Ten_Lights
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Do you recommend a red dot for a Mossberg 500? Why yes? / Why no?
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Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk
12 gauge shotguns
- Thread starter Ten_Lights
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Depends on the purpose of that firearm. You must decide that 1st.
Hunting turkey? Well, maybe yes.
Home defense? I say no. At 2am, you are sound asleep. Woken up by the dog or noise of some sort..... I would want a large field of view and a lot of shot with a fairly wide pattern. Not a heavy load, you don't wanna shoot thru a wall.
Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. What's the purpose of the shotgun?
Bob
Hunting turkey? Well, maybe yes.
Home defense? I say no. At 2am, you are sound asleep. Woken up by the dog or noise of some sort..... I would want a large field of view and a lot of shot with a fairly wide pattern. Not a heavy load, you don't wanna shoot thru a wall.
Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. What's the purpose of the shotgun?
Bob
I have saw some pretty good shotgun shooters and they all told me to look at the target. That leads me to believe that shotguns don't need sights. Larry
I tried a red dot on my 11-87 Police for a while. I was actually slower. I don't much use the rifle sights either, except for slugs out past 50 feet or so. That big fat barrel is a perfect sighting plane. Put the bead in the middle of the target, and blammo. Lots of people use #4 shot in their homes. Others use #1 buck. I use Federal TruBall, or Federal 9 pellet 00.
Really????
(that comment is directed to the OP)
(that comment is directed to the OP)
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No. Like putting off road tires on a Ford Escape . . .
carpriver
US Veteran
You need to decide what your use the shotgun for hunt, sure a red dot. Home defense means inside the house I don't so,unless you have a really big house
I've had for years a Mossberg 590 with factory ghost ring sights and a Speedfeed stock, basically identical to the current model linked below. I love the sights...you naturally and easily center the front sight in the large ring...very accurate.
(By the way, being a military shotgun, this model also has a bayonet lug. I've always chuckled at that. If you have a social problem that you can't solve with nine rounds of 00 Buck, you don't need a bayonet...you need running shoes!
)
590A1 - 9 Shot | O.F. Mossberg & Sons
(By the way, being a military shotgun, this model also has a bayonet lug. I've always chuckled at that. If you have a social problem that you can't solve with nine rounds of 00 Buck, you don't need a bayonet...you need running shoes!
)590A1 - 9 Shot | O.F. Mossberg & Sons
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At home distances do you really need a site beyond a front bead?
To assist in that matter one could a a clip on tru glo type that has a slight V to center it on the bead. If it comes off there is still the bead.
The issue of a spread with any size of shot, has been debated ad-infintum. The conclusion is that all would be a single mass at inside home distances.
Then there is the matter of a light on a target for identification, handheld ormweapon mounted which is another debate.
Of course if you use a pump action the click-clack of cycling the action solves the problem!!!
To assist in that matter one could a a clip on tru glo type that has a slight V to center it on the bead. If it comes off there is still the bead.
The issue of a spread with any size of shot, has been debated ad-infintum. The conclusion is that all would be a single mass at inside home distances.
Then there is the matter of a light on a target for identification, handheld ormweapon mounted which is another debate.
Of course if you use a pump action the click-clack of cycling the action solves the problem!!!
Vulcan Bob
Member
I've had for years a Mossberg 590 with factory ghost ring sights and a Speedfeed stock, basically identical to the current model linked below. I love the sights...you naturally and easily center the front sight in the large ring...very accurate.
(By the way, being a military shotgun, this model also has a bayonet lug. I've always chuckled at that. If you have a social problem that you can't solve with nine rounds of 00 Buck, you don't need a bayonet...you need running shoes!
590A1 - 9 Shot | O.F. Mossberg & Sons
I also have a 590 and also got a kick out of the bayo lug. We know how intimidating a 12 gauge pump is to start with add the bayonet it does look rather more intimidating! It also makes a field expedient "rack" nothing handy to rest the shot gun on, just affix bayonet and stick into ground vertically, presto problem solved!
