Trak Lock Ghost Rings on an 870P?

[Vigilant]

On a different note, I just picked up a beautiful, brand new factory 7-shot 870P with a bead sight to go with my 8-shot 870P with rifle sights. I know the 7-shot model is only about 2.5 inches shorter than the 8-shot, but I find the 7-shot version noticably easier to maneuver and present than the 8-shot version. I may end up selling the 8-shot gun and picking up another 7-shot.

I know Wilson sells a lot of Trak Lock ghost ring sights, and I am looking at a set with tritium inserts. Has anyone had a set of Trak Locks installed? Any feedback, good or bad? I see them as a very attractive option, but I have a serious problem with drilling the receiver on such a fine weapon. Was hoping someone here could help me to decide either way. This gun will be used for home defense, and also to keep close by during the day when out and about.

Thanks in advance.

Vig

[ElevatedThreat]

I have a couple of Remington police shotguns that came with ghost ring sights already factory-installed. They appear to be identical to the aftermarket Wilsons, which are also the same as the old Scattergun Tech Trak Loks.

These are excellent sights, on par with or better than anything else I've seen or used.

The front and rear sights lack any "wings" to protect them, unlike some other competing ghost-ring designs, but they are so rugged that I don't see this even remotely as an issue. In fact, I prefer it, as it makes the guns much less cluttered. The sight picture is at once both open enough to give good peripheral vision of the target, but also precise enough to give good hits at the usual shotgun ranges. (I've not tried them beyond about 40 yards.)

I don't like other ghost ring sights that limit the field of view with big metal wings fore and aft, so that I feel like I am viewing the target through a tunnel.

I also like the Trak Lok sights because the rear ghost ring sits well back on the "hump" at the rear of the receiver. This leaves the flat top of the receiver available for mounting a Badger Ordnance rail, for mounting an EO Tech or other electro-optical sight.

Adjusting the rear sight can be a bit hit-or-miss since there is just one screw for everything, but once you get it adjusted it stays in place everlastingly, and the design is as simple and uncomplicated as can be. Again, I see this as a plus.

My sights do not have tritium inserts yet, but I am going to have both of these guns worked over by Vang Comp, and I will have Hans put in the tritium front inserts.

If you are having a receiver drilled for an aftermarket rear sight installation, try to use a gunsmith who has a drilling jig for the sights, and who does enough shotgun work to know what he is doing. You only get one shot at getting the holes drilled exactly on the centerline, and the right spacing apart.

It might be worth sending the gun to Wilson Combat to have the installation done right, if you have no one that you know and trust locally who does this work.

-ET

[G23.40]

Can those said sights can be install on 870 civillian models?.

[Yar]

I had a machinest friend install my ghost rings. Make sure you run a short drill bit because the bit will walk otherwise. I would suggest if you don't have a decent drill press and a short drill bit, have a gunsmith do the work for you.

I run the XS Ghost rings myself. It has a ton of adjustability which is important for me as I need the shotgun to shoot slugs point of aim out to 50-100 yards.

[jmb79]

My friend and I installed the Trac-Lock sights on my 870. They can be installed on any 870, not just police models. My friend has a jig that he got from Wilson Combat. Using the jig it is easy to line up the drill holes on the receiver. Also, Hans Vang and Wilson both recomend that you throw away the adhesive that comes with the sights. Instead, they recommend using JB Weld and adding a pin throught the front sight and the pedastal on which it sits.

I agree that these are the best ghost ring shot gun sights. Mine have hte tritium and I find it very helpful.

[jeb_ingram]

Originally posted by jmb79
My friend has a jig that he got from Wilson Combat. Using the jig it is easy to line up the drill holes on the receiver. Also, Hans Vang and Wilson both recomend that you throw away the adhesive that comes with the sights. Instead, they recommend using JB Weld and adding a pin throught the front sight and the pedastal on which it sits.

Did the jig come with the sights if not how much was it? Will Wilson and/ or Hans Vang pin the front sight if I send the gun in?

I just got a 1100 Tactical and I'm looking for a good way to mount the front post.

Thanks

[Vigilant]

Many thanks for the response. IMHO, Remington's factory ghost ring sights look pretty crappy. I really have no interest in Remington's factory version.

I was under the impression that all of Wilson's Trak Locks had a tritium front insert, and the two side-by-side rear inserts were available at additional cost. Am I wrong?

That's good advice on having the sights pinned, and I appreciate it. If I can ever get used to the thought of drilling a receiver on such a beautiful gun, I believe I will go this route. I am confident that my gunsmith has ample experience with Trak Locks, but I will ask to be sure. I'll post a photo of both guns when I'm finished.

