This will end up being a sort of horrible, rambling, stream of consciousness post before it is over; mainly because I can’t ever seem to do things the easy way. You’ve been warned…
Short version: I have Mossberg 835 with an 18.5” barrel (well, I will have the barrel after our dear leaders in D.C. get things moving again – but hopefully soon) that needs iron sights to replace the bead. Once finished, this shotgun will be *the* long gun for defensive use around the castle – the research that I have done seems to indicate that a ghost ring/iron sight set-up is to be preferred over the bead in defensive applications. I would like to have some tritium on at least the front sight. The question is, what sighting system should I get; and what attachment methods are acceptable and what is preferred?
Thus far, the contenders are:
The factory Mossberg arrangement: https://www.brownells.com/shotgun-pa...-prod9474.aspx
Scattergun Technologies Track-Lock front with the LPA BAR rear: https://www.brownells.com/shotgun-pa...prod41872.aspx https://www.fusionfirearms.com/lpa-a...picatinny-rail
Trak-Lock with this rear sight (would require drilling and tapping the receiver): https://www.midwayusa.com/product/47...uns-steel-blue
XS Sight Systems: https://www.brownells.com/shotgun-pa...prod19562.aspx
The factory Mossberg rig seems just okay, with the main benefit being that the rear sight will mate up with the existing threaded holes in the receiver. The front sight looks okay, but lacks tritium; the rear sight set-up looks a little busy and maybe fragile; too, the ghost ring is pretty huge. I dunno.
I am leaning hard toward the Scattergun Technology front with either the clamp-on rear or maybe the screw-on rear which would require drilling and tapping the receiver. https://www.fusionfirearms.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=shotgun
The XS Sight Systems is mostly plug and play, but looks like it could get torn off the gun in rugged use.
What I *really* want is a Vang Comp system, but I will throw an Aimpoint T2 on there before I drop five bills on iron sights. That said, I talked with a local gunsmith who flat refused to have anything to do with soldering a front sight to a barrel. He was okay with drilling and tapping and talked about mounting a Remington 700 (I think he said) front sight that way. I would then still have to figure out the rear sight.
As far as mounting the front sight, obviously soldering/brazing would be best, but would an appropriate epoxy hold up? What about drilling and tapping?
The final concern I have is having the front and rears across different brands/styles regulate to the POA okay. The Mossberg rear looks like it has a lot of adjustment, so I guess it has that going for it.
I’m not super interested in throwing a red dot on the shotgun because I am then introducing batteries and electronics to what ought be an incredibly robust and reliable weapon system – but I could be wrong about that. (Also, it does seem like having a red dot would also make it less friendly to load through the ejection port, but I have not actually tried that out.)
Lastly, I will be using this receiver as a field gun (primarily ducks) as well. I will swap to the original barrel for field use, so no problem there, but I would like to be able to go slick on the receiver without a bunch of drama too. Note: I get a ton more rounds through the shotgun in the duck boat every year than I will ever get in any tactical shotgun training. Part of my schtick is to use the same gun in the field as for defensive use. This lets me build my muscle memories while vetting (if wearing somewhat) the actual gun. I am probably more adamant about this than I should be.
Now, the easy button for all this would be to go buy the 870 of my choice with the sighting system of my choice. They exist in relative abundance. My first two shotguns were 870’s and the shotgun I have shot the longest/most was an 11-87. Two things: First, I am not a fan of the lifter occluding the loading port, nor the way the 870 can get tied up if short-stroked on the pump. The Mossberg has neither problem. I chose the 835 because the fact that it takes 3 ½” shells provides a little more room in both holes when it comes time to stuff it full of shells; and the magazine loading port is very roomy and open with the Mossberg design. It’s not quite throwing a hot dog down a hallway, but it ain’t bad. (The 835 takes the Magpul stock too which is very nice.) I am several hunts in with the 835 and so far, the worst thing that has gone on has been spitting out a couple of shells through the mag loading port when I short-stroked it. But that was earlier in the season and I am doing better of late. I am *really* enjoying this shotgun.
It irks me that Mossberg spend time and effort on stupid neck-beard marketing gimmicks like barrel porting (which straight sucks in a duck blind by the way), chainsaw whatever, and Flex stock systems. Why they can’t offer things like more barrel/sighting selections, Magpul furniture versions, reasonable magazine extensions, and safety button upgrades is beyond me. I believe they have a very solid design (a bit more friendly and optimized than the 870), and with a few tweaks, they could really compete with Remington. Alas, they seem to be catering to the lowest common denominator of shooter. It’s a shame. If Kel-Tecs worked reliably, they would be the Kel-Tec of the shotgun world.
So, with all that, if anyone has any insight as to how best to organize the 18.5” barrel for home defense (shooting 00 Flite Control almost exclusively (until some #1 comes available when you people don’t scarf it all up – you guys are friggin’ animals…)), that would be much appreciated.