the tritium bead would be cool, but a simple basic bead could do just fine.

No sling.

 

[meff]

i recently put a cheap red dot on a 930. was like cheating as soon as funds allow im thinking a micro gonna get parked there

 

[Dr.Rob]

Rifle sights.

At close range you can use the front sight as a bead.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

I prefer rifle style sights. I would have complete confidence doing a slug changeover and taking a hostage rescue shot if need be with the rifle style sights on my shotgun. With a plain bead, I wouldn't have the confidence even though I shoot lots of trap with my beaded shotgun.

 

[Master Blaster]

If you are using a shotgun like a rifle with slugs at a distance of greater than 40 yards (a single projectile at a slow or relatively stationary target) then sights or a scope are useful and necessary. If you are using a shotgun for home defense that is very much like shooting trap or skeet ( multiple projectiles)you need a consistent cheek weld, the gun points where you look, no sights needed, the bead is to orient your face to the barrel and the stock obtaining a cheek weld. The shotgun is then swung to where you are looking. In my house the longest distance I can see without a wall being in the way is about 35 feet (12 yards) so rifle sights are pretty useless. People have been shooting at fast moving targets with shotguns for 300 years now without sights. We practice regularly shooting trap, and manage to hit a 2 inch or 4 inch diameter target moving pretty fast at 40-80 yards distance. My HD shotgun has no sights and is loaded with buckshot it points where I look.

 

[MCgunner]

What's your preferred sights for a defensive shotgun? Plain Bead? Rifle Sights, Other?

Fit is everything. I don't need a bead, really, but a nice rib to look down is helpful in good light.

Do you feel you need to see your sights in the dark (tritium or similar) or do you rely on position / cheek weld?

With a proper fitting shotgun, it practically points itself. No, I don't need light beyond being able to tell where the target is, but I added a clamp on light. Identifying the target in the dark is a good thing and the light helps when I'm after song dogs that are trying to raid my chicken coop. My shotgun has killed things, even shot a deer with it last season. Wasn't after the deer, but it makes a good woods walking combination gun and I had one barrel loaded with 3 buck as the other had a duck load in it while I was slipping up on the tank (that's like a pond for yankees).

Off the main topic; should a defensive shotgun that's kept in the home have a sling?

No, not necessarily. Slings can catch on things like door knobs. I have one on my shotgun because I carry it afield while checking my hog trap and feeders and such. Squirrels and rabbits are often taken with it. I eat a lot of game meat now days. I don't bother taking the sling off because i carry the gun most days, but really, I think it's less than desirable on a pure home defense gun.

 

[MCgunner]

Guess you do not shoot them very much at moving targets then, do you? Shotguns are POINTED, not aimed, when dealing with dynamic targets while rifles are aimed as the targets are static

Absolutely correct and shotgun FIT is most important for quick target acquisition. Besides, especially in low light at home defense ranges, I'd POINT a rifle, even a handgun. I don't own a mansion, either. 1680 squre foot 3 BR, 2 bath.

I have, however, taken running rabbits and deer with a rifle. It ain't as easy as with a shotgun, but it's doable if you got time to get on the target. Sight acquisition is slower with sights. I actually prefer a low power or variable power scope to irons as a scope does not require sight alignment, only that the scope comes to the eye naturally. I can snap shoot a shotgun quite a lot easier as the gun sort of points itself and I only have to concentrate on the game. I rarely even notice the gun, just look down the rib. The guns comes to me, not me to it, proper fit is the key.

BTW, I don't believe in electronic optics. Murphy, ya know.

 

[herrwalther]

Guess you do not shoot them very much at moving targets then, do you? Shotguns are POINTED, not aimed, when dealing with dynamic targets while rifles are aimed as the targets are static

Have fired at plenty of moving targets. Some of them were two-legged.