Philadelphia Patriot
Member
Just wondering what are your opinions regarding a bead sight vs a ghost ring sight system on a home defense and range shotgun? Specifically I’m looking at the Mossberg 590 and 590A1.
Shotguns: Bead vs Ghost Ring Sight System
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Genetically Swiss
US Veteran
I have a Mossberg 590A1 with factory ghost rings. I use it for home defense and I much prefer the ghost ring set up to a bead. I use slugs and buckshot exclusively. I just find it easier to aquire in a hurry and in lower light situations. But hey, that’s just me.
GS
GS
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Genetically Swiss
US Veteran
Ghost rings on a shotgun for use in close quarters are not new, novel or “gadgets”. They have been use on shotguns by law enforcement and the military for years. But, whatever suits you.
GS
I have:
- a 590 with ghost rings
- a 590A1 with a bead
- a 870 with slug sights
If I can take the time, ghost rings and slug sights are OK. But if I need some speed, I'll go with a bead.
I prefer a large bead painted day glow orange or gold.
- a 590 with ghost rings
- a 590A1 with a bead
- a 870 with slug sights
If I can take the time, ghost rings and slug sights are OK. But if I need some speed, I'll go with a bead.
I prefer a large bead painted day glow orange or gold.
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In the 1980s and 1990s I shot a lot of IPSC and 3-gun matches.
Several of us tested shotguns with both bead sights and ghost ring sights for speed and accuracy.
We were all faster with the plain bead. We found it takes extra time to subconsciously line up the ghost ring.
We had virtually no difference in accuracy.
YMMV
Several of us tested shotguns with both bead sights and ghost ring sights for speed and accuracy.
We were all faster with the plain bead. We found it takes extra time to subconsciously line up the ghost ring.
We had virtually no difference in accuracy.
YMMV
jay72
Member
Benelli M4 considered one of the finest shotguns in the world that is used by the military has ghost rings as does Wilson Combats Remington 870 Border Patrol. If your looking to shoot slugs at distance or for precision at the range the sites are a big help. Home defense, it probably would not matter. In that situation I don’t think having the sites would hurt either way.
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Being a Buckeye I was forced to sling a lot of slugs. Besides using
them for hunting, shot a lot of matches. Not run and gun, 100'
and 100yd bullseye. There is nothing as good as gun that will
shot slugs over the bead and nothing faster. For buck shot bead
is all that's needed. When you get in 50yd range on slugs the
Ghost Ring makes a big difference. I prefer it over open sights
for deer hunting over irons or scope. Mine aren't really ghost ring they are reciver sights that I shoot with no aperature. I use the
aperature of bench for sight in and slug matches but hunt without
them. A decent slug gun will do 3" at 100yds benched. I can do it
with scope or ring but not irons because of my vision. So for Home Defense ghost is a waste, slug or shot. If you are going to
shoot bullseye ghost ring is way to go and won't make any difference in home defense roll. If you run into a gun that will
shoot slugs over the bead with bullseye accuracy you better grab
it, they aren't common and it's not something you can buy. It's a
fluke that shows up in individual guns. It's not a make and model
deal. If they all did it they wouldn't sell guns with adjustable sights.
them for hunting, shot a lot of matches. Not run and gun, 100'
and 100yd bullseye. There is nothing as good as gun that will
shot slugs over the bead and nothing faster. For buck shot bead
is all that's needed. When you get in 50yd range on slugs the
Ghost Ring makes a big difference. I prefer it over open sights
for deer hunting over irons or scope. Mine aren't really ghost ring they are reciver sights that I shoot with no aperature. I use the
aperature of bench for sight in and slug matches but hunt without
them. A decent slug gun will do 3" at 100yds benched. I can do it
with scope or ring but not irons because of my vision. So for Home Defense ghost is a waste, slug or shot. If you are going to
shoot bullseye ghost ring is way to go and won't make any difference in home defense roll. If you run into a gun that will
shoot slugs over the bead with bullseye accuracy you better grab
it, they aren't common and it's not something you can buy. It's a
fluke that shows up in individual guns. It's not a make and model
deal. If they all did it they wouldn't sell guns with adjustable sights.
I use the Tru-Glo sight which snaps on the nonribbed 20" barrel on my Mossberg 500.
Gives the appearance of a bead, and the added glow draws my aging eye to it.
TRUGLO GLO-DOT II SHOTGUN SIGHT | Brownells
Gives the appearance of a bead, and the added glow draws my aging eye to it.
TRUGLO GLO-DOT II SHOTGUN SIGHT | Brownells
one eye joe
US Veteran
I WOULD OPT FOR THE MUCH IMPROVED M590 A-1, WITH THE GHOST RING SIGHT. I HAVE HAD EXPERIENCE WITH GHOST RING SIGHTS ON SEVERAL WEAPONS, INCLUDING SHOTGUNS, AND A MARLIN GUIDE GUN IN .45-70 GOVERNMENT. IN EACH INSTANCE THEY WERE AN IMPROVEMENT, OVER WHAT THEY REPLACED.......
