Rifle sights for Mossberg plain barrel?

[bjk7]

Hi all,
I have a new to me Mossberg 500. It has an 18.5" plain barrel with a bead sight. I want to get some rifle sights for shooting slugs. Preferably I would like a very durable fiberoptic sight. Does such a thing exist? If so which is best? I am also considering a ghost ring sight. Are they hard to install?

Thanks in advance,
bjk7

 

[swampgator]

If you have a recently manufactured Mossy the receiver should be drilled and tapped. Look at the top of the receiver and you should the thread protectors (hole covers).

If you go with the Mossy Ghost Ring, the sight mounts in those pre drilled and tapped holes.

 

[bjk7]

Actually, I have a New Haven 600 with a Mossberg 500 barrel. It is not drilled and tapped. My first choice would be to install regular fiber optic rifle sights on the plain barrel. I might actually buy an old 28" barrel with a vent rib and cut it down to 18.5". It seems rifle sights are easier to attach to the rib. Any thoughts?

thanks,
bjk7

 

[Ex-MA Hole]

I just got the Mossberg 20" with a bead sight.

Try using it first. Unless you are stuck on using other sights, you may like the bead.

I found that I am rather accurate with mine.

Just a thought.

 

[dadman]

Like Ex-Ma Hole said, try the bead only.
I've taken deer with a bead-only smoothbore. Know your range limits.

If your wanting better slug accuracy/longer range, consider a new rifled barrel with barrel mounted front & rear sights or a barrel mounted scope mount.

I found out recently that my 500A is slightly loose with the barrel-to-receiver fit. Nothing worn, just the stacking of clearances when the receiver and/or barrel was made.
This can introduce canting. Holding the SG in a rest or shooting position, I can put some twist/cant between the barrel and receiver.
Currently have the factory sights on the rifled barrel. Was considering an Aimthech or B-Square saddle type scope mount on the receiver. Decided against it due to past experience with other firearms and slightly loose optic mounts. Could picture the same thing happening with a rear sight on the receiver and sloppy barrel fit.

Some info on slugs.
http://www.chuckhawks.com/index2c.shotguns.htm
http://www.chuckhawks.com/shotgun_slugs.htm
http://www.chuckhawks.com/more_slug_guns.htm
http://www.chuckhawks.com/slug_guns_kansas.htm
Sights and optics from muzzleloading page.
http://www.chuckhawks.com/index2h.muzzleloader.htm

 

[justsurvivingincalifornia]

At one time Mossberg sold a ghost-kit for their shotguns. I check resently and it no longer listed on their web site (for shotguns drilled and tapped recievers). The other opption is have a gunsmith install rifle, ghost-ring or glow-worm (fiber optic) style sights on you barrel. But that might not come cheap depending on the cost of labor in your area.

You can also buy a 24 inch smooth or rifle barrel with rifle sights.
Mossberg does sell a 20 inch vented rib barrel. see http://www.havlinsales.com/ or http://www.mossberg.com/products/access.asp?type=barrels&section=access

GLO-DOT SHOTGUN SIGHT
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=13206&title=GLO-DOT+SHOTGUN+SIGHT

TACTICAL SHOTGUN SIGHTS
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=9203&title=TACTICAL+SHOTGUN+SIGHTS

 

[gudoldboy]

You can still get mossberg GR sights. Recently seen some on ebay of all places. Yes you will have to get your reciever drilled and tapped to use them.
Aaron
patriotguard.org

 

[Robo_Railer]

At one time Mossberg sold a ghost-kit for their shotguns. I check resently and it no longer listed on their web site (for shotguns drilled and tapped recievers).

It took me some digging to find these on Mossberg's site the first time I went looking, just 2-3 weeks ago. Try this page, found under Accessories > Sights, Magazines & More. Mossberg uses part #95300, but I've generally seen them called an MX500 set.
A couple of vendors on the Web have them for the same price as Mossberg, others are around $68 or more. Even with the receiver drilled and tapped (my 500A doesn't have that), I think there might/should be some 'smithing involved. (Meaning I probably wouldn't mess with it even if was already drilled/tapped. I want that front sight on there exactly right, too. )

 

[swampgator]

The "gunsmithing required" probably refers to the mounting of the front sight, but if the receiver is a newer model that is drilled and tapped these are a direct bolt-on .

 

[justsurvivingincalifornia]

Oh I forgot to mension the kit was a 18.5 inch barrel with front sight installed and rear sight that could be with a screwdriver. (on a pre-tap reciver) It sold for something like a 120$ I was thinking of buying one.

 

[goon]

Try some different slugs with the bead and see if you can get something that hits point of aim.
I would feel comfortable with mine and cheap remington bulk pack slugs out to about 50 yards. My brother hit a coffee cup sized rock at 100 yards with my 18.5 inch 500 and one of those slugs. Some would call that luck but we were hitting close even when we missed.