Purpose of a vent rib?

[sjcslk]

I've always wondered what the purpose of a vent rib is. It seems like it would serve as a sight plane, but since with a shotgun you're supposed to keep both eyes open & not aim; what is the purpose? It's always seemed to me that the vent rib takes away from the aesthetics of the gun; and that a plain barrel just feels sleeker (& better). thanks,

 

[Ridgerunner665]

To prevent glare, mirage, and provide a sighting platform.

 

[knoxy]

My guess is heat dissipation.

it's been asked before:
http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-332118.html

 

[lowerunit411]

I think it adds to the beauty and yes it is a sight plane

 

[Woodyard]

Helps keep the dominant eye property aligned down the barrel. The ventilation helps prevent heat mirage from sustained shooting such as in trap or skeet.

 

[oneounceload]

a flay sighting plane with heat dissipation all rolled into one item

 

[sjcslk]

vent rib?

Thanks. Does anyone experience a sleeker feel to the plain barrel gun? Also, does a vent rib add much weight? It wouldn't seem like it could, but my vent rib guns seem bulkier & heavier to me.

 

[LibShooter]

It keeps the hot barrel from producing "heat waves" (like on summer blacktop) and making the bead hard to see.

 

[nathan]

I always aim my shotgun like its a rifle. Keep it flat with the little bead in the middle.

 

[oneounceload]

Unless you are shooting game that you normally would use article, like deer , itisbettertopoint the shotgun, not aim it. Your eyes should be focused on the target, not the bead

 

[303tom]

It is a sighting plane, plain & simple...........

 

[Dave McCracken]

Vent ribs add about 3 oz on a 30" barrel set. Solid ribs maybe another oz.

Few field guns ever get fired fast enough to need heat dissipation.

Browning's old "Broadway" rib was quite wide, and many folks claimed it helped eliminate canting. I remain unconvinced.

Some good shooting I recall was done with ribless barrels.

One SxS I had featured a "Swamped" rib. It started out at the breech as normal, then swooped down betwen the barrels and up nigh the muzzles. Totally unobtrusive, and I made some amazing shots with that fine little gun.

Whatever works......

 

[mgmorden]

As stated, the theoretical purpose is to prevent miraging and give a sighting plane.

I do know that around here, a lot of deer hunting is done via dog drives with buckshot (where you are basically "wing shooting" the deer on the run), and most of the older shooters, including my dad, absolutely hate the vent ribs. It's just a "feel" thing to them, but they really don't like them. It was to the point that when my dad blew up the plain-topped barrel on his 870, if I hadn't been able to find an original plain barrel I was going to be looking into having the vent rib removed from a new one and having it reblued. Luckily I was able to find an old one and avoid the issue.