I have a Benelli Supernova that is not drilled and tapped for a scope/red dot mount. I have a meadow creek mount and like it but it's not the easiest to take off and put back on. The SN is going to be a Turkey,Duck and Goose gun i even took it pheasant hunting the other day.
I was just thinking what if i bought a saddle mount for the receiver. Mounted a red dot on it then on the gun sighted it in with my turkey loads. Then after turkey season just take it off and leave the red dot on it. Use it for other seasons then pop it back on for turkey season. Shoot it with some 2 3/4 inch reloads then a turkey load fine tune if needed and use it for turkey season again.
Seems pretty easy and simple at least in my mind LOl. What do you guys think.
If this is what you want to do, I would say do it .... like you said, just recheck your red dot again before turkey season.
Looks like finding a good saddle mount might be a job if they even make one.
I would always recheck POI whenever removing optic from gun. Just my rule of thumb. This way your confident in the moment of truth......
Absolutely.
A buddy of mine uses a saddle mount like your plan. Just need to sight in every change. The saddle adds a lot of weight to his gun. I still just shoot a double bead, old fashioned I guess. I personally do not like scopes. I often sit right close to my buddy that swears by his scope. I bet I have killed no less than a dozen birds that he couldn't get in a scope long enough to shoot. They were either on the move and or spooked. I do my best not to take poor shots, but you can follow a bird with a beaded gun and if he stops for a second he's yours. My buddy is an old rifle shooter and takes way too long to center his cross hairs.
Yeah not a fan of scopes or tube type red dots on my shotguns. If they work for you super. Now a reflex red dot are different. I can see everything with both eyes open using one of those.
I remembered a different red dot mount i bought i think might work better than the saddle mount and be as easy to remove and replace. And not add much weight.
Depending on what your eyes see in a red dot makes all the difference in what you use for a sight.. Older eyes sometimes need a little help / scope . Some people have astigmatism and see a starburst with red dots. Nothing wrong with a bead only.. But I will say, I've killed turkeys with a scope on my shotgun that I don't think I could have with just a bead sight on the gun. It all depends on what works the best for you and what you have the most confidence in using. IMO
I agree for sure use what you want or need for a sight. I didn't intend on downing anyones choices for whatever reason.
I tried a saddle mount on my 870. It worked and was easy to remove. When putting it on, there was a fine line when tighten the screws to hold it(metal or plastic version) on the gun. To tight, the action was stiff and hard to pump. To loose and the saddle could easily be moved/shifted throwing off the sight. On mine it was matter of 1/4 to 1/2 a turn on one or both screws of being to tight/loose. To me it made the gun feel bulky. Once the saddle was on, it only took a couple of shots to verify the site was still on and usually didn't need much adjusting. If you decide to go with a saddle get one that is made of metal. The 1st one I tried was plastic and you could flex the rail just by pressing on it with your thumb.
Good luck in your decision.
Drill and Tap the gun. Problem fixed.
The meadow creek mount on the vent rib with a Red Dot is a real viable option for you. Mounted a bit more forward actually aids in looking all around as the bird approaches keeping your head on the barrel. You could easily remove and replace it checking zero of course. It will be close, if not on. Here's my Sweet sixteen with the Meadow Creek and a Fast Fire Red Dot.....
Quote from: SumToy on February 22, 2024, 08:41:53 AM
Drill and Tap the gun. Problem fixed.
I agree with William on this, and he's the best there is if you go this route. Some of my guns are indeed drilled and tapped, there are just a few that I did not want to change, thus the Meadow Creek mount is a great option there, especially with Red Dots.......
Well I looked for a saddle mount and could only find one with questionable reviews. That would fit the supernova. I have read drilling and tapping the receiver is tricky. And would involve cost plus shipping probably both ways. So I put the meadow creek back on it. And I think I'm going to leave it on and let waterfowl hunting prove to me it won't work.
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I have been working on this shotgun and testing different things. I shortened the LOP without cutting or modifying the stock. I like to never come up with that idea lol. I have the comb raised so I'm looking through the sight when shouldered with good cheek weld.
Thanks guys.
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Looks real good.....
Thanks
If I decide to go with my original plan of having a mount that's easy to take off and put back on well easier. I think I'll go with this Warn rib mount. It's a compression type mount that uses 3 screws on each side. I should be able to just loosen one side or take it off leaving the other side alone. Giving me a mount that I can leave the red dot on and return it very close to the same spot if not the same spot.
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Always checking poi afterwards:).
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The issue with saddle mounts is that there is an extreme potential to pinch your action. You're using holes designed for pins to place screws and then tighten those screws to fix the mount to the action. Over tighten much at all and you can cause some damage fast. There's not a great recommendation for what you're trying to do. It's kind of why so many of us have dedicated turkey guns in that they just require things other shotgun pursuits do not. If it were me I'd either, a) shoot the bead (assuming POA and POI match), b) keep running and removing your meadow creek and red dot, c) buy a separate barrel for the nova and run it for everything else, d) buy a dedicated turkey gun.
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I just like trying new things. I have a bunch of shotguns they all will kill a turkey:).
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This is my main Turkey gun.
Then there's this one :)
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I ended up not liking the sight on the encore 12 ga tried a reflex
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But have went back to the sight in the first pic. Also didn't like the reflex on the 410 pistol and put a tube type red dot on it. And changed the grip and dipped it myself with a eBay kit.
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Half the fun is playing with the guns. Killing gobblers just amounts to learning to call and set still.
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Real nice....
Many years ago I jumped on the optics bandwagon for turkey guns. I had an original benelli nova and put a red dot on it with a saddle mount. All I did was turn an already somewhat heavy and bulky shotgun into a heavier and bulkier shotgun! It came off after one season. My personal advice if you're dead serious about putting an optic on your turkey gun is to buy one that is already drilled and tapped. You can buy a perfectly good pump gun for a reasonable price that is optic ready and set it up as a dedicated turkey gun. Then you still have your nova for everything else
Yeah I agree I have pretty much decided on having dedicated shotguns. With the ability to crossover if needed. I'm going with a red dot on my main new Turkey gun.
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I dressed up that light looking place on the cheek riser I made. It's a Mossberg 930. The supernova is going to be my waterfowl no red dot. The Drake 20 ga will be my upland/rabbit/squirrel gun. If I need to or just want to use the nova or Drake for gobblers I can. Or I can use the 930 for what ever :).
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Interesting concepts for newer shotguns.
Unfortunately, placing any of the newer tech sights on older double guns would detract from their inherent collector value.
My last gobbler KIA was with a 1924 LC Smith Long Range double. A newer backup gun would be a 1925 Parker.
It helps when some turkeys want to slip up or sneak in and examine both the stock burl walnut or the engraving.