In the dynamic world of tactical operations and competitive shooting, the difference between success and failure often comes down to one critical factor: precision. This is where the unsung hero of your firearm, the tactical shotgun sight, steps into the limelight. Far from being just another accessory, a well-chosen sight can transform your shotgun from a close-range tool to a versatile weapon capable of precise shots under a variety of conditions. Whether you're breaching a door in a law enforcement operation, defending your home, or competing in a 3-gun match, the right sight will not only enhance your accuracy but also boost your confidence as you take each shot. Let's dive into the world of tactical shotgun sights, exploring how these pivotal pieces of equipment can elevate your shooting experience and why every shotgun enthusiast should consider them an essential part of their arsenal.
How We Choose
The sights on shotguns are almost as important as the sights on your revolver, a blade front sight, a bead sight, and ghost ring sights are available for tactical use or range shooting. Tactical shotguns are more than just plain barrel guns with bead sights, you can add red dot optics or a weapon light by attaching a Picatinny rail. This section will explore the different types of sights available and how to choose the best one for your needs.
Iron Sights
Iron sights are the most common type of sight found on shotguns. They consist of a front sight post and a rear sight notch, allowing for quick target acquisition and precise aiming. The most basic form of iron sight is the bead sight, which is a small metal or plastic bead located at the end of the barrel. This type of sight is often found on hunting shotguns and is designed for quick, close-range shots. However, for more precise aiming, ghost ring sights are a popular choice among tactical shotgun users. These consist of a rear aperture sight and a front post, creating a circle-like shape that allows for more accurate and consistent shots.
Optics and Weapon Lights
For those who prefer a more customized approach, optics and weapon lights can be added to tactical shotguns through the use of Picatinny rails. This allows for the attachment of a variety of accessories such as red dot sights, magnifiers, and weapon lights. Optics, like scopes, can provide magnification for more accurate long-range shots, while weapon lights offer the ability to illuminate targets in low-light situations.
Choosing the Right Sight
When it comes to choosing the right sight for your shotgun, personal preference and intended use are key factors. Iron sights are great for quick target acquisition and close-range shooting, making them a popular choice among hunters. Ghost ring sights offer more precision for those who require it, while red dot sights are ideal for fast-paced shooting and low-light situations. Optics and weapon lights provide even more customization options for users looking to enhance their tactical shotgun capabilities.
For this article, we are focusing on shogun sights that will be perfect for home defense, sporting clays, or tactical purposes.
MEPROLIGHT Tru-Dot tritium Night Sights Compatible with Remington 870 1100 11-87 Green tritium dots Glow on Sight self Illuminated Meprolight Fixed Metal Sights for Low Light Conditions
MEPROLIGHT
Tru-Dot tritium Night Sights Compatible with Remington 870 1100 11-87 Green tritium dots Glow on Sight self Illuminated Meprolight Fixed Metal Sights for Low Light Conditions
Experience the bright, high-visibility glow of the Fiber Optic Sight, with a fiber diameter of 2mm or .078" - operating without the need for batteries. This sight quickly and effortlessly snaps into place behind the factory front bead on plain barrel 12 & 20-gauge shotguns. Its base features a notch that utilizes the factory bead to align the fiber optic sight accurately along the bore axis. Crafted for ultra durability and a sleek, low-profile design, it stands as a superior tactical enhancement for your home defense shotgun. Installation is straightforward, requiring no gunsmithing.
MEPROLIGHT Tru-Dot tritium Night Sights Compatible with Mossberg M500 M590 Green tritium dot Glow on Sight self Illuminated Meprolight Fixed Metal Sights
MEPROLIGHT
Tru-Dot tritium Night Sights Compatible with Mossberg M500 M590 Green tritium dot Glow on Sight self Illuminated Meprolight Fixed Metal Sights
The MEPROLIGHT TRU-DOT Night Sight sets the standard for reliability in day or night shooting with its superior illumination. Using high-grade tritium vials ensures visibility in low light and nighttime conditions. The vials are encased in white reflective material, enhancing the tritium's glow for swift target acquisition. During the day, the tritium source presents as white, shifting to green in lower light and at night.
