Are Shotgun Sights Necessary?

Aiming With Shotgun Sights

"Why even bother putting sights on a shotgun? Just point and shoot." Most firearms enthusiasts have heard a variation of this statement at least once, if not on a semi-regular basis. The idea that a shotgun only needs to be levelled in the general direction of an intended target to stop a threat is omnipresent in pop culture and like many myths, it is partially based in fact.

Unlike pistol and rifle cartridges, shotgun shells fire multiple projectiles (pellets) at once and have considerably more spread. While this does result in greater coverage, increasing the likelihood of landing a hit, shotshell spread is not significant enough to eliminate the need for aiming with proper sights. This is contrary to what is depicted in film, television, and most first or third-person shooting games.

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What Hollywood Gets Wrong

With a few exceptions, videogame developers and production companies typically aren't concerned with providing an accurate depiction of firearms on screen. Greatly exaggerated spread and ragdoll effects are much more exciting to watch, plus the artificially enhanced shotgun stats allow viewers / players to experience an exhilarating run-and-gun power fantasy. In reality though, shotguns actually have much more range and a tighter spread than most media would have you believe.

Are Shotgun Sights Necessary?

Our answer is an emphatic, "Yes." Whether you run a traditional front bead, fiber optic ghost ring sights, or a rugged red dot optic, an effective sighting system will help you be more accurate with your shotgun. Precise shot placement is critical, as a single pellet or even a poor hit with multiple pellets may not be enough to fully incapacitate the target. This is especially undesirable within the context of a defensive shooting because an assailant could charge or return fire before you can get another shot off.

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Additionally, while more training-intensive techniques like point shooting do not rely on careful sight alignment, it is still a good idea to have some type of sight or optic on your setup. Point shooting nets diminishing returns as distance increases, and a proper sighting system allows you to seamlessly transitioning to aimed shots at longer ranges rather than burning through limited ammo reserves while attempting to guesstimate where the next group of pellets will land on the fly.

Debunking Other Popular Gun Myths

Shotguns are tremendously effective for close or mid-range engagements, but they are not quite the magical boom sticks that are frequently portrayed in movies and videogames. To uncover which other firearms "facts" are actually fiction, watch our video with Clint debunking five of the most pervasive gun myths that still exist today.

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