The rear sight on a shotgun is and has aleays been the shooters eye. And the previous poster is right..shot spread at home distances IS minimal even out of a riot gun with a cylinder choke. That is why I consider buckshot to be unnecessary in home situations. I mean an ounce and an eighth of 7 1/2s at 15 ft is absolutely devastating. Even in a 30 ft hallway it is nothing to sneeze at. I would never rack a shotgun unless I have just fired a round and the way to shoot a pump is to pump it immediately after firing..so no one would even hear it. I used to have a 590 in stainless and sold it as well as the 97 Winchesters. Still have a riot bbld M-12...7 shooter. But the gun I have for home use is a Benelli M-1 Super 90 with a short riot bbl. It is just ultra reliable. Back when I had the gun shop Mossberg sold a short bbld 410 pump with vertical forend and I had many people buy one for home defense. It was an awesome weapon in a homeowners hands...especially ladies hands. Of course the people that bought them were all shooters anyway.
I would venture a .22 rifle or the Ruger Charger would be a very good home defense firearm.
I would not use a red dot......but maybe a red or green laser sight. Something to put a spot on the threat.
But again, a shotgun is pointed and not aimed. As waterfowl hunting requires steel shot, I would seek out old 12 gauge lead loads that can not be used for hunting anymore.....something like BB or #2. Gun shows have that stuff in abundance and prices are not very high.
I would not use a red dot......but maybe a red or green laser sight. Something to put a spot on the threat.
But again, a shotgun is pointed and not aimed. As waterfowl hunting requires steel shot, I would seek out old 12 gauge lead loads that can not be used for hunting anymore.....something like BB or #2. Gun shows have that stuff in abundance and prices are not very high.
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Vulcan Bob
Member
Oh yeah, forgot to mention in previous reply my main daytime home defense shot gun. As a loyal S&W enthusiast a S&W M3000 Police/riot of course! For night work a light equipped Mossberg 930 SPX.
DWalt
Member
The Red Dot sight does not prevent pointing. Typically they have no magnification and work better with both eyes open, just the way you normally use a shotgun without a Red Dot rear sight - at least I shoot a shotgun with both eyes open. My answer would be to definitely use a Red Dot on a shotgun. I don't, but I do have Red Dots on several rifles, as I can no longer use traditional open sights due to my bad eyesight. They work fine.
BIGDOC
US Veteran
LT SCOTT 14
Member
I had a Red Dot on my Moss 500, seems bulky, so went back to simple bead sight. My Brother in Law gave me a fiber optic clip on(has an orange insert) for my Home Defense S/G and does pick up a little night light, and seems to align on dark targets a bit quicker. Hasn't loosened up over a few boxes of cheapie rabbit shot, few slugs, few 00 Buck.
I think for mixed light its ok. May leave it on for Deer Season too.
I think for mixed light its ok. May leave it on for Deer Season too.
SC_Mike
Member
Maybe for turkey or deer slugs. Other than that just point and click.
As far as SD/HD goes I don't want to train with anything that requires a battery. Ever hear of Mr. Murphy?
As far as SD/HD goes I don't want to train with anything that requires a battery. Ever hear of Mr. Murphy?
model70hunter
Member
Went to Atlanta in '74 to take the FCC 2nd class test so I'd have a license to hang on radio transmitters. While getting coached up at the Institute for higher learning I heard the prof say more than once, you guys need to learn to do math with the #2 pencil, if you go take the test and the battery goes dead on your high dollar Texas Instruments calculator you'll fail. You won't get a license. having good hearing in my youth I did all math problems with a pencil. Many were 9 or more zero's after the decimal point before you saw a 1 or 2 or 9.
Get down to the Federal building, get a test, commence with pencil and calculator in reserve after they cleared it.
I finish, passed. I look at 2 of the guys in my class, they are sitting there, arms crossed staring at the wall. They were the same 2 the prof often gave the lecture on learning by pencil to.
They failed, when they got back they said they never thought to put in new batteries, they bought them at the same time and both batteries died minutes into the test.
That Murphy guy you mentioned does not take prisoners.
kilo charlie
Member
Best thing for a shotgun is a well practiced operator of same.
my 18 1/2" barreled Mossberg has a Marbles tritium bead......and a laser. I am using a Laserlyte mag tube aluminum mount w/red laser mounted so the so the laser sits in front of the forend on the left side of barrel. When i grab my forend my left thumb lines up perfectly with the laser end cap switch. I can use either the laser or the tritium bead....Mike
