Why Ghost Rings

[MrTuffPaws]

I see a popular mod for HD shotguns is ghost ring sights. Why? Is their something inherently better about ghost rings that can't be done with a bead or rifle sights?

 

[loudernhel]

It depends on who you ask.

Me: who learned how to shoot long guns by way of Uncle Sam and an M16, I think they are great. It's the sight picture I'm used to on a long gun.

My Buddy: who grew up shooting birds and stuff with a shotgun wihth a bead sight? He doesn't like them. It's not the sight picture he's used to.

Only real solution is to try a set and see if you like them.

 

[carebear]

Ditto on the "Chesty's finishing school" scool of thought. It's what I'm used to and I'll probably end up with them on all my guns as iron sights.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Ghost ring sights are glorified peep sights with large apertures. Peep sights are nigh as fast as a plain bead but more precise. Mine work well with slugs.

There's a lot of personal preference in this. Most folks do OK with just a bead for HD. Once the range opens up, then peep sights become more of an aid to good shooting.

GR sights or peeps are a nice to have, but not essential.

 

[Fred Fuller]

They aren't necessary on a down-the-hall or across-the-room shotgun. At ranges measured in feet, a shotgun's natural pointabiliy (in the hands of a trained user) is sufficient to assure hits. A plain bead or at most a tritium bead will do for a genuine HD gun.

BUT if the gun is going outside, and might then be used with slugs at longer ranges, sights are a definite advantage IMHO. Preferences for sights differ. Some folk still swear by a bead or double bead. Others like open sights and some like aperture sights. Ghost rings are really an old system that was rediscovered and renamed a few years ago. Sounds cool so a lot of kewl-point folks want them for that reason. Thing is, they work really well too- in the hands of a trained user, of course.

Seems that training thing keeps coming up.

That's why Dave says BA/UU/R so much.

lpl/nc

 

[Tactical Texan]

I am used to peep sights on my long guns.

My 870P came with a Wilson Combat ghost on back. I took to it right away.
My eye just seems to naturally center the front sight.

 

[El Tejon]

Having taken several shotgun classes, I have seen people miss at very close range, especially when moving and grooving. They take their head off the stock and "look over" the gun.

I find them helpful, but not necessary, for slugs as well.

MTP, may not be "necessary", are helpful, at least to some.

 

[45R]

Ghost Rings are TactiCOOL

 

[Soap]

Because chicks dig them and they help me to shoot slugs better than with rifle or bead sights.

 

[shoot870p]

I also favor them for distance shooting with slugs but not really high on them for close-in shooting (hallway distance).

 

[ocabj]

I've had an 870 18.5" with a bead for a long time. I always keep putting of getting the Wilson ghost rings (I'll eventually get a set). I have no problems with a bead and slugs though. If anything, I seem angle the gun such that my POI is higher than where I am aiming (windage is perfectly fine though). But that problem can easily alleviated with more practice (just need to learn to line the rear top of the receiver higher with the bead).

 

[PJR]

I've used the standard Remington rifle sights for years and am quite happy with them for slug shooting. More so since I installed a set of hi-viz sights.

Ghost ring sights are appealing but my guns may do double duty as bird/clay guns with longer barrels and I want the option of replacing the barrel and not having to contend with the ghost sight. I also think for slug shooting rifle sights are more accurate. YMMV

Paul

 

[Texian Pistolero]

When I was younger and my eyes were better, I knocked a loose rear sight off an M-1 carbine and still got a 5 inch group at 100 yards using a proper rear cheek weld.

Given this, I think a good cheek weld rules the ghost ring superfluous IF:

A) your shotgun fits you, and

B) you have a good cheek weld.

I regard the shotgun as and under 25 yard tool. If the range is greater, I'll try to get a rifle.

I believe in a bare bones pump gun with no accessories.

 

[proven]

for me it mostly boils down to current situation/application. my 870 is for HD and fun. fun = clays and patterning. for HD where i currently live, the only shot that would require slugs would be if i were to follow a fella outside and down the street (and i'm not about to do that). i have no property to defend as i live in an apartment. besides, i fair pretty well with just my plain bead and slugs for most shots.

now if i get that farm i've been wanting, slugs would be more appropriate, and therefor GR sights would be more helpful as well.

 

[Flyboy]

using a proper rear cheek weld

I'm not going to ask, but that sounds mighty uncomfortable....

 

[igor]

?

Tell me about peep sights versus ghost ring sights... what is the difference?

edith: typpo

 

[Dave McCracken]

Igor, the Ghost Ring is a peep sight with a very large aperture. When one looks through it, the metal kinda disappears.

My two slug shooters/"Serious" 870s have peep sights with the aperture removed. This gives the GR effect. some newer sights are made like that sans a separate aperture.

HTH...

 

[carebear]

ghost rings are typically around 5/32nd of an inch(+) in opening vs. 3/32nd for a peep. That extra 1/16th-ish speeds up the sight alignment at the loss of a bit of precision over the peep.

If you have access to an ar-15 with A2 sights, the aperture flips from a peep to a ghost ring.

 

[igor]

Thank you, I think I got it.