Shotgun Update using a Red Dot Optic

First, my opinion about the value of a shotgun:

If you can only afford one long gun, the shotgun is the only long gun that can do everything you need a gun for and do it well. As a hunting gun, it is very capable of taking all game, from deer, bear, geese, ducks, squirrels, rabbits etc by simply selecting the correct shot shell for the game you're seeking. For home self-defense, it is well up to the task. Most shotguns including mine have 3 rounds in the magazine and 1 in the chamber = 4 rounds. There are many aftermarket add-ons so you can increase the magazine capacity to 7-8 rounds including countless accessories such as lights, slings, stocks, just about anything you can think of.

I added a red dot optic to my shotgun months back using a saddle mount on the receiver and I just didn’t like it. So I changed the mount to a cantilever mount and the results were amazing. I also just realized I never did an update about it. I think this is important shotgun information for all shotgunners, so here it is!

As I stated many times before, here where I live the ‘sub-humans’ (or zombies if you prefer) love to protest, however, when “protesting” they actually engage in destructive, violent rioting and they’re getting bolder and far more dangerous than ever. Today, they’re sniping the police and drive-by shootings into homes and crowds are common. To defend against this home threat, a shotgun whether shooting slugs or buckshot, in my opinion, is very suitable. But quick accurate shot placement must be improved to the point that you have total confidence in the shot placement of your shotgun whether up-close or 50+ yards. I find you can get the most accuracy out of your shotgun using a simple and inexpensive red dot optic!

Shotgun target acquisition for most shooters is difficult to understand or master, especially with little training or just seasonal practice. To me, shotgun sighting, for the most part, is ‘point shooting’ where you try to visually align the barrels ventilated rib at the target and then bring up the bead sight at the very end of the barrel onto the target. With practice such as skeet shooting, you can develop the skill necessary to be reasonably on target almost all the time. However, for the occasional annual shooter or even skilled shooters a red dot optic, in my opinion, is required to get the best repeatable target accuracy from the shotgun whether using bird shot, buck shot and especially slugs.

My shotgun set-up:

The shotgun started as a Remington 1100, 3 inch Magnum, Ventilated Rib, Goose Gun with the 26-inch barrel. I eventually shortened the barrel to 21 inches giving me a smooth bore, cylinder choke and a much more manageable gun (I don’t hunt geese anymore so no need for the long barrel and 3-inch magnum loads). I added a cantilevered scope mount to the ventilated rib of the barrel and use a Tasco Pro-Point Red Dot optic. Because the cantilevered mount the scope is mounted directly to the barrel and not the receiver. This provides the greatest optic stability and repeatable accuracy.

The end result of the red dot and cantilevered mount?

Stunning repeatable accuracy! The shotgun now feels, acts like and gives me the same hit confidence of a rifle or carbine. With the red dot sight on my shotgun using slugs, ‘anyone’ can make standing head shots to 35 yards all day long and center-mass shots to 50+ yards are easy. Using Buck Shot or my favorite all around game shot, #6 shot, the red dot puts your shot pattern dead center on target with all the shot surrounding the target ensuring a uniform shot saturated target area.

A simple red dot optic may very well make the difference between staying alive or a meal on the table. If a shotgun is all you own in the way of guns, add a red dot optic and get the most out of your shotgun.

Link to the Pro-Point Red Dot optic:

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/686150/tasco-propoint-red-dot-sight-30mm-tube-1x-5-moa-red-and-green-dot-with-weaver-style-rings-matte

Link to the B-Squared Cantilevered scope mount I used:

http://www.adorama.com/bsq16175.html

Red Dot mounted on the cantilevered mount.

Full view of shotgun.

Ammo used on target below.

The target was set at 25 yards (the indoor range greatest distance) and here's the results from a standing position, un-rested gun. Just placed the red dot on the center ‘X’ and squeezed the trigger. The targets black area is 4.5 inches in diameter. Buck Shot pattern is 8 inches in diameter. Only one buck shot round used on this target to prove the red dot centers a shot pattern and just like the slugs they went where the red dot was aimed.

Hope this helps with your shotgunning!