Using a bead sight

[KMKeller]

Ok folks. At the risk of affording myself terrible embarrassment, I have to ask a question. Allow me to preface this query by stating that I have never before fired a shotgun at a clay pigeon. That having been said, here goes:

I have a Mossberg Model 500 with a 24" slug barrel and a 28 inch vent-rib barrel with bead sights. The sights are arranged as a brass bead about halfway down the barrel and a larger white ball at the muzzle. My question is, how do I use this sight system? I want to try my hand at sporting clays with my trusty pump.

Kirk

 

[SDC]

When you're using a "dual bead" arrangement, you normally want to stack the beads one on top of the other (mid bead under the front bead) so that they look something like a figure-8; keeping that alignment, cover your target with the front bead, and you're lined up. HTH.

 

[TrapperReady]

KMKeller - When you are shooting sporting clays, you want to be focusing on the target. DON'T look at the sights! I prefer for my shotguns to have the mid-bead, but only use it when I'm shooting trap. In that case, I have targets coming out of the house on a relatively known trajectory, and am starting from a mounted-gun position. I use the mid-bead as described to quickly verify my gun-mount and alignment prior to calling for the bird. Then, I return my focus to the top edge of the trap house and ignore the sights completely.

In the clay games (and bird-hunting of course), you really need to keep your focus on the target and swing the gun. If you are just starting out, I would recommend a manual trap that can be placed very near your firing position, so that the targets are moving almost directly away (the same thing can be done by shooting only from the #3 position on a trap field, as long as someone is willing to lock it down for only one presentation). Keep shooting at the "going away" targets until you are breaking them consistently.

After that, you can move some to either side of the thrower, which gives you a slight crossing angle. Play with it for a while, and you'll find a lot of improvement in a short period of time.

I can't stress enough that you don't want to "aim" the shotgun. It's not a rifle, and trying to shoot it as such is a recipe for missed targets.

Most importantly, be safe and have a lot of fun. Once those little orange disks start exploding, it gets pretty darned addictive.

 

[kudu]

Beads are usually only a reference point to set your gun up square and then forget about them and focus on the target. Each person mounts a gun a little different that the next guy so it gives a slight edge to set your self up to have a mid bead or sometimes called a target bead on the shotgun.
You should be able to close your eyes and shoulder your shotgun and when you open your eyes you should be looking right down the center of the rib. If not some fitting might be required. Vertical up and down is not as serious as being off left and right.

 

[Mannlicher]

The nitty gritty is: shoot the gun. Try different sight pics. Stick with the one that results in the most clay particles. Not every sight picture works for everyone.

 

[ysr_racer]

I agree with some and disagree with others.

Do NOT use the beads on a shotgun like the sights on a rifle. Most targets you shoot with a rifle are stationary (not moving). You have time to look at the target, check your sights and look at the target again. Then check the sights one more time and pull the trigger.

However when you’re shooting clays, the birds are ALWAYS in motion. The ONLY thing you should use the beads for is to check gun-fit.

1. With an unloaded gun, pick a target in the distance.
2. Look at it with both eyes open.
3. Mount the gun.
4. Close your non-dominant eye.
5. You should now see the bead / beads aligned like rifle sights.

While you are shooting, NEVER use the beads like sights. If you look at the beads, you’ve missed the target (remember it’s in motion). As far as sight picture, no such thing in shotgun-ing.

ALWAYS look hard at the target. You’ll kind of see the end of the barrel in your peripheral vision. That’s all you need. Kinda’ like driving a car. Do you look at the hood of your car, or down the road where you want to go?

 

[KMKeller]

Good info. Thanks everyone.

 

[Coronach]

Do you look at the hood of your car, or down the road where you want to go?

Ironically enough, I used to do just that when I first started driving. I'd look at the hood to see where the white line on the right side of the trafficway disappeared, so I could estimate where I was in the lane.

Yeah, its not a terribly good idea for obvious reasons. Fortunately, I managed to avoid hitting things until I got a natural 'feel' for where the car was on the road. And I wonder why my dad has grey hairs now...

Mike