Does anyone have any experience, positive or negative, with the XS front sight bead that attaches to the Remington front bead base with epoxy? Gluing parts to a firearm doesn’t really inspire my confidence but it seems to be one of the few front beads available with both a high visibility white dot and a tritium lamp.
The other option is the Meprolight tritium bead that screws into the front sight base.
I like the fact that it screws to the barrel instead of attaching with epoxy but it looks like the big white ring on the XS sight would be more visible in daylight.
Anyone have experience with either sight?
I installed several of both this week. Only on Remington barrels so I can not speak about others.
The XS is designed to epoxy over the bead off the Remingotn Pedestal barrels. These beads are pressed on so the XS is the easy option. I set the XS on the bead and trace it with a pencil. I pull it off and I scrap away the finish inside the traced area. I then remove the finish off the bottom of the XS. I use Black Max Sight adhesive so this way I am bonding metal to metal and not finish to finish. This is over kill as the fact the XS fits over the bead the epoxy or adhesive fills in around the bead and forms a tight bond. But I go the extra step.
I feature the Meprolight Trit bead and they are threaded and will fit any Remington barrel that has a threaded bead. I installed two on Turkey barrls this week and one on an 18.5" VT 20 ga barrel. Very easy install.
I prefer the Meprolight as it is smaller and not as bright as the Bid Dot. It comes down to preferance and cost as the XS Big Dot retails for $60 and the Meprolight around $40.
You can install the Meprolight on the Remington pedestal barrels if you break the bead off, drill it out and tapp the hole for 6-48 threads.
I bought and installed one last week. I have yet to shoot it. I have the same reservations about an epoxy on front sight as well.
I have a 18.5" factory Rem. barrel with the bead on a pedestal. When I dry fit the Big Dot the rear of it did not sit flush to the pedestal. The gap was approx. 1/16". I emailed XS about it and they responded promptly with something to the effect “The problem is Rem. manufacters pedestals of varying dimensions. JB Weld will fill the gap with no worries.”
I took my time and the look of the JB Weld turned out well. (If that matters to you)
Impressions of the sight: Very daylight visible. I think it’s a great sight for a shotgun application.
@AIandP Tactical: That’s a good idea on scraping finish off so it’s not a bond breaker. Wish I would have thought of it before my install. How do you square your sights?
Thanks for the responses. AI&P - the surface prep is a given. I’ve installed many of the Scattergun sights over the years and getting a good bond is important due to the mass of the front sight.
Why do you use Black Max instead of an epoxy like JB Weld? Does it have a stronger bond or harden faster?
I started useing it about a year ago. Have not had a complaint yet and since many of these go on duty weapons and take a beating in and out of a vehicle several times a shift, I am comfortable with it bonding. No mixing, it is black so missing a little bleed out is hard to notice.
I still use the epoxy pack that comes with the Trijicon GR’s as it would take half a tube of the Black Max to install one of those.
To assure the sights are straight I simply use my eye. Not needed with the Trijicon/Scattergun as those only go on one way.
Had it. Hated it on my 14" rifle sighted 870. For slugs at range I found it to large and went back to their standard bead.
I have one on a 12-inch AOW, just so I can see better where the thing is pointing. Also, I put one on a 14- incher (both 870’s). Used JBWeld both times with no problems. I was using the 14-incher at work one afternoon and bashed the front sight against the door post and it didn’t budge. 45-year-old eyes kinda like the big dot (I use the large tritium) over the ghost rings on my original Scatterguns 870, but the ghosts are still quite useable. They may not be as precise as a standard bead or post, but within their boundries, I have had good luck with them in training and quals at my dept. I have never used slugs with them so I can’t comment on that. I do think I like the Big Dot tritium more and more for buckshot.
A side note: I have another officer bud who swears by them on his J frame and Glock 26. He’s a K9 handler who could break an anvil and he hasn’t messed them up yet. Granted, they attach differently but he likes them for up-close-and-dirty shooting.
good info thank you
I also installed one, so far so good, not many rounds through to make a full determination but about 150 without an issue. I like the sight, it’s not a love but I do not see any better offering on the market, through the ghost ring the bigger dot makes target acquisition faster and it has been accurate at 75 yards and on paper at 100 using human sized silhouette targets and slugs. That’s as far as I will be taking my 870 out. The tritium is bright at night and makes the front bead easy to pick up.
This is installed on a 870 express tactical, it has the front sight ramp and XS stock bead when I bought it, all I had to do was call XS and give them a measurement ( I believe it was the bottom of the dovetail to the top of the sight) then they sent out the correct size. I used a small amount of wield to hold it in place after application, the sight sent had a larger dovetail which I expected but to my surprise I did not need to remove any material, just used a vice and a sight pusher. The fit is tight and I think it’s GTG.
I never thought I would put an XS big dot on any of my firearms but I have finally found a great platform for them and I would recommend them to anyone that is thinking about making the upgrade. I would make sure that you call XS and give them that measurement as I believe 3 sight sizes are used from factory, so you want to make sure you have the correct one that fits your shotgun.
If you would like more pictures I am happy to provide them.
This is an old thread but the info is still relevant. I’ve had too many irons in the fire to do any shotgun work since my original post but that is going to change soon. There was another recent thread about running a red dot vs. beads vs. rifle sights that also brought out a lot of good ideas.
I contacted XS Sights and asked them why they made glue-on front beads for the shotguns with plain barrels instead of making one with a threaded shank. They said that because of the mass of their front sights, the thickness of most plain shotgun barrels wasn’t enough for sufficient thread engagement to keep the sight attached.
Once I get settled back in TX, I’m going to be doing some testing with an XS front sight only as well as their express sights seen here:
and here:
Awesome stuff Dave, if you want my old XS sight that came stock on my 870 just PM me, It has some slightly different measurements but maybe you can use it. I really do not think the sight I put on is going anywhere but it leaves much to be desired in terms of securement. I feel as though I am expecting the sight to come loose or fall off, and I’m happily surprised it has not. Keep us updated, thank you Sir.
Since folks will be checking this thread for info on them I put a review of my 870s with XS sights up not too long ago (love them). If folks want to see them up close with some shooting thrown in, here you go:
It’s definitely a little on the bigger side. It is quite visible, however.
I still haven’t tried shooting it while using slugs or 00bk, only at clay pigeons. I do like the way it “lights up” in the dark, it’s very neat.
I put the glue on type on 3 after market barrels and love them. How else are you going to point or aim in the dark? I used JB Weld. That is what they recommended when I asked them.