Not at all needed, but they don't hurt much if you practice enough to learn to 'ignore' them on close targets.

 

Has there ever been a case of somebody using a tricked out "tactical" shotgun with ghost ring sights to actually "defend their home"?

And, if there was, did the sights have any bearing on the outcome?

Somehow, I doubt it.

 

Ghost rings are slug sights.
Are you going to shoot slugs?

 

Ghost rings are slug sights.
Are you going to shoot slugs?

That's exactly my point, summed up in far fewer words.

So why are they so popular on tactical shotguns?

 

they are tacticool

 

GRS are popular with folks who have not yet learned that a shotgun is not a rifle.

 

GRS are popular with folks who have not yet learned that a shotgun is not a rifle.

That's pretty much The Bottom Line right there.

Ghost Rings aren't "bad", but they are much more useful for "tactical" (offensive) purposes than for H.D. (defensive) purposes.

They also aren't precise enough to be a really good "slug" sight, they are just too big and vague, but they are better than a bead.

 

They also aren't precise enough to be a really good "slug" sight, they are just too big and vague . . .

I'm not sure that's true. Lots of people assume you need a small aperture for accuracy but even a large "ghost ring" is capable of producing tight groups . . . with a rifle anyway. I assume it's true for slugs.

Peep sights/ghost rings are almost magic aiming devices. You just have to trust them, get your "thinking" out of the way and trust your instinctual brain to do what your brain is going to do.

 

GRS are PFM (Pure F_ _ king Magic). When you are shooting your shotgun like a shotgun, you shouldn't be using any sights, bead included. However, if you need to make a precise shot, forget slugs for the minute, say a hostage shot, you will really appreciate them. Keep in mind as a general rule, all shotguns-chokes-ammo can be distinctly different, a cyl choke will give you 1" of pattern at 1 yard. That can be extrapolated to 7" at 7 yards. Walk around your home and see how far 21' will get you. An IC is even tighter. Head to the pattern board and Know for sure.

I have shot clays with my 1301 and with my AR, scout rifle and my favorite non-sporting gun, my Browning T-Bolt. If you keep it simple it is doable and fun. In the real world of gunfighting, tis better to have and not need than to need and not have.

s/f Steve

 

The OP asked a rhetorical question about GRS in the context of "HD" (which course means different things to different people). Here are some of my thoughts.

GRS were all the rage 30-40 years ago (when dinosaurs roamed) & shotguns were the primary patrol long arm. Notice that application has nothing to do with "HD", & everything to do with range & application specific versatility, whether that be reactive or proactive.

Even back in the day, not all GRS were created equal. Even to this day, some GRS versions are remarkably faster for me to pick up at close range, than others. For me, Mossberg GRS are almost as quick, close up, as other options (including but not limited to a plain bead in good light).

I was trained back in the day with no supplemental sighting systems. That said, there are many better (i.e., more effective) viable options now - a plain barrel or bead-only would not be my choice for "HD" (much less patrol). IMO, there are so many better sighting systems for close in work these days, effective in a variety of lighting conditions, than just nothing or just beads, or for that matter, most GRS.

I have GRS equipped shotguns that served me very well in days gone by. That said, those shotguns do not currently serve in any primary protective role for me; however, I have no plans to dispose of any of them, & I would not consider myself significantly compromised if circumstance dictated having to rely on them. They would not, however, be my first choice, given all of the other options available.

 

Buckshot is still shot and should be sighted just like any other size shot. There should be plenty of information in the archives about this.

 

I don't think anyone here is disagreeing with that.

 

When I shorten shotgun barrels (I have done quite a few) I don't even put a bead on them. Unnecessary. I usually make them 18 1/2".

 

In an offensive situation I'd be totally down with a Benelli M2 or M4 Tactical shotgun. But these days, for home defense, I find myself feeling very comfortable with my CZ P-07 + Inforce weaponlight. A pistol leaves you with one hand free at all times for opening/closing doors and flipping light switches. Ghost-ring sights on a shotgun are completely pointless if you're planning to use them with bird or buckshot within the confines of your home. They're for putting slugs downrange.