Powered by tritium, the sight is self-illuminating, requiring no batteries or external light sources. It's constantly active, ensuring readiness around the clock, every day of the year. Unlike phosphorus, it doesn't need charging, offers green illumination, is maintenance-free, and installs easily with no modifications needed.
Engineered for extreme durability, the MEPRO TRU-DOT sights are resilient to drops and shocks. Crafted from steel, they offer a significant enhancement for instinctive aiming under stress. Trusted globally by law enforcement and military personnel, these tritium sights guarantee reliability across all lighting and weather conditions.
HiViz Litewave H3 Sight Tritium LitePipe Day/Night
This tactical, snap on shotgun sight offers effortless installation and enhances aim with precision. It comes equipped with four LitePipes in a variety of colors, ensuring compatibility with most 12-gauge, plain barrel shotguns. It stands out as an exceptional tactical sight choice.
XS Sight Systems Gun Accessory Sight Tritium Shotgun, Bead On Vent Rib
The XS Big Dot Tritium front sight enhances visibility and focus, making it perfect for low-light conditions and improving sight recovery post-muzzle flash—ideal for home defense scenarios. This tritium dot front sight, encircled by a prominent white ring, is designed to be easily installed over existing front bead sights with diameters between .125" and .140". Installation is straightforward: apply Brownell's Acraglas Gel to the underside cavity of the sight, then position it over the bead, allowing it to cure fully. For beads that are too small or large, consider replacing them with Brownell's #6 bead for 3-56 thread sizes or #26 for 6-48 thread sizes. Note that some shotgun barrels might necessitate drilling and tapping the existing hole to 6-48 to accommodate the #26 Brownell's bead. This sight is compatible with shotguns featuring a ventilated rib. Key specifications include a tritium front sight only, suitability for shotguns with bead diameters of 0.125" to 0.140" on ventilated ribs, a do-it-yourself installation process, a white/green sight color, and a matte black finish on blued steel material.
MEPROLIGHT Tru-Dot tritium Night Sights Compatible with Mossberg M500 M590 Green tritium dot Glow on Sight self Illuminated Meprolight Fixed Metal Sights
MEPROLIGHT
Tru-Dot tritium Night Sights Compatible with Mossberg M500 M590 Green tritium dot Glow on Sight self Illuminated Meprolight Fixed Metal Sights
Compatible with M500(5-40 Bead sight), the MEPRO TRU-DOT Night Sight provides unparalleled reliability for both day and night shooting. Crafted with premium-grade tritium vials, this fixed night sight ensures visibility under low light and nighttime conditions. The tritium vials are encased in white reflective material, enhancing the source’s intensity and brightness, which guarantees swift target identification. During the day, the tritium source appears white, transitioning to green in dim light and at night.
Powered by tritium, the MEPRO TRU-DOT does not require batteries or external light sources. It is perpetually illuminated, and ready for use 24/7/365 without the need for charging, unlike phosphorus sights. The green tritium color is maintenance-free and can be easily installed without any modifications.
Designed for durability, the MEPRO TRU-DOT sights are resistant to drops and shocks. Constructed from steel, they offer a superior upgrade, enabling intuitive aiming in high-pressure situations. Trusted by military and law enforcement personnel worldwide, these tritium sights offer dependable performance in all lighting and weather conditions.
HIVIZ Snap On Sight for Plain Barrel Shotgun
The Hi-Viz Snap On is a meticulously designed front sight, perfect for 12, 16, and 20-gauge plain barrel shotguns lacking a vent rib. This sight is an excellent choice for vintage shotguns and tactical firearms, crafted to exacting standards from premium materials. It's thoroughly tested by shooters to guarantee durability over time. The LitePipes, crafted from a chemical-resistant material and injection molded, ensure unparalleled brightness and a consistent sight picture. The kit comes complete with two green and two red round interchangeable LitePipes, enhancing visibility and accuracy.
