Scope or open sights?

[Drslyr92]

Which do you prefer and which scope do you run if you use one?? Just ordered a new turkey slayer this morning…

 

[longbow]

Just a bead on the front.

 

[lester2]

Have only used a bead and a 30mm Pentax red dot. Same result, dead bird!

 

[NH Hunter]

Same........ Bead on the front.

 

[Flatlander]

Also just a bead.

 

[Meatseeker]

I use both depending on the gun I'm using. I really like the Vortex venom reflex sight

 

[Meatseeker]

Which do you prefer and which scope do you run if you use one?? Just ordered a new turkey slayer this morning…

What did you get?

 

[338 Bear Hunter]

Just bought a Mossberg Tactical Turkey the day before turkey opener in 2022. Saw it five year prior but it disappeared. My dad's old 20 gauge skunked me on range in '20 and '21, so a 12-gauge was in order. Paid off, with my first ever turkey in spring '22.

Although it is tapped for optics, I have no plans to use it. Like most here, its a front bead only for me.

 

[Drslyr92]

What did you get?

I got the stevens 301 in 410 and also ordered a mossberg 500 20ga. Both in mossy oak obsession. 410 is for the kids and the wife. But I may have to break it in to try it out . I have a 12 I’ve used forever but wanted a 20, so Hense the mossberg 500

 

[Drslyr92]

Haven’t picked any optic….still deciding

 

[Meatseeker]

I got the stevens 301 in 410 and also ordered a mossberg 500 20ga. Both in mossy oak obsession. 410 is for the kids and the wife. But I may have to break it in to try it out . I have a 12 I’ve used forever but wanted a 20, so Hense the mossberg 500

Nice. You'll have some fun with those

 

[lester2]

So I’ll share one observation I’ve made between using an optic or a bead. I have both a 20 and 12 gauge 870’s, I’ve turkey hunted with both. Before using a particular turkey load I always pattern them. I use Hevi-shot #6 in the 12, hevi-shot #7 in the 20. The 12 shoots a nice tight centered pattern using the bead out to 40 yards. The 20 shoots a tight pattern also but it is off center to the right with the bead. Using the red dot I can center the pattern on the target. To me that is the biggest advantage of having the option of an optic.

 

[lester2]

Interesting observation. What sights do you have on your hevi-shot #7? I can't figure out why your trajectory is offset.

The 20 gauge shooting hevi-shot #7 shoots off center to the right when using the bead on the vent rib barrel. I mounted a 30mm Pentax red dot using a saddle mount and adjusted it until the pattern was centered. Hope that makes sense.

 

[Pine-lock]

For turkey I prefer to have some sort of rear sight. I've used all sorts of them over the years. I've even dabbled in some red dots here and there. With as tight as some of the choke tube and load combos can pattern it's really easy to not keep you head down and with a single bead I've seen more than one guy blow an opportunity shooting right over the top of them. Having a rear sight helps prevent this to an extent.

 

[338 Bear Hunter]

So I’ll share one observation I’ve made between using an optic or a bead. I have both a 20 and 12 gauge 870’s, I’ve turkey hunted with both. Before using a particular turkey load I always pattern them. I use Hevi-shot #6 in the 12, hevi-shot #7 in the 20. The 12 shoots a nice tight centered pattern using the bead out to 40 yards. The 20 shoots a tight pattern also but it is off center to the right with the bead. Using the red dot I can center the pattern on the target. To me that is the biggest advantage of having the option of an optic.

I guess I've lucked out. Only two shotguns, but both are spot-on using the bead sights.