XS sights on 870...

[pepper35]

I recently purchased an 870 Express 18.5" for HD. I was attempting to remove the front bead an instal a tru-glo front signt. I broke the bead off and am now wondering if the Tritium sights from XS can still be JB welded on w/o that front bead. Any help?

 

[MCMXI]

pepper35, I bought the Tritium sites from XS for my 870. I haven't installed them yet but the instructions state that the front bead has to be removed so you've already got less work to do. The XS sites come with epoxy (for the front site) and the instructions mention removing all of the coating beneath the new front site down to bare metal and using MEK to clean the area thoroughly before attaching the site.

 

[Sir Aardvark]

I have an XS "bead sight" on one of my 870's and what holds it in place is the factory-original bead.

The XS sight has a hole drilled in the bottom of it that fits closely over the existing bead, and it is then epoxied into place.
If the original bead is gone, then you would need to get creative somehow and figure out a way to adhere the XS sight to the stub of the old bead sight - epoxy alone may not provide enough support to keep the XS sight attached if you accidently bump it into something.

 

[MCMXI]

pepper35, like an idiot, as I was typing the instructions for mounting the front site below, I realized that I have XS sites on my Marlin but I bought Trijicon Night Sites for my 870. Please ignore my previous post but if you don't mind, I'd like to post the instructions that I typed below. Perhaps someone else is thinking of installing Trijicon Night Sights. The front bead needs to be removed in order to install the Trijicon front site.

"Front Site Installation - Remove bead from barrel. Debur edges of bead sight platform and check for new sight fit. Note: (Additional metal may need to be removed from both sides of bead site platform to insure new sight fit). Degrease last 4" of barrel and bottom ONLY of new sight by soaking in clean MEK solvent for 30 minutes and allow to dry. Note: (For blued or plated barrels, prior to degreasing, place new sight in position over bead sight platform and trace outline with pencil. With small file, remove finish inside trace area to insure proper adhesive bond). Remove clip from adhesive pak and mix contents thoroughly by gently kneading the gray and white material together until color is uniform. Then liberally coat underside of new sight and place it over bead site platform. Note: (End of new sight should be positioned approximately 1/16" from end of barrel). Clamp new sight in place using a small c-clamp or padded vice grip pliers. Remove excess adhesive, which has been squeezed from under new site. Note: (After this has been done, using clean rag dampened with MEK solvent, wipe down end of barrel to remove any remaining adhesive). Allow adhesive to cure for 24 hours at room temperature before removing clamp and using firearm."

Sir Aardvark, thanks for setting me straight and my apologies for any confusion that I may have caused.