XS SIGHTS Big Dot Shotgun Front Sights with Tritium and Photo luminescent Glow Dot for Remington 870 and Mossberg 500/590, High-Contrast Sights for Plain Barrel Shotguns
XS SIGHT SYSTEMS
Big Dot Shotgun Front Sights with Tritium and Photo luminescent Glow Dot for Remington 870 and Mossberg 500/590, High-Contrast Sights for Plain Barrel Shotguns
Why Opt for Big Dot Tritium Sights? Boasting over two decades of expertise in night sight production, experience has taught us that defensive encounters rarely occur in ideal lighting or absolute darkness; rather, they unfold in the varying shades of light in between. Thus, it's essential for night sights to do more than merely glow in the dark—they must be conspicuously visible at all times. During defensive scenarios, such as an altercation or a home invasion, an adrenaline surge can impair your fine motor skills and narrow your focus onto the threat, with both you and the assailant likely in motion. In such moments, combat accuracy becomes paramount. However, under stress, many neglects to align their sights before firing (this isn’t point shooting). The Big Dot tritium sights are designed to overcome this challenge. The large, brightly colored, glowing front sight ensures visibility in your direct line of sight, facilitating a combat-accurate aim that enables quick and precise alignment when every second counts and precision is vital. All XS Sights products come with a No Questions Asked Warranty, ensuring your peace of mind.
Ultimate Arms Gear Universal 12/20 Gauge/Shotgun Glowing Green Line Plain Barrel Front Fiber Optic Sight
Ultimate Arms Gear
Universal 12/20 Gauge/Shotgun Glowing Green Line Plain Barrel Front Fiber Optic Sight
Enhance your visibility with the Bright High Visibility Glowing Fiber Optic Sight, designed for seamless integration with 12 & 20-gauge shotguns. This cutting-edge accessory, featuring a fiber diameter of 2mm or .078", does not require batteries. It effortlessly snaps into place behind the factory front bead on plain barrel shotguns, with a notch in its base utilizing the factory bead to ensure precise alignment along the bore axis. Crafted for durability and a low-profile design, this sight is an exceptional tactical upgrade for your home defense shotgun, requiring no gunsmithing for installation.
Tactical Shotgun Sights FAQs
Can I get ghost rings for my turkey-hunting shotgun?
Yes, XS Sights offers a variety of ghost ring shotgun sight options, including those specifically designed for turkey hunting. These sights provide enhanced accuracy and quick target acquisition, making them an ideal choice for any shotgun used in hunting or defensive situations.
Are fiber optic sights only useful in low-light conditions?
Fiber optic shotgun sights are designed to gather ambient light and intensify it, providing enhanced visibility in all lighting conditions. While they are particularly useful in low-light situations, they can also significantly improve target acquisition and accuracy in bright daylight conditions.
Do I need to make modifications to my shotgun for installing fiber optic shotgun sights?
No, XS Sights fiber optic sight is designed for easy installation without any gunsmithing required. It effortlessly snaps into place behind the factory front bead on plain barrel shotguns, with a notch in its base utilizing the factory bead for precise alignment along the bore axis. This means no permanent modifications are needed to your shotgun.
Conclusion
Most shotguns can be obtained with a plain barrel and removable chokes to control the shot pattern or removed to shoot slugs for defensive use. However, many of these shotguns come with non-tactical shotgun sights, which may not be ideal for self-defense or hunting purposes. Upgrading to XS Sights' tactical shotgun sights offers several benefits, including enhanced accuracy and quick target acquisition in all lighting conditions. Additionally, their durable and low-profile design requires no gunsmithing for installation, making them a convenient and effective upgrade for any shotgun. With XS Sights' fiber optic or tritium shotgun sights, you can improve the performance of your shotgun for hunting or defensive use without any permanent modifications to the firearm. Consider upgrading to XS Sights to take your shooting experience to the next level. So, whether it's low-light conditions or bright daylight, fiber optic sights offer improved visibility and accuracy, making them a valuable addition to your shotgun. Pull the trigger and upgrade your shotgun today!
