Rifle sights or bead on a HD shotgun?

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chaim

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Last summer (it may have actually been spring) there were quite a few Remington 870s in the area with 18.5" barrels (smoothbore) and rifle sights. I decided that this is what I wanted but I waited on buying. Anyway, for some months now the only shot guns I've seen with rifle sights are slug guns.

I like the idea of the rifle sight, but I'm not sure at HD ranges that the bead wouldn't be at least as good. I am full aware that it may simply make the gun more fun for occasional slug shooting at the local rifle range. In a HD situation where short ranges and quick shots are called for, do you think the rifle sights will really help? What is more, might they be a distraction to the quick target acquisition needed in a self defense situation?

I don't want to wait too much longer to replace the shotgun I sold 2 years ago. Should I hold out a bit longer for the rifle sight model since that is what I want, or am I better off (based on the answers in the previous paragraph) going with a bead front sight?

Another option is instead of full rifle sights, get the bead and fit one of the Hi-Vis front sights on the front so I have something more visible than the bead but I don't have to take the extra fraction of a second mentally to line the sights up (since there is no rear sight to align with the front sight).

Your feedback is appreciated.
 
Bead's all that's needed. Rifle or open sights are nice, but not essential. Besides the High Viz/FO atuff, a little bright paint like Testor's Enamel will do the job.

That's available at the Hobby store in between Penny's and Wards at the Mall, upstairs.

FYI, I'll be at PGC this Sunday at 10 AM with two 870s. Feel free to stop by. Look for large older guy at Range 8 or 9.
 
I just switched the rifle sights on my new FN (Win 1300) to Tru-Glo type. The front is green and the rear is orange. I gotta find a different color for the front. It is more visible in low light than the original post, but the green washes out against the wall color under more full light. The orange rears stand out WELL. Luckily, I amvery familiar with shouldered weapons so I could practically aim the gun with the rears (since they are mounted half-way down the gun anyway) but I will change the front color soon. I don't like the green.

Hmm, jsut called Truglo, they're sending me a new front in red...gratis. Hopefully it's the right one..lol!
 
For me personally, beads.

Now an interesting deal that I've tried is having a larger than normal front bead , both the silver and the gold pick up any light and don't wash out with bright sunlight backgrounds. Optional mid bead if gun has a rib.

Older eyes for slug hunting in brush, works for HD very well. Just have a gunsmith take some stock and machine to fit the existing tap.

Ashey Express is another that works well.

Steve, I tried out a fellas 1100 3 gun set up , Green only front, we switched bbl and used the Green front with orange rear...I 'll admit not being used to sights on a SG, orange "distracted me". The Green front alone was better for me.

Orange alone up front, for me it washed out against sun/bright backgrounds real easy. Surprised me at night / low light the green alone FOR ME did better, amongst the HI VIS. type and front rear combos.
 
Bead isn't all that's needed for me. When I get reallyreallyreally excited shooting a shotgun sometimes I do not get a proper cheek weld on the stock. I use ghost rings, which allow me to be certain that I'm aiming correctly. Shooting clays or birds doesn't really get me fired up so I keep good cheek weld then. Now if I have a huge adrenaline dump while someone is attacking me, I want every advantage I can get. YMMV of course.
 
Mr Wyatt's post introduced ghost rings, my personal choice. Applying the term "rifle sights" to shotguns can occasionally be unintentionally misleading. Rem 870s hae true rifle sights on them, and are pretty much worthless on a defensive shotgun as they are way too "tight" for fighting with and are incredibly fragile. Given the choice between them and a bead I'd go for the bead anytime. However, some guns, like the Benellis, have "rifle" sights that are actually much closer to handgun sights in design and durability. Then the choice becomes a lot more difficult. And now that ghost rings are available on most any worthwhile shotgun, they would probably be the overall winner for me at least.

After all that, if you do you part you can still do some pretty stylish shooting with a bead sighted shotgun.......

.....and Remington rifle sights are funky.
 
