Switch 870 rifle sights to bead -- HELP PLZ

[thefinger]

I have an old 870 Police model with rifle sights. I want to use the same barrel, but switch to a bead sight. I bought a generic 870 bead from Midway.com, but it doesn't fit the original tapped hole--the hole is way too big for the bead to just screw in.

It looks like I need some type of base to fit the original tapped hole. Is there a special type of base or bead sight that will fit on my old 870 Police barrel?

EDIT: Looks like I may need a bead sight like this, with the big base beneath it. Anyone know where I can find something like this?..

[aippi]

Your barrel has a ramp with a dove tailed front sight and the rear sight is on a ramp. those ramps are braised on and will have to be removed. You then need the front ramp that is threaded for a bead. this is a lot of work, plus the barrel will have to be refinished as the heat from removing the ramps is going to FUBAR the finish on your barrel... Best thing to do is sell that barrel and get the 18.5" pakerized Police barrel, fixed I/C choke with bead sight for $96 or the one in the picture which is an 18.5" parkerized Police barrel with fixed Modified choke and factory installed Tritium bead for $144. Or spend a lot of money refiting the barrel you have.

[AndrewMendez]

That seems like a lot of work for a scatter gun!!!! I would buy a brand new barrel!

[thefinger]

Your barrel has a ramp with a dove tailed front sight and the rear sight is on a ramp. those ramps are braised on and will have to be removed. You then need the front ramp that is threaded for a bead. this is a lot of work, plus the barrel will have to be refinished as the heat from removing the ramps is going to FUBAR the finish on your barrel... Best thing to do is sell that barrel and get the 18.5" pakerized Police barrel, fixed I/C choke with bead sight for $96 or the one in the picture which is an 18.5" parkerized Police barrel with fixed Modified choke and factory installed Tritium bead for $144. Or spend a lot of money refiting the barrel you have.

Maybe I have a weird rig, but it actually had front and rear sights that are just held in place by screws. They're easily removed with a screwdriver. Its an old cop-gun, and it was refinished to a grey beadblast by the cop who owned it.

Since the sights remove easily, is there a front ramp that I can buy that will fit? Maybe something that screws onto the barrel the same way my current front sight does?

I can get some pictures up if they'd be useful.

[gunrun45]

Honestly, this is a LE shotgun. Unless you plan on refinishingit and using it as a some kind of "bling" shotgun I would remove the rear rifle sight and leave it alone. The front sight will be close enough for the work an 18in shotgun barrel was intended for unless you plan on shooting lots of slugs at 100 yards...

[tankerman]

Since the sights remove easily, is there a front ramp that I can buy that will fit? Maybe something that screws onto the barrel the same way my current front sight does?

If you're going to add a ramp your rear sight may not work anymore.

Does the existing tapped hole go all the way through the barrel?

[MossbergMan]

Your barrel has a ramp with a dove tailed front sight and the rear sight is on a ramp. those ramps are braised on and will have to be removed. You then need the front ramp that is threaded for a bead. this is a lot of work, plus the barrel will have to be refinished as the heat from removing the ramps is going to FUBAR the finish on your barrel... Best thing to do is sell that barrel and get the 18.5" pakerized Police barrel, fixed I/C choke with bead sight for $96 or the one in the picture which is an 18.5" parkerized Police barrel with fixed Modified choke and factory installed Tritium bead for $144. Or spend a lot of money refiting the barrel you have.

+1^
You never know, by perserving the old barrel intact with the rifle sights in a box, come re-sale time or change of heart, you haven't made an irreversable decision. I like having spare parts.

[aippi]

No, any front ramp you get from Remington will have to be braised on.