Does anyone one make a front bead night sight for an 870

***Dalton Wayne*** · 04-06-2012, 15:14

would like a bead night sight for my 870

micdude · 04-06-2012, 15:41

XS Express Big Dot front sight is the way to go, get it here:

Do not try to remove the bead as it is staked in.....

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/399...-big-dot-front

micdude · 04-06-2012, 15:45

Reviews and installation here:

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_1/362...e_shotgun.html

Kaybe · 04-06-2012, 17:41

Check with Brownells as well. they might have something.

aippi · 04-06-2012, 18:50

Coorect, do not remove the bead as that is what holds the XS Big dot on. There is a cavet for the bead and once sealed with the adhesive around the bead it is on there solid. the sight would come off with the first good bump if you had installed it over the base without the bead in place.

SCSU74 · 04-07-2012, 10:46

XS bead is awesome

Jackalo626 · 04-07-2012, 12:57

I have wanted to do this as well and have thought about getting the slip on fiber optic sight as well, so I am still in debate because I don't really plan on using for first line of defense and have other weapons with lights ahead of it but to someone else this would be a great option no doubt.

Navitimer · 04-07-2012, 21:32

I have the slip-on fiber optic on my 870, but just ordered the XS big dot bead. The slip-on fiber optic looks cool and provides a good, very bright sight in decent light conditions; my only problem is that it moves around when the shotgun is fired (it snaps on to the barrel and doesn't actually attach to the point where it can't move), so I'm looking for a solution (other than the standard factory bead) that won't move when fired. Thanks for the review micdude, much appreciated!! I just ordered one!

Buffering · 04-07-2012, 22:10

The snap on are, for the most part, cr@p. You need to make your sight an integral part of the gun and a snap on sight doesn't fit into that category.

I had one, from a name brand company, on a my 12 gauge. Oh it certainly picked up the light and looked awesome. Made a very cool snapping noise when I put on the barrel. I thought it was going to be my secret weapon at the next shotgun class.

At said class the laws of physics intervened and what looked good at home was a steaming pile of dog poo at the range. The recoil liberated it from my gun. I snapped it back on hoping that I could just resume with my uberness. Off it came again and that was the last time it was ever near a shotgun of mine.

Don't mess around with gimmicks and theory. Get a sight and either epoxy it in place or tap and drill it. Be happy and go shooting.

**AgentM79** · 04-08-2012, 08:23

+100 to the XS Bead. I have a Big Dot on one of my 870's (installed by Mr. Vang when he did the barrel), and it is fantastic.

The sight pedestal is the problem for the snap-on fiber optic sights. I have a red Hi-Viz snap-on on one of my S&W 3000 barrels, and there is a recessed notch on the end of the plastic base that snugs up to the bead. It NEVER moves on this barrel, and I've used it for years. Because of the pedestal, though, it would be next to useless on a Remington.

**Cole125** · 04-08-2012, 10:41

One thing to understand is a night sight front bead on a shotgun is only good for the 1st shot. After that the muzzle flash will kill your night vision and you will not be able to see it.

SCSU74 · 04-08-2012, 18:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cole125

One thing to understand is a night sight front bead on a shotgun is only good for the 1st shot. After that the muzzle flash will kill your night vision and you will not be able to see it.

I've shot it at night, true you can't see the little green dot anymore, but the big white dot is still easy enough to pick up

Sent from my iPhone... which probably auto-corrected something wrong

Turbo Terry · 04-10-2012, 18:45

Big Dot on my 870 Express and I like it.

badge315 · 04-17-2012, 20:45

+1 on the XS Big Dot

BEER · 04-17-2012, 21:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buffering

Get a sight and either epoxy it in place or tap and drill it. Be happy and go shooting.

the snap on sight i used to have on an old chopped down mossberg was epoxied on and it survived at least 500 rounds and 3 years rattling around behind the seat of my truck.

did you really just snap it on and think it would survive repeated recoil from a 12g without any modification or help?

Dogbite · 04-22-2012, 10:18

I had a gunsmith install a Mepro light on a Winchester Defender once. Worked great for years.

Buffering · 04-22-2012, 12:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by BEER

did you really just snap it on and think it would survive repeated recoil from a 12g without any modification or help?

That shows you what a piece of crap it was. I installed it according to the included instructions and since it came off within the first 50 rounds of shooting, it was crap from the start. The manufacturer designed a piece of crap and it functioned as designed.

If the instructions said to modify it or use some epoxy I would have. That's why the XS and Meps work and my piece of crap snap on failed.

BEER · 04-22-2012, 15:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buffering

That shows you what a piece of crap it was. I installed it according to the included instructions and since it came off within the first 50 rounds of shooting, it was crap from the start. The manufacturer designed a piece of crap and it functioned as designed.

If the instructions said to modify it or use some epoxy I would have. That's why the XS and Meps work and my piece of crap snap on failed.

well we live in a world where a box of tooth picks needs instructions and diagrams printed on it so i guess you're right.

Buffering · 04-22-2012, 16:04

I'm not sure how much starch is in your underwear today however the product was crap and there no instructions, hints or ruminations that the product needed help. It's not the job of the consumer to take a piece of crap and make it useable. It failed the test of use for the intended purpose. It was designed poorly and the end user is under no obligation. To make it marketable. By you analogy Honda should be able to sell you a box of car parts and tell you to make something usable from it. And then when you point out the obvious, namely that you purchased a useable car, I will rag on for not appreciating that you were an idiot for expecting them to sell you a usuable product.

Just admit what you're trying to ignore - without doing your own mods to the sight, it wouldve failed for you.