Wondering what most folks use as a sighting aid? Do you just use the factory single bead or an aftermarket one? I have seen some larger fiber optic types and wonder if they are worth trying? What about a second ( center ) pin? Are those popular?
What type of sight do you use?
- Thread starter linderhof
- Start date
For trap/skeet I prefer the factory bead. I find the "dullness" of the factory bead to be far less distracting, and against a blue/grey sky, the end of the barrel itself is plenty.
For hunting, (duck, goose, and any other moving critter like bunnies, partridge, etc..) I prefer my cheap ($10) clip on fiber optioc bead sight. Gives me a much better contrast against the brush and whatever else is out there.
For hunting, (duck, goose, and any other moving critter like bunnies, partridge, etc..) I prefer my cheap ($10) clip on fiber optioc bead sight. Gives me a much better contrast against the brush and whatever else is out there.
- Location
- Nova Scotia
IMHO, you don't even need a bead. I have one at the end of my barrel, center one missing. I shoot well, and never see the end of the barrel, so a bead (for me) wouldn't even be a factor.
One cannot focus on the bead while having a clear picture of the target. So a sight is not really necessary as in my hunting Optima Gold 391 which lost its sight. On my other shotguns, I have only a bead as it stays only in the periphal vision!
Those fiber optic sights are only good in three gun IPSC where one needs to actualy aim at a target.
Henry
Those fiber optic sights are only good in three gun IPSC where one needs to actualy aim at a target.
Henry
I have been playing with different color fiber optic beads and I have settled on Red. I perfer it over the green that was in my gun when I unboxed it. I take red to red and pull the trigger(keep in mind I am very new to shooting anything so what do I know) I am going to try a dull white 1 this weekend and see if I like that better.
You will never know what you like untill you try...so try some out and shatter clays
You will never know what you like untill you try...so try some out and shatter clays
NShunter1254
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nova Scotia Canada
I agree no sights needed,sight down the side of the barrel and when the target is perfectly in focus slap the trigger,this will give you your lead and you will break more birds.It's more important the gun fits you and you mount it the same every time.
Last year I put on a magnetic one with different colour and shaped inserts. Dots and triangles in red and green. I thought I liked the green dot better than any of them. I shoot 5-6 rounds of skeet just about every Sunday and I have not noticed that green dot on the end of the barrel yet during a round of skeet. I know it is still there, I see it when I take the gun out of the case and put it together.
I have some neon green monstrosity on the end of my bbl. I also have a middle bead which is the OEM white.
I think having the beads (both of them) is very important. I don't think what they look like matters, as long as you are comfortable with it.
Some people look at the beads, others don't. When I'm on my game I don't need to look. When I'm not, I can default back to looking.
Where I think having beads is important is when you mount your gun. Lining up the middle and front beads the same way every time will give you a consistent Point of Impact (and repeatability). With a single bead it is much harder (though not impossible) to do this.
There are some front bead replacements that are supposed to help with cross-firing. There may be better ways to deal with that issue. I don't think there is much in the way of improvements that can be accomplished with a bead change.
Brad.
I think having the beads (both of them) is very important. I don't think what they look like matters, as long as you are comfortable with it.
Some people look at the beads, others don't. When I'm on my game I don't need to look. When I'm not, I can default back to looking.
Where I think having beads is important is when you mount your gun. Lining up the middle and front beads the same way every time will give you a consistent Point of Impact (and repeatability). With a single bead it is much harder (though not impossible) to do this.
There are some front bead replacements that are supposed to help with cross-firing. There may be better ways to deal with that issue. I don't think there is much in the way of improvements that can be accomplished with a bead change.
Brad.
X2 for what BMcrae said. I think having a bead is important, including a middle bead. My Beretta Silver Pigeon doesn't have a middle bead and sometimes I miss it when my hold doesn't feel quite right. A middle bead allows a quick, easy check of the hold before calling for the bird. I experimented with high visibility beads too, but found they didn't add anything for me. In fact, they were quite distracting when I first put them on and still were after a few practices. So, I went back to the plain white beads that came with the shotguns. Maybe it's just a matter of getting used to the high visibility ones. I've been told this is the case.
I'm newer to skeet/trap/sporting clays/5-stand... but I find that the red fiber optic helps me pick up my POI (point of impact). I don't actually use the bead, or fiber, but it is there in my sight when i am following the clay. I know that subconsciously if that bead is where it is supposed to be in my sight window, I know my shot will go where I want it to
I think the bead is present for me too, but I'm not looking at it after I look out to my point of gaze. I'm looking at/or for the bird when things are going right. A sure way for me to miss is to have my attention go back to the bead, which is what was happening with the high visibility beads. One thing I do though, is try to make the bead a little more present after I miss, providing I don't have another good reason for missing.
The reason I started this thread is because I saw tom Knapp one time mention he uses the hi-vis fibre optic style. If you have ever seen what the man can do with a shotgun then it makes you think about his choice of equipment?
I'd suggest that is more of a sponsorship arrangement. His talents likely have nothing to do with that product (or the gun he uses, or the ammo he shoots).
Good point. TK could likely still connect if he had plastic tulip taped to the muzzle.
