HD Mossberg 590: Top Rail? Red Dot? Reflex?

[jkchan83]

I have a Mossberg 590 Big 5 Security Special shotgun that I use for home defense. It lives next to my bed. Being a HD gun, the first thing I added was a light. Now, I am curious about adding a sight.

I took the shotgun out and noticed that I tended to shoot low. I think it has to do with my stance/form, but I only have the bead front sight on it. I also don't get much opportunity to practice with the shotgun other than dry-firing.

I shoot AR's with 1x red-dot optics. I was thinking that I could translate that over to the shotgun. I also considered a ghost ring setup, but ruled that out.

The Mossberg that I have appears to be drilled and tapped for a scope or rail system. However, I am having problems locating a Mossberg 590 Picatinny top rail. Any suggestions? I found a weird rail that straddles the receiver at CTD: http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/19118-34.html. Any opinions?

Also, what kind of red dot or reflex sight should I look at? I seem to find people using Docter-style reflex sights or HOLOsight/EOTech holographic sights. Are there any advantages or disadvantages I should know about either setup?

Are there any other questions that I am forgetting to ask?

Thanks in advance.

[an actual gun]

This should be what you're looking for:

http://www.amazon.com/UTG-Picatinny-Scope-Mossberg-Shotguns/dp/B001CGSN78

As for your questions about red dots, I personally prefer the reflex type you mentioned but don't know a whole lot about what brands to look for. I will say you get what you pay for, which is my reason for deciding on not buying one. I don't think I'll get a good red dot for anything less than 150-200, and my shotgun will only cost 300 at most.

[12GAUGE]

Throw a laser on it. With the combo of a laser and light you should be set.
If anything the physiological effect of the sound of a pump and a laser scanning the room. Would be enough to clear the house.

[HDRDR]

I have this for my 590 with a lazer light

[97F1504RAD]

I have been thinking about this as well. This is the rail I wish to use and this is the Trijicon I would like to put atop it. The Trijicon is just way more than i want to spend.

http://www.tacticalshotgunner.com/mesa-tactical-reciever-rail-for-mossberg-shotguns-p-151.html?osCsid=979ed6c895d94c568cb9d8dd6e1744ff

http://trijicon.com/user/parts/products1.cfm?PartID=666&back_row=0&categoryID=13

[etaon]

IMO for shotgun home defense(which in most homes would entail only ranges < 10-15 yards) you don't need any kind of sight, you should be able to hit a target with just the bead, and if you can't, the scope isn't what you need, you just need to practice more.

A scope is going to add a little extra weight and size, and cause tunnel vision.

[Waterfowler]

IMO for shotgun home defense(which in most homes would entail only ranges < 10-15 yards) you don't need any kind of sight, you should be able to hit a target with just the bead, and if you can't, the scope isn't what you need, you just need to practice more.

A scope is going to add a little extra weight and size, and cause tunnel vision.

Yeah but who cares about common sense and functionality when you can make it tacticool. If you paid attention to Hollywood movies a little more, you would realize that a good shotgun is determined by how much crap you can pack onto it.

sarcasm obviously

[ZRX61]

I took the shotgun out and noticed that I tended to shoot low.

That just means that you'l hit the perp right in the spuds instead of the chest, whats the downside?

[atasty39]

As far as a red dot, or reflex sight, I am waiting on delivery of a Burris Fastfire II that seems to be pretty robust. I have not heard/read anything bad, and at around $200 seems to be a decent deal. I'll know more in about 2-3 weeks.

[akjunkie]

how bout this, 2 in 1.

http://www.mesatactical.com/images/111.jpg

[jkchan83]

how bout this, 2 in 1.

http://www.mesatactical.com/images/111.jpg

Unfortunately, Mesa Tactical doesn't make this model compatible with the Mossberg. It only works with Remingtons. They also have a slightly different model that works with Benelli's.

http://www.mesatactical.com/index.php?id=56

[jkchan83]

IMO for shotgun home defense(which in most homes would entail only ranges < 10-15 yards) you don't need any kind of sight, you should be able to hit a target with just the bead, and if you can't, the scope isn't what you need, you just need to practice more.

That just means that you'l hit the perp right in the spuds instead of the chest, whats the downside?

etaon and ZRX make good points. I was shooting at 15 yards and aiming for Center of Mass. I was getting hits low around the groin instead of in the chest. My concern is that 00BK has 8 or 9 pellets. If I am hitting the groin, hip, or thigh instead of the chest, will it have the same fight-ending impact as a chest shot?

I agree that more practice would be the best way to adjust my aim and improve my shot. Unfortunately, I don't have access to a practice range. My thought was that a red-dot type sight would help bring my aim up in a pressure situation so that I could more reliably hit COM.

[maxicon]

You might want to analyze why you're shooting low, as that can decide what the best solution is. It's pretty important for a HD gun to hit where you're aiming.

Since bead-sight shotguns are traditionally pointed rather than aimed, I'd start by testing the mechanical point of aim of the gun.

Line it up with the bead aligned with the grooves in the top of the receiver, just like aiming a rifle, and see if it shoots to point of aim then. If it does, this means the stock drop isn't set up right for you.

Likewise, when you mount and shoot normally and it's hitting low, look at how the bead and receiver are lined up. With shotguns and pointing, your eye acts as the rear sight, so shooting high or low often means the line between your eye and the bead is on a different plane than the line of the barrel.

If you're already aiming like a rifle, rather than pointing, there's something else at work there, as it should shoot pretty close to the point of aim.

My Winchester 1300 shoots high with a Knoxx Specops, which has much less stock drop than the standard stock, so that could be a win-win solution for you - recoil reduction, adjustable stock, and raising the point of impact.

[p7m8jg]

<snip>

If I am hitting the groin, hip, or thigh instead of the chest, will it have the same fight-ending impact as a chest shot?

<snip>

And the answer is YES!

Take the main support platform for the human body out of the fight by disabling it and you'll take the fight out of the human body. Not to mention all the major pain and artery areas of the hips and groin......

[jkchan83]

You might want to analyze why you're shooting low, as that can decide what the best solution is. It's pretty important for a HD gun to hit where you're aiming.

Since bead-sight shotguns are traditionally pointed rather than aimed, I'd start by testing the mechanical point of aim of the gun.

Line it up with the bead aligned with the grooves in the top of the receiver, just like aiming a rifle, and see if it shoots to point of aim then. If it does, this means the stock drop isn't set up right for you.

Likewise, when you mount and shoot normally and it's hitting low, look at how the bead and receiver are lined up. With shotguns and pointing, your eye acts as the rear sight, so shooting high or low often means the line between your eye and the bead is on a different plane than the line of the barrel.

If you're already aiming like a rifle, rather than pointing, there's something else at work there, as it should shoot pretty close to the point of aim.

My Winchester 1300 shoots high with a Knoxx Specops, which has much less stock drop than the standard stock, so that could be a win-win solution for you - recoil reduction, adjustable stock, and raising the point of impact.

Thanks for the advice on sight alignment. I will give it a try.

I also looked at the Specops but decided against. The Mossberg has a tang safety and it works really well with the traditional grip. However, it would be completely out of reach if I had a pistol grip.