THERE APPEARS TO BE MANY OPTIONS AVAILABLE, SO THAT YOU COULD ASSEMBLE A WEAPON THAT WOULD EXACTLY SUIT YOUR PURPOSE. I WOULD STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT YOU BE COGNIZANT OF FEDERAL LAWS, AND LAWS IN YOUR JURISDICTION, THAT SPELL OUT SPECS AND LIMITATIONS THAT MUST BE ADHERED TO, DO NOT BUILD A SHOTGUN THAT IS CLEARLY ILLEGAL ! ! !
FOR INSTANCE---DESPITE THE FACT THAT MOSSBERG OFFERS A 14" BARREL---A CIVILIAN IS PROHIBITED FROM OWNING A SHOTGUN WITH A BARREL SHORTER THAN 18", AND AN OVERALL LENGTH SHORTER THAN 26", UNDER THE "NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT".....
IMHO, A BAYONET LUG IS A USELESS FEATURE THAT WILL COST MONEY, AND MUST BE CHECKED FOR COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND LOCAL LAWS. IT MAY RED FLAG YOUR SHOTGUN AS AN "ASSAULT WEAPON", CAUSING YOU LEGAL PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL SHOTGUN BARRELS PORTED BY MY GUNSMITH. I FOUND THAT TO BE A WORTHWHILE MOD......
SO, MY POINT IS CHECK THE APPLICABLE LAWS, THEN PICK THE FEATURES THAT WILL SUIT YOUR PURPOSE. MOST OF ALL, ENJOY THE EXCITEMENT OF THIS PROCESS, AND THE RECEIPT OF YOUR NEW PERSONALIZED SHOTGUN......
STAY SAFE, AND BEST WISHES.......
THERE APPEARS TO BE MANY OPTIONS AVAILABLE, SO THAT YOU COULD ASSEMBLE A WEAPON THAT WOULD EXACTLY SUIT YOUR PURPOSE. I WOULD STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT YOU BE COGNIZANT OF FEDERAL LAWS, AND LAWS IN YOUR JURISDICTION, THAT SPELL OUT SPECS AND LIMITATIONS THAT MUST BE ADHERED TO, DO NOT BUILD A SHOTGUN THAT IS CLEARLY ILLEGAL ! ! !
FOR INSTANCE---DESPITE THE FACT THAT MOSSBERG OFFERS A 14" BARREL---A CIVILIAN IS PROHIBITED FROM OWNING A SHOTGUN WITH A BARREL SHORTER THAN 18", AND AN OVERALL LENGTH SHORTER THAN 26", UNDER THE "NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT".....
IMHO, A BAYONET LUG IS A USELESS FEATURE THAT WILL COST MONEY, AND MUST BE CHECKED FOR COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND LOCAL LAWS. IT MAY RED FLAG YOUR SHOTGUN AS AN "ASSAULT WEAPON", CAUSING YOU LEGAL PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL SHOTGUN BARRELS PORTED BY MY GUNSMITH. I FOUND THAT TO BE A WORTHWHILE MOD......
SO, MY POINT IS CHECK THE APPLICABLE LAWS, THEN PICK THE FEATURES THAT WILL SUIT YOUR PURPOSE. MOST OF ALL, ENJOY THE EXCITEMENT OF THIS PROCESS, AND THE RECEIPT OF YOUR NEW PERSONALIZED SHOTGUN......
STAY SAFE, AND BEST WISHES.......
Are there any top sporting clay, trap, skeet or pigeon shooters using anything other than beads on their shotguns? Larry
I never said they were 'New' or Novel'. They are a gadget though.
Nothing more than an Aperture site with a real big Aperture.
That they have been in use by LE and the Military shows that the Govt will by most any gadget presented to them.
The recruit has no other option but to use what it issued.
That doesn't make it a useful addition to the shotgun for Joe Homeowner when confronted in his kitchen at 3am by the intruder at a couple feet away.
No time for Target Acquisition. Useless in that situation. Better to not have it at all.
If you can't hit a man size target at ranges within the room in your house you're standing in now, a Ghost Ring or other specialty type sighting system isn't going to help you out.
Just the way I see it but I understand that others disagree and that's OK too.
jay72
Member
I would imagine being confronted at 3 in the morning in the kitchen, whether the shotgun has a bead or ghost rings is not going to matter anyway. At that point it would pretty much be point and shoot.
In that case you can always have a bayonet
In that case you can always have a bayonet
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In a home defense situation IT WILL BE SO FAST that sights are a MOOT point. IF you have time to stop and aim. You have time to be killed. Especially in the dark.
Yet people like to hang all sorts of junk on a defensive shotgun to be "mall ninja" cool.......
That’s true. People would rather spend money on the tactical garbage than spend money on training and practice ammo. One will keep you alive in a gunfight, and it ain’t all the tactical garbage!
Ranger514
Member
I've fired both types of sight systems on 12 ga. Remington 870s, and from my personal experience, there isn't an accuracy issue out to 25 yards. The ghost ring helps slug accuracy beyond 25 yards for me. At present, I own a Mossberg 590 SP with a bead front sight for home and property defense. I agree that most close encounter self defense situations involve a quick point shoot scenario; as such, I think neither sight system is a factor. However, if you want more aimed accuracy a distances greater than 25 yards, I'd spend the extra money for ghost ring sights.
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