Rifle sights for my M-12

[Clipper]

I'm working up the determination to cut the 30" modified barrel on my M-12 to 20" for slug use. It's been nicely refinished, and there was some pitting on the receiver that never cleaned up, so it's not like there's a lot of collector value to protect, but I basically use it only for deer hunting, and need to be able to use it from my portable blind, and the 30" barrel just doesn't get it. Also, I want real sights for slug shooting. The thing is, I want to mount a rear folding leaf sight like those used on the Browning BL-22. These sights mount in a dovetail, and my idea is to dovetail the barrel boss just forward of the receiver for it. This keeps my sights from shifting in relation to each other when the barrel is removed for cleaning. Do you gunsmiths familiar with these sights think such a setup will be safe, or will dovetailing the boss weaken it too much for 2 3/4" slug loads?

 

[rcmodel]

I would not recommend dove-tailing anything on a Model 12, or any other shotgun.
Just not enough metal. The other thing is, if you put the rear sight on top of the barrel extension, on top of the largest part of the barrel, it would require a very tall front sight to get it to shoot where it looks.

Shotgun rifle sights are available from several makers that attach to the barrel or rib, and can be put on further down the barrel where it is slimmer.
That makes the front sight height more managable..

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=671251

This keeps my sights from shifting in relation to each other when the barrel is removed for cleaning.

Realistically, with the accuracy you will get with a smoothbore cyl-choke barrel & Forster style rifled slugs?
I doubt you can tell any difference whether the barrel has been off or not..

rc

 

[Clipper]

There's no rib on the barrel. Anyway, I can sweat a set of Williams guide sights on easily enough, I just happen to like the folding leaf types...

But I suspected the dovetail wouldn't work, but I'm a machinist, not a gunsmith, and hoped there was something I wasn't aware of that would make it possible to do. Oh well...

Thanks

 

[Malamute]

I used a Williams Shorty shotgun ramp up front with a Sourdough blade, and a Remington 700 rear sight milled for the contour of the shotgun barrel. Doesnt fold, but I don't have a need to fold it. I've had folding sights be folded when I wished they werent. Works just fine for shot or slugs. It groups quite well with Brenneke slugs. In the model 12, it makes a great travel gun, as it can be taken down into a 20" long package.

Many gunsmiths have a pile of take-off 700 sights they'll sell cheap.