870 Express vent rib front sight...threaded or staked?

[Snarlingiron]

Ok, I got my second 870 Express for Christmas. I have had it out a few times, and have a couple of dove hunts lined up for September. Last weekend, I shot a few rounds of skeet with a buddy, and had a great time. The gun is 12 ga, has the Rem Choke barrel with vent rib. The front sight is apparently aluminum, or possibly steel, but is very dull, and doesn't really show up very well even in the bright sunlight. My question is: are these staked on, or are they threaded in on the 870 Express? I would like to change it out, and possibly install a center bead. Any input out there?

 

[Oldnamvet]

You could just go the cheap way and put a dab of bright paint on it. For best results though, you should be ignoring the front bead and just pointing at the target, not aiming. If the gun fits you, you'll do better that way on anything flying or moving. Focus on the target/bird rather than the front bead for more consistent hits. I am sure Dave or Steve (sm) will be along soon to give more complete replies.

 

[Fred Fuller]

All of 'em I've had any experience with are pressed in, on Express guns. Costs less to press fit them than drilling and tapping a hole.

Seems to me there are more folks who shoot a shotgun well who would tell you that a too-bright bead is a distraction, than that a too dull one is a problem. People I have known who shoot a shotgun really well seem to do just fine even with no bead at all on the gun.

Now if you're looking to use the bead as a makeshift substitute for iron sights, that's a different deal. But a lot of good shotgun shooters will tell you to be concentrating hard on the first molecule of that dove's beak (or of that clay bird's leading edge) and not paying too much attention to anything else, especially something as close to you as the muzzle of the shotgun. If gun fit and form are right, that concentration on the target will pretty much do it.

If Dave or sm weigh in here, let's see what they say. Either one of them has dropped more shotgun shells than I've ever fired, and are a lot more worth listening to than me on the subject. I just know that when you're in the groove with a shotgun it works pretty much like I tried to describe it. Concentrate on the target and do whatever it takes to get the muzzle out in front of the target and it falls. It's a zen kind of thing, something you LET happen more than you MAKE happen. That's about the best I can explain it.

One thing's for sure, Brister's in no danger of me taking over as a shotgun guru!

lpl/nc

 

[Snarlingiron]

Good advice. When I shoot, I am not really conscious of the front bead, its just that all of my other shotguns have a white or brightly polished brass front bead, and I just kind of noticed how dull this one is. May the best plan is the old "if it ain't broke don't fix it!"

 

[Dave McCracken]

Leave it be. I did a test a while back. One barrel, with a Bradley style target sight, then no sight, then a Green Worm F/O sight. No differences in scores or effect.....

Like Lee said, concentrate on the leading molecule....