shotgun sights

[washambala]

I recently picked up an 18" barrel for my mossberg 500. after I shot it I realized that the single bead sight is off center. Its a single brass bead screwed into a hole in the barrel. I dont see any way to change it so that its centered without drilling another hole in the right spot and trying to patch the original somehow. Is there something I can do to either straighten out the original sight or replace it? Im not against having a set of rifle or apature sights added so long as the rear sight is on the barrel, not the receiver.

Thanks.

 

[N.Schafer]

Is it truly 18" or is it 18 1/2"? You could cut of the offending bead and tap a new one if it is long.

Or if it is 18", drill and tap to a larger size threaded bead.

Or sell the barrel to someone doing a SBS.

 

[Tinman357]

Or, if you can wait a bit, i have a new barrel coming in for my 500. Converting to a 20in. I'll send you a fire sighted barrel. Free.

 

[washambala]

This is one of the factory 18.5 barrels. the bead is set about 1/2 inch back making it impossible to just cut it and still keep it legal. SBS is out of the question for me, being only 19....
As far as drilling out wider to recenter it, it would have to be quite a bit wider. Its off center by quite a bit. maybe 5-10 degrees to the left. Maybe thats not as much as I think it is but it makes slugs useless. buckshot patterns land about 8" to the right of POI at 15 yards. I suppose I could just aim left but it feels wrong.

Tinman- PM Sent.

 

[rcmodel]

If it is a factory Mossberg 18" barrel and has not been modified??

Mossberg owes you a new barrel that shoots where it looks.

Call them.

If it is a longer barrel somebody butchered?
You are SOL, unless you just take the bead clear off and look down the top of the barrel..

rc

 

[washambala]

It is factory new and unmodified but Im a little leary to mail it out again. I ordered 3 different barrels from 3 places and returned them one after another because the factory packaging had worn through the blue finish in several spots on each one. At first I thought it was th suppliers causing the problem. When the last one came in in the same condition, I mailed it to mossberg for rebluing. It got mailed backwith a good finish as I have it now. Total time spent from ordering the first one to receiving the repaired one was about 3 months. Thats why if I can fix it myself or theres a less agravating way to deal with it, thats the route Id like to take.

On the logical side of the equation, Its just one call to Mossberg to find out for sure.

 

[rcmodel]

Well, as far as I can think off, there is no way to fix it yourself.

A roll of bubble-wrap goes far in preventing finish wear in shipment.

Maybe tell Mossy to use it this time!
Or you are going to report them to the Obama Cabinet Sectary of Barrel Finish Wear.

Pretty sure he has one, or is about to appoint one pretty soon when he gets a round tuit.

rc

 

[splattergun]

Mossberg service is good in my experience. If it is a new Mossberg part, return it for repair or replacement.

 

[JonathanE]

I'm sure that you're correct: sending it back for "done right" is most reasonable. But, theoretically speaking, couldn't washambala remove the bead, sweat a ramp on the barrel and install a fiber optic rifle sight? I think Midway sells blank ramps contoured for 12ga barrels.

 

[washambala]

Jon- Thats the sort of thing I was wondering about. How difficult is something like that?

 

[Tinman357]

washambala...

Replied to your PM. Calling the factory would be my advise as well. But I will have a good barrel for you soon. And yeah, its free. To a young man interested in the shooting sports? Of course its free.

 

[BBBBill]

Returning it is you best choice here. The hole in the barrel will have to be plugged (with the old sight stem or it will accumulate debris/crud.

Kudos to Tinman!

 

[rcmodel]

sweat a ramp on the barrel and install a fiber optic rifle sight?

That would be fine, if it is shooting 12" or so high with the bead sight.

Otherwise, adding a ramp & sight on the muzzle will have it shooting 12" or so low.

rc

 

[washambala]

rc- That makes sense. Dont they sell some that have a rear sight too? that would correct that problem.

it tends to shoot about 1" high but that could just be my sight picture, seeing how theres only one sight.

 

[Tinman357]

Washambla;;
I don't know if you got your barrel issue worked out or not but I just got my replacement barrel in and installed. I have a good barrel for you if you want it. Free.

If not its free to anyone that wants it.

 

[Sun Tzu warrior]

I would not cutoff a shotgun barrel that short....... Ask Randy Weaver why!
Send it to Mossberg, they need to make it right, and do some work on their quality control dept.
Is this the same barrel they re-finished?
If so, did you notice the bead being off, before sending it back?

 

[oneounceload]

How did you prove the bead was off? How do you know it isn't you? Did you have others shoot the gun and ammo? I know a few folks who thought something similar, only to find out, it was the operator, not the gun