This week's project: Mossberg ghost ring sights.

[It-That]

I know the bead is quicker and more versatile if you get good at it, but I like this. I just think they're real neat.
My receiver was not tapped, so I had to breakout the slide micrometer and XY vise on the drill press. Ordered #29 wire gauge drill bit, 1/8th was a hair too small for the cutting edges of the tap to grab, so it just pulled the first thread turn or two out. Just a heads up for anyone else tapping a 8-40 or 8- anything and may stumble on this in a further search.
I used epoxy and drilled a relief in the front sight block for additional surface area and mechanical retention. If this fails, I will update, but searches have not yielded any such updates by people who have done the front this way.

My next hop up on this old florida-man-pawnshop find would be a rifled slug barrel. I bought it as a pistol grip only model, I don't remember the name.. persuader? Cruiser? Marauder? I know it was something I could have put a shorter barrel and birdhead grip, as it wasn't sold as a "firearm" and not a shotgun/longgun. Threw some ebay wood on it.
About rifled barrels.. Haven't really found any while doing shallow level internet searches.. tips finding one or offers welcome. Are they legal in 12 ga at 18" or just too nonsensical to market? I'm not above cutting one down or having a longer barrel.

Shotguns aren't too high on my list of favorite guns types, so the ring and rifle post I think will help me a lot with getting on target. My only use of this outside of range fun is home defense, and the slightly wider spread with buckshot wouldn't be a huge negative to me. Thoughts welcome boys, what do you think?

Read More

 

[Knobgoblin]

Rifled slug bbls are around, but vary wildly in price. Buying one new , at retail would be silly. Never seen one under 20" in either 12 or 20 ga. , and honestly can't imagine they would be offered in shorter length.
Another thing to factor in. If you have rifling in the barrel, your buying sabot slugs only. Maybe do a price check on those rounds before heading down that particular road.

 

[Boboclown]

One of my requirements when I picked the Mossberg 590A1 was a ghost ring sight. The 20" barrel and ghost ring makes a good turkey gun.

Bead is faster, ghost ring is for a better shot.

 

[It-That]

Rifled slug bbls are around, but vary wildly in price. Buying one new , at retail would be silly. Never seen one under 20" in either 12 or 20 ga. , and honestly can't imagine they would be offered in shorter length.
Another thing to factor in. If you have rifling in the barrel, your buying sabot slugs only. Maybe do a price check on those rounds before heading down that particular road.

You have immediately made everything much clearer. I did not know that rifled barrels don't shoot slugs.

 

[Knobgoblin]

You have immediately made everything much clearer. I did not know that rifled barrels don't shoot slugs.

Rifled barrels shoot slugs , it's just that sabot slugs aren't cheap.

 

[Certaindeaf]

.slightly wider spread with buckshot.

No. Buckshot out of a rifled barrel is about worthless.

 

[Joe13]

My police trade in 870 has iron sights and smooth bore barrel if that makes you feel any better.

I believe the governor and judge both have rifled barrels and I've seen YouTube vids of the amount of spread they have because of it so unless you think you'll only be 6' away from your target you might actually miss more then hit with 9 pellets.

0000 buck has 27 so you might want to consider that if you go rifled.

 

[Knobgoblin]

Rifled sights on a smoothbore compact barrel for the win

 

[Certaindeaf]

Rifled sights on a smoothbore compact barrel for the win

Absolutely. With those sights and regular foster slugs I'd be surprised if you didn't get 2-3" groups at 50 yds off a sandbag. Put a sandbag, ideally lead shot, between your shoulder and gun butt if you like your retinas.


Lol

 

[It-That]

Absolutely. With those sights and regular foster slugs I'd be surprised if you didn't get 2-3" groups at 50 yds off a sandbag. Put a sandbag, ideally lead shot, between your shoulder and gun butt if you like your retinas.


Lol

Can you explain what you're saying here about a sandbag of lead shot?

 

[It-That]

My police trade in 870 has iron sights and smooth bore barrel if that makes you feel any better.

I believe the governor and judge both have rifled barrels and I've seen YouTube vids of the amount of spread they have because of it so unless you think you'll only be 6' away from your target you might actually miss more then hit with 9 pellets.

0000 buck has 27 so you might want to consider that if you go rifled.

I'm off the rifled idea now that it's been pointed out I had no idea how they're used.
Police/military sights is all I trained on, I just couldn't for the life of me pick up the bead and aim it in any practical amount of time. I figured why train away from what I'm already good at?

 

[It-That]

Rifled sights on a smoothbore compact barrel for the win

More hits on target faster in self defense ranges? I'll claim that win.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Can you explain what you're saying here about a sandbag of lead shot?

For accuracy testing, benchresting or sandbagging (they are both the same) is often done. The mass of a 25 pound bag of shot placed between the shoulder and buttstock will reduce felt recoil markedly.

 

[It-That]

For accuracy testing, benchresting or sandbagging (they are both the same) is often done. The mass of a 25 pound bag of shot placed between the shoulder and buttstock will reduce felt recoil markedly.

I get that, I'm missing what it has to do with liking my eyes

 

[Knobgoblin]

I get that, I'm missing what it has to do with liking my eyes

Recoil reference, humorous.

I switched to 20 ga long ago, not for fear of a detached retina, but out of sympathy for my shoulder.

 

[Stomper]

Rifled sights on a smoothbore compact barrel for the win

No, no, no….. he tapped it BEFORE he put a ring on it.


THAT's the win.

 

[Certaindeaf]

I get that, I'm missing what it has to do with liking my eyes

You'll figure it out.

 

[It-That]

You'll figure it out.

Oh I think I got ya. Think I mounted it too far back? I thought so too, but I measured it thrice from Mossbergs own documents

 

[titsonritz]

Rifled sights on a smoothbore compact barrel for the win

RDS with rifle BUIS on a smoothbore compact barrel for the win.

 

[It-That]

RDS with rifle BUIS on a smoothbore compact barrel for the win.


View attachment 1406209

Titsonritz: "do you even operate, bro?"
F'n COOL. I can't go that hard, without removing the rear sight, but at least now I could put a rail on, since this is drilled to match the rails available for 500s. I think I have an old weaver side mount kicking around and a weaver qwik-point in the parts box (joking)(ok but I do have these)