Vig

[ElevatedThreat]

Originally posted by Vigilant
Many thanks for the response. IMHO, Remington's factory ghost ring sights look pretty crappy. I really have no interest in Remington's factory version.
Vig

I am not understanding your original post, then.

The Remington factory sights, the Wilson Trak Lok sights, and the Scattergun Tech sights are all EXACTLY the same sights. In fact, the Remington factory ghost ring sights are actually MARKED "Scattergun Tech" on the base.

So, if you don't like the look of the Remington factory sights, then you did not really mean that you are considering Wilson Trak Loks as you say in your OP.

So, what brand of ghost ring sights ARE you looking at?

-ET

[jmb79]

Originally posted by jeb_ingram
Did the jig come with the sights if not how much was it? Will Wilson and/ or Hans Vang pin the front sight if I send the gun in?

I just got a 1100 Tactical and I'm looking for a good way to mount the front post.

Thanks

I think he purchased the jig separately. He had already added the Trac Locks to one or two of his own shotguns and he is quite the "shade tree gunsmith" so he like to have the right tools.

I know that Wilson will install their sights if you send in you weapon. I would expect that they will pin the front sight because they recommend that it be pinned.

I don't know that it would be cost effective to mail you shotgun to either Wilson or Hans just to have them install the sights. I would investigate local gunsmiths to find one who is familiar with the procedure.

If you happen to live in Central Indiana I can put you in touch with my friend and maybe he'd be willing to do the installation.

[jeb_ingram]

Originally posted by jmb79
I agree that these are the best ghost ring shot gun sights. Mine have hte tritium and I find it very helpful.

One more question for jmb79, do you have the tritium rear and if so what color are the front and rear dots?

[thetoastmaster]

I'm not jmb79, but my 870P has factory intalled Trak locks with a green trijicon front insert, and no tritium in the rear sight. They're very fast in low light.

[Vigilant]

ET:

The only 'factory' ghost ring sights I have seen on an 870P had a single, ugly front blade sight that looked like it could be easily knocked off, and a cheezy looking rear sight with the same type wings as Mossberg uses, or something similar. I was never aware that Remington sold Wilson ghost rings from the factory.

Again, thanks for all the advice.

Vig

[jmb79]

Originally posted by jeb_ingram
One more question for jmb79, do you have the tritium rear and if so what color are the front and rear dots?

Front and rear dots are all the same color. However, I am profoundly color blind so I will couch the rest of my response as follows...

It is my understanding that the "classic" or "original" tritium insert color is called "green" and only after green had been around for a while did manufacturers start making other colors available. To me, the "green" looks pretty much like "off white".

So, to me, the front and rear tritium dots on the Trak Lock ghostring shotgun sights are "off white". In other words, the classic tritium gun site color.

Sorry for the long winded response.

[epsylum]

Originally posted by jmb79
Front and rear dots are all the same color. However, I am profoundly color blind so I will couch the rest of my response as follows...

It is my understanding that the "classic" or "original" tritium insert color is called "green" and only after green had been around for a while did manufacturers start making other colors available. To me, the "green" looks pretty much like "off white".

So, to me, the front and rear tritium dots on the Trak Lock ghostring shotgun sights are "off white". In other words, the classic tritium gun site color.

Sorry for the long winded response.

Green is the brightest and longest lasting color of nightsights. IIRC, tritium gas gives off a green light and the others colors have color tinted vials which in turn deminish the brightness of the glowing tritium gas. For that reason green is by far the most common color of nightsights. So if I were a betting man, I would put money on that they are green with other colors possibly being options.

[ElevatedThreat]

Originally posted by Vigilant
The only 'factory' ghost ring sights I have seen on an 870P had a single, ugly front blade sight that looked like it could be easily knocked off, and a cheezy looking rear sight with the same type wings as Mossberg uses, or something similar. I was never aware that Remington sold Wilson ghost rings from the factory.
Vig

Huh. Did not know that. Apparently Remington LE used to use a different design than the present Trak Lok -- and maybe they changed to the Trak Lok because too many people reacted to the old design the same way you did!

At any rate, today the Remington Law Enforcement guns that come with the Ghost Ring option from the factory now use the excellent Trak Lok design. If you go that route, you will not be disappointed.

-ET

[Morris]

From the Armorer's couse in July:

Wilson/Scattergun Trak-Lock rear, XS front. They find the different brands actually complement each other better. Yes, GRS is an option on Police guns.