 

This is interesting ! I've been around shotguns all my life. Just recently came into possession of two "retired" duty guns a Mossberg 590 w GRS and an 870p with a bead. Handling these two I came to the conclusion that if I was in my home I would prefer the 870 because of the bead .
Note: I am Very familiar with the controls on both guns The 870 is next to my nightstand.

 

Hard to beat the traditional coach gun, unless you have multiple home invaders.
Odds are you will only ever have to work about one or two people in a home invasion.
But nothing wrong with planing for a horde of unwanted guests, an 8 round pump with a short barrel and it won't matter if it has sights or not as buckshot will probably be in the tube.

It its a pointless mental exercise from my side of the pond, it's illegal to own anything for the purpose of self defence, even pepper spray or a baseball bat.
The last guy to use an unloaded 22lr to defend his home and family from a violent home invading drug addict needed crowd funding to sort out his legal woes, and nobody even got hurt.

 

My bedside guns are a Beretta 92FS and Mossberg 930 SPX with LPA ghost ring sights for backup. I actually prefer a red dot over the ghost rings because it's faster and harder to miss with when you don't have to align the rear aperture and front dot between shots.

 

This is interesting ! I've been around shotguns all my life. Just recently came into possession of two "retired" duty guns a Mossberg 590 w GRS and an 870p with a bead. Handling these two I came to the conclusion that if I was in my home I would prefer the 870 because of the bead .
Note: I am Very familiar with the controls on both guns The 870 is next to my nightstand.

I get that . . . absolutely.

At in-home distances, sights aren't really necessary. No, I'm not suggesting the shot will cover the room, just that you can hit the target just by pointing. If I can hit the high house bird on the station 7 double or either shot from station 8, I can surely connect with the boogie man down the hall.

 

A properly fitted shotgun will hit right where you look.

 

It depends what ammo you are using and distances covered. In my house the longest potential shot inside my house is 7 yards and mine is loaded with #4 buck which patterns great at that distance. If I lived in a large house and was using flute control type ammo I might want ghost ring sights because with that ammo is basically is a rifle out to 30+ yards

 

Personally, I'm a fan of having a good red dot sight on my HD shotgun. Since you look through/past it with both eyes open, it doesn't slow target acquisition or reduce your field of view. With a little practice, it's very intuitive. The circle-dot reticle on my Holosun sight can be very precise, but is also very fast. Also, since I use the same sight on my rifle, they kind of reinforce each other with each use. I'm planning on adding one to my next handgun, too.

 

... If I lived in a large house and was using flute control...

Sorry, Edenwildfood, I lost control... :mrgreen:

Welcome to the Basement, sir.

 

I realize this is a necro post. But for those searching later ...

I am a vet with a post level scout-sniper course on the M21 system and years of experience in IDPA, sniper/long range, and three-gun competitions. And in my experience a shotgun is simply the wrong tool for home defense. I love shotties. They were always my best platform. But if someone tries a home invasion at my place I'm going for my Glock 17. I practice snap shooting with both weapons. And it seems a 12 ga pump is less controllable in a panic situation.

We all see ourselves as Rambo. But in a real world HD situation ... most of us will not rise to the occasion. If we were honest with ourselves we'd all have a nine-shot .22 revolver on the night stand.

 

We all see ourselves as Rambo. But in a real world HD situation ... most of us will not rise to the occasion. If we were honest with ourselves we'd all have a nine-shot .22 revolver on the night stand.

Truth be told, virtually NONE of us will ever experience anything that could even reasonably be described as a home defense situation.

 

Snakum
I did have a attempted home invasion, and I went for the closest firearm , it was AR S&W mod 65 3" 357, probably not the right tool considering my neighbors. They unscrewed all my sensor bulbs when we weren't home and came back at 9:30 pm both cars on driveway. Didn't count on a firearm close at hand . I do have a very short 12 gauge Ithaca 37 pump 3 000 in the mag. tube chamber empty hammer down. Things are pretty quiet considering NY is like the wild wild west. Be Safe out there.
Chris

 

Have no idea where the AR came from , it's a revolver. Guess I shoot proof before hitting Poston another forum there was a guy who went by the post name Pipeguy for some reason my I pad changed it to Titguy, He never answers my posts after that. Think I would learn.
Chris

 

Wow! And I thought Fayettenam was a rough town. 😆

Hope all ended well and all offenders are pushing up dirt!