At HD ranges all you need is a bead. Plus, you can install a Meprolight tritium bead ($25 at Nachez Shooters Supply) to give you better lowlight indexing.
Tomac
 
Brownell's sells or used to anyway, a relacement bead that is much bigger than the wee factory one. It's a white bead that is easy to see in the dark, should go on with no fuss and won't cost you your first born to buy. No slugs inside the hall way. Too much penetration and recoil. 4 Buck out of a short barreled smoothbore pump only.
 
Hmmm, good thoughts all. I've got a bead but basically practice short-range HD type rapid shooting as more of pointing/body-fit-aim. Never actually had to do it, but based on practice I also think in the dark my weapon-mounted light (yet another big argument) would be a pretty good "sight".

One thing to consider is that some people have huge HD distances and mine are 40 feet max. Might make a difference in which sight works best for you.
 
FYI, I'll be at PGC this Sunday at 10 AM with two 870s. Feel free to stop by. Look for large older guy at Range 8 or 9.
Click to expand...
Dave, thanks for the invite. I will probably be starting a Torah study class at 11am in Baltimore so I doubt if I'll make it. If I don't start the class I'll try to be there though. Hmm, I've been getting these invites from you (whenever I post about thinking about a shotgun) off and on for a while now. I think I'd better find a time I can accept (not to mention finally replace my shotgun) before too long before I start to come across as odd or something:eek: .
 
You're welcome, Chaim. We'll manage to get together sometime. BTW, I shoot Sunday morns while Wonderful Wife does arts and crafts at our Congregation's Sunday School.

Hope you can make it. Another BB member from the area will be getting the live version of Shotgun 101. Hmm, maybe I should bring 3 870s....
 
Update

I finally got the third (front) red tru-glo on...what a difference!


Since the gun fits so well, I can shoulder it and all three sights are already aligned for me...I just put the three reds on the target and pull the trigger!
 
A LEO friend of mine in Florida investigated a case where a single woman shot and killed a home intruder at across the room distance. She used a sawed off shotgun with NO sights. Turns out the bad guy was a serial rapist.
 
My "meat gun" doesn't have any sights-single shot 20 ga. What can I say? H--- on birds and rabbits, up close! Squirrels, ya' got run 'em down and beat 'em to death! Slugs, well, pretty good, I think! Gotta go to the range!
 
I prefer rifle sights over a bead, I agree you don't "need" them at close range.. but I use my shotgun as a back up rifle too.

I've never considered Remington factory sights as "fragile".
 
Perfesser, the paradigm behind the ghost ring sight is that ring more or less disappears when used. I'd rather have somehting less ostentatious...
 
What is more, might they be a distraction to the quick target acquisition needed in a self defense situation?
END

Yep those darn sights get in the way when your trying to shoot.;)

I prefer sights. I know that a bead will do ok at close range. But its better to plan for the worst and hope for the best and take what you get. I prefer Ghost ring sights.
Pat
 
A bead is all that's needed but the 20" barrel I bought for my 870 20 some years ago came with rifle sights so that is what I use. I recently upgraded to Trijicon since they make a set for a standard Remington dovetail. YMMV
 
I'm very partial to rifle sights.

They're easy to acquire, since the front sight stands up very nicely in the shooter's field of view. (Especially when I went ahead and installed a set of Trijicon sight replacements) The 870 rifle sights are also the exact same front and rear sight configuration as the Model 700 rifle's, so they're pretty easy to pick up and align. This HD gun has an extra-full turkey choke, and runs 3" magnum 000 Buck. The pattern is exceptionally tight out to 40 yards. Meaning wherever that front rifle sight is located, a serious load of buckshot is gonna converge at that point in the not-too-distant future. ;)

870trenchsmall.gif
 
One thing that might be considered is that there is a chance that using a shotty for HD might mean that it will be used in lowlight. my 870 has an M3 light underneath, and when illuminated, it casts a nice shadow around the front of the barrel, so whether or not you have a bead or rifle sight, it is very very apparent where your sight is, and what it is pointing at. Don't overlook a light mount on an HD shotty. not totally necessary, but another tool.
john l
 
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