Reflex sight for Shotgun

garyinhouston

garyinhouston

New member
I am checking to see if anyone on the site has installed a reflex or red dot sight on their Benelli M2 shotgun. I have the standard 26" vent rib field model. The rib does not look sturdy enough to mount anything to it.

It looks like I will have to take it to a gunsmith and have some threaded mounting holes installed in the receiver so I can mount a rail. I plan on mounting my EOTech 512 to the shotgun.

Does anyone have any thoughts?
 
IMO that would be better than mounting on the rib.My 835 came D&T so that's the way I went.You might be able to go with Burris's speed mount but I don't know if they make one for your gun or if it can be used with that sight either.
 
Thanks Bernie. I am going to the World Predator and Hog Hunting Extravaganza in Waco Texas on April 5th. I was going to check with some of the guys there. I will look into the Burris speed mount. GO SHOOT SOMETHING!
 
I mounted a 3 MOA Burris Fast Fire III on my 11-87 using the Burris SpeadBead mount. It mounts between the stock and receiver. I liked it so well that we picked it up for our store. They make the mount for the Benelli's also. No drilling or tapping necessary. Won't work with the EOtech, of course.
 
For 'limitless' sight/scope options, the D&T job and bolt on mount on the receiver is really the way to go. The Benelli actions are designed to take a rail, so it's a pretty straight forward job for your smith, no worries about mount strength.

I agree with Tim though, if you're not married to the Eotech, the Burris Speedbead mount with a compact open red dot like the Burris FastFire is a great option (Burris FF's match the mounting for Docter mounts). I didn't have one on an M2, but did on an M1S90, my wife has one on her SBEII, and just finally splurged on one for my Supernova. Low and tight, fast, natural pointing, it's a great option. The only time consuming part of the installation is flipping or swapping the stock shims (assuming you have the comfortech stock) to get your eye position comfortable. I had saddle mounts and D&T mounts on Super Nova's before this Speedbead, I like the integrated speedbead a LOT better.
 
Thanks Varminterror. After I get over the new transmission shock that I just paid for I will be getting the Speedbead with most likely the 3 moa dot. What is your preference for dot size?
 
Realize that if you add glass on top you may very well have to raise the comb on your stock to accommodate the higher sight plane. The exception would be the Speedbead.
 
Originally Posted By: garyinhoustonThanks Varminterror. After I get over the new transmission shock that I just paid for I will be getting the Speedbead with most likely the 3 moa dot. What is your preference for dot size?

My eyes are still young enough that I can pick up the 3MOA and 4MOA dots easily. In theory, I'd prefer smaller dots for more precise aiming, so I'd favor the 3MOA over the 4MOA, but I'm hard pressed to tell the difference between the two. My brother-in-law has an 8MOA dot FastFire III on a Ruger Mark III and I can really notice the "obese dot" on it compared to my 3MOA FFIII and 4MOA FFII.

I only have one FastFire III, bought it because I tried to order a FastFire II and they were out, so they offered the III for split the difference in price. For the money, I don't notice the III does anything the II didn't, and the 3MOA doesn't give me too much more precision than the 4MOA, so I guess money is the bigger driver for me than precision.

Especially on the Speedbead mount on a shotgun, they're close enough to the eye that picking up even the smaller 3 and 4MOA dots is pretty easy.

EDIT: Hopefully some of that made some small amount of sense, lol. Moral of the story is I prefer the 3-4MOA dots over the larger dots, but I wouldn't split hairs, or spend extra money on a 3MOA vs 4MOA for a hunting weapon, especially as close to the eye as they ride on the Benelli's and speedbead mounts.

Oh, and if you change your mind and DON'T get the speedbead, GC is right, adding a rail mounted optic, even a low-riding model, you'll likely need to raise your stock's trim (assuming you have the comfortech), and that may not even be enough. Before the Speedbead, I had a bit more than 1/2" riser I made from foam rubber and black duct tape (only the best for my calling shotty!!!) that I held in place under an Allen 5 shot elastic shell-holder sleeve on top of my stock to give proper alignment using a B-square Saddle Mount and Tru-Glo Open Red Dot sight on my Super Nova. I always wanted to buy the comfortech cheek-riser kit to give a more factory clean look, but for the price, I couldn't get myself to commit.
 
GC and Varminterror. thanks for your comments. I may go to my "smith" and have the benelli drilled and tapped for the future. I have an eotech that would work. I do like the close to line of site of the speedbead. All of this may be a summer project. What else to do when it is 95 to 100 degrees. Currently breaking in a new SAKO XS varmint in .223. Off to the range!
 
Originally Posted By: Uncle_SteveWhat's the difference between the speed bead and fast fire? I noticed that they are 2 different sites.

They aren't different sights.

They get listed as different sights because they can be bought as a package, mount and sight in one, versus just the sight or mount alone, but the speedbead is just the mount. When you buy a speedbead with the sight included, it's a fastfire sight.
 
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The factory Speedbead is a Fast Fire II model. Personally, I would buy a Speedbead mount only (no included sight) and mount the newer Fast Fire III sight on it. There are a couple important improvements between the II and the newest model III sight.
 
It appears that the newest Speedbead "packages" have been updated with the FFIII 8MOA.


Check the right hand side "Speedbead Systems (Mount + FastFire III/8MOA optic)"
Burris site - Speedbead

Considering that I want a smaller dot than the 8MOA, I'd buy the mount and sight separately.
 
Ahhh, it does look like Burris finally did upgrade the "Speedbead" unit to the latest version of the Fast Fire sight, the III model. About time they did that, before it was sort of a rip off IMHO. And I agree, they should offer both dot sizes as options.
 
Yeah GC, I'm actually kinda perturbed that they changed over... Glad they did, but sad I bought another one about a month ago that was an FFII!!!! Argh, maybe I shall return it and see if I can't exchange it towards an FFIII model
wink.gif
 
I have had excellent customer service from the folks at Burris. I think I would contact them and explain the situation and see what they might be able to do for you. Good luck!
 
Got the fastfire 2 in a speed bead mount on a super black eagle 1 and I absolutely love it. Wouldn't go any other way on a shotgun. Mainly just a turkey gun but have used it wing shooting and let's say it's made me a little better.
 
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