Mossberg 500?

[xd2005]

So I'm considering using my shotgun, a Mossberg 500, this year for deer. I currently do not have any sort of optics, but am considering adding a red dot and was curious if people have suggestions on what to use. Not looking to spend a whole lot, just something that can get me on target.

Thanks for the ideas!

[seth30]

The sight that came with my gun was more than enough to drop everything from coyotes to birds   Have used slugs, buckshot, and birdshot with no problems.   

[biggfish]

I spent $30 on a truglo tactical red dot made for rifle or shotgun works great out to 50 yds after that I can't see well enough to tell.

[konradcountry]

I have a red dot sight but I wouldn't it put it on my shotgun.

I like iron sights because they are rugged, don't fog up and don't require batteries. There are truglo snap on bead sites that pick up a lot of light at dawn/dusk.

I realize people will put high quality 4x scopes on shotguns and shoot slugs at 100+ yards but I guess I would wonder why they don't use a rifle at that point.

[xd2005]

Currently I just have a front fluorescent site, which works ok, but would prefer some sort of red dot for easier alignment. The areas I'll be hunting are either shotgun only or in areas not conducive to rifles, thus the shotgun. I would expect any shot to be 50 or less yards. I'll take a look at the truglos.

[lokidog]

I have a red dot sight but I wouldn't it put it on my shotgun.

I like iron sights because they are rugged, don't fog up and don't require batteries. There are truglo snap on bead sites that pick up a lot of light at dawn/dusk.

I realize people will put high quality 4x scopes on shotguns and shoot slugs at 100+ yards but I guess I would wonder why they don't use a rifle at that point.

Maybe they are in a firearm restricted area?     Maybe they can't afford another gun?     Maybe their eyesight isn't as good as it used to be... there are lots of reasons I can think of.....

OP, are you shooting rifled slugs or getting a rifled barrel for it?  Are you planning on shooting past fifty yards?  Do you want 4" accuracy or 8" at 50-70 or more yards?

I have shot deer with rifled slugs and open sights to 70 yards, I have also shot turkey with a red dot, and have used a 4X scope on a rifled barrel.  One thing to remember, if you are using a mount that attaches to the action and not the barrel, is that the barrel will still be able to move a little, unlike a rifle where they are firmly attached.

Oops, I see you answered a bit since I started writing.  A red dot should work fine.

[konradcountry]

Maybe they are in a firearm restricted area?     Maybe they can't afford another gun?     Maybe their eyesight isn't as good as it used to be... there are lots of reasons I can think of.....

I realize shotgun-only areas are common on the East Coast but not in our state. Having poor eyesight doesn't justify a scoped shotgun over a scoped rifle.

I like shotguns but I don't see why people want to turn them into long range rifles. At longer ranges the slugs really start dropping and the wind pushes them around. I say this as someone who owns a shotgun with a rifled barrel.

[Lemoore-on]

Island county is shotgun only, I'm sure there are more areas as well.

[cdriver]

I am using a ghost ring sight on my Mossberg 500, works great for close in hunting. I considered going with a red dot sight, use one on a Ruger Mini-14, but the ghost ring sight works just fine. I don't shoot anything beyond 100 ft, hunt with slugs for deer and buckshot for coyotes.

[RatRodMike]

I've killed a lot of deer with my Maverick Arms 88 which is pretty much the same gun as the Mossberg 500.  It's a smooth bore but shoots rifled slugs just fine; just not down the stock sights.  I have a white line painted on the breach and I line that up with the front golden BB.  It also shoots a little high.  I love hunting with this gun because I can drag it around the brush and the mud and the whatever and not feel like I'm ruining my good rifle.  Also, you can shoulder it and shoot faster than a scoped rifle.  My eyes are starting the long slow slide into decrapitude so I'll probably put a scope on it or something eventually.  Most of my deer hunting is within 100 yards so I'm just fine with the range restriction.   

[JDHasty]

Maybe they are in a firearm restricted area?     Maybe they can't afford another gun?     Maybe their eyesight isn't as good as it used to be... there are lots of reasons I can think of.....

I realize shotgun-only areas are common on the East Coast but not in our state. Having poor eyesight doesn't justify a scoped shotgun over a scoped rifle.

I like shotguns but I don't see why people want to turn them into long range rifles. At longer ranges the slugs really start dropping and the wind pushes them around. I say this as someone who owns a shotgun with a rifled barrel.

A lot of people might want to read their Game Regs AND their local ordinances.  Firearm restriction areas are far more common in Washington than a lot of people think. 

[cdriver]

Yes, to checking game regs, and using them to your advantage. I have property on Whidbey Island, shotgun only, fun way to hunt.

[RatRodMike]

Yes, to checking game regs, and using them to your advantage. I have property on Whidbey Island, shotgun only, fun way to hunt.

 

[BrandonWatts]

Bushnell trs-25 or primary arms red dot. Good to go on both. The will hold up to a 12 gauge with slugs, buck shot or bird shot. Very good priced also.

[JDHasty]

A Nitrex TR 1 1.5-5 went for ~ $56 on eBay today.  They don't come up very often.  They rock on slug guns.  I have three of them and wouldn't trade for anything. 

[RatRodMike]

A Nitrex TR 1 1.5-5 went for ~ $56 on eBay today.  They don't come up very often.  They rock on slug guns.  I have three of them and wouldn't trade for anything.

That sounds like a great scope.  I like the magnification range.  How is it with picking up light in the dark timber.  I see that it has a 32mm objective which sounds good with the low magnification.

[JDHasty]

A Nitrex TR 1 1.5-5 went for ~ $56 on eBay today.  They don't come up very often.  They rock on slug guns.  I have three of them and wouldn't trade for anything.

That sounds like a great scope.  I like the magnification range.  How is it with picking up light in the dark timber.  I see that it has a 32mm objective which sounds good with the low magnification.

I have three, two on Deerslayers and one on the kid's M4 carbine.  They work super well for me in dark timber and if anything was going to wreck them it is 3" magnum slugs out of a light weight shotgun.  My buddy has one of the 1-4 Leupolds w/heavy crosshairs.  I like these much better.  I think that Weaver may sell them as Grand Slams now. 

[JDHasty]

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/146177/weaver-grand-slam-rifle-scope-15-5x-32mm-dual-x-reticle-matte

Yup.  But youch!  They are north of $300.  I really wish I had put a hundred bucks on that one on eBay now.  I could actually use another one, the one on the kid's AR came off one of my rifles and I aim to put another one back there one day. 

[RatRodMike]

A Nitrex TR 1 1.5-5 went for ~ $56 on eBay today.  They don't come up very often.  They rock on slug guns.  I have three of them and wouldn't trade for anything.

That sounds like a great scope.  I like the magnification range.  How is it with picking up light in the dark timber.  I see that it has a 32mm objective which sounds good with the low magnification.

Cool.  Thanks for the info.  I'll see if I can pick one up.

I have three, two on Deerslayers and one on the kid's M4 carbine.  They work super well for me in dark timber and if anything was going to wreck them it is 3" magnum slugs out of a light weight shotgun.  My buddy has one of the 1-4 Leupolds w/heavy crosshairs.  I like these much better.  I think that Weaver may sell them as Grand Slams now.