For you 870 guys....

[Doug Lewis]

Was wondering how the poa and poi was in the 870 20ga. I'm not familiar at all with the way this gun shoots, and was already leaning towards a red dot. I plan on shooting either the Hevi's or TSS handloads.

[FullChoke]

If you have a 20 gauge 870, with a red dot, TSS handloads and a full choke tube (don't over-constrict it), you are TOTALLY LETHAL out to, ahem, 40 yards with a 10" count from 250-300.

FullChoke   

[Doug Lewis]

No red dot yet... just wondering, traditionally, how they shot straight out the box. And if there is a big need for a sight. I'm a Mossberg guy personally, and the need for optics to improve poa/poi is obvious...

[FullChoke]

The Hevi and TSS loads put out some awesome, tight patterns, delivering a lot of shot in a relatively small area. I switched over to the red dot sight to compensate for my aging eyes and to have control over the POA/POI situation. Every gun has the possibility of some discrepancy in where it shoots. Shoot a few rounds through it to see if the beads line up with where the gun sends the shot. If you determine that it is a little off, you can compensate by aiming opposite the difference (high/low, left/right). If it is considerable, you can decide if a sight will help, be it clamp-on open sights, red dot or a scope.

Generally, the 870s are pretty close out of the box. Which sighting system you decide on is up to you.

Good luck. 

FullChoke

[Doug Lewis]

Well, this is my sons setup. I do t plan on spending much on sight. I have two Burris FF's and love them. I'm just looking for something that'll take the thump of a shotgun and allow him to see and aim good enough through under pressure.

[FullChoke]

I'm with you, take a look at this one.

https://www.truglo.com/firearms-turkey/tru-bead-turkey-universal-dual-color.asp?catid=F41C40D155E44609874F4225CB2A7EC2

It attaches to the ventilated rib, is fully adjustable, can easily take the 20 gauge recoil and can be removed and upgraded when the time comes. With very little exposure, I believe that your son will catch on to the correct sighting picture.

FC

[Gooserbat]

Mine was close, a set of truglo mgd made it perfect.  I'll back up full choke and say if you're playing with tss it's easy to get adequate "40" yard patterns.

[nyhunter]

my 26" 870 was off high right but a red dot fixed that, my 21" 870 is right on the money with the beads. That being said i put a red dot on it anyway just because i'm comfortable with them and have them on my other 4 turkey guns

[Greg Massey]

My 870 , 20 ga. youth was good out of the box poi and poa. I put a saddle mount and scope on mine. If you ever go 20 ga, with Federal HW 7 you will not go back to a 12 ga...

[Surgical grade]

Was wondering how the poa and poi was in the 870 20ga. I'm not familiar at all with the way this gun shoots, and was already leaning towards a red dot. I plan on shooting either the Hevi's or TSS handloads.

That's the exact question I have as well.I'm ordering the components to load some TSS for my youth 20 gauge (21" barrel) and, though I love my FF3/speedbead setup on on my benelli 12 ga, I don't want to mess with the hassle of having it drilled/tapped if it isn't necessary.