Hey guys, I love my uncle's model 50 winchester. eats up recoil, shoots good even if it is a pain in the ass to clean. But I don't hit as many with that as I do when just using an 870 wingmaster (with the two beeds).

This shotgun has the Lyman muzzle brake on it with the adjustable choke. It seems to me, and I'm no expert, that the beed being up a bit higher than the top of the barrel. I wonder if there is a sight change that will help? what about dual beeds, there's no rib but is there something that can be mounted to the barrel?

Anybody got any good ideas for me? The 870 I shoot better but beats the hell out of me, I'd like to keep shooting this but wish I could aim it a bit better.

Thanks gents.

Red

I did some searching, apparently this is a cutts, with adjustable brake. the brake is before the choke. I can post pics if I need to. Does anybody at least know the thread size/pitch of the bead?

I searched online last night, I could find middle barrel beads but only for rib mounting. I did see that the model 50 was available with a full length rib. I love the gun, but it seems they cost more than some deals you can get on other autos. my uncle just got an 1100 in good shape for 350 at a local pawn shop.

Thanks for any help.

Red

Red,
There are lots of ways you can go with this. There are companies who will put on a rib with as many beads as you would like. Or you can just try a Hi-Viz front sight that you can put on your self.

But in all honesty the necessity of the two beads is debatable (and some will debate the value of one bead). A case can be made that two beads helps ensure a good gun mount/alignment, but for your purposes may not be necessary.

Remember you're not supposed to be looking AT the bead. It's there for peripheral reference, not AIMING. It's much more important that you make sure the gun is "looking" where you're looking. In-other-words, the stock needs to fit you. Often times just making sure the Length of Pull is correct for you can really help line the barrel up with your eye.

Be careful with bead size, bigger is not better. If it's too large or distracting it will draw your attention from the target - making you stop the gun.

Without watching you shoot the guns, I'd guess the difference is that the 870 just fits you better than the model 50 and that's making you shoot it better instead of the number of beads on the barrel.

Several years ago at the State sporting clays championship north of you at Camanche a pro shooter was only one target down through the first part of the competition. The one and only bead fell off his barrel and couldn't be found. He won the event with a 99/100 shooting over a bare rib. Do you think he's a big believer in front beads?

Thanks Kyler, I have probably 400 rds total through shotguns so know very little. Was just thinking it might make a difference. The 870 actually fits me like shit, I've just found that if I hold it real high in my shoulder pocket it gives me a good line up. Some day I'll have money to get a good shotgun that fits me, maybe an 1100 or 1187. Till then I just borrow and make due. I'll try a couple hundred more rounds through the model 50 before trying a different bead. I won't go to the expense of adding a rib or anything. Thanks for the advice and information.

Red

I know that you asked about sight options but, at the risk of suggesting pork chops when you asked for steak , here are a couple of things to follow-up on Kyler's post:

The best advice I ever got regarding shooting a shotgun was to watch the target (clay or bird) and not the gun; and pull the trigger when the muzzle is about to cover the target. As long as the gun is mounted the same way each time and you follow through after pulling the trigger, you should be consistent enough to be able hit most of the time. The bead does not matter. When I received this advice, I was shooting an 870 with a Lyman polychoke out at the Fresno Skeet Range. My trap scores went from low-mid teens to high teens - low twenties. I added five clays immediately!

The other thing is to get a copy of the Orvis Wingshooting Handbook. It covers technique as well as gun fit for field shooting. Somebody on this site recommended it and I'm happy that I took their advice.