Bead options, for clay "birds"

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RickR1100

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I have a Remington 1100, vent rib, 30" barrel, and I'm happy with everything about it, with one exception: the bead is a "steel" color...not polished, not brass, not especially prominent.

On my other barrel, I have a red fibre clip-on, that is very noticeable, seems decent/good for Skeet...but it's probably far from ideal for longer Trap shots.

Question: what are all my options for beads? What kinds would you suggest, for sporting use, but maybe also for occasional hunting?

What upsides and downsides are there to the ones I should consider? Is it very easy to change them out myself, or should I leave that to a 'smith?

White? Polished brass? Smaller red or green Fibre?

Thanks for your help!
 
Try a bit of model airplane paint in the color of your choice. ie yellow, orange etc. Nail polish is another option.
 
All my shotguns that have a mid bead are steel coloured. Beads on a shotgun are used to make sure you are consistent in your sight picture. You can't aim a shotgun at moving clay targets the way you aim a rifle at a paper target. Many of the top shooters that I know take the beads off or use smaller ones. You don't want something there that draws your eye to it instead of looking at the target. Most people develop a "bird" / barrel" relationship.

Having said that there are various beads available. Most gun shops and gunsmiths have an assortment. They usually buy them from places like Brownell's.
 
Beretta687EELL said:
All my shotguns that have a mid bead are steel coloured. Beads on a shotgun are used to make sure you are consistent in your sight picture. You can't aim a shotgun at moving clay targets the way you aim a rifle at a paper target. Many of the top shooters that I know take the beads off or use smaller ones. You don't want something there that draws your eye to it instead of looking at the target. Most people develop a "bird" / barrel" relationship.

Having said that there are various beads available. Most gun shops and gunsmiths have an assortment. They usually buy them from places like Brownell's.
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Funny you mention that. Been shooting skeet getting close to 40 years and I remember when I started the best shot at the club was an older guy and if he heard you even mention the bead on your gun the 1st time you left the gun alone he would remove it.Said if you are seeing the bead you will never run 100 straight.:)
 
3macs1 said:
Funny you mention that. Been shooting skeet getting close to 40 years and I remember when I started the best shot at the club was an older guy and if he heard you even mention the bead on your gun the 1st time you left the gun alone he would remove it.Said if you are seeing the bead you will never run 100 straight.:)
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*1

When you are driving do you look at the hood ornament on your car, or the road? Look at the bird, not the bead. The bead is only useful when mounting the gun to be sure everything is lined up.

John
 
Frankly, I consider the bead on a shotgun as a form of embellishment - something not really essential but needs to be there just the same. Othewise the tip of the bbl appears kinda, for lack of a better term, barren.
 
R&R Rancher said:
*1

When you are driving do you look at the hood ornament on your car, or the road? Look at the bird, not the bead. The bead is only useful when mounting the gun to be sure everything is lined up.

John
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I take it you were speaking from a perspective of clay shooting only?

For Wingshooting, even over Pointers (for example), beads aren't really that much of an assist......
 
Ahsan Ahmed said:
I take it you were speaking from a perspective of clay shooting only?

For Wingshooting, even over Pointers (for example), beads aren't really that much of an assist......
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Yes, I'm mostly a clay target shooter, I should have qualified that. Even then it is poor practice to be continually looking at your beads when you pre-mount a gun for clay target sports. For a new shooter who is not used to shooting it is OK, but After you have shot enough your mount should be consistent enough to not need checking. Remember if you are switching your eyes back and forth it is one more thing to go wrong and possibly cost you a bird
 
RickR,
Clay target shooters and wing shooters who handle their guns on a regular basis will eventually realize that the beads on the gun are far from essential or very important in making a successful shot. They are a helpful tool when adjusting the stock on a new gun. They are useful when the odd aimed shot is required. For me, at least one sight is required to complete the gun’s appearance. I usually stick with the beads that came with the gun. A couple of my target guns came with an assortment of color choices. They are still in the box. I agree that in general, beads on a shot gun are like hood ornaments and they are not really needed. The OP said that the plain bead on his gun was one thing that was keeping him from being 100% happy in his relationship with his gun. Call me anything you want, but I think he should make the changes that will make him happy. I think it is important to like your gun and if you do you will shoot better.
 
I don't know if it is a good thing. But in a hunting situation with my dogs and a bird flushes I don't even see the barrel let alone the bead on it prior to shooting.:confused:
 
There are 2 situations where I do look at the bead when hunting.

1) Swatting a far away cripple. I don't want to run at it and scare it away, so I take aim with the bead and ground pound them.

2) If I miss the first shot and the mount don't feel right, I sometimes do a quick check on the bead to see if I'm really off. I usually take the gun off the shoulder at this point and remount. I dont check the bead on the mount tho.
 
Covey Ridge said:
It is a good thing for you. Not a good thing for the bird;)
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Yes sir if I could hit clay targets like I can hit birds when hunting I would be in the record books.
Like I have been told time and time again if you want to miss start thinking and using your brain.
When it is all reflex you pound them:)
 
3macs1 said:
Yes sir if I could hit clay targets like I can hit birds when hunting I would be in the record books.
Like I have been told time and time again if you want to miss start thinking and using your brain.
When it is all reflex you pound them:)
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Been down the thinking road for a long time. The best thing to do after a miss is stop thinking about it. It's this reason that I'm a better shot at game than clay. The repetitiveness of clay makes me want to try and center the pattern on the following target which makes me ridged and miss; while birds that bombs down the blind from every which way are downed easily.
 
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