I recently bought my first shotgun for Home Defense, a Mossberg 590A1, and shot it couple of times - solid as a rock. I did make a mistake in not buying one with ghost ring sights, and wonder if it is practical to have those things installed... or have some other sights installed. Any ideas about where, which, how, cost? Thanks, Oldfella
Ghost Ring Sights
- Thread starter oldfella
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Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
It can be done by most any smith, but good work is done every day with a plain bead. GR sights are a nice to have but not essential on a HD tool.
A suggestion, run a few cases of ammo through that shotgun and then decide what it needs. IOW, tweak the gunner first.
A suggestion, run a few cases of ammo through that shotgun and then decide what it needs. IOW, tweak the gunner first.
Mannlicher
Member
I have Ghost rings on one HD gun, and rifle sights on the other. I have bead sights on some other shotties. I shoot the same at HD distances with them all.
El Tejon
Member
Lots of good ones around, old. IME/O, I would recommend the Tracs from Wilson/ST as they are sans wings up front. The Wickert or MMC is a fine sight but they (usually) come with wings on the front sight. When Mr. Murphy intrevenes in the excitement, the operator can mistake a wing for the front sight. This is critical as inside your house, as the wise man in Tejas saith, your shotgun is a rifle.
Dave's right. Go shoot it without the GR sights. Some guys do really well with just a bead. Measure the distances in your house where you may have to deploy it and then shoot that at the range. See how you do and report back to the class.
Good shooting.
Dave's right. Go shoot it without the GR sights. Some guys do really well with just a bead. Measure the distances in your house where you may have to deploy it and then shoot that at the range. See how you do and report back to the class.
Good shooting.
Andrew Wyatt
Member
I like the mossberg factory sights. The reciever comes drilled and tapped for the rear sight.
alas, the front sight is not so easy. it's designed to be silver soldered in place. however, with a milling machine a drill press and a tap, you can modify the front to it screws on. me and dad drilled two holes in the front sight ramp, one at the rear (where we had to mill a step for the allen head screw so it would lie flat) and one at the front, lined up with the existing hole for the bead.
we removed the bead, trilled and tapped another hole in the barrel the same size and pitch as the hole for the bead and screwed everything down. it works like a champ.
the front sight has no wings on it, and is nice and visible. ( i don't normally care for colored front sights, but this one seems to work)
the rear has solid adjustments, and IS protected by sturdy wings.
I've handled shotguns with MMC, and the trak loc sights, but i prefer the mossberg sight.
romulus
Member
Can the Mossberg sight be installed on an 870? Just curious...
Andrew Wyatt
Member
i've seen it done.
you'll need to drill and tap the reciever and mount the front on the barrel.
you'll need to drill and tap the reciever and mount the front on the barrel.
45Badger
Member
Can the Benelli ghost ring set be mounted on an 870?
Andrew Wyatt
Member
yes. it's the LPA GR sight set. brownells sells them.
Thanks for your comments/suggestions about my question on installing ghost ring sights on my HD shotgun; I'm re-thinking my idea based on what some of you have suggested: ghost ring sights may not be needed on a HD shotgun, depending on shooting distance. That brings another question (dumb as it may sound), What type/kind of shot is recommended for 12 Ga. HD shotgun. I recently bought a box of Winchester 2 3/4", 1 1/4oz, 4 Steel Shot (#XSM124) - is it OK?
El Tejon
Member
old, regarding the "need", well, that depends. Inside your house a shotgun is a rifle. You will need to place your shot with accuracy. The "boulder of death" myth is reserved for gun shoppes and Roadrunner cartoons.
Ghost rings help me do a couple of things: place the shot with accuracy and force me to keep my cheek weld, a terrible habit that I have been fighting for years.
See what you can do. Wear a white lab coat and tell others that you are shooting for science.
As to load, depends on what you want to do. As to lethality, "bullets are like medicine, they don't always work." However, shotgun loads come close with dove to duck to buckshot.
Ghost rings help me do a couple of things: place the shot with accuracy and force me to keep my cheek weld, a terrible habit that I have been fighting for years.
See what you can do. Wear a white lab coat and tell others that you are shooting for science.
As to load, depends on what you want to do. As to lethality, "bullets are like medicine, they don't always work." However, shotgun loads come close with dove to duck to buckshot.
Kobun
Member
Try finding some lead shot instead.
Steel should be avoided because of the ricochet hazard.
For HD #4 and up should do good.
Think about what kind of walls you have, kids, distance to neighbours etc.
K.
Steel should be avoided because of the ricochet hazard.
For HD #4 and up should do good.
Think about what kind of walls you have, kids, distance to neighbours etc.
K.
Kobun
Member
The numbers tell you the shot size.
The weight is the total weight of all the shot in one cartridge.
The weight is the total weight of all the shot in one cartridge.
45Badger
Member
I was interested in Benelli set because there was a set for sale on AR15.com (very briefly, I missed, em) for $40 delivered.
Bruce626
Member
You might also want to search the old TFL threads... I recall some very insightful debates there that help mold my HD ammo strategy for my particulary housing situation.
themic
Member
go shooting first. try out some trap and some skeet with the shotgun, as is. go with someone who knows shotguns.
i personally find i'm best with just a bead sight ro no sights at all, as long as the gun fits me ok. years of trap and sporting clays, and i just mount the gun to my shoulder properly, focus on the barrel for just a quick moment, and then i can point shoot better than most people with sights.
this works for me because i'm a much more natural point shooter, with both eyes wide open, than a target shooter. for the life of me i can't get my handgun groups down to inches cause i keep blasting away at center of mass, and never look at my sights.
in paintball, i find i shoot better from the hip than from the shoulder. the hopper disturbs my sight path, so i get the whole gun out of my face.
in other words, get to know yourself first, before forcing yourself down a particular path.
i personally find i'm best with just a bead sight ro no sights at all, as long as the gun fits me ok. years of trap and sporting clays, and i just mount the gun to my shoulder properly, focus on the barrel for just a quick moment, and then i can point shoot better than most people with sights.
this works for me because i'm a much more natural point shooter, with both eyes wide open, than a target shooter. for the life of me i can't get my handgun groups down to inches cause i keep blasting away at center of mass, and never look at my sights.
in paintball, i find i shoot better from the hip than from the shoulder. the hopper disturbs my sight path, so i get the whole gun out of my face.
in other words, get to know yourself first, before forcing yourself down a particular path.
Thanks, Bruce - Yes I did read that thread about wall penetration, etc.; good info, I do live in single family home with brick siding, just me and my missus.
Themic - thanks for your advice. I've tried to point shoot, both handgun and SG - unfortunately, I'm less that adequate; I need to practice point shooting, especially the SG because I'm right handed and strong left-eyed - that's why I thought I need the ghost ring sight to assist me in focusing. I'll keep plugging at it. Regards, Oldfella
Themic - thanks for your advice. I've tried to point shoot, both handgun and SG - unfortunately, I'm less that adequate; I need to practice point shooting, especially the SG because I'm right handed and strong left-eyed - that's why I thought I need the ghost ring sight to assist me in focusing. I'll keep plugging at it. Regards, Oldfella
Andrew Wyatt
Member
if you're left eyed, the only really workable solution is to shoot